Briefs

The Bombardier CRJ200 regional jet has received Transport Canada certification for operations at airports up to 13,000 feet above sea level (ASL). Standard certification caps airport operations at 10,000 feet. High-altitude certification for the CRJ200 followed a successful flight test program conducted during August, 2002, at the airport of La Paz, Bolivia, one of the highest elevation airports in the world. The test program included take-off, landing, go-around performance and handling tests; structural load analyses including landing gear loads and tires; validation of upgrades to the environmental control system, cabin pressurization and Ground Proximity Warning Systems. The launch customer for the certification program was China's Yunnan Airlines, which operates six CRJ200 aircraft. The airline plans to serve several destinations in Yunnan Province and the Tibetan plateau that are located above 10,000 feet.

Atlantic Express will obtain an Embraer EMB120 Brasilia cargo aircraft from German carrier Air Omega under a 12-month exclusive contract. Atlantic Express, based in Coventry, England, is a sister company to Atlantic Airlines. It is usingthe EMB120 to supplement its existing fleet of Metro, Cessna 406 and Citation aircraft. The EMB120 has a large cargo door and a payload of 7,300 pounds.

FlyBE has dropped its business class service on scheduled flights and will introduce economy plus. Economy plus is designed for the business traveler, featuring ticket flexibility with the ability to change tickets up to two hours prior to flight with no penalty, dedicated check-in facilities, use of FlyBE executive lounges, preferred seating and complimentary snacks and drinks in flight. The carrier said that it expects to carry more than three million passengers this year.

Alitalia Express, the fully owned subsidiary of Italian flag carrier Alitalia, has taken delivery of its sixth ATR 72-500, bringing its total ATR fleet to 10 aircraft (4 ATR 72-210s and 6 ATR 72-500s). The 66-seat ATR 72-500 will mainly feed the airports of Malpensa (Milano) and Fiumicino (Rome). ATR said that this aircraft is the first regional aircraft in Europe to come off the production line with the reinforced cockpit door installed. ATR launched its cockpit security enhancement program in 2002. The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration requires all U.S. operators to be equipped before April 9, 2003, while in Europe this requirement is not yet compulsory. To date, 655 ATRs have been delivered to more than 100 airlines in 70 countries.

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