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Finnair Joins Europe's Link2000+ Program
Finnair has joined Eurocontrol's Link2000+, the program that is coordinating the implementation of CPDLC (controller-pilot datalink communications) across the European continent.

Rohde & Schwarz Introducing New Software-Based ATC Radios
Rohde & Schwarz is introducing a generation of civil and military air traffic control VHF and UHF radios that can accommodate new digital communications, and whose primary functions can be easily customized.

Embraer 170 Autoland Certified
The Brazilian aviation authority, Centro Técnico Aeroespacial (CTA), and the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) have certified Embraer's 170 to perform autoland operations in CAT (category) IIIa visibility conditions.

Raytheon Offering New Data Processing System for All ATM Domains
Raytheon is offering a new flight and surveillance data processing system that can be integrated with either legacy or next-generation products.

Mongolian CAA will Deploy Rannoch's Wide-Area ADS-B
The Civil Aviation Authority of Mongolia (MCAA) will deploy Rannoch's wide-area multilateration ADS-B (automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast) for en route and approach surveillance throughout its territory.

British and Spanish ANSPs Launch New ATM Joint Venture
The U.K.'s National Air Traffic Services (NATS) and Spain's Aena (Aeropuertos Españoles y Navegación Aérea) have formed a new commercial joint venture for ATM (air traffic management).

Sensis Develops ADS-B Protocol Enhancements
Sensis Corporation says it has developed ADS-B (automatic dependent surveillance) protocol enhancements that include sender identity authentication, data encryption and greater capacity.

Virgin America Chooses navAero EFB for A320s and A319s
Virgin America will use navAero's class-2 EFB (electronic flight bag) on its fleet of A320s and A319s.

EMTEQ Aerospace Offers TAWS and EGPWS STCs With EASA Approvals
EMTEQ Aerospace has obtained approval from the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) to use its FAA STCs (supplemental type certificates) for TAWS (terrain awareness and warning system), and EGPWS (enhanced ground proximity warning system), on a number of regional aircraft, including the Jetstream 31 and 32, the B1900C and D, and the EMB120.

Telenor Offering Free Airtime and Discounted BGAN Equipment
Inmarsat partner Telenor Satellite Services (TSS) is offering free airtime and equipment discounts for customers who trade in old satellite handsets for new BGAN (broadband global area network) terminals.

New Flight Explorer Professional Edition Has More Capabilities
Flight Explorer released a new version of its Professional Edition with more capabilities that make planning for weather conditions and air traffic congestion easier.

Louisville Working with Rannoch on New ADS-B/Multilateration Applications
Louisville's Regional Airport Authority will use an aircraft flight tracking system, developed by Rannoch Corporation, to monitor operational and environmental parameters, as well as airport billing at both Louisville International  (SDF) and Bowman Field (LOU).

Boston First U.S. Airport to Use Web-Based Landing-Fee Billing
Boston Logan has replaced airline "self-reporting" of landing fees with a Web-based program that allows it to either audit an airline's records, or proactively generate landing fee billing information on its own.

Sensis Adds X-Band Radar Detection to A-SMGCS
Sensis Corporation is adding high-performance radar to its A-SMGCS (advanced-surface movement guidance and control system) to better detect and track aircraft and vehicles in all weather conditions.

Embry-Riddle Getting New Cessna 172s with Glass Cockpits and ADS-B
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University has purchased 16 Cessna 172s equipped with Garmin's G1000 integrated cockpit suite and ADS-B (automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast).

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Finnair Joins Europe's Link2000+ Program

Finnair has joined Eurocontrol's Link2000+, the program that is coordinating the implementation of CPDLC (controller-pilot datalink communications) across the European continent.

The Finnish airline plans to equip 29 of its A320 family aircraft with new VDL (VHF digital link) Mode 2 avionics by the end of 2006, along with a new-generation Airbus ATSU (air traffic services unit avionics), to accommodate CPDLC messaging.  ARINC is supporting Airbus in the development of its new avionics through a connection to ARINC's ATN (aeronautical telecommunication network).

Finnair already is a user of ARINC's GLOBALink service, and Airbus offers its new ATSU both as a retrofit and as standard equipment for its A320 aircraft family.

With the addition of Finnair, Link2000+ will have 12 participating airlines with at least 266 aircraft.  02-17-2006.  (Top)

Rohde & Schwarz Introducing New Software-Based ATC Radios

Rohde & Schwarz is introducing a generation of civil and military air traffic control VHF and UHF radios that can accommodate new digital communications, and whose primary functions can be easily customized.

Because the primary functions of its new 4200 radios are software-based, Rohde & Schwarz says their configuration can be changed, and new features implemented, via software downloads.

As for transmissions, the 4200s can handle new digital transmission standards such as VDL (VHF digital link) at the air interface, G.703 (a standard for transmitting voice over digital carriers), and VoIP (voice over Internet protocol) on the ground communications link.  In addition, they can be controlled remotely via TCP/IP (transmission control protocol/Internet protocol).

The VHF version is already available and it will soon be joined by the UHF version, according to Rohde & Schwarz.  02-17-2006.  (Top)

Embraer 170 Autoland Certified

The Brazilian aviation authority, Centro Técnico Aeroespacial (CTA), and the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) have certified Embraer's 170 to perform autoland operations in CAT (category) IIIa visibility conditions.

CAT IIIa capability nominally allows an approach and landing to be conducted in visibility as low as 600 feet (or 200 meters) of RVR (runway visual range).  The CAT IIIa approval also allows the autoland system to be used during CAT I or II approaches.

Embraer says it expects the FAA to certify the system for CAT IIIa shortly.  02-22-2006.  (Top)

Raytheon Offering New Data Processing System for All ATM Domains

Raytheon is offering a new flight and surveillance data processing system that can be integrated with either legacy or next-generation products.

Called AutoTrac III, Raytheon's new release incorporates features such as multi-sensor tracking, safety nets, flight-data and clearance processing, and a flexible "stripless" human machine interface.

The system uses an open architecture design that is adaptable and scaleable to ATM (air traffic management) scenarios ranging from a simple tower automation application to a fully integrated national multi-center system, which Raytheon sees as a low-cost and low-risk solution for the complete spectrum of ATM automation needs.  02-21-2006.  (Top)

Mongolian CAA will Deploy Rannoch's Wide-Area ADS-B

The Civil Aviation Authority of Mongolia (MCAA) will deploy Rannoch's wide-area multilateration ADS-B (automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast) for en route and approach surveillance throughout its territory.

Mongolia's airspace is becoming busier because of increasingly levels of traffic between Europe and China, most of which files over 1,000 kilometers through its airspace.  Then too, the introduction of polar flights between Asia and North America has added to traffic levels as well.  Last year, Mongolia saw nearly 50,000 overflights all together.

There is no civil radar surveillance in Mongolia so the MCAA has had to rely on procedural control and widely spaced separation rules similar to what has been common over oceans.

To improve its immediate situation, the MCAA saw its choice as either implementing traditional radar, or a newer solution such as Rannoch's ADS-B and multilateration technolology.

According to Russell Hulstrom, Rannoch's international vice president, Mongolia's officials became convinced that multilateration and ADS-B could offer greater accuracy, faster update rates, higher availability and better coverage than traditional radar, especially in complex terrain such as Mongolia – and at a fraction of the radar's cost.

Mr. Hulstrom said Rannoch's solution will receive and decode all of the ADS-B traffic over Mongolia, and its active multilateration techniques will ensure full fleet coverage without the need for new avionics.  In addition, it can provide MCAA with independent position information to verify any ADS-B data that is received.

The multi-phase program will commence with the immediate deployment of a system in Ulaan Baatar which will provide coverage of important en route intersection points as well as the approach to the Ulaan Baatar International Airport.  Eventually, the system could be expanded to include all of the major cross-country routes and more than 20 airports in the country.  02-21-2006.  (Top)

British and Spanish ANSPs Launch New ATM Joint Venture

The U.K.'s National Air Traffic Services (NATS) and Spain's Aena (Aeropuertos Españoles y Navegación Aérea) have formed a new commercial joint venture for ATM (air traffic management).

The action is the first time that two ANSPs (air navigation service providers) have collaborated in this way, anywhere in the world.

The new company, to be called SACTA ATM, will develop the Spanish ATC system SACTA (Sistema Automatizado de Control Transito Aéreo) to a point where it is also capable of managing airspace in the U.K.

The SACTA system will be introduced first in Gran Canaria in 2007, followed by its implementation at NATS' new control centers at Prestwick and Swanwick.

The two companies started working together almost three years ago to evaluate SACTA's adaptability for use in the complex airspace over the U.K. Last year they formally signed a memorandum announcing their cooperation leading to this joint venture.

NATS and Aena are also working with Germany's air traffic service provider, DFS (Deutsche Flugsicherung GmbH) to evaluate options for new flight-data processing systems.  02-20-2006.  (Top)

Sensis Develops ADS-B Protocol Enhancements

Sensis Corporation says it has developed ADS-B (automatic dependent surveillance) protocol enhancements that include sender identity authentication, data encryption and greater capacity.

Additionally, Sensis has developed a modified ADS-B which enables the exchange of turbulence and weather data between aircraft and from aircraft to the ground. The company believes these modifications may be suitable to serve as an "ADS-X datalink," that could be used in future 4D trajectory negotiations.  (See recent activities in Sweden, for example.)

ADS-B reports an equipped-aircraft's position, velocity, identification, capability and intentions to air traffic controllers and other aircraft.

Marc Viggiano, the president of Sensis Air Traffic Systems, says that Sensis "pioneered the development and implementation of ADS-B," when it fielded the first operational ADS-B transceivers for both the Mode S ("select" secondary surveillance radar) 1090 MHz ES (extended squitter), and UAT (universal access transceiver) datalinks. Now, Mr. Viggiano says, Sensis is working to more fully realize the benefits of ADS-B, such as a gate-to-gate surveillance system.  02-22-2006.  (Top)

Airservices Australia and SITA to Support Indonesian ADS-B Trial

Airservices Australia and SITA said they have formed an alliance to support an Indonesian trial of ADS-B (automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast).

The trial will include up to five ADS-B receivers deployed at SITA sites throughout a portion of the Indonesian archipelago in order to improve ADS-B coverage across adjacent FIR (flight information region) boundaries.

The move follows a specific ICAO regional recommendation that ADS-B surveillance be introduced in the region starting this year.  Many surveillance coverage gaps exist in the Asia-Pacific region and ANSPs (air navigation service providers) see the technology as an attractive alternative to the higher cost of radar.

Greg Russell, Airservices Australia's CEO, said ICAO's endorsement of ADS-B was a "major factor in our decision" to use the technology to provide surveillance coverage throughout Australia's domestic airspace above 30,000 feet.  Australia is currently in the process of implementing ADS-B throughout its upper-level airspace.  The service should be available by early 2007.

Mr. Russell said ADS-B was ideally suited to nations with large land areas and difficult terrain, as is the case with much of Australia and Indonesia, and noted that his company is ready to help ANSPs in the region to deploy and operate their own ADS-B infrastructure.

In announcing their alliance at the annual air traffic control exhibition in Maastricht this week, Airservices Australia and SITA said they believe that the adoption of a regional ADS-B service model could be useful in other parts of the world as well, such as Africa and Latin America.  02-17-2006.  (Top)

Virgin America Chooses navAero EFB for A320s and A319s

Virgin America will use navAero's class-2 EFB (electronic flight bag) on its fleet of A320s and A319s.

The navAero t∙BagC2² EFB – which the company says is the first-ever class-2 system to be outfitted in the A320 – consists of a mounted portable computer and display hardware platform that can be used during all phases of flight, including taxi, take-off, and landing.

Miami-based Avionics Support Group (ASG) provides the STC (supplemental type certificate) engineering services for the system.

Virgin America intends to launch domestic U.S. scheduled airline service sometime this year from its principal base at San Francisco International.  02-17-2006.  (Top)

EMTEQ Aerospace Offers TAWS and EGPWS STCs With EASA Approvals

EMTEQ Aerospace has obtained approval from the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) to use its FAA STCs (supplemental type certificates) for TAWS (terrain awareness and warning system), and EGPWS (enhanced ground proximity warning system), on a number of regional aircraft, including the Jetstream 31 and 32, the B1900C and D, and the EMB120.

EMTEQ has supported more than 300 EGPWS and Sandel TAWS installation kits and can offer operators the certification, custom engineering, installation kits and LRUs (line replaceable units) needed for turn-key solutions.

More information, including a complete STC/international agency approval listing, is available at www.emteq.com.  One can also call Yannick Ratnayake at 262-679-6106, or email: sales@emteq.com.  02-22-2006.  (Top)

Telenor Offering Free Airtime and Discounted BGAN Equipment

Inmarsat partner Telenor Satellite Services (TSS) is offering free airtime and equipment discounts for customers who trade in old satellite handsets for new BGAN (broadband global area network) terminals.

Under the terms of the program, BGAN users can receive a combination of free airtime and equipment discounts worth up to US $1,500, depending on the terminal model purchased.  TSS has also waived BGAN activation fees and monthly subscription fees.

BGAN is commercially available to customers in Europe, the Middle East, Asia and Africa, with commercial launch throughout the Americas expected in the second quarter of 2006.

The offer will run until the end of June, or while equipment stocks last. More information is available at www.telenorsatellite.com.  02-17-2006.  (Top)

New Flight Explorer Professional Edition Has More Capabilities

Flight Explorer released a new version of its Professional Edition with more capabilities that make planning for weather conditions and air traffic congestion easier.

Professional Edition 6.0 has several novel proprietary interfaces that Flight Explorer says can be easily integrated with operational support systems to meet each customer's unique requirements.  These include:

• Flight Planning System Integration.  Allows user to send route-planning information between Flight Explorer and existing flight planning tools.

• ENSCO Predictive Weather.  Allows user to view predicted graphical weather scenarios from ENSCO six hours ahead.

• NASA FACET Predictive Air Traffic.  FACET (future ATM concepts evaluation tool) gives the user the ability to view anticipated traffic at an airport or airspace sector.

• Enhanced Airport Information.  Allows user to view METARs (meteorological aviation routine weather reports), TAFs (terminal aerodrome forecasts), NOTAMs (notices to airmen), PIREPs (pilot reports), FAA delays, RVR (runway visual range) and Flight Explorer's own diversion summary graphics.

• Runway Visual Range (RVR) Data.  User can determine, in real time, the visibility conditions at any airport runway where the FAA reports RVR.

• Route Check Functionality.  Gives user the ability to view routes in relation to other en route traffic and weather.

• ESRI Shape File Support.  Gives user the ability to import ESRI industry standard vector image files (or create their own) for display of geographical or company specific points (as lines or polygons) that are fully integrated with Flight Explorer.

• 20 Second Data. Gives user the ability to receive aircraft position updates every 20 seconds at 13 U.S. TRACONs (terminal radar approach control) facilities.

02-20-2006.  (Top)

Louisville Working with Rannoch on New ADS-B/Multilateration Applications

Louisville's Regional Airport Authority will use an aircraft flight tracking system, developed by Rannoch Corporation, to monitor operational and environmental parameters, as well as airport billing at both Louisville International  (SDF) and Bowman Field (LOU).

Rannoch says it has worked with the Authority to find new ways to bring value to an airport by integrating its tracking technology with other airport management software to create new applications.

For example, at Louisville, Rannoch integrated its AirScene ADS-B (automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast) and multilateration techniques, with the airport's D-ATIS (digital automated terminal information service), which allows airport managers to automatically produce contra-flow reports directly from the AirScene system into the airport management database.

And because AirScene's ADS-B/multilateration technology has the ability to track aircraft down to the airport surface, Rannoch believes it has some distinct advantages for smaller airports that don't have radar - such as Bowman - on site.

Louisville International, of course, is home to UPS Airlines, and is one of the world's busiest cargo airports.  02-22-2006.  (Top)

Boston First U.S. Airport to Use Web-Based Landing-Fee Billing

Boston Logan has replaced airline "self-reporting" of landing fees with a Web-based program that allows it to either audit an airline's records, or proactively generate landing fee billing information on its own.

The program, PASSUR Pulse, gives Boston instant, detailed landing fee and operations reports from its own database of flight information, and automatically generates appropriate invoices.  All of this can be shared with carriers online.

Logan was the first U.S. airport to adopt the Megadata Corporation system.  02-22-2006.  (Top)

Sensis Adds X-Band Radar Detection to A-SMGCS

Sensis Corporation is adding high-performance radar to its A-SMGCS (advanced-surface movement guidance and control system) to better detect and track aircraft and vehicles in all weather conditions.

The new X-band radar system, called SMRi, can be integrated into any airport surveillance system, according to Sensis.  It uses frequency diversity to enhance its detection ability in all operating environments, along with advanced signal processing techniques to dynamically adapt to changing weather conditions.  Even in very high rainfall rates, it provides up to 40% more detection range than other surface movement radars, Sensis says.

The FAA has already ordered 12 of the systems which will be deployed as part of the agency's ASDE-X (airport surface detection equipment, model X) program.  Connecticut's Bradley International Airport has already received the first SMRi following site acceptance testing there.  02-22-2006.  (Top)

Embry-Riddle Getting New Cessna 172s with Glass Cockpits and ADS-B

Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University has purchased 16 Cessna 172s equipped with Garmin's G1000 integrated cockpit suite and ADS-B (automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast).

The university began installing ADS-B in its fleet in 2003 to give its instructors and students real-time information on potential air traffic threats.

Many of the new planes also will be equipped with autopilots in order to conduct special training in what are described as "technically advanced aircraft."  This is a designation under the FAA Industry Training Standards (FITS) program, which Embry-Riddle researchers helped develop.  FITS uses scenarios designed to prepare students to fly today's automated, high-performance aircraft.

The university is also putting G1000 into its fleet of Frasca level-6 flight training devices.

The new aircraft will arrive at the school's Daytona Beach, Florida, campus by August.  02-17-2006.  (Top)

China Eastern Airlines contracted with EADS EFW to convert three A300-600 passenger aircraft into freighters.  02-22-2006.

Indian Airlines contracted for 20 A319s, four A320s and 19 A321s.  All aircraft will be powered by CFM56-5 engines, even though its current A320 fleet is powered by IAE V2500s.  02-22-2006.

Kingfisher Airlines converted 15 previous options for ATR 72-500s into firm orders, and took an additional 20 options.  The additional aircraft are scheduled to be delivered from 2007 onwards.  02-22-2006.

Shenzhen Airlines took delivery of its first two A319s.  02-21-2006.

Dassault will increase the range of its Falcon 7X from 5,700 nm to 6,000 nm and boost payload by 50 percent, with addition of winglets, fuel tank capacity and higher thrust from its Pratt & Whitney Canada 307A turbofans.  Certification of the 7X is expected early next year.  02-21-2006.

Iberia took delivery of a new A340-600.  02-21-2006.

Hawaiian Airlines signed letters of intent to acquire four B-767-300s rejected by Delta Air Lines during its bankruptcy reorganization.  02-21-2006.

Bombardier is restarting its CL-215T conversion kits program based on nine orders for PW123AF turboprop engines to be installed on the amphibian aircraft from the provinces of Alberta and Saskatchewan, AeroFlite – a private U.S. operator – and Buffalo Airways Ltd of the Northwest Territories, Canada.  02-21-2006.

Southwest Airlines took delivery of its 447^th B-737 from Boeing.  The B-737-700 was the 5,000 B-737 delivered by the air framer since the program's inception.  02-21-2006.

Xiamen Airlines took delivery of its first of five B-737-800s on lease from GECAS.  02-21-2006.

Thomas Cook Airlines will lease a third Trent 700-powered A330-200 from CIT Group for delivery in October.  02-21-2006.

German charter operator Hamburg International ordered 14 A319s along with options for six more.  02-21-2006.

Sierra Aircraft Leasing brought two ex-Northwest DC-9-32s from Fifth Third Leasing.  Meridian Aerospace was exclusive agent for the seller.  02-21-2006.

Royal Air Maroc will upgrade 16 B-737-700s and B-737-800s with blended winglets from Aviation Partners Boeing.  The modification will be accomplished at Royal Air Maroc Engineering & Maintenance Facility in Casablanca.  In addition, Royal Air Maroc will take delivery of 13 shipsets as BFE (buyer furnished equipment) on new 737-700s and -800s it has on order.  02-21-2006.

Citic, China's largest state-owned financial services holding company, purchased a Dassault Falcon 900DX.  While waiting for delivery, which will occur in late 2007, Citic will operate a pre-owned Falcon 2000.  02-21-2006.  (Top)

Iberia flew 3.9 billion RPKs in January, an increase of 3.1% over January 2005. Capacity increased 0.4% to 5.4 billion ASKs.  02-22-2006.

Norwegian flew 226 million RPKs in January, while its capacity was 313 million ASKs.  02-22-2006.

Thai Airways earned THB3.81 billion ($96.7 million) in the three months ended December 31, a decrease of 33.4% from the year-ago quarter.  Revenues increased 6.5% to THB45.88 billion, while expenses increased 10.3% to THB40.59 billion.  02-22-2006.

Republic Airways, the operator of Republic Airlines, Chautauqua Airlines and Shuttle America, reported a net income of $18.5 million in the fourth quarter ended December 31, an increase of 25% over earnings of $14.8 million in the year-ago quarter.  Revenues increased 33.5% to $251.8 million, while expenses increased 28.4% to $202 million.  For the year, Republic earned $60.6 million compared to $38.8 million in 2004.  Operating revenues increased 40% to $905 million while expenses increased 34.5% to $746.3 million.  02-22-2006.

Finnair lost €2.9 million ($3.4 million) in the quarter ended December 31 compared to a profit of €3.9 million in same 2004 quarter. Operating revenues increased 10.6% to €496.7 million while expenses increased 14.8% to €500.9 million.  For the year, Finnair earned €61.4 million, compared to €25.6 million in 2005.  Operating revenues increased 12.1% to €1.91 billion while expenses increased 9.2% to €1.83 billion.  02-22-2006. 

Qantas earned A$352.6 million ($261.3 million) in the six months ended December 31, a decrease of 9.6% from A$390.2 million in the year-ago period.  Revenues increased 8.5% to A$6.85 billion, while expenses increased 10.8% to A$6.34 billion.  02-22-2006.

Air France-KLM reported net earnings of €77 million ($91.7 million) in the third fiscal quarter ended December 31, compared to €23 million in the year-ago quarter. Turnover increased 12.4% to €5.43 billion in the quarter from €4.83 billion in the same 2004 quarter.  Operating expenses increased 8.9%.  For the nine-month period, the company's net earnings increased 24% to €906 million.  Revenues increased 9.4% to €16.25 billion, while operating expenses increased 6.9% to €15.3 billion.  02-22-2006.

Dragonair flew 530 million RPKs in January 2006, an increase of 17.1% compared to January 2004.  Capacity increased 17.0%.  02-22-2006.

Preliminary figures from the U.S. Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) show that reporting airlines carried 606.4 million domestic passengers during the first 11 months of 2005, up from the 581.6 million carried between January and November 2004.  The passengers were carried on 9,246,862 million flights, 1,140 fewer than the 9,248,002 million flights operated in 2004.  In other domestic comparisons from the first 11 months of 2004 to the first 11 months of 2005:

• RPMs (revenue passenger miles) were up 4.7%.

• ASMs (available seat-miles) were up 1.1%.

• Passenger load factor was up 2.6 points.

For the month of November 2005, reporting airlines carried 52.1 million domestic passengers, 0.2% more than in November 2004. These passengers were carried on 775,059 flights, down 6.2% from the 826,353 flights operated in November 2004.  In other month-to-month domestic comparisons from November 2004 to November 2005:

• RPMs were up 2.3%.

• ASMs were down 2.2%.

• Passenger load factor was up 3.3 points.

Additional data can be found at http://transtats.bts.gov.   Click on “Aviation,” then on “Air Carrier Statistics (Form 41 Traffic),” then click on “T-100 Domestic Market.”   02-22-2006.

The Association of European Airlines reported that 80.7% of its members' short- and medium-haul flights departed within 15 minutes of schedule in 2005, compared with 82.7% in 2004.  For long-haul flights, 70.8% took off within 15 minutes of schedule, down from 72.6% in 2004.  02-21-2006.

Dassault had 123 firm orders for its Falcon business jets in 2005, which it described as its best year ever, and the first time it sold more than 100 Falcons in a single year.  02-21-2006..

ANA Group reported a consolidated net profit of ¥10 billion for the third quarter of the 2005 financial year (October 1 to December 31, 2005).  Revenue was ¥347 billion.  02-21-2006.

Delta Air Lines reported a loss of $3.82 billion during 2005, a 26.5% improvement over a 2004 loss of $5.2 billion. .In the fourth quarter ended December 31, Delta lost $1.23 billion, a decrease of 44% from its $2.21 loss in the year-ago quarter.  Annual operating revenue increased 6.3% to $16.19 billion while expenses decreased 1.9% to $18.19 billion. 02-21-2006.

Hawaiian flew 577.9 million RPMs in January, a 9.3% increase from January 2005. Capacity increased 6.2% to 660.2 million ASMs. 02-21-2006.

Bombardier delivered 337 aircraft for its fiscal year ended January 31, 2006, compared to 329 in its previous fiscal year.  In the business aircraft segment, 186 units were delivered, a 45% increase compared to 128 for the same period last year. Deliveries in the regional aircraft segment totaled 149 aircraft compared to 200 for the same period last year.  02-21-2006.

The General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA) reported its industry billings totaled $15.1 billion in 2005, a 27.2% increase over 2004. Year-end, worldwide shipments of general aviation airplanes totaled 3,580 units for 2005, a 20.8% increase over 2004’s total of 2,963 units.  Piston airplane shipments were up 20.2% – 2,051 in 2004 to 2,465 in 2005. Turboprops were up 13.7% – 321 units in 2004 to 365 units in 2005. Business jets were up 20.8% – 591 units in 2004 to 750 in 2005.  02-21-2006.

Cathay Pacific flew 6.08 billion RPKs in January, an increase of 12.5% compared to January 2005. Capacity increased 11.4% to 7.56 billion ASKs. 02-21-2006.

Northwest Airlines flew 5.43 billion RPMs in January, a 6.7% decrease from the year-ago month.  Capacity decreased 11.5% to 6.71 billion ASMs.  02-21-2006.

Air Canada's mainline division flew 3.5 billion RPMs in January, an increase of 2.7% compared to January 2005.  Capacity increased 2.2% over the year-ago month to 4.48 billion ASMs.  02-21-2006.

Lufthansa flew 8 billion RPKs in January, an increase of 0.8% over January 2005, while capacity increased 2.6% to 11.13 billion ASKs.  02-21-2006.

The U.K.'s National Air Traffic Services (NATS) handled 177,402 flights in January, an increase of 5.6% over January 2005.  02-21-2006.

For the fourth quarter ended December 31, SkyWest Airlines had a net income of $38.7 million, an 82% increase from the year earlier period. Revenues were $742 million, an increase of 127% over the year-ago period.  For the year 2005 the airline reported a net income of $112.3 million, an increase of 37% increase compared to 2004.  Operating revenue increased 70% to $2 billion.  02-21-2006.

MAIR Holdings, the parent of Mesaba and Big Sky Airlines, reported a net loss of $4.5 million for the third quarter ended December 31 compared to a net profit of $1.5 million for the same period a year ago. Total operating revenues were $21.2 million and operating expenses were $28.3 million.  02-21-2006.

Norwegian reported a profit of NOK26.8 million ($4 million) for 2005, compared to a NOK109.8 million loss in 2004.  Operating revenues for the year increased 63% to NOK1.97 billion while expenses increased 44.1% to NOK1.79 billion.  The carrier's fourth-quarter earnings were NOK2.3 million compared to a loss of NOK31.2 million in the year-ago quarter.  It marked the carrier's first yearly profit since launching its low-cost operation in 2002.  02-21-2006.

SAS Group had a net income of SEK255 million ($32.9 million) compared to a SEK1.77 billion loss in 2004.  Full-year revenues increased 6.5% to SEK61.89 billion.  For the fourth quarter ended December 31, SAS Group had net income of SEK198 million compared to a loss of SEK627 million in 2004.  Operating revenues increased 8% to SEK16.29 billion.  02-21-2006.  (Top)

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