June 2004 - Issue 6
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The History of Commercial Aviation
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Commercial Aviation Timeline
United Airlines announces its intention to acquire the nation’s sixth largest carrier, U. S. Airways. As of June, 2001, the proposed $4.3 billion acquisition still awaits approval from U.S. antitrust authorities.
An
Air France Concorde crashes shortly after takeoff from Paris’ Charles de
Gaulle Airport killing all 109 aboard. Investigators believe the crash may
have been caused by a thin metal strip on the runway. The metal debris is
suspected of blowing one of the Concorde’s tires, which in turn ruptured the
supersonic jet’s fuel tanks upon takeoff.
Airbus officially begins production of its double-decker commercial jet, the A380. Formerly known as the A3XX, the A380 will be able to accommodate as many as 840 passengers and is expected to begin commercial airline service in five years.
The Boeing 777 begins commercial service with United Airlines. The medium-size twin-jet can accommodate between 305 to 440 passengers. It is Boeing’s first entirely new plane in more than a decade which hits the world with positive results.
American Airlines announces its plans to acquire the financially troubled TWA. TWA, the nation’s eighth largest U. S. carrier, had been losing money for 12 straight years. The merger would be approved April 9th of that same year.
Delta Air Lines begins possible merger discussions with Northwest Airlines and Continental. The move is seen as Delta’s attempt to remain competitive in the rapidly consolidating airline industry.
Aviation
pioneer Anne Morrow Lindbergh dies at age 94. Anne helped popularize the
notion of flying through headline-making expeditions with her husband,
Charles Lindbergh. Serving as co-pilot and navigator on those journeys, Anne
seemed to bring the possibility of aviation home to all Americans.
After 85 years in the Seattle area, Boeing announces it will move its corporate headquarters to downtown Chicago. Boeing’s immediate plans are to keep its aircraft factories based in the Seattle area.
United Airlines and U. S. Airways agree to terminate their proposed merger. For calling off the merger, United agrees to pay U.S. Air $50 million as agreed to in their original merger agreement.
Terrorists seize control of four commercial airliners and carry out an unprecedented attack on America. The nation’s entire fleet of commercial aircraft is grounded for two days. In the months that follow, passenger travel decreases sharply and is not expected to rebound to pre-September 11th levels until 2003. The airline industry - already expected to suffer steep losses from the recession - is estimated to lose $7 billion in 2001
In the aftermath of September 11th, President George W. Bush and Congress pass $15 billion in emergency assistance to help the aviation industry. The Air Transportation Safety and System Stabilization Act provides airlines with $10 billion in federal loan guarantees and credits, plus an additional $5 billion in reimbursements for direct losses.
To ease public concerns over airline safety, the major airlines begin reinforcing the cockpit doors on all 4,000 of their aircraft. The work is finished in only 32 days, almost two months in advance of their scheduled completion.
Three minutes after departing from JFK Airport, American Airlines Flight 587, en route to the Dominican Republic, crashes over Rockaway Beach in Queens, New York. All 255 aboard the Airbus A300 and 5 more on the ground are killed. The nation and the ailing aviation industry is relieved to learn that terrorist activity is ruled out. Wake turbulence and equipment trouble are considered the leading factors in the accident.
President George W. Bush signs the Homeland Security Act of 2002. The legislation authorizes the creation of the Federal Flight Deck Officer (FFDO) program, enabling pilots to carry handguns in the cockpit. The FFDO program enters a two-year test period once 250 pilots have been deputized to carry firearms. Upon conclusion of the test period, the Transportation Security Administration will issue a report recommending whether to continue the program. On April 19, 2003, forty-four airline pilots became the first group to complete FFDO training.
British Airways retires its fleet of Concordes, ending three decades of supersonic trans-Atlantic travel. Air France withdrew their Concordes from commercial service on May 31, 2003. While major technical improvements were made to the Concorde after the July 25, 2000 crash, passenger levels never rebounded and the planes remained unprofitable.