While sitting in the terminal of my home airport, I got a chance to flip through AOPA’s magazine. After flipping a few pages, I saw something that immediately caught my eye; the PiperJet. If you look at the picture, it almost looks like a business jet gone DC-10 / MD-11. But, for now let’s go through some of the specs, shall we?
Number of Passengers: 7
Cruise Speed: 360 Knots
Maximum Range: 1,300 Nautical Miles
Max Fuel Load: 800 Ibs.
Engine Powerplant: 1 Williams International FJ44-3AP Tubofan.
Base Price: $2.199 Million (2006 US Dollars)
The aircraft is designed with six seats, but a seventh is optional. The aircraft also offers (options) a lavatory, entertainment center, utility loading configurations, and auto throttle. Other features include engine trend monitoring, FADEC engine, Flight Into Known Icing (FIKI), and a performance computer. The avionics in place are made by Garmin.
“The PiperJet is a revolutionary new aircraft combining performance, style, utility, capability and pricing,” said James K. Bass, President & CEO of Piper Aircraft. I think it’s important to note that this is Piper’s first jet aircraft. The next best thing, performance wise, that the company had to offer was the Meridian. Now we see Piper moving into the growing market as well. It intends to compete with the twin-engined Eclipse 500 and Cessna Citation Mustang. Overall, between the three of them, I think I can confidently say that the PiperJet has more to offer, compared to the Eclipse 500 and the Cessna Citation Mustang. For years, the executive jet industry was controlled by LearJet, Cessna, and perhaps Dassault, but this new single engine Very-Light-Jet (VLJ) market that is emerging is economical to the consumer, which is why I think that this market will continue to expand. Already Piper has received over 180 orders for the aircraft. It is expected to enter service in late 2009 / 2010.
Image: flickr.com
The merger between Delta Air Lines and Northwest Airlines is now officially complete. Northwest Airlines is now a wholly owned subsidiary of Delta Air Lines. The new airline is a premier global airline with service to many / most of the world’s travel markets. The airline, headquartered in Atlanta, will make its first day as a combined company. Their new combined route-map boasts 66 countries, 375+ worldwide cities, and 75,000 employees. The combination puts them in a great position for today’s volatile economy, allowing them to adapt rapidly to change. ”The airline industry faces a very difficult economic environment around the world and this merger gives Delta increased flexibility to adapt to the economic challenges ahead,” Delta Air Lines CEO Richard Anderson said.
According to Delta and Northwest’s websites, the airline plans to accomplish the following in 12-24 months:
- The addition of Delta’s code to nearly all of the Northwest system by the end of 2008, creating thousands of additional connecting opportunities.
- Immediate complimentary upgrade reciprocity for elite members of both airlines’ loyalty programs, with airport lounge reciprocity continuing as usual.
- The launch of a fully consolidated worldwide flight schedule in advance of summer 2009;
- The introduction of elements of Delta’s brand throughout the Northwest system beginning in spring 2009, including Delta’s popular Richard Tyler designer uniforms, Delta’s livery, “signature cocktails,” enhanced in-flight entertainment and other onboard amenities.
- The consolidation of the Delta and Northwest loyalty programs, ultimately including the ability to combine miles from SkyMiles and WorldPerks accounts at a one-to-one ratio.
- The full integration of Delta and Northwest Web sites, kiosks, and customer-facing technology to ensure a consistent worldwide travel experience.
With concerns to the livery, who knows what will happen. “The airplanes will be painted quickly and the brand will be spread around the world,” said Anderson. However I’m interested to see how they deal with fleet commonality and such, considering that Delta was a former all-Boeing carrier. And what about staff commonality? Let’s not forget here – that Delta employees are fairly non-union (excluding pilots) – meanwhile Northwest is the opposite.
So, the companies, by the books, are merged. Yet, there is a lot more work to do on the operations side. It’s amazing how little in-common the carriers have between each other. However, let’s not forget that Richard Anderson was once Northwest’s CEO for 5 years prior to stepping into Delta and initiating the deal. No doubt, the move is a win for both carriers — I’m just skeptical about merging and fully integrating operations.
Image: flickr.com
Google can take you many places. And, just as I was searching for an interesting recent article on airports, I discovered TAMS, or Total Airport Management System. TAMS is in use at Malaysia’s Kuala Lumpur International Airport. What does it do? TAMS integrates all of the airport’s 40+ systems. The integration of systems is very efficient, fast, reliable, and convenient. According to their website, “The linking of services such as water, electricity supply, air-conditioning, lighting and fuel facilities on a real-time basis translate to simultaneously and co-ordinated efficiency. Waiting and dwelling time therefore, is reduced and passengers and airlines will enjoy seamless transfers and operations.”
Yes, I know what you’re thinking, why don’t U.S. airports have this? Good question. After all, the system manages things like: Air Traffic Control Administrator System (ATCAS), Over Flight Billing System, Real Time Apron Management Systems, Staff Information over Intranet, Airport Landing Dues Information System, Passenger Check in System, Security Systems, Weather Systems… just to name a few of the 40+. Combined, all of this can easily be managed in a control-room like setting.
According to KLIA, The main objectives of TAMS are:
- Operating an airport in an efficient manner
- Cost containment
- Increased quality services to airport users
- Centralized airport authority management
- Improve crisis management
- Efficient, fast and safe processing of passengers, baggage and cargo
It seems to me that if airports in the United States had this, they too might be able to become airport of the year, like Kuala Lumpur International Airport has. I believe that you might even be able to say that KLIA is like the airport of the future, or Airport 2.0.
Yesterday, there were quite a few articles pertaining to US Airways. Since they have a hub in my hometown, I thought it’d be appropriate to mention their latest news. Article 1 is about US Airways hiring Translations.com. Apparently US Airways would like to make their website readable in 10 different languages. I’m assuming that the move is aimed at accommodating new European destinations. New International routes for the carrier include: Philadelphia to Tel Aviv, Philadelphia to Birmingham UK, and Philadelphia to Oslo, Norway. So, I bet Norwegian is on that list somewhere. Is it good for US Airways to do this? Absolutely. Would you fly Thai Airways, like so many Americans do, if they had the website in Thai only? Probably not. So, a good move by US Airways. However, I have to question why they couldn’t easily recruit native speakers.
Next item; Lobbying. According to a report issued by the Associated Press, US Airways spent $450,000 on lobbying in Washington D.C. The airline lobbied on moderating oil prices, and pushed for a bill that would start a cap-and-trade system in an attempt to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. They also lobbied on restricting flights out of Washington’s Reagan International Airport. The article also said that US Airways lobbied the Federal Aviation Administration, Department of Homeland Security, Department of Transportation, and the TSA.
It seems a bit… chilling to think that airlines are paying a decent sum of cash to get rulings / decisions made in their favor. I feel as though airlines have no business playing in the FAA, DHS, DOT, and TSA. Security administrations are there to regulate and ensure that air travel is safe. Yet, be aware that US Airways is not the only airline lobbying. I’m sure nearly all of the airlines are lobbying one way or another. Remember that letter that 12 airlines sent out to nearly all of their frequent flier members? Well, I’m sure all of those airlines lobbied on oil prices.
That’s the latest from US Airways. Tomorrow, I plan on writing a post in the Airport category. Stick Around.
Image: flickr.com
