BAE

BAE Systems Regional Aircraft recently signed a new lease agreement with Eurowings for another BAe 146-200, increasing the airline's BAe 146 fleet to 15. The latest aircraft will be delivered in early 2007 to Eurowings, part of Lufthansa Regional group - Lufthansa CityLine, Eurowings, Augsburg Airways, Germany's Contact Air and Italy's Air Dolomiti. Three of these carriers currently operate 37 Avro RJ/BAe146s. In addition, Swiss, part of the Lufthansa Group, operates 25 Avro RJs.

The company also placed five more ATP turboprop freighters with West Air Sweden. When deliveries are complete, West Air Sweden will have a fleet of 28 ATPFs as part of its effort to fulfill a new contract with the Norwegian Post Office as well as the decision by the Swedish Post Office to consolidate all WestAir Sweden operations to the ATPF. Deliveries begin in mid-December. Three of the aircraft will be equipped with Large Freight Doors installed by the ATPF freight conversion center at Romaero in Romania with the remaining two refitted in the second half of 2007. The new order assures 2006 will be a record-breaking year for BAE Systems in the freighter market, having also placed 15 ATPFs with customers in India, the Netherlands and the UK.

Horizon

With just issued FAA approvals, Horizon gained a new, more efficient approach procedure at Wantachee, Wash., which promises to reduce weather delays and cancellations at the airport. It uses Wenatchee's Special Instrument Landing System which offers much lower landing minimums than those currently in place. Pilots can now land when they can see a mile in front of the aircraft and the ceiling is as low as 300 feet above the ground, a reduction from four miles visibility and 1,300 cloud ceilings previously required. The airline estimates the new approach will allow the airline to land an average of 50 more flights during the winter months that would otherwise have been diverted in poor weather. That equates to an 80 percent reduction in the number of flights that would have been prohibited from landing, according to Vice President Marketing and Planning Pat Zachwieja.

Republic Airways

U.S Air Marshalls did not follow procedures when they boarded a USAirways (LCC) flight operated by Republic Airways (RJET) between Washington National Airport and Connecticut, prompting action to remove them from the flight. They failed to notify the crew of their presence, according to the airline, causing a flight attendant to notify authorities when holstered weapons were spotted.

"They were supposed to be concealed," said Spoksperson Warren Wilkerson, who was unaware of a plea from Homeland Security to allow them to make the flight. "They didn't follow procedures, period."

According to The Washington Times, after being seated, the marshals were called to the jet bridge where an agent demanded paperwork intended for off-duty law enforcement agents carrying weapons. The marshals said they were on mission status, making the requirement inapplicable, and returned to their seats where, a few minutes later, they were removed by airport police.