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New United to use CAL's 121 certificate

Old 09-01-2010, 08:33 AM
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Default New United to use CAL's 121 certificate

EMPLOYEE BULLETIN NO. 17


CO AND UA SET PATH FOR OBTAINING A SINGLE FAA OPERATING CERTIFICATE


CO and United Airlines (UA) have agreed on a path to obtain a single operating certificate from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). This is a long-term process that will follow a series of steps to be outlined in a transition plan to be submitted to the FAA later this month.

Currently, the following separate operating certificates exist among the carriers:

Continental Airlines - Part 121 Air Carrier Operating Certificate
Continental Airlines - Part 145 Repair Station Certificate
Continental Micronesia - Part 121 Air Carrier Operating Certificate

United Airlines - Part 121 Air Carrier Operating Certificate
United Airlines - Part 145 Repair Station Certificate

The carriers have decided on the following steps to integrate the certificates that will ultimately result in one Part 121 certificate and one Part 145 certificate. All of this activity is expected to occur in the months following legal closing on Oct. 1:

First, the Continental Micronesia (CMI) Part 121 operation will be combined with the CO Part 121 operation, resulting in a single Part 121 operating certificate. This will simplify the later certificate integration steps between CO and UA.

Second, the UA Part 121 operation will be combined with the CO Part 121 operation, resulting in a single Part 121 operating certificate. Ultimately, all air carrier operations for the merged airline will be conducted under the authority of this certificate.

CO’s Part 145 Repair Station activities will be combined with UA’s Part 145 activities, resulting in a single Part 145 certificate. Ultimately, all repair station activities for the merged airline will be conducted under the authority of this certificate.

Both the UA and CO certificates contain unique attributes that will be preserved following integration. CO’s Part 121 Certificate has enhanced technology authorizations and close conformity to current FAA standard language. UA’s Part 145 Repair Station Certificate enables increased maintenance capabilities, enhanced repair station authorizations and more maintenance volume when compared with CO’s 145 Certificate.


SINGLE OPERATING CERTIFICATE Q&A


What is a Part 121 operating certificate?

A Part 121 operating certificate is an airline’s authorization to conduct operations in accordance with its FAA-approved operations specifications (OpSpecs). OpSpecs include, for example, the airline’s specific authorizations, limitations, standards and procedures necessary to ensure safety and regulatory compliance for flight and ground operations.

What steps will occur in the process to obtain a Single Operating Certificate (SOC)?

This month, United (UA) and Continental (CO) will jointly submit a transition plan to the FAA. This plan will outline all the steps necessary to integrate our operations safely.

Based on FAA approval of the transition plan, we will have a logical and detailed framework for conducting all the integration steps in the correct order.

Adhering to the transition plan, UA and CO will harmonize thousands of technical and operations programs currently in effect at the two airlines. Training will be accomplished so that employees who are affected by a particular program understand how it will function at the combined airline. Finally, implementation of changes will occur in the operating environments (aircraft, hangars, terminal operations, etc.).

Once the required steps have been completed, the FAA will issue the SOC. Certain processes and procedures may remain separate (or parallel) after issuance of the SOC, pending final integration.

Does the plan to obtain an SOC affect any of the other decisions announced up to this point (for example, the United Airlines name, the Continental Airlines logo and livery, Chicago headquarters, etc.)?

No. The certificate plan is consistent with all merger-related decisions.

Which FAA offices will oversee our compliance with safety regulations at the combined carrier?

Currently, the FAA oversight teams assigned to UA and CO are concentrated in Houston, Denver and San Francisco. While there could be some changes in the FAA structure to accommodate Chicago (as well as other locations), these decisions on how best to locate and resource FAA staff will be made independently by the FAA. During the transition, we don't expect to see many, if any, personnel changes on behalf of the FAA.
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Old 09-01-2010, 09:38 AM
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Where does it say that exactly? You're mistaken if you think that decision has been made.
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Old 09-01-2010, 09:45 AM
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Default Huh??

I do not read this employee bulletin as saying the NEW UNITED "will use CO's 121 certificate".

Where do you come up with that conclusion?
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Old 09-01-2010, 10:03 AM
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Originally Posted by Flyguppy View Post
I do not read this employee bulletin as saying the NEW UNITED "will use CO's 121 certificate".
Agreed. I do not see where that is stated either. Why would it matter anyways? Do you really care?

Other than updating us on the fact that the process is in motion - I don't see how this makes any difference to us line pukes.
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Old 09-01-2010, 10:48 AM
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Default CAL 121 Certificate

Originally Posted by Flyguppy View Post
I do not read this employee bulletin as saying the NEW UNITED "will use CO's 121 certificate".

Where do you come up with that conclusion?
the E-Mail was sentthis mornong by,
Michael Quiello,
VP-Corporate Safety, Security, Quality & Environment
Since he's staying on AFTER the merger it's probably a good Idea that this be taken seriously.
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Old 09-01-2010, 11:35 AM
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Where does it say it? Look at the language.

First, the CMI 121 certificate will be combined with the CO certificate.

Second, the UA 121 certificate will be combined with the CO certificate.

Then it says the CO 145 certificate will be combined with UA's 145 certificate.

Notice the order of these things? You aren't saying that UA will be merging with a new CMI are you?

Further down it explains the benefits of certain combinations. CO's 121 certificate has some technology advantages already in existence plus "close conformity to current FAA standard language." UA's 145 certificate "enables increased maintenance capabilities, enhanced repair station authorizations and more maintenance volume when compared with CO’s 145 certificate."

The language is pretty clear is to which certificates they are going to use. When I talked with an MEC member a few weeks ago, that individual said the company was close to making its decision on which certificates would be used. It was looking, at the time, exactly what was stated above due to authorizations and technology already in place on one certificate over the other. It would be about time and money.
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Old 09-01-2010, 01:15 PM
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Frankly I don't give two ****s one way or the other what the certificate says as long as we are doing all the certificates flying. I figure we are all going to have to do a little learnin' here in a bit anyway.
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Old 09-01-2010, 08:34 PM
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Originally Posted by Flyguppy View Post
I do not read this employee bulletin as saying the NEW UNITED "will use CO's 121 certificate".

Where do you come up with that conclusion?
Originally Posted by skypest View Post
Agreed. I do not see where that is stated either. Why would it matter anyways? Do you really care?

Other than updating us on the fact that the process is in motion - I don't see how this makes any difference to us line pukes.
Originally Posted by av8rrob View Post
EMPLOYEE BULLETIN NO. 17


CO AND UA SET PATH FOR OBTAINING A SINGLE FAA OPERATING CERTIFICATE


CO and United Airlines (UA) have agreed on a path to obtain a single operating certificate from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). This is a long-term process that will follow a series of steps to be outlined in a transition plan to be submitted to the FAA later this month.

Currently, the following separate operating certificates exist among the carriers:

Continental Airlines - Part 121 Air Carrier Operating Certificate
Continental Airlines - Part 145 Repair Station Certificate
Continental Micronesia - Part 121 Air Carrier Operating Certificate

United Airlines - Part 121 Air Carrier Operating Certificate
United Airlines - Part 145 Repair Station Certificate

The carriers have decided on the following steps to integrate the certificates that will ultimately result in one Part 121 certificate and one Part 145 certificate. All of this activity is expected to occur in the months following legal closing on Oct. 1:

First, the Continental Micronesia (CMI) Part 121 operation will be combined with the CO Part 121 operation, resulting in a single Part 121 operating certificate. This will simplify the later certificate integration steps between CO and UA.

Second, the UA Part 121 operation will be combined with the CO Part 121 operation, resulting in a single Part 121 operating certificate. Ultimately, all air carrier operations for the merged airline will be conducted under the authority of this certificate.

CO’s Part 145 Repair Station activities will be combined with UA’s Part 145 activities, resulting in a single Part 145 certificate. Ultimately, all repair station activities for the merged airline will be conducted under the authority of this certificate.

Both the UA and CO certificates contain unique attributes that will be preserved following integration. CO’s Part 121 Certificate has enhanced technology authorizations and close conformity to current FAA standard language. UA’s Part 145 Repair Station Certificate enables increased maintenance capabilities, enhanced repair station authorizations and more maintenance volume when compared with CO’s 145 Certificate.


SINGLE OPERATING CERTIFICATE Q&A


What is a Part 121 operating certificate?

A Part 121 operating certificate is an airline’s authorization to conduct operations in accordance with its FAA-approved operations specifications (OpSpecs). OpSpecs include, for example, the airline’s specific authorizations, limitations, standards and procedures necessary to ensure safety and regulatory compliance for flight and ground operations.

What steps will occur in the process to obtain a Single Operating Certificate (SOC)?

This month, United (UA) and Continental (CO) will jointly submit a transition plan to the FAA. This plan will outline all the steps necessary to integrate our operations safely.

Based on FAA approval of the transition plan, we will have a logical and detailed framework for conducting all the integration steps in the correct order.

Adhering to the transition plan, UA and CO will harmonize thousands of technical and operations programs currently in effect at the two airlines. Training will be accomplished so that employees who are affected by a particular program understand how it will function at the combined airline. Finally, implementation of changes will occur in the operating environments (aircraft, hangars, terminal operations, etc.).

Once the required steps have been completed, the FAA will issue the SOC. Certain processes and procedures may remain separate (or parallel) after issuance of the SOC, pending final integration.

Does the plan to obtain an SOC affect any of the other decisions announced up to this point (for example, the United Airlines name, the Continental Airlines logo and livery, Chicago headquarters, etc.)?

No. The certificate plan is consistent with all merger-related decisions.

Which FAA offices will oversee our compliance with safety regulations at the combined carrier?

Currently, the FAA oversight teams assigned to UA and CO are concentrated in Houston, Denver and San Francisco. While there could be some changes in the FAA structure to accommodate Chicago (as well as other locations), these decisions on how best to locate and resource FAA staff will be made independently by the FAA. During the transition, we don't expect to see many, if any, personnel changes on behalf of the FAA.
I see lots of things indicating CALs certificate will be used. That doesn't mean that only CAL procedures will be used.
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Old 09-02-2010, 05:23 AM
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In United's similar message to its employees Wednesday, United vice president Michael Quiello explained:
"We have decided that the merged airline will retain the legacy Continental operating certificate and the legacy United repair station certificate. This was a technical decision based on a variety of factors.

"In addition, the Continental Micronesia operation will be combined with Continental's in advance of the integration between the Continental and United operations. This will allow us to avoid delaying the larger, more complicated integration of the United and Continental operations and will simplify some of the later integration steps between the two carriers."
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Old 09-02-2010, 09:29 AM
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Now that's what I call "in black and white". So the new United will be flying around with the "COA" tag on radar and clearances, will the call sign remain Continental, just so we can confuse the !@#$ out of everyone. Precedent has been set, US Air uses Cactus and "AWE".

Is it just me or does this merger already resemble one over the other?
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