FLIGHT OPS FLYER September 11, 1998 **************** ****************** Cargo Smoke Detection & Fire Suppression System Installed --------------------------------------------------------- In August, United, working with its contracted integrator, Barfield AVSCO, became the first airline in the industry to successfully install and flight test a B727-200 cargo compartment smoke detection and fire suppression system. Certification is expected in two to three weeks. Engineering has developed a modification package that will be used to install the system on all B727s. It is expected that 20 B727 aircraft will be completed by the end of the year. Earlier in the summer, United also successfully installed, flight tested and received certification of the system on the B737-300 aircraft. Similar installations and certifications are planned for the B737-500 and B737-291 fleets in October 1998 and January 1999, respectively. It is expected that a total of 35 B737s will have the system installed and operational by the end of 1998. Maintenance and Engineering's target completion date for the project for all B727s and B737s is Dec. 31, 1999, one year ahead of the FAA deadline. The requirement by the FAA for all airlines to install fire suppression systems in cargo pits was driven out of the investigation following the ValuJet accident. Nearly Half of Boarding Pass Readers Installed ---------------------------------------------- United's North America and Information Services divisions continue to work together to install boarding pass readers in 50 airports by March 1999. As of the end of August, the divisions completed installation at 21 airports including the Chicago and Dulles hubs. The line stations that have received the boarding pass readers so far include: COS, MHT, PIT, PDX, MCO, SAN, KIX, BOS, EWR, LGA, IND, PHL, JFK, OAK, OKC, PVD, ONT, RNO and TUL. United is investing $16 million into the boarding pass reader technology that stands to provide many benefits to United customers, its operations and employees. The implementation of boarding pass readers supports the Customer Satisfaction Philosophy (CSP) plank for a simpler, more hassle-free travel experience. Other benefits expected from the boarding pass readers include: ** improving on-time performance by reducing boarding delays; ** eliminating paying denied boarding compensation needlessly, and increasing United's ability to fill every seat on the airplane; ** reducing Mileage Plus fraud; and ** providing more timely positive bag match information. Another benefit the boarding pass reader provides at the departure station is that it frees up one flight attendant. The flight attendant -- who previously took tickets at the gate -- now becomes the onboard "Departure Facilitator," and works with customer service representatives and the other flight attendants to ensure an on-time departure. Premium Seat Deferrals Reach Impressive Low Rate ------------------------------------------------ Vice President-Maintenance Centers Ron Utecht announced recently that an impressive 99.7 percent of United's premium seats (all Business Class and First Class seats) have no deferrals. "Maintenance made a large investment in manpower and inventory to achieve this high non-deferral rate," Utecht says. "We added 60 ATMs (Airframe Maintenance Technicians) scattered across the system, and we made a $6 million investment in inventory." Employees can track an ongoing week's worth of deferrals through DIS Page 41497. In addition to deferral information, the page tracks daily log write ups and load factor. "Oh No, Not Another Survey!" ---------------------------- Oh yes, it is another survey that all Flight Operations employees will find in their company mailboxes. The Flight Operations Communications Survey Design Team produced a six- page survey to gather information about how specific Flight Operations publications and communications vehicles are meeting employees' informational needs. After Oct. 9 -- the survey "return by" date -- an expanded team will meet again to analyze results, make recommendations for improvements and share the outcome. As of Sept. 11, one week after the survey reached mailboxes, approximately 700 Flight Operations employees (seven percent) had filled out and returned the survey. Sign Up Next Week for Sim Rides ------------------------------- The 1998 Flight Center Open House to benefit UECP is scheduled for October 17 and 18. Employees, family and friends will be allowed to purchase simulator rides at a cost of $35 per person for a half-hour ride in all fleets, except the B747-400 and B777 simulators, which will cost $50 per half hour. Four people will occupy the sim during each half-hour ride. A dedicated phone line will be available on Sept. 16 and 17 from 0700 to 1600 MDT to purchase sim time. The number -- to purchase sim rides only -- is Unitel or (303) 780-5668. The Flight Center UECP Hotline number is Unitel or (303) 780-5666. Welcome Aboard -------------- Seventeen new-hire pilots began training at the Flight Center this week, bringing the total for 1998 to 321. The latest assigned pilot number was 9586. Their assignments are: 10 B727 S/O 1 to ORD, 5 to DEN, 4 to SFO 3 DC10 S/O 2 to ORD, 1 to ANC 2 B737 F/O 2 to ORD 2 B300 F/O 2 to DCA Safety Issues ------------- There were no flight safety inquiries this week. ************************************************************ Flight Operations Communications, WHQVF 847/700-7288 September 11, 1998 ******************