ATW Daily News
Other NewsWednesday November 19, 2008 Southwest Airlines Pilots' Assn. President Carl Kuwitzky last week told union members that he "cannot support" the carrier's new codeshare agreements with Mexico's Volaris and Canada's WestJet. In a letter obtained by the Dallas Morning News, he said that the alliances have "the potential to severely affect the career of all pilots on our seniority list." Regarding Volaris in particular (ATWOnline, Nov. 11), he claimed that SWA "is risking brand dilution by association with an unknown carrier."Kuwitzky referenced SWA's partnership with defunct ATA Airlines, writing that it "resulted in numerous customer service and operational problems that reflected poorly on Southwest Airlines." He claimed that SWAPA pilots "could do some transborder flying and completely control our brand image" and that "overwhelming membership feedback" indicated that the codeshares are a "significant thorn in the side of our members" as SWA cuts capacity (ATWOnline, Oct. 17).
US federal court sided with United Airlines and imposed a preliminary injunction against UA pilots represented by the Air Line Pilots Assn. for "instigating a sickout among United's junior pilots in July" in violation of labor laws (ATWOnline, July 31, 2007), ordering ALPA to cease similar activities. The court said the union encouraged pilots to engage in "conduct that would increase flight delays and cancellations, as well as the airline's operating costs."
UA said "hundreds of flights" were cancelled, costing it "millions of dollars in lost revenues" when pilots engaged in "a deliberate, organized and unlawful campaign of sick leave abuse" to protest capacity cuts and layoffs. ALPA said it would "fully comply with the court's order," adding that it "has already advised the United pilots that it remains essential not to engage in any form of economic action."
Los Angeles International Airport will modernize its Bradley International Terminal in a $2 billion project that will replace existing remote gates with new terminal gates capable of handling A380s and 787s. The Bradley West development will feature two new concourses, a central core and taxiway, with the first set of new gates to be in service in 2012 and completion expected in 2013. By 2012, according to Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, "LAX is expected to serve more A380 flights than any other airport in North America." He noted that the design "still has to undergo a rigorous environmental review process." Denver's Fentress Architects created the design concept, which includes flat-seam stainless steel roofs over column-free structures.
Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi yesterday said he "spoke about Alitalia" with German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Trieste and claimed they "very much agree in looking with favor on the possibility of collaboration between Alitalia and Lufthansa and we hope it will happen," the Associated Press reported. AZ reportedly is cancelling up to 100 flights per day as wildcat strikes continue in protest of Compagnia Aerea Italia's €1 billion ($1.25 billion) takeover (ATWOnline, Nov. 14). The extent of a potential AZ/LH cooperation was not revealed, but reports suggest CAI intends to invite either LH or Air France KLM to invest in up to 20% of the re-launched airline.
para los de AM
US FAA issues emergency AD on 737NGsThursday November 20, 2008 US FAA issued an emergency airworthiness directive late Tuesday requiring inspection of all 737NG center wing tank fuel pump autoshutoff wiring systems within 48 hr., warning that "incorrect wiring" could lead to "localized overheating of parts inside the fuel pump [that] could produce an ignition source inside the fuel tank."The agency said it received a report of "failure of the left-hand fuel pump of the center wing tank to shut off after being selected 'off' by the flightcrew during flight" on a 737-700 and subsequently the failure was found on two additional 737NGs. According to the AD, "Information indicates that the autoshutoff system appears to function normally; however, when the flightcrew manually turns off the CWT pump switches, that action turns off the right-hand pump, but re-energizes the left-hand pump due to incorrect wiring. The low-pressure lights turn off, incorrectly indicating. . .that power to both pumps has been removed." Consequently, pilots could be unaware that the left-hand fuel pump is still running, potentially causing overheating and ignition.FAA is requiring airlines that operate 737NGs that have the autoshutoff system for center wing fuel pumps to verify that "the wiring is correctly installed" as well as to conduct a "functional test of the autoshutoff system." Carriers are required to take applicable corrective actions and to report both positive and negative findings to Boeing. The agency noted that the left-hand fuel pump of the CWT "may be deactivated" for up to 10 days if the required tests cannot be conducted within 48 hr."The inspection report that is required by this AD will enable the manufacturer to obtain better insight into the nature, cause and extent of the failure. . .and eventually to develop final action to address the unsafe condition," FAA said, adding that it may issue a further rulemaking as more information becomes available.
by Aaron Karp
by Aaron Karp
