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The exclusive bi-monthly magazine covering the news and activities of the Association

March/April 2009 Issue 33 Available on the RAA website www.raa.org

PRESIDENT’S CORNER RAA advocates EAS program Changing the before Congress perception of regional airlines A number of simple reforms are and funding levels. As a result, 40 needed to restore health to the Es- EAS airports lost all scheduled air “I’ve never seen anyone that sential Air Service program, RAA service. While other airlines are looked like me fly airplanes” Vice President-Legislative Affairs stepping in to restore air service as ASA Captain Rachelle Jones Faye Malarkey Black told a Congres- quickly as possible, Black underlined CNN, February 1999 sional hearing addressing “Transpor- “some of these routes remain without “He doesn’t look like all those tation Challenges of Rural America” air service today.” other Presidents on those on March 12. Fluctuating fuel costs As a result of these service disrup- dollar bills” and a severe economic downturn tions, DOT experienced temporary President Barack Obama have created a challenging operat- but substantial cash savings in 2008 campaign stop, July 2008 ing environment for all airlines with making it difficult to forecast an EAS Do those quotes sound similar? capacity down. However, regional budget for future years. Despite these Both address perceptions of what airlines are experiencing the deepest challenges, RAA member carriers “The EAS program... people seeking a particular career cuts with a loss of 243 non-stop providing these specialized EAS path — in this case, airline pilot and routes in 2008 compared to a net loss flights remain committed to the pro- has been President of the — of 101 routes. gram. RAA urges Congress to make under-funded and are supposed to “look like”. “The EAS program, designed to only those changes that would en- under attack in Hopefully, when voters elected provide continued air service to rural hance air service under the program. President Obama — and when communities in a deregulated airline “We applaud this Committee for recent years.” Atlantic Southeast Airlines (ASA) market, has been under-funded and its work in prohibiting troublesome Faye Malarkey Black Flight 5202 of Captain Rachelle under attack in recent years,” Black community cost-sharing proposals Jones, First Officer Stephanie Grant underlined, noting more than 80 that have threatened this program in 5) Continue to reject cuts to the pro- >>11 years of air carrier operational experi- the past,” said Black. gram disguised as enhancements and ence was lost when EAS providers In order to restore health to the enact only those reforms that truly , Big Sky and Skyway EAS program, Black outlined five serve Congress’ original purpose in went out of business. reforms necessary: crafting the program. These airlines were no longer able 1) Funding needed of at least $200 “Congress made a commitment to tolerate the financial losses forced million annually to communities under deregulation, upon them by EAS program policies 2) Increase the air carrier profit mar- which held that they would not lose gin allowance from five to 15 percent the air service that is so essential to 3) Increase the per-passenger subsidy their economic well-being under < From left to right: First Officer Stephanie Grant, cap to $300 and index the cap for a deregulated airline market,” em- Captain Rachelle Jones, Flight inflation phasized Black, adding RAA urges Attendant Diana Galloway, Flight At- tendant Robin Rogers. Their historic 4) Lengthen the DOT contract Congress and its partners at DOT to Flight 5202 was February 12 from Atlanta to Nashville, TN, and back, lifespan from two years to five years uphold that promise. using CRJ700 equipment.

PUBLISHED BY

IN PARTNERSHIP WITH

3 5 9 regional horizons | March/April 2009 1 CEOs on Training A SERIES

“FlightSafety sets the standard for professional flight training.”

RICHARD A. “RICK” LEACH President,

Rick Leach left Catholic seminary in 1983 and began his aviation career with Air . “There was always something about airplanes and flying that intrigued me – and still does today,” Leach says. “So I didn’t hesitate at the chance to make it my career.” Leach eventually joined Resort Air, which is now Trans States Holdings. It operates and GoJet Airlines, with combined service to 90 cities in 37 states and more than 440 daily flights.

ith Rick Leach at the helm, Trans States Holdings Leach says FlightSafety’s values match those of his has grown from a small airline into a major airline company. “In our service partnerships, whether with American Wholding company. Leach’s contribution to that success Connection, or US Airways, we’ve set a was recognized in 2005 when Regional Aviation News named standard to deliver only the highest-quality service. FlightSafety him the Regional Airline Executive of the Year. holds their training programs to the same high standards.” Leach says FlightSafety International’s simulator-based training gives Trans States Airlines and GoJet Airlines the critical edge they need to compete as low-cost regional carriers. “FlightSafety’s type-specific technology and expert training staff prepare our flight crews to perform to the best of their ability,” he says, “conducting every flight in a safe and efficient manner.” The Most Trusted Name in Training. FlightSafety was instrumental in the launch of GoJet Airlines, Leach says. “For certification purposes, we needed to establish For more information, please contact any of our Learning Centers or call Scott Fera, a training program very rapidly. So we presented the challenge Vice President Marketing: 718.565.4774. Our headquarters are at the Marine Air to FlightSafety with great confidence, knowing they would be Terminal, LaGuardia Airport, 11371-1061. Email: sales@flightsafety.com

an excellent, responsive partner.” flightsafety.com A Berkshire Hathaway company

FLIGHTSAFETY LEACH/TSH CEO AD - REGIONAL HORIZONS - Bleed: 8-3/4” x 11-1/4” Trim: 8-1/2” x 11” PDFX-1a COLOR VERIS PROOF INDUSTRY ANALYSIS

4Q08 regional airline traffic

2007 2008 % change 4Q07 4Q08 % change

Passengers 161,512,394 159,320,717 -1.4% 40,086,357 37,072,500 -7.5%

Departures 5,324,791 5,041,364 -5.3% 1,314,911 1,160,090 -11.8%

RPMs (000) 73,594,337 73,442,137 -0.2% 18,454,572 16,932,250 -8.2%

ASMs (000) 99,085,557 99,647,551 0.6% 25,458,636 23,171,992 -9.0%

Load factor 74.3% 73.7% -0.8% 72.5% 73.1% 0.8%

Block hours 7,514,468 7,209,654 -4.1% 1,903,027 1,650,444 -13.3%

Source: OAG Form41 iNET, April 2, 2009

Summary - Turboprop service (as of February 2009)

• 398 US airports have scheduled turboprop service • 151 US airports have scheduled service only from turboprop aircraft (at least 95%) • Of the 151 airports with only scheduled turboprop service, 135 are in the lower 48 states • 626 US airports have scheduled airline service; 403 in lower 48, 223 in Alaska & Hawaii • Overall, 24.1% of US airports have only TP service • In the lower 48 states, 33.5% of airports have only TP service • In the US, 464 of the 626 airports have scheduled service only from regional airlines (jet, turboprop and piston)

Share of TP operations under 25% 25%-50% 50%-75% 75%-95% over 95% Total

Number of airports 119 71 42 15 151 398

Percent 29.9% 17.8% 10.6% 3.8% 37.9% -

Total TP departures 39,959 13,380 5,455 3,517 14,238 76,549

Source: OAG Schedules

regional horizons | March/April 2009 3 Tuesday, May 19 Noon – 1:00 pm Joint ROC and Ops/Maintenance Lunch Sponsored by FlightSafety International Noon – 1:00 pm ATA Environmental Meeting RAA 2009 Annual Convention 1:00 pm – 4:30 pm RAA Maintenance and Operations Forum Schedule (as of April 15) (Open to Airlines, Associate Members and Exhibitors) All events take place at the Salt Lake City Convention Center unless otherwise indicated Break Sponsored by EMBRAER 1:30 pm – 3:30 pm Monday, May 18 Joint ATA and RAA Environmental Committee Meeting 7:00 am 3:30 pm – 5:30 pm Golf Tournament buses depart for Thanksgiving Pointe Golf Course Bus sponsored by FlightSafety International Green Pavilion Vendors Forum (Open to all attendees, only Green Pavilion Vendors will be allowed to present.) Current Golf Hole Sponsors: 3 Points Aviation, AAR Aircraft Services, Accessory Overhaul Group (AOG), Aeroxchange, ARINC, ATR North America, Bombardier, ExelTech Aerospace, 4:30 pm – 5:15 pm Magellan Aircraft Services, Midwest Aero Support, PPG Aerospace, Pratt & Whitney Canada, Private Exhibit Hall Walk-thru with Airline CEOs Saab, Wings Financial Federal Credit Union 5:30 pm – 7:00 pm 7:30 am – 8:30 am Exhibit Hall Open – RAA Convention Ribbon Cutting & Opening Reception Golf Registration and Continental Breakfast Sponsored by PowerJet and SuperJet International Breakfast sponsored by Saab Napkins sponsored by Avmax Group 8:30 am Golf Tournament Shotgun Start Wednesday, May 20 Box Lunch sponsored by STG Aerospace 8:00 am – 6:00 pm 7:30 am – 5:30 pm Exhibitor Move-In Media Center Open Sponsored by GE Aviation Noon – 6:00 pm 8:00 am – 5:00 pm Exhibitor Registration Lanyards sponsored by ExelTech Aerospace • Badges sponsored by NAASCO • Registration Registration Open sponsored by SuperJet International • Hotel Key Cards sponsored by LodgeX Airline Solutions Lanyards sponsored by ExelTech Aerospace • Badges sponsored by NAASCO • Registration sponsored by SuperJet International • Hotel Key Cards sponsored by LodgeX Airline Solutions 1:00 pm – 5:00 pm 7:30 am – 8:30 am Flight Deck Automation Work Group Continental Breakfast in Exhibit Hall 4:00 pm – 5:45 pm Sponsored by PowerJet • Napkins sponsored by Avmax Group RAA Public Relations Committee (Open to All Airline & Associate Members) 8:15 am-10:00 am 5:30 pm – 7:00 pm General Session and Town Hall – Q&A “How the Industry Sees Itself Now and Operations and Maintenance Reception (Open to all Airlines) Tomorrow” A panel of CEOs and senior executives from both the regional and mainline 6:00 pm – 9:30 pm airlines answer your questions. Moderated by Mike Boyd, Boyd Group International. Annual Media Dinner (Open to all attendees) Sponsored by EMBRAER 8:30 am – 4:00 pm 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm TALPA/ARC* Meeting Presidents’ Welcome Hospitality Suite, Hilton Hotel (Airline CEOs & Invited Guests) 8:30 am – 11:30 am Sponsored by GE Aviation Flight Training Forum Tuesday, May 19 8:30 am – 5:00 pm ATA Environmental Group Meeting 7:30 am – 5:30 pm 9:00 am –11:30 am Media Center Open Safety Directors Meeting Sponsored by GE Aviation 9:00 am – 11:30 am 8:00 am – 5:00 pm Environmental Committee Meeting Registration Open Lanyards sponsored by ExelTech Aerospace • Badges sponsored by NAASCO • Registration 9:00 am – 5:00 pm sponsored by SuperJet International • Hotel Key Cards sponsored by LodgeX Airline Solutions Flight Deck Automation Work Group 8:00 am – 3:00 pm 10:00 am – 5:30 pm Exhibitor Move-In Exhibit Hall Open 8:00 am – 11:00 am Internet Cafe Sponsored by PowerJet Associate Member Council Breakfast & Meeting Noon Breakfast Sponsored by World Fuel Services, Inc. Buffet Lunch in Exhibit Hall 8:30 am – noon Sponsored by Pratt & Whitney Canada Napkins Sponsored by Avmax Group Regional Operations Council (Open to Airlines only) Break Sponsored by EMBRAER 1:00 pm – 4:30 pm 8:30 am – 4:00 pm Flight Training Committee TALPA/ARC* Meeting Break sponsored by Pratt & Whitney Canada 9:00 am – noon 1:30 pm – 4:30 pm Maintenance and Operations Forum (Open to Airlines, Associate Members and Exhibitors) Security Directors Meeting Break sponsored by EMBRAER Break Sponsored by EMBRAER 1:30 pm – 4:30 pm 9:00 am – 5:00 pm Safety Meeting Break sponsored by EMBRAER Flight Deck Automation Work Group 4:30 pm – 5:30 pm 11:00 am- noon RAA “Happy Hour” in Exhibit Hall RAA Board/Presidents’ Council Meeting Based on last year’s great success, join us again for “Happy Hour” in the RAA Exhibit Hall. Refreshments Sponsored by PowerJet Drinks and light snacks throughout the hall. No other meetings, no excuses – everyone in Noon – 1:30 pm the Exhibit Hall for free “Happy Hour”. Presidents’ Council Luncheon Sponsored by EMBRAER • Napkins sponsored by Avmax Group Sponsored by ATR North America 7:00 pm – 10:00 pm 1:45 pm – 4:15 pm RAA Evening Event – An Evening of Ageless Aviation RAA Board of Directors/Presidents’ Council Meeting Sponsored by Bombardier, Rockwell Collins and SkyWest Airlines Break sponsored by PowerJet • AMC Joins at 3:00 pm Additional support provided by Salt Lake International Airport *Take-off and Landing Performance Assessment (TALPA)/Aviation 4 regional horizons | March/April 2009 Rulemaking Committee (ARC) Thursday, May 21 RAA Media Activities Schedule 8:00 am – noon May 18-21, 2009 Registration Open Salt Lake City, Utah Lanyards sponsored by ExelTech Aerospace • Badges sponsored by NAASCO • Registration Sponsored by GE Aviation sponsored by SuperJet International • Hotel Key Cards sponsored by LodgeX Airline Solutions 8:00 am – 9:00 am Monday, May 18 Continental Breakfast in Exhibit Hall 6:00 pm Media dinner at Olympic Village Sponsored by Mitsubishi Aircraft Corporation • Napkins sponsored by Avmax Group Sponsored by EMBRAER 8:30 am – 11:00 am Tuesday, May 19 Security Directors Meeting 7:30 am Continental breakfast in Pressroom 8:30 am – 11:30 am 8:30 am Bombardier 9:30 am ATR New in 2009! Inflight Forum 10:30 am GE Aviation 8:30 am – 1:30 pm 11:30 am SuperJet International Green Exhibit Hall Open 12:30 pm Informal luncheon will be Internet Cafe sponsored by PowerJet served in the Pressroom Sponsored by Saab 8:30 am – 4:00 pm Pavilion 2:00 pm Saab TALPA/ARC* Meeting 3:00 pm Pratt & Whitney (US/Canada) Companies providing 8:30 am – 5:00 pm 4:00 pm Mitsubishi Airline Industry Dangerous Goods Meeting “green” solutions to the Wednesday, May 20 aviation market 9:00 am – 11:30 pm 7:30 am Continental breakfast in Pressroom Airline Dispatch Forum 8:15 am General Session (Exhibit Hall area) 9:00 am – noon 10:30 am Meet the RAA President and Here’s who’s registered FAA Flight Training School Session Chairman to date: 1:30 pm Airline Presidents’ Q&A Session* 9:00 am – 1:00 pm *See Separate Schedule below AeroSafe Products Ramp Safety Meeting Thursday, May 21 Burns & McDonnell 9:00 am – 5:00 pm Media activity rooms are closed with the excep- EA Engineering, Science and Flight Deck Automation Work Group tion of Emerald Media (RAA Publications) Technology 9:30 am – 1:30 pm Environmental Resource Center Purchasing Forum Box Lunch sponsored by Accessory Overhaul Group, Inc. (AOG) Note: ETUG, LLC Noon – 4:30 pm All RAA media activities will be at the Salt JDA Aviation Palace Convention Center directly across the Technology Solutions Inflight Committee Lunch sponsored by Pratt & Whitney Canada street from the Marriott and Hilton Hotels. KB Environmental Sciences, Inc. The Pressroom will be in Room 150G and the Noon - 4:30 pm Media Briefings in Room 150B/C. Emerald Kilfrost Limited Airline Dispatch Meeting Media will be in Room 150A. Semler Industries Inc. VLS Recovery

Presidents’ Council General Session Airline Presidents’ Q&A Session luncheon Wednesday, May 20 Wednesday, May 20 Tuesday, May 19 All RAA attendees are invited to attend Time Airline President Noon - 1:30 pm the Annual Convention General Session 1:30 pm Republic Bryan Bedford 8:15 am - 10:00 am in the Exhibit Hall Speaker 1:45 pm TransStates Holdings Rick Leach John Nance General Session & Town Hall 2:00 pm ASA Brad Holt Q&A “How the Industry Sees 2:15 pm Horizon Jeff Pinneo Itself Now and Tomorrow” 30-minute break A panel of CEOs and senior executives from both the regional and mainline 3:00 pm SkyWest Russell “Chip” Childs airlines answer your questions. 3:15 pm Gulfstream International Dave Hackett Moderated by Mike Boyd, Boyd Group 3:30 pm Lynx Cameron Kenyon International. 3:45 pm Great Lakes Chuck Howell Participants (as of April 15) 4:30-5:30 pm Exhibit Hall Happy Hour Don Bornhorst Senior Vice President- Russell “Chip” Childs Food President, SkyWest John Nance and Cindy Szadokierski drinks A pilot and a veteran VP Airport Operations and Planning served 737 Captain for , 7-10 pm United Express Wednesday, May 20 Nance is an internationally Bryan Bedford recognized air safety analyst and President, Check-in: 7pm at Hotel and Club Elevate located downtown advocate. He is best known to Salt Lake City at 155 W 200S North American tv audiences as (walking distance from the SLC Convention Center and hotels) Aviation Analyst for ABC World Itinerary: Four floors of themed entertainment and food featuring News and Aviation Editor for Vegas-style gambling and casino games; -style lounge; Good Morning America. An Puerto Vallarta Karaoke band; pool tables and foosball; author of 19 books, Nance is a and Salt Lake City ski and golf games on Wii dynamic speaker presenting en- tertaining and pivotal programs Silent Auction to be held with all proceeds raised to support the on teamwork, risk management, RAA Scholarship Fund motivation and coping with competition. Sponsored by: Bombardier, Rockwell Collins and SkyWest Airlines Mike Boyd Additional support provided by Salt Lake International Airport

regional horizons | March/April 2009 5 RAA and other RAA announces AMC aviation groups granted time on Scholarship winners major rewrite of FAA training rules The RAA Associate Member Council Scholarship Committee has selected three recipients of $1000 scholarships for aviation-related studies at the college-level. This year’s winners include: Anthony Ward RAA, along with other industry associations, was of University of ; Zachary Waller of University of North Dakota and Benjamin Shelton of granted an extension to file comments on the Averett University. Notice of Proposed Rulemaking for qualification, service and use of crewmembers and aircraft dispatchers. The proposed rule intends to rewrite the qualification and training requirements for pilots, flight engineers, flight attendants and dispatchers following a lengthy review by an Aviation Rulemaking Committee (ARC). Since the final ARC Report was never published and the internal FAA work on this proposal from April 2005 to January 2009 differed significantly,

Benjamin Shelton Anthony Ward Zachary Waller the industry requested the additional time to review and seek public comments. Flight Technology Committee gathers in Englewood, CO, March 10-12 at Jeppesen’s headquarters.

6 regional horizons | March/April 2009 regional horizons | March/April 2009 7

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800.527.2531 • 512.331.5323 www.dacint.com • [email protected]

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Delta replaces Northwest livery To adjust for a slowdown in new orders and deferral requests by Delta’s red, white and blue signage appeared at former Northwest some customers, Bombardier Aerospace will reduce the produc- Airlines hubs in , Memphis and -St. Paul on tion rate for its CRJ NextGen regional jets in the latter part of fiscal April 1 as part of its $500-million integration effort. All domestic year 2010, which ends on January 31, 2010, company officials said. airports will be re-branded by yearend and the two merged major Bombardier has a backlog of 146 CRJ aircraft – 100 of them the airlines will operate under a single operating certificate by the larger CRJ900 and new CRJ1000. The production level for its Q400 end of 2009, as well. Some 33 NWA aircraft have already been turboprop, though, was increased during the past year because of repainted with 250 left to complete before the end of 2010. continuing strong demand. Bombardier Aerospace President and Don Bornhorst, Senior Vice President-Delta Connection, in charge Chief Operating Officer Guy Hachey said the Canadian manufac- of the nine affiliated regional partners, tells Regional Horizons turer continues to study a stretched Q400 but is more concentrated “a mainline-like” service remains the priority at the Connection on deliveries of the popular Q400. “The Q400 is in very, very high level as well as “selling the Delta experience”. A regional airline demand,” says Hachey. “We are struggling, to fulfill demand for veteran, Bornhorst spent 16 years at departing as its Presi- that market.” At the end of January, Bombardier had a backlog for dent after a promotion to head the Delta Connection program in 114 Q400s and six of the Q300s that are being phased out. October 2007. “If Delta seems tougher on its regional partners… guilty as charged…we have to maintain flexibility to meet custom- er demands and have a laser-like focus on reliability and customer service,” he underlines.

Bombardier Q400

Air Carrier Access Act to affect all airlines May 13 Beginning May 13, 2009, DOT’s 14 CFR Part 382 regulation — Air Carrier Access Act — will affect all airlines, including regional and charter carriers, that provide revenue passenger service or to and

Delta Connection Senior Vice President Don Bornhorst from the US. From this date, carriers must accommodate passen- gers who have a qualified disability, including those who wish to fly using various respiratory assistive devices. The rule also requires After a decade of rapid growth, regional airline enplanements are all employees and vendors who expected to fall 4.5% this year, but pick up 2.4% in 2010, the interact with the public undergo FAA’s latest forecast predicts (See charts on page 11). Between new training on how to properly 2010 and 2025, the agency expects regional enplanements to assist passengers with disabili- grow an average 3.6% a year. This contrasts with mainline domes- ties. MedAire, a participant of tic air carrier enplanement growth of 2.4% over the same period. the RAA Summer Seminars, is The fleet of passenger aircraft operated by regional carriers is providing a Complaints Resolu- expected to shrink by nearly 10% this year, or 253 aircraft, before tion Official Assistance Service, as resuming a modest annual average growth rate of about 1% well as training in various formats through 2025, according to the FAA. At that point, regional jets to help airlines become compli- will account for 2,249 of the total fleet of 3,033 aircraft, with all ant quickly and cost-effectively. of the increase attributed to jet aircraft in the 70-90 seat category. These programs include e-Learn- “We think the 50-seater will go out of the fleet at the end of the ing, Train-the-Trainer, CRO Training and on-site training. A medical forecast,” an FAA official said. Turboprops are also declining, but services and training provider to more than 80 airlines, MedAire has not as rapidly as last year, although the activity is on the larger-size offices in Phoenix, London and Singapore. turboprops. Turboprops will still be around in 2025 and are impor- According to Vice President-Strategic Development Heidi Giles tant in serving smaller communities, the official said, adding that MacFarlane, MedAire has proactively developed cost-effective train- high fuel prices have made them increasingly attractive. ing and assistance services to help airlines who want to be fully prepared to support passengers with disabilities.

regional horizons | March/April 2009 9 EMB_EMBRACE_RAA.pdf 3/30/09 9:35:17 AM

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and Flight Attendants Diana Gal- Think about that arbitrary stan- US commercial air carriers DomesticUS Commercial RPMs Air Carriers loway and Robin Rogers flew into dard. Age 60. A number. One day Domestic RPMs 2008 - 2025 history as the world’s first all-female, short of it, you’re OK to fly, the next 2008 - 2025 all-African American airline crew — day you’re not. This type of thinking US8.0 Commercial Air Carriers Domestic RPMs 5.2 those perceptions of what people in calls into question drawing any con- 20084.0 - 2025 3.1 2.7 certain jobs are supposed to “look clusions about a professional’s skill 8.0 like” were buried for good in the level based primarily on arbitrary 0.0US Commercial Air Carriers 5.2 4.0Domestic RPMs 3.1 scrap heap of history. numbers, like the total number of 2008 - 2025(1.5) 2.7 But just as the view from my win- hours flown. -4.0 0.08.0 dow makes the earth still “look like” For example, take my sister-in- (5.9) 5.2 -8.0 (1.5) Mainline

Annual Percent Growth 4.0 3.1 it’s flat, regional aviation sometimes law who’s been driving the Southern -4.0 2.7 (9.3) Regionals struggles to overcome outdated freeways a total of prob- -12.0 (5.9) 0.0 -8.0 2008 2009 2009-25Mainline

perceptions that our aircraft, even ably 40,000 hours over the last 25 Annual Percent Growth (1.5) (9.3) Source:Regionals FAA Forecast -4.0 our people, don’t “look like” what years. I still refuse to get in a car with -12.0 2008 2009 2009-25 airlines are supposed to “look like”. her behind the wheel. Or ask any US regional air carrier (5.9) -8.04.0 3.6Mainline3.6 enplanementsAnnual Percent Growth Maybe those false perceptions per- NFL scout: the numbers measuring Regionals 20083.0 - 2025 (9.3) sist because of something as benign as how big, strong or fast a player is -12.0 2.4 2.4 2008 2009 2009-25 two-across seating (which many people don’t adequately gauge the quality 2.04.0 3.6 3.6 0.7 0.7 1.03.0 prefer), or the propellers on about 25 of what a player can accomplish or 2.4 2.4 percent of the regional fleet. Or that more importantly, their potential. 2.00 4.0 0.7 0.7 some of our crew members might be at If you remember the seemingly -1.01.0 3.6 3.6 the front end of their careers, and their endless Presidential campaign (and 3.0 -2.00 2.4 2.4 faces display the kind of passion and how could you have possibly avoided 2.0 -3.0-1.0 0.7 0.7 International excitement that comes standard issue it?), Barack Obama faced not only 1.0 Average Annual Percent Growth -4.0-2.0 Domestic with that first airline ID badge. the perception that he didn’t “look 0 (4.5) (4.5) ASA’s record-breaking crew rep- like” previous Presidents, but he -5.0-3.0 International -1.0 2008 2009 2010 2010-25 resents the exclamation point on the also had to answer how his experi- Average Annual Percent Growth -4.0 Domestic -2.0 (4.5) (4.5) expiration date of any stereotypical, ence was not up to par with that of -5.0 -3.0 arbitrary perceptions of regional other candidates’. He was a first-term 2008 2009 2010 International2010-25

Average Annual Percent Growth Source: FAA Forecast airlines. Just as the facts have proven US Senator, whose only previous -4.0 Domestic (4.5) (4.5) the earth is round – even if it some- elected office was in the Illinois state Regional-5.0 carrier enplanements are forecast to decrease 4.5 percent to 153.5 million in 2009, and grow 3.520 08percent a year thereafter,2009 reaching 267.62010 million in 2025.2010 -25 times “looks like” it’s flat. legislature – the “regional aviation” 4 Regional airlines fly one half the of US politics. But as seasoned lob- The regional carrier passenger aircraft fleet increases from 2,582 aircraft in 2008 to Syste3,033 aircraft inm 2025,Enplanements an average annual increase of 1.0 percent. The fleet is projected scheduledInternational passenger flights in the US byists know, every day working in a to shrink by 9.8 percent in 2009 (253 aircraft). under the identical stringent standards cauldron like Springfield equates to 34 SysteRegional jets increasem Enplanements from 1,655 aircraft in 2008 to 2,249 aircraft in 2025, an annual as networkInternational and low cost airlines fly- decades walking the halls of Congress. increase of 1.8 percent.Mainline All of theDom increaseRegional is attributed Dom to jet aircraftInternational in the 70-90-seat ing the other half of the flights. Our Similar to the hands on environment category.1,200,000 Domestic Actual Forecast 234 pilots must successfully complete the experienced by regional pilots. Syste1,000,000 mMainlineEnplanements Dom Regional Dom International same toughInternational training as pilots of larger Because of the hard work and System1,200,000 enplanements aircraft.Domestic In fact, Captain Jones told commitment of Ms. Jones, Grant, 800,000 Actual Forecast 123 1,000,000 ALPA Magazine the most challenging Galloway and Rogers — a regional 600,000 Mainline Dom Regional Dom International hurdle of her career achievement was airline flight crew, brought together 1,200,000800,000 Domestic 400,000 Actual Forecast

12 the ASA screening process. by the fate of a last minute illness Enplanements (000) 0 1,000,000600,000 Maybe because it’s so difficult to substitution on Lincoln’s Birthday, 200,000 earn those pilot wings, or because the in the middle of Black History 400,000800,000 -101 Enplanements (000) 0 miracle of flight remains mysterious Month — there’ll be no more false 600,0002000 2005 2010 2015 2020 2025 200,000 Fiscal Year to us groundlings, perceptions about perceptions about what airline pilots 400,000 0 aviation tend to linger on well past “look like”. And maybe, just maybe, Enplanements (000) -2-10 2000 2005 2010 2015 2020 2025 their shelf life. For decades, there was they’ve helped change some minds 200,000 Fiscal Year not only a perception — there was a about regional aviation. -2-1 0 -3 hard and fast rule — that a pilot could Like Columbus did about the 2000 2005 2010 2015 2020 2025 Fiscal Year not fly past the age of 60. earth being flat. Source: FAA Forecast -4-3-2 regional horizons | March/April 2009 11 -5-4-3 -5-4 -5 NEWS BRIEFS

Embraer continues to weigh the possibility of future aircraft but doesn’t expect to make any decisions before the next 18 to 24 months. “We keep doing the same thing as we have been doing the last 12 to 24 months,” Embraer President and CEO Frederico Fleury Curado said during a conference call on the company’s earn- ings. “We keep looking into the whole spectrum of commercial aircraft from small ones all the way up to 150 seats or so.” The company’s activities include assessing the markets, invest- ing significantly in technological developments that would make a new aircraft possible and weighing the competitive landscape. “We think there are two important moving pieces of this puzzle,” he added, citing emerging engine technology and, secondly, the correct level of use of compos- ites and aluminum alloys in a new airframe. The end result Air completed its one millionth flight on the CRJ200 could be a larger aircraft, an at press time. This is the first aircraft type the US Airways Ex- updating of an existing aircraft, press carrier has operated to reach this one millionth mark since or possibly even a turboprop if the company first began service in 1965. When the CRJ200 was demand moves in that direction. inaugurated in February 1999, averaged 228 daily The competitive landscape to be departures and just over 83,000 annually. Today, with a fleet of 70 considered includes Bombardier’s CRJ200s, Air Wis has significantly increased that number to nearly new CSeries, and also what 500 revenue flights per day and 165,000 per year. Airbus and Boeing decide to do. “We regard them as formidable

competitors and we have to Embraer President and CEO make sure that we are not in Frederico Fleury Curado direct competition with either,” Fleury Curado said. “I think a lot of those pieces will start to be fixed in the 18-24 months, and then we’ll come up with something more concrete.”

SkyWest Airlines recently took delivery of Lektro’s 3,500 elec- tric towbarless aircraft tractor at its LAX operation. Eric Paulson, Lektro President (on left) handed the keys to Troy Pearmain, SkyWest Director-Ground Support Maintenance. One of Lektro’s largest cus- tomers, the St. George, UT-based regional airline has nearly 50 units in operation throughout the SkyWest system.

12 regional horizons | March/April 2009 NEWS BRIEFS

ExpressJet, which has 214 aircraft operating services as Conti- SkyWest Airlines will begin United Express services between nental Express and 30 operating in its corporate aviation division, Seattle and Moses Lake on June 5, spurred by incentives being sup- expects a boost in first-quarter revenues from its charter services, plied by local businesses in the small community. The Grant County courtesy of -- NCAA basketball and March Madness. “We will Economic Development Council and Moses Lake Chamber of Com- generate more revenues in the first quarter based on the fact that’s merce won pledges of $517,500 for an Airline Travel Bank from a busy season for us,” Jim Ream, ExpressJet President and Chief Ex- 108 businesses for the twice daily, 50-minute flights, which will be ecutive Officer, said during the company’s conference call on earn- operated by 30-seat Embraer 120 Brasilias. The businesses will de- ings. “The NCAA schedule and how those teams move fits perfectly posit funds into with this aircraft,” he said. The season helps offset the cutback in an Airline Travel US domestic airline flying. Using its Embraer 145 fleet, the airline Bank and receive offers both 50-seat and customized 41-seat charter options. It has credit cards they redesigned a dozen of the aircraft to offer 41 seats, a configuration can use to begin that increases seat-pitch to match Boeing 737-800 first class seats. pre-purchasing tickets. “People have already begun purchas- ing tickets,” ac- cording to Craig Baldwin, Execu- tive Manager for SkyWest Embraer Brasilia the Port of Moses Lake. “We are ... excited to have commercial air service return to the Grant County International Airport.”

ExpressJet Embraer 145

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RAA-1-2PgAd_Michael Chock_FNL.indd 1 regional horizons | March/April2/13/09 2:57:36 2009 PM 13 CRJ NG RAA ad Mar09.qxd 3/19/09 12:46 AM Page 1

The CRJ NextGen Family with the all-new Nextgen interior

up to greener up to 15 % advantage 30% 70-100 seats with reduced emissions in our all-new cabin in operating costs compared to older versus the competition generation aircraft

larger bins bigger windows brighter lighting

For your passengers, we enhanced the ergonomics. For you, once again we improved the economics. For all of us, we have reduced the emissions.

www.crjnextgen.com

Technical and comparative data is based on available research and Bombardier’s estimates of flight characteristics under specific conditions. This advertisement does not intend to convey any guarantees or warranties of performance. NEWS BRIEFS

SkyWest Airlines has been tapped for new United Express ser- L.M. Bantsi, Acting General Manager of Air Botswana (pictured on vices between O’Hare International and both Saskatoon, left) and Stephane Mayer, ATR CEO (right) celebrate the first deliv- Saskatchewan, and Bismarck, ND. The regional already operates ery of two new ATR72-500s configured with 68 seats. The aircraft to both cities from . will join three ATR 42-500s in the fleet and will fly African routes The twice-daily nonstops to previously operated by regional jets that became unprofitable. Saskatoon, beginning June 4 pending government approval, will use a 66-seat, three-class Bombardier CRJ700. The two daily flights between Chicago and Bismarck will be operated with 50-seat CRJ aircraft.

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We’ll put you into the blue. Or the red. Or the white....

In addition to heavy maintenance and modification, our Great Falls, American Eagle Airlines will end service between Dallas Love facility offers full aircraft Field and Chicago O’Hare International on June 11, but plans new painting capabilities. services to five new cities from key hub Dallas/Fort Worth Interna- tional Airport beginning that day. On June 11, the regional affiliate US Sales Office of will begin nonstop jet service, using 50-seat Marty Craig 843-686-3949 [email protected] Embraer ERJ145s and 44-seat ERJ140s, to Santa Fe, NM, Tallahas- see, FL, Montgomery, AL, Lake Charles, LA. and Brownsville, TX. New flights to Manhattan, KS, from DFW will begin on August 25. The Eagle service to Santa Fe will be the city’s first commercial jet service in years. “Connecting Dallas/Fort Worth to small and medium-sized cities is one of Eagle’s key missions,” notes American Eagle President and CEO Peter Bowler, “and these new flights are sure to benefit these cities, DFW and the entire AA network.”

regional horizons | March/April 2009 15 UPCOMING RAA EVENTS

2009 Regional Airline Association 2025 M Street, NW, Suite 800 May 18-21 RAA Annual Convention Washington, DC 20036 Salt Lake City, UT Tel: 202/367-1170 Fax: 202/367-2170 [email protected] • www.raa.org Register on-line at www.raa.org RAA staff President Roger Cohen Vice President Scott Foose Vice President-Technical Services June 9-11 Flight Technology Committee Meeting David Lotterer Ottawa, Canada (at NavCanada’s headquarters) Vice President-Legislative Affairs Faye Malarkey Black July 26-28 Human Resources Seminar Director-Industry & Regulatory Affairs Inflight Seminar Liam Connolly Anti-Drug and Alcohol Abuse Seminar Operations Manager St. Petersburg, Staci Morgan Association Associate 2010 Pepper Weeks Convention Manager May 24-27 RAA Annual Convention John Rubsamen Milwaukee, WI Sponsorship Manager Diana Lundie Sponsorship Assistant REMINDERS Susan Young 2008-2009 board of directors Chairman Rick Leach, Trans States Holdings Celebrating 15 years of RAA Vice Chairman Convention reporting, Russell “Chip” Childs, SkyWest Airlines Emerald Media will publish daily Treasurer issues of Regional Horizons at James Rankin, Air Wisconsin this year’s RAA Annual Secretary Convention in Salt Lake City, Dan Wolf, May 19, 20 and 21. Directors Peter Bowler, American Eagle Airlines Maximize your company’s Tim Komberec, visibility throughout the Jim Ream, ExpressJet Doug Voss, Great Lakes Aviation year by advertising in the 2009 Dave Hackett, Gulfstream International Airlines RAA Annual Report. The only Joseph Randell, Jazz Air sourcebook for the industry to Steve Farrow, include state-by-state service Bryan Bedford, Republic Airways analysis, traffic statistics and an airline and supplier directory, the RAA Annual Report is used by industry decision makers Regional Horizons is published on a bi-monthly frequency by Emerald Media and government leaders. Book in partnership with RAA. your advertisement today. Editor Kelly Murphy Emerald Media Contact Cheryl Goldsby at [email protected] [email protected] for Contributing Carole Shifrin rates and more information. editors Al Ditter Design Jennifer Moore and Aeris Graphic Design layout [email protected] Advertising Cheryl Goldsby [email protected]

Printed in USA April 2009 16 regional horizons | March/April 2009 ©2009 RAA All rights reserved