Did You Know - Random Facts

Did you know that:

AOPA (Aircraft Owners Pilot Association) now has 412,000 members.



GA (General Aviation) makes up less than 4% of FAA's Tower Operations - but is expected to increase in the future.



International passenger flights are taking a bigger slice of the flying pie each year, by fuel consumption accounts, gradually increasing from 10% of the total in 1977 to 30% in 2006. Domestic passenger flights dropped from 90% to 74% for the same time periods, while the total of International and Domestic flying increased by 53%. By all accounts, these figures will only increase year by year in the future.

In a more recent accounting by the Department of Transportation (DOT) research, U.S. Airlines carried 64.9 million scheduled Domestic and International passengers in April 2007, 2.7% more than in April 2006 - 7.5 million of those were schedled International passengers, a 2% increase.

During the first 4 months of 2007 the Domestic and International flights of the major carriers enjoyed average load factors exceeding 77.8%.

The DOT also reported that American Airlines carried more total system passengers in the first 4 months of 2007 than any other airline, while SouthWest Airlines carried more Domestic passengers. American Airlines also carried more International passengers.

Closer to home, the Domestic revenue passenger miles market share from May 2006 to April 2007 was: American 15.3%, United 12.1%, Southwest 11.9%, Delta 11.1%, Continental 7.7%, Northwest 7.0%, U.S. Airways 4.7%, Jet Blue 4.0%, America West 3.8%, Alaska Airline 2.6%, and Other 19.8%.

The top Domestic Routes for the same period were: (passengers in millions) New York to Chicago 3.24, Los Angeles to Chicago 2.78, Washington D.C. to Chicago 2.69, Ft. Lauderdale to New York 2.65, Atlanta to New York 2.63, Atlanta to Orlando 2.62, Denver to Chicago 2.53, Atlanta to Washington D.C. 2.51, Las Vegas to Chicago 2.4, and Dallas/Ft. Worth to Chicago 2.36. (Chicago appears to be the central Hub, - no doubt, but probably with more delays).

The top airports - More total System and Domestic passengers boarded flights in the first 4 months of 2007 at the Atlanta - Hartsfield Johnson International airport, while more International passengers boarded flights at Miami International. (I'm sure that the Air Traffic Controllers are mindful of these increases since they report that there are too few of them to handle it all).



And, hey, did you know that Live Rock 105 radio is owned by CBS and (for Robin and Leta) have pretty good music, too. I wonder if those "rock-jocks" can come up with a "flying dreamliner" song. RS.