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Wingman: Available Technologies Might Have Saved Comair 5191
Wingman believes several technologies, already available and in use, might have prevented the Comair accident at Lexington, and should be more broadly considered as a way to reduce accidents in the taxi, takeoff and landing phases of flight.

Eurocontrol: A Number of Airlines Interested In Datalink Project
Eurocontrol says a number of airlines have responded positively to its "call for interest" regarding its Pioneer Airline Project to help advance aeronautical datalink applications, including ADS-B (automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast) and CPDLC (controller-pilot datalink communications).

Starling's New Ultra-Small Satcom Antenna Close to Ready
Starling Advanced Communication Ltd. says its new fuselage-mounted antenna for airliners has successfully passed its airworthiness test bringing it closer to readiness for customer offering.  The test antenna was mounted on a B-737.

Iridium Opens New Alaskan Satellite Constellation Control Center
Iridium Satellite opened a new telemetry, tracking and command/control (TTAC) station in Fairbanks, Alaska, to provide more redundancy, flexibility and reliability for its satellite-based global mobile communication network.

Kansai Chooses L-3 Communications Baggage Screening Systems
Japan's second largest international airport, Kansai International (KIX), will use two types of baggage screening systems from L-3 Communications Security and Detection Systems.

LOT Offering Passengers Use of New Portable Media Player from IMS
LOT Polish Airlines is the first airline to fly with IMS's ("Innovative Media Solutions") newest portable media player in business class on its transatlantic B-767 flights.

Lumexis Introducing "HDTV to Every Seat"
Lumexis Corporation says it will introduce an IFE (in-flight entertainment) system that offers broadband high-definition television to every passenger seat at the upcoming (September 12-15) WAEA Conference and Exhibition in Miami Beach, Florida.

Ryanair to Offer OnAir's In-Flight Mobile Phone Access
Ryanair and OnAir have agreed to equip the airline's entire fleet of B-737s with OnAir's onboard mobile communications service, making the low-cost carrier the first European airline to offer communications services, including voice, to all of its passengers via their own mobile devices on all of its routes.

Cessna Selects L-3 FDAUs and FDRs for Citation CJ3 and Encores
Cessna has selected L-3 Communications Aviation Recorders (L-3 AR), a division of L-3 Communications Corporation, to supply the FDAU (flight data acquisition unit) and FDR (flight data recorder) for its Citation CJ3 and Encore+ models.

ARINC Uses Dataprobe Technology at Japan's Narita Airport
Dataprobe, a manufacturer of networking technology systems, partnered with ARINC to provide Narita's Terminal 1 with a congruent, efficient and dependable data communications infrastructure.

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Wingman: Available Technologies Might Have Saved Comair 5191

Wingman believes several technologies, already available and in use, might have prevented the Comair accident at Lexington, and should be more broadly considered as a way to reduce accidents in the taxi, takeoff and landing phases of flight.

On August 27^th a Canadair CRJ200ER operating as Delta Connection Comair 5191, crashed on takeoff from Lexington Kentucky's Blue Grass Airport.  Forty-seven passengers and two crewmembers were killed, including the captain.  The first officer, who was operating the aircraft during the takeoff, survived.

By all accounts the pilots attempted to takeoff on Lexington's Runway 26, which is 3,500 feet long, rather than Runway 22, for which the flight was cleared.  It was still dark (pre-dawn) and there may have been light drizzle as the aircraft taxied out.  Runway 22 is Lexington's main runway and is 7003 feet long.  Tragically, however, the pilot's took off on Runway 26, which is only 3500' in length - apparently not long enough for a CRJ200 with its weight that morning.

The U.S. National Transportation Safety Board is of course investigating and the world will have to wait for its official results.  But as frequently happens following accidents whose cause seem so obvious - in this case human error - calls for changes begin to emerge.  Most of these, up to now, have dealt with tower staffing issues and the status of the airport's configuration, particularly Runway 26.

Wingman suggests we take a larger view, especially how new technologies that are now available, or are emerging might have at some point prevented this accident from happening.

Some of these technologies that are becoming more commonly adopted: One, Honeywell's RAAS (runway awareness and advisory system), may be the most applicable to this accident.  Others, such as enhanced vision would have given the crew an image of the runway that could have indicated their mistake, and some synthetic vision systems might also have been very helpful if the right cues would have been displayed.

RAAS

If the Comair aircraft had been equipped with Honeywell's RAAS, an automated female voice would have announced, "Approaching 26," as the aircraft approached the first following its starting point.  If, following that alert, the mistake continued, when the captain lined up, the female voice would have announced, "On Runway 26," which of course was the wrong runway.

But even if the crew had missed or ignored these advisories, RAAS would have announced when reaching the first 100 feet of the 3,500-foot runway:  "3,400 remaining," and would have continued to call out the distance if the takeoff continued, according to Tommy Littlejohn, Honeywell Aerospace's director of flight operations.

In other words, at some early point, when the aircraft was still in a relatively low energy state, the pilots might have become aware of their error, and could have avoided their terrible "catch-22" choice of proceeding to an under speed takeoff, or attempting an extremely dangerous high-speed abort off the runway end.

EVS and/or SVS

One can assume that if the pilot's could see the entire runway environment as they taxied, they wouldn't have turned onto, lined up with, and continued their takeoff on a runway that was obviously too short.  Several of today's EVS (enhanced vision systems) can give pilots that ability - especially when the only obscuration is darkness.  And if one or both pilots had the added advantage of seeing the outside world through a head-up display, the mistake would have been even more apparent, immediate and compelling.

EVS of course is a powerful aid when visibility is obscured by weather phenomena too, and is especially useful when combined with a modern head-up guidance system that gives pilots very precise guidance during approach, landing and takeoff where a large percentage of accidents still occur.

SVS (synthetic vision systems), too, would have given the pilots strong visual indications that they were on the wrong runway, and has many of the same positive attributes of EVS, which again is especially useful when combined with precise flight guidance.

GPS-Based Surface Guidance

Other surface guidance systems that use GPS and geographical databases to accurately depict the aircraft's position on the airport surface in real time (so-called moving maps) are also obviously relevant to avoiding accidents such as this.

ADS-B and ASDE

Broadcast automatic dependent surveillance (ADS-B), by itself, and ASDE (airport surface detection equipment), including its improved variations such as ASDE-X can also be very useful, but are indirect, in that they are showing someone else (a ground controller or another pilot) the error, and would rely on the information being quickly passed on to the crew.

History of Accidents On or Around Airports

The Lexington accident represents the deadliest case in the U.S. of a plane taking off on an unintended runway, and fortunately this kind of accident has been relatively rare.  In fact, aviation accidents of all types have been decreasing for years.

Overall the accident rate worldwide for commercial aviation has been falling fairly dramatically especially during the period between 1950 and 1970, largely due to the introduction of new technology during this period.  This includes more reliable jet aircraft and their modern systems and a greatly improved radar-based air traffic control.  Added to that have been a myriad of other technological advancements ranging from artificial horizons, weather radar and VOR and ILS navigation in the middle of the last century, to autopilots and flight directors, to today's commonly used flight management systems and better situational displays, as well as safety-specific technologies such as TAWS (terrain awareness and warning system) and TCAS (traffic alert and collision avoidance system).

Still, we have a few accidents such as this one at Lexington, and too many of these occur on or near the ground.

According to Boeing's most recent "Statistical Summary of Commercial Jet Airplane Accidents," which covers worldwide operations between 1959 and 2005, over two-thirds (69%) of serious accidents (hull loss and/or fatalities), occurred during takeoff, initial climb, and on final approach and landing.  Of these, 12% occurred on takeoff and 52% on final approach and landing, where these technologies are most pertinent. 

Technology isn't the only answer of course.  Attention to human factors while designing and certifying equipment, and developing procedures and training, have been, and will continue to be, crucial in safety improvements.  Appropriate regulatory oversight is also necessary.

In addition, economic choices are a fact of life too, and even safety improvements must be subjected to cost versus benefit analysis. But fortunately, as technology matures, its cost usually comes down.  Honeywell's RAAS reportedly now costs about $18,000, and is likely less for bulk purchases.

Technology is important but shouldn't be used to take human beings out of the loop.  Rather, technology should enhance aircraft operations by providing additional information which allows humans to make better choices and avoid senseless errors.

Regarding the Lexington accident, one columnist wrote: "[T]he crash is a grim reminder that high-tech equipment still requires human oversight…. Maybe we all rely too much on technology to do our work and keep us safe... Everything was working properly, on board and in the tower, except the people."

This observation misses the mark.  This accident was obviously a human error, but it wasn't because of an over reliance on technology.  Wingman believes this tragedy should cause us to continue to use our human ingenuity to develop technology to overcome our natural predilection to sometime make mistakes.  09-06-2006.  (Top)

Qantas Getting Ready for More RNP Approaches

Qantas said it is finishing proving flights using RNP (required navigation performance) on its B-737-800s into and out of Cairns, and expects to be using the new procedures there later this month.

The airline's B-737-800 fleet is equipped with dual GPS as well as dual Smiths Aerospace FMS (flight management systems) to give them RNP capability.  And, although not necessary for RNP, Qantas also equipped these airplanes with Rockwell Collins Flight Dynamics HUDs (head-up displays) to enhance their takeoff, approach, and landing capability.

Qantas sought RNP capability because it means these equipped aircraft will be able to fly more reliable and predictable flight paths that result in shorter distances flown, and in turn, reduced fuel burned along with its inevitable emission pollution, and in some cases, less noise.

Captain Chris Manning, Qantas' chief pilot said that the Australia's Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) had approved Qantas to operate RNP flights at other Australian airports at Sydney and Canberra.  The Gold Coast, Townsville, Hobart, Ayers Rock Uluru and Alice Springs will get the capability in late September.  U.S.-based Naverus has partnered with Qantas and CASA to help develop these procedures.

Qantas currently operates 121 flights each week into and out of Cairns, of which 47 are operated by B-737-800s.  09-04-2006.  (Top)

Air China Begins RNP Approach at Tibet's Nyingchi Airport

Air China has fitted four B-757s with RNP (required navigation performance) capability to enable them to fly a route into Tibet's mountainous Nyingchi Prefecture close to India and Myanmar.

Nyingchi is the third civilian airport located in the Tibet Autonomous Region, after Lhasa and Qamdo, to use the more accurate navigation procedures that were developed with the help of Naverus.  Because of its location in challenging terrain, which often experiences poor weather conditions, the airport is considered difficult to fly into and has been frequently closed to fight operations.

Besides helping to develop the RNP procedures that Air China is now using, Naverus also provided guidance to the Civil Aviation Authority of China (CAAC) as it authored that nation's regulations for RNP, and collaborated with that agency and the FAA to review China's first-ever application for RNP operations approval.

Air China's B-757s are equipped with multiple-sensor FMS (flight management systems) and GPS to allow the aircraft to fly complex approach and departure flight profiles, with a substantially greater accuracy than is possible with simple RNAV (area navigation).  RNP ensures that the aircraft follows the required vertical, as well as horizontal flight profiles by continuously comparing aircraft position to defined containment boundaries and alerting the pilots of any deviations.

According to the Xinhua news agency, equipping the B-757s cost 24 million yuan (about $ 3 million U.S.).  09-04-2006.  (Top)

FLIR Systems Introducing New Enhanced Vision System

FLIR Systems, Inc. is launching a new "low-cost" and "compact" thermal imager designed to enhance the visibility of fixed-wing and rotary-wing pilots during airport surface and approach operations.

Priced under $15,000, FLIR Systems says its new Ninox vision enhancement system costs considerably less than competing systems, and is also one of the smallest and lightest.

The Ninox uses an infrared detector to create a real-time 320X240 thermal image that can be displayed on any multi-functional display with an auxiliary input.

FLIR says Ninox will enhance a pilot's ability to see terrain, runways and taxiways, as well as obstacles, in darkness as well as haze, smoke, light fog or dust conditions.

Product deliveries will begin later this fall.  09-02-2006.  (Top)

Eurocontrol: A Number of Airlines Interested In Datalink Project

Eurocontrol says a number of airlines have responded positively to its "call for interest" regarding its Pioneer Airline Project to help advance aeronautical datalink applications, including ADS-B (automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast) and CPDLC (controller-pilot datalink communications).

The Project is part of Eurocontrol's CASCADE program to implement Europe's first set of ADS-B applications and increase the services provided by CPDLC as well as other datalink functionality.

Responding airlines included Lufthansa, Cyprus Airways, SAS, ATI, CCM, Hapagfly, Ryanair, Air France Regional, Aegean Airlines, UPS, Air Europa, British Airways and Dassault Flight Services.  Their route networks, the current status of their Mode S transponders and the cost will determine who will get a contract, Eurocontrol said.  A decision is expected by the end of October.  09-06-2006.  (Top)

Starling's New Ultra-Small Satcom Antenna Close to Ready

Starling Advanced Communication Ltd. says its new fuselage-mounted antenna for airliners has successfully passed its airworthiness test bringing it closer to readiness for customer offering.  The test antenna was mounted on a B-737.

The new MIJET bidirectional Ku-band antenna system - which Starling describes as the "world's fastest" - is suited to all commercial aircraft, including narrow body models, and for virtually any advanced application, according to the company.  It is lightweight and  ultra-small (diameter 30" - 75 cm, height 6" - 15 cm), and has a transmission bit rate of up to 1.25 Mbps and reception bit rate from 10 to 15 Mbps.

The MIJET antenna family is based on Starling's patent-pending CoMPA (coherent multi-panel antenna) technology, which combines transmission/reception capabilities with advanced signal processing, making it possible to build exceptionally small, low-profile antennas that can house all of the system's electronic units.  And because CoMPA can support varied elevation angles, it enables more consistent global coverage, Starling says.

Starling's MIJET line also includes - an ultra-small (diameter 16" - 40 cm, height 4" - 10 cm), bidirectional airborne Ku-band antenna for business jets, dubbed MiniMIJET for business jets that has a transmission rate of up to 384 Kbps and a reception bit rate from 3 to 5 Mbps.

The new antenna systems will enable in-flight entertainment and applications, such as the Internet, PDA (personal digital assistant), VoIP (voice over Internet protocol), email, mobile phone, video conferencing, instant messaging and various entertainment applications, including live TV, using the same devices, at the same service level as on the ground.

Jacob Keret, Starling's vice president of marketing and sales, says his company plans to offer the antenna system to airborne satcom integrators and service providers who want to introduce innovative and much more affordable systems for airlines.  09-05-2006.  (Top)

Iridium Opens New Alaskan Satellite Constellation Control Center

Iridium Satellite opened a new telemetry, tracking and command/control (TTAC) station in Fairbanks, Alaska, to provide more redundancy, flexibility and reliability for its satellite-based global mobile communication network.

The 12-acre TTAC (tracking and command/control) site has three Iridium earth terminals, to which the company plans to add two more this year and another three in 2007.

Since the orbits of the Iridium satellite constellation intersect over the North Pole, the new ground station will augment visibility and access to the constellation, and will provide remote access to the satellites from Iridium's other existing gateways.  09-05-2006.  (Top)

Kansai Chooses L-3 Communications Baggage Screening Systems

Japan's second largest international airport, Kansai International (KIX), will use two types of baggage screening systems from L-3 Communications Security and Detection Systems.

As part of an integrated, inline baggage screening arrangement, Kansai will install eight L-3 VIS 108 multi-level image detection and analysis systems and four eXaminer 3DX automated EDS (explosives detection systems).

The automated VIS 108, screens up to 1,800 bags per hour, and can handle large, out-of-gauge objects.  The eXaminer 3DX, which L-3 says weighs significantly less than other high-throughput systems and needs little floor space, will be used to complement the VIS 108 machines.  09-06-2006.  (Top)

LOT Offering Passengers Use of New Portable Media Player from IMS

LOT Polish Airlines is the first airline to fly with IMS's ("Innovative Media Solutions") newest portable media player in business class on its transatlantic B-767 flights.

The airline has equipped seven 767s with ARCHOS P700 portable players that offer its passengers eight movies, several hours of television, 100 audio CDs, and games, as part of a turnkey service, provided by IMS.

The ARCHOS player has a 7" high resolution screen and weighs less than 1.5 pounds. LOT can stow more than 70 units in a half cart, according to Alan Pellegrini, IMS's CEO.  LOT's players have a 40GB hard drive with a capacity of more than eighty hours of video content.  Another version with a 100GB hard drive can store more than 200 hours of video content.

The IMS strategy is to leverage and "repurpose" COTS (consumer rather than commercial off-the-shelf) technology, with content security, optimized encoding, and GUI (graphical user interface) features, and to modify its supply chain and content delivery infrastructure to accommodate it.

Referring to the LOT deal, Mr. Pellegrini said, "This is the first ARCHOS-based portable implementation."

Mr. Pellegrini says IMS is offering airlines an end-to-end content solution, beginning with these light-weight portable devices, and a content delivery network that is approved by all major content providers worldwide.  09-05-2006.  (Top)

Lumexis Introducing "HDTV to Every Seat"

Lumexis Corporation says it will introduce an IFE (in-flight entertainment) system that offers broadband high-definition television to every passenger seat at the upcoming (September 12-15) WAEA Conference and Exhibition in Miami Beach, Florida. 

The capability is made possible through the company's proprietary fiber optic technology, called FTTS (fiber-to-the-seat), which can bring Gigabit-per-second bandwidth to each individual seat, or support large overhead high-definition monitors for an entire cabin area.  09-05-2006.  (Top)

Ryanair to Offer OnAir's In-Flight Mobile Phone Access

Ryanair and OnAir have agreed to equip the airline's entire fleet of B-737s with OnAir's onboard mobile communications service, making the low-cost carrier the first European airline to offer communications services, including voice, to all of its passengers via their own mobile devices on all of its routes.

OnAir intends to fit 50 of Ryanair's aircraft during the second half of 2007, and the remainder of the fleet from early 2008 onwards.  Assuming the necessary approvals from regulators, the airlines' passengers will be able to call and transmit messages with their mobile phones and PDAs (personal digital assistants) starting in mid-2007,with rates close to typical international roaming charges.

The onboard system, which is being called, Mobile OnAir, will use a low-power GSM (global system for mobile communications) cellular "picocell" base station installed on the cabin ceiling to allow passengers to make and receive calls, exchange SMS (short message service) text, and emails, via an Inmarsat SwiftBroadband satellite link, and a ground network to be supplied by OnAir's telecom infrastructure partner, Monaco Telecom.

Under its arrangement with OnAir, Ryanair will receive a commission from on call revenues generated by passengers while on board its aircraft.  09-03-2006.  (Top)

Cessna Selects L-3 FDAUs and FDRs for Citation CJ3 and Encores

Cessna has selected L-3 Communications Aviation Recorders (L-3 AR), a division of L-3 Communications Corporation, to supply the FDAU (flight data acquisition unit) and FDR (flight data recorder) for its Citation CJ3 and Encore+ models.

L-3 AR's flight data units were specifically designed for business aircraft applications and Cessna saw them as well suited for its new requirements to monitor additional flight data parameters at faster data sample rates than previous systems would allow.

According to L-3 AR, both its FDAU and FDR incorporate the same state-of-the-art solid state electronics, and its FDR is capable of recording 25 hours of high-data-rate flight and maintenance data.  09-01-2006.  (Top)

ARINC Uses Dataprobe Technology at Japan's Narita Airport

Dataprobe, a manufacturer of networking technology systems, partnered with ARINC to provide Narita's Terminal 1 with a congruent, efficient and dependable data communications infrastructure.

Narita recently awarded ARINC a contract to optimize the data communications infrastructure within the new terminal.  ARINC in turn chose to deploy Dataprobe's K-16 Series switches in the core of the network - which was atypical because of its numerous connections - to provide remote management capabilities, automated fault detection, and a reliable switchover capability in order to create a fault-tolerant system.

Terminal 1, with its 37 gates, officially opened on June 2nd, and features a record 126 CUSS (common-use self-service) check-in kiosks and desks to accommodate Star Alliance airlines including ANA, Air Canada, Asiana Airlines, Austrian Airlines, Lufthansa, SAS Scandinavian Airlines, Swiss International Air Lines, Singapore Airlines, Thai Airways, and United Airlines.  09-03-2006.  (Top)

The first B-737-900ER (extended range) flew its maiden flight, marking the beginning of a five-month flight test program leading to certification by the FAA and the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) by early 2007.  Boeing currently has orders for 80 737-900ERs from Lion Air, GE Commercial Aviation Services (GECAS), Sky Airlines, Continental Airlines and SpiceJet.  Additionally, Futura International Airways and Excel Airways will begin operating 737-900ERs on lease from GECAS in 2008.  09-06-2006. 

Magnum Jet has acquired 50 Phenom 100 executive jets and has placed an option for an additional 50 aircraft that could be either Phenom 100s or 300s. The first aircraft should be delivered in early 2009. This contract is included in the previously announced order backlog of June 30th, 2006, which consists of firm orders for over 235 Phenom jets.  09-06-2006.

Sweden’s FlyMe will triple its fleet to 15 aircraft with the acquisition of Astraeus, a U.K. charter carrier. Astraeus operates four B-757-200s, four B-737-300s and two B-737-700s.  FlyMe has five B-737-300s. 09-06-2006.

Flybe took delivery of its first Embraer 195.  As launch carrier for the type, Flybe ordered 14 Embraer 195s and options on another 12.  09-06-2006.

Heritage Flight added a 2003 model King Air C90B to the fleet. The charter operator now operates three King Air C90Bs, an Encore, an Excel and a Challenger 601. 09-06-2006.

US Airways Group placed a new firm order for seven A321-200s, and converted eight pre-existing orders for seven A319s and one A320 to eight A321s. The airline has not yet announced its engine selection for these aircraft. 09-06-2006.

Cathay Pacific Airways took delivery of its 100th aircraft, an A330-300. The airline has 36 more aircraft currently on firm order, including five more A330-300s.  09-06-2006.

Cessna delivered the 100th Citation CJ3 today to Jeffrey Mark, the principal owner of an Arizona-based real estate development corporation.  09-06-2006.

Boeing confirmed a previously unidentified Air Sahara order for 10 B-737-800s that was placed in the first quarter of 2006. Deliveries of the aircraft – equipped with blended winglets – should begin in the middle of 2009.  09-06-2006.

Dniproavia purchased a B-737-300 from Volition Aviation.  09-06-2006.

Lockheed Martin's advanced Skunk Works unit is designing a small, 12-seat passenger jet for a Nevada consortium called Supersonic Aerospace International, or SAI. The130-foot-long aircraft dubbed the QSST is being designed at an estimated cost of $2.5 billion. It should cruise at about Mach 1.8, but with a sonic boom less than a hundredth of the Concorde's aural impact.  It could be ready for passenger operations by 2013, according to SAI.  09-06-2006.

Sierra Industries has obtained a supplementary type certificate (STC) to install Williams FJ44-2A engines on Cessna Citation 500s and 501s series, to replace the airplane’s original P&WC JT15Ds to give the 30-year-old jets more modern performance and endurance capability.  09-06-2006.  (Top)

OAG Worldwide reports that Southwest Airlines, Ryanair and other low-cost carriers around the world have doubled their capacity in the past four years. Low-cost carriers are offering 46 million seats on more than 323,000 flights this month compared with 22 million seats on 169,000 flights in September 2002, according to OAG, and budget airlines now account for 17% of all seats on sale worldwide.  The Asia-Pacific region is outperforming the rest of the world, with a 63% increase to two million seats on sale this month compared with a year earlier.  China is "very new" to discount travel and is growing fast, OAG said.  Discount airlines worldwide have increased flights by 14% in the year to Sept. 30, compared with a 2% increase for the world air transport total.  European low-cost airlines have added 15,000 flights, an 18% from a year earlier, while the U.S. low-cost sector has eliminated 1,800 flights, a decrease of 1%.  09-06-2006.

A forthcoming Teal Group market study, previewed at the AUVSI Unmanned Systems North America 2006, estimates that worldwide UAV (unmanned air vehicle) spending will more than triple over the next decade.  UAV expenditures will increase from $2.7 billion to $8.3 billion annually over the next decade, totaling close to $55 billion in the next ten years.  The Group anticipates that a civil UAV market will slowly emerge over the next decade, starting first with government organizations requiring surveillance systems such as coast guards, border patrol organizations and similar national security organizations.  09-06-2006.

The International Air Transport Association, in a revision of its 2006 forecast, now estimates that airlines will lose US$1.7 billion for the year, which is a significant improvement from its previous loss forecast of US$3.0 billion it released in June.  IATA attributed the change to lower than expected oil prices and higher airline revenues.  The association expects the North American industry to return to operating profitability this year, and European airlines should see their profits rise to US$1.8 billion.  Asian airlines continue to have a projected US$1.7 billion profit, IATA says.  09-06-2006.

Bombardier Aerospace delivered 16 CRJ-900s during its second quarter, down 51.5% from 33 CRJ deliveries in the year-ago quarter. It also delivered 10 turboprop models, which resulted in a 33.3% reduction in its overall regional aircraft deliveries for the period.  Through the first six months of its fiscal year, the company has booked net orders for 28 regional aircraft, a 48.1% decrease from 54 net orders in the 2005 period.  09-06-2006.  (Top)

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