REGIONAL AVIATION NEWS :: MAY 5, 2008

PNCL Expects Performance Penalties, $5M Loss at Colgan,
While it completes its first quarter 2008 financial statement, Pinnacle filed with the Security and Exchange Commission a statement lowering its earnings expectations because of an expected $5 million first quarter operating loss at Colgan Air, its wholly owned subsidiary, and a $2.5 million reduction of...

XJT Bidding War Unlikely
SkyWest Vice President Mike Kraupp told Regional Aviation News that a bidding war for the acquisition of ExpressJet (XJT) is unlikely since Continental must approve the deal and it has already cut a capacity purchase agreement with SkyWest dependent on the acquisition. Related Story The statement came after...

Reauthorization Faces White House Veto
The rejection of user fees in the FAA reauthorization bill, celebrated by both regional airlines and the general/business aviation communities, may earn the much needed legislation a veto when the bill reaches the White House. A policy statement from the White House budget office said the Senate bill does...

FAA Troubles Threatens New Safety Regime
The FAA has been moving slowly in the direction of giving airlines more responsibility in ensuring safety and is now following Canada’s lead in its desire to implement Safety Management Systems (SMS) at aircraft operators. Related Story  For SkyWest, the implementation of SMS is a leap forward...

Mesa Settles Hawaiian Claim for $52M
As part of the settlement with Hawaiian Airlines concerning their long-running lawsuit over Mesa's inter-island flight services operated under the go! brand name, Mesa Air Group, Inc...

Sumwalt Questions Regional Safety Margins
National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) Vice Chair Robert Sumwalt used a recent Board hearing on a Shuttle America runway overrun to raise questions regarding the regional airline industry’s overall commitment to air safety, a familiar theme considering how often he has discussed it in the last...

Pinnacle Pilots Protest Lack of Contract
After three years without a contract, Pinnacle pilots, represented by the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA), planned information picketing in front of Pinnacle’s corporate headquarters in Memphis last week. ALPA President John Prater will be among the speakers. The union, representing 1,244 pilots...

FAA Certifies ERJ 190 for ETOPS-120
The Embraer ERJ 190 jet received ETOPS (Extended Operations) certification for 120 minutes from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The aircraft had already obtained the same certification from Brazil’s National Civil Aviation Agency (Agência Nacional da Aviação Civil ...

NM, ME Request Full EAS Funding
Two senators from rural areas – Senators Jeff Bingaman (D-NM) and Olympia Snowe (R-ME) have urged the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, HUD and Related Agencies to fund the Essential Air Service Program at $127 million for FY09 and to fund the Small Community Air Service Development Program...

Aircraft Values Report – Dash 8, 50-seat RJs
Demise of Smaller Dash8 Production Has Little Impact on Values Bombardier has accepted the inevitable and opted to cease production of the 37-seat -200 and 50-seat -300 but this will have no impact on values, according to a report in RAN’s sister publication Aircraft Value News. The values of the Dash...

Quick Takes – AE, Mesa/Bombardier, Caravan
AE Adds NY-Cedar Rapids American Eagle adds a daily nonstop flight between New York LaGuardia Airport (LGA) and The Eastern Iowa Regional Airport in Cedar Rapids, Iowa (CID), beginning July 2. American Eagle will operate the service with 37-seat Embraer ERJ-135 jets. American Eagle is also adding a flight...

Eco Watch –Boeing/Airbus, ATA Initiative
President Outlines GHG Policy President George Bush announced goals for reducing greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) and called for a regulatory regime that would set limits on GHGs. The policy includes identifying initiatives for reducing carbon emissions including alternative fuels, increased fuel, lighting and...