Misplaced Pages

#882117

147-588: As per the Federal Aviation Administration , this airport had 30,051 passenger boardings (enplanements) in calendar year 2008, 15,886 in 2009, and 13,088 in 2010. It is included in the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems for 2017–2021, in which it is categorized as a non-hub primary commercial service facility. In 1927, the Greater Muskegon Chamber of Commerce began

294-466: A "prior experience" bid, where anyone with an FAA Control Tower Operator certificate (CTO) and 52 weeks of experience could apply. This was a revolving bid, every month the applicants on this bid were sorted out, and eligible applicants were hired and sent directly to facilities, bypassing the FAA academy entirely. In the process of promoting diversity, the FAA revised its hiring process. The FAA later issued

441-536: A CTI certificate allowed a prospective controller to skip the Air Traffic Basics part of the academy, about a 30- to 45-day course, and go right into Initial Qualification Training (IQT). All prospective controllers, CTI or not, have had to pass the FAA Academy in order to be hired as a controller. Failure at the academy means FAA employment is terminated. In January 2015 they launched another pipeline,

588-636: A Special Agent with the Office of Inspector General for the Department of Transportation and with FAA Security, is one of the most outspoken critics of FAA. Rather than commend the agency for proposing a $ 10.2 million fine against Southwest Airlines for its failure to conduct mandatory inspections in 2008, he was quoted as saying the following in an Associated Press story: "Penalties against airlines that violate FAA directives should be stiffer. At $ 25,000 per violation, Gutheinz said, airlines can justify rolling

735-655: A VIP aircraft by the Mexican Air Force for 23 years under registration TP-03. TP-03 would be broken up in 2006. The first 737-100, NASA 515, is on static display in the Museum of Flight in Seattle and is the last surviving example of the type. The 737-200 was a 737-100 with an extended fuselage, launched by an order from United Airlines in 1965 and entered service with the launch customer in April 1968. Its unit cost

882-539: A campaign to establish the Muskegon County Airport. The Muskegon County Board of Commissioners approved the construction of the airport's first terminal in 1931. The Works Progress Administration (WPA) project cost the county $ 12,000. Capital Airlines was serving Muskegon by 1949 with nonstop Douglas DC-3 flights to Chicago , Milwaukee and Grand Rapids, MI , with direct, no-change-of-plane DC-3 service to Detroit , Lansing and Flint, MI . By

1029-645: A code sharing agreement with three nonstops every weekday from Detroit flown with Fairchild Swearingen Metroliner commuter turboprops. By the spring of 1995, three airlines were serving the airport including American Eagle operating four daily nonstops from Chicago O'Hare with Saab 340 turboprops, Midwest Express Connection flying Beechcraft 1900s with three nonstops operated every weekday from Milwaukee plus one nonstop flown every weekday from both Flint and Lansing, and Northwest Airlink operated by Mesaba Airlines with five nonstops every weekday from Detroit flown with Metroliners. In 2005, Northwest Airlink operated by Mesaba

1176-519: A college that offered a CTI program. Before the change, candidates who had completed coursework at participating colleges and universities could be "fast-tracked" for consideration. However, the CTI program had no guarantee of a job offer, nor was the goal of the program to teach people to work actual traffic. The goal of the program was to prepare people for the FAA Academy in Oklahoma City, OK. Having

1323-464: A design team, which cooperated with CFM International to select, modify and deploy a new engine and nacelle that would make the 737-300 into a viable aircraft. They chose the CFM56-3B-1 high-bypass turbofan engine to power the aircraft, which yielded significant gains in fuel economy and a reduction in noise, but also posed an engineering challenge, given the low ground clearance of the 737 and

1470-421: A few government facilities", and that humanity would never get to Mars under those rules. A Designated Engineering Representative (DER) is an engineer who is appointed under 14 CFR section 183.29 to act on behalf of a company or as an independent consultant (IC). The DER system enables the FAA to delegate certain involvement in airworthiness exams, tests, and inspections to qualified technical people outside of

1617-483: A flight instructor (Gold Seal certification), a 50-year aviator (Wright Brothers Master Pilot Award), a 50-year mechanic (Charles Taylor Master Mechanic Award) or as a proficient pilot. The latter, the FAA " WINGS Program ", provides a lifetime series of grouped proficiency activities at three levels (Basic, Advanced, and Master) for pilots who have undergone several hours of ground and flight training since their last WINGS award, or "Phase". The FAA encourages volunteerism in

SECTION 10

#1732788057883

1764-429: A four-year degree or five years of full-time work experience to apply, rather than the closed college program or Veterans Recruitment Appointment bids, something that had last been done in 2008. Thousands were hired, including veterans, Collegiate Training Initiative graduates, and people who are true "off the street" hires. The move was made to open the job up to more people who might make good controllers but did not go to

1911-529: A gravel deflector on the nose gear and a vortex dissipator extending from the front of the engine. Alaska Airlines used the gravel kit for some of its combi aircraft rural operations in Alaska until retiring its -200 fleet in 2007. Air Inuit , Nolinor Aviation and Chrono Aviation still use the gravel kit in Northern Canada. Canadian North also operated a gravel-kitted 737-200 Combi, but this

2058-423: A need for a new aircraft to supplement the 727 on short and thin routes. Preliminary design work began on May 11, 1964, based on research that indicated a market for a fifty to sixty passenger airliner flying routes of 50 to 1,000 miles (100 to 1,600 km). The initial concept featured podded engines on the aft fuselage, a T-tail as with the 727, and five-abreast seating. Engineer Joe Sutter relocated

2205-410: A new Boeing aircraft. Lufthansa was the only significant customer to purchase the 737-100 and only 30 aircraft were produced. The -200 was rolled out on June 29, 1967, and had its maiden flight on August 8, 1967. It was then certified by the FAA on December 21, 1967. The inaugural flight for United Airlines took place on April 28, 1968, from Chicago to Grand Rapids, Michigan . The lengthened -200

2352-425: A new airport aid program and certain added responsibilities for airport safety. During the 1960s and 1970s, the FAA also started to regulate high altitude (over 500 feet) kite and balloon flying. By the mid-1970s, the agency had achieved a semi-automated air traffic control system using both radar and computer technology. This system required enhancement to keep pace with air traffic growth, however, especially after

2499-706: A new independent agency, the Civil Aeronautics Authority . The legislation also expanded the government's role by giving the CAA the authority and the power to regulate airline fares and to determine the routes that air carriers would serve. President Franklin D. Roosevelt split the authority into two agencies in 1940: the Civil Aeronautics Administration (CAA) and the Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB). CAA

2646-509: A range similar to the Airbus A319LR . The 737-800 was a stretched version of the 737-700 launched on September 5, 1994. The -800 seats 162 passengers in a two-class or 189 passengers in a high-density, one-class layout. Launch customer Hapag-Lloyd Flug (now TUIfly ) received the first one in April 1998. The -800 replaced directly the -400 and aging 727-200 of US airlines. It filled also the gap left by Boeing's decision to discontinue

2793-425: A report that the "bio-data" was not a reliable test for future performance. However, the "Bio-Q" was not the determining factor for hiring, it was merely a screening tool to determine who would take a revised Air Traffic Standardized Aptitude Test (ATSAT). Due to cost and time, it was not practical to give all 30,000 some applicants the revised ATSAT, which has since been validated. In 2015 Fox News levied criticism that

2940-416: A retrofit was provided for active aircraft. Longer nacelle/wing fairings were introduced, and the airflow over the flaps and slats was improved. The production line also introduced an improvement to the flap system, allowing increased use during takeoff and landing. All these changes gave the aircraft a boost to payload and range, and improved short-field performance. Both the first and last 737-100s became

3087-546: A routing of Chicago O'Hare - Muskegon - Saginaw, MI - Flint - Detroit Willow Run Airport - Cleveland - Pittsburgh . United Douglas DC-6B service at this time in 1963 included a westbound flight operating a routing of Detroit Willow Run - Flint - Saginaw - Muskegon - Chicago O'Hare - Moline, IL - Cedar Rapids - Des Moines - Omaha and an eastbound flight operating a routing of Cedar Rapids - Chicago O'Hare - Muskegon - Saginaw - Flint - Detroit Willow Run - Akron, OH - Youngstown, OH - Pittsburgh. By 1969, United Airlines

SECTION 20

#1732788057883

3234-670: A series of midair collisions—most notably the 1956 Grand Canyon mid-air collision ) prompted passage of the Federal Aviation Act of 1958 . This legislation passed the CAA's functions to a new independent body, the Federal Aviation Agency. The act also transferred air safety regulation from the CAB to the FAA, and gave it sole responsibility for a joint civil-military system of air navigation and air traffic control. The FAA's first administrator, Elwood R. Quesada ,

3381-488: A single-class layout with slimline seats requiring an extra pair of exit doors . The MAX 200 would be 20% more cost-efficient per seat, including 5% lower operating costs than the MAX 8 and would be the most efficient narrow-body on the market when entering service. In mid-November 2018, the first MAX 200 of the 135 ordered by Ryanair rolled out, in a 197-seat configuration. It was first flown from Renton on January 13, 2019, and

3528-527: A sort at this time as North Central was operating a daily southbound DC-3 flight from Port Arthur, Ontario / Fort William, Ontario (now Thunder Bay ) in Canada with stops being made in Houghton, MI , Iron Mountain, MI and Green Bay en route to Muskegon with this flight then continuing on to Grand Rapids, Lansing and Detroit. Capital Airlines was then acquired and merged into United Airlines which in 1963

3675-502: A strengthened wing spar . The -400s first flight was on February 19, 1988, and, after a seven-month/500-hour flight-testing run, entered service with Piedmont Airlines that October. The last two -400s, i.e. the last 737 Classics series, were delivered to CSA Czech Airlines on February 28, 2000. The 737-400 was replaced by the 737-800 of the Next Generation series. The 737-400SF was a 737-400 converted to freighter, though it

3822-428: A two class and 189 in a high-density, one class layout. The launch customer Alaska Airlines received the delivery on May 15, 2001. The 737-900ER (Extended Range) is the newest and largest variant of the 737NG generation. An additional pair of exit doors and a flat rear pressure bulkhead increased its seating capacity to 180 passengers in a two-class and up to 220 passengers in a one-class configuration. The -900ER

3969-453: A westbound routing of Boston - Cleveland - Flint - Muskegon - Chicago O'Hare Airport with a third flight operating an additional nonstop service to Chicago O'Hare. Another airline operating jet service into the airport in 1975 was North Central operating McDonnell Douglas DC-9-30 service with one daily flight operated on an eastbound routing of Chicago O'Hare Airport - Milwaukee - Muskegon - Lansing - Detroit - Cleveland although most of

4116-526: A westbound routing of Washington D.C National Airport - Baltimore - Pittsburgh - Cleveland - Detroit - Grand Rapids - Muskegon - Chicago O'Hare. North Central Airlines was serving Muskegon by 1962 with Douglas DC-3 aircraft operated on nonstop flights to Milwaukee and Green Bay, WI in addition to direct, no change plane flights to Detroit Willow Run Airport via stops in Grand Rapids, MI and Lansing . The airport even had international service of

4263-455: Is 6,501 by 150 feet (1,982 x 46 m) and 14/32 is 6,100 by 150 feet (1,859 x 46 m). For the 12-month period ending December 31, 2021 the airport had 23,000 aircraft operations, an average of 63 per day: 84% general aviation , 14% scheduled commercial , 1% military , and <1% air taxi . At that time 81 aircraft were based at this airport: 57 single-engine and 16 multi-engine airplanes , 5 jet , 2 helicopters , and 1% military . The airport

4410-519: Is a U.S. federal government agency within the U.S. Department of Transportation which regulates civil aviation in the United States and surrounding international waters . Its powers include air traffic control , certification of personnel and aircraft , setting standards for airports, and protection of U.S. assets during the launch or re-entry of commercial space vehicles. Powers over neighboring international waters were delegated to

4557-630: Is a set of programs to implement a suite of incremental changes to the National Airspace System (NAS). More precise Performance Based Navigation can reduce fuel burn, emissions, and noise exposure for a majority of communities, but the concentration of flight tracks also can increase noise exposure for people who live directly under those flight paths. A feature of the NextGen program is GPS-based waypoints, which result in consolidated flight paths for planes. The result of this change

Muskegon County Airport - Misplaced Pages Continue

4704-637: Is appointed for a five-year term. On March 19, 2019, President Donald Trump announced he would nominate Stephen Dickson, a former executive and pilot at Delta Air Lines , to be the next FAA Administrator. On July 24, 2019, the Senate confirmed Dickson by a vote of 52–40. He was sworn in as Administrator by Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao on August 12, 2019. On February 16, 2022, Dickson announced his resignation as FAA Administrator, effective March 31, 2022. In September 2023, President Joe Biden announced that he would be nominating Mike Whitaker to lead

4851-711: Is headquartered in Washington, D.C. , and also operates the William J. Hughes Technical Center near Atlantic City, New Jersey , for support and research, and the Mike Monroney Aeronautical Center in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma , for training. The FAA has nine regional administrative offices: The Air Commerce Act of May 20, 1926, is the cornerstone of the U.S. federal government 's regulation of civil aviation. This landmark legislation

4998-633: Is served by a fixed-base operator (FBO), Executive Air Transport. The FBO provides fuel and other pilot services. Car rental agencies are available at the airport. The Muskegon Area Transit System (MATS) route Harvey provides bus service to the airport. Denver Air Connection is the only airline serving the airport at the present time with nonstop Embraer ERJ-145 regional jet service to Chicago O'Hare Airport (ORD). It has interline relationships with American Airlines , Delta Air Lines and United Airlines . Federal Aviation Administration The Federal Aviation Administration ( FAA )

5145-615: Is that many localities experience huge increases in air traffic over previously quiet areas. Complaints have risen with the added traffic and multiple municipalities have filed suit. As a result of the March 10, 2019 Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 crash and the Lion Air Flight 610 crash five months earlier, most airlines and countries began grounding the Boeing 737 MAX 8 (and in many cases all MAX variants) due to safety concerns, but

5292-923: Is the name given to the 737-300/400/500 series after the introduction of the -600/700/800/900 series of the Boeing 737 family. Produced from 1984 to 2000, a total of 1,988 Classic series were delivered. Close to the next major upgrade of single aisle aircraft at Airbus and Boeing, the price of jet fuel reached a peak in 2008, when airlines devoted 40% of the retail price of an air ticket to pay for fuel, versus 15% in 2000. Consequently, in that year carriers retired Boeing 737 Classic aircraft to reduce fuel consumption; replacements consisted of more efficient 737 Next Generation or A320 family aircraft. On June 4, 2008, United Airlines announced it would retire all 94 of its Classic 737 aircraft (64 737-300 and 30 737-500 aircraft), replacing them with A320 family jets taken from its Ted subsidiary, which has been shut down. This intensified

5439-526: The 737 MAX -7/8/9/10 variants, powered by improved CFM LEAP -1B high-bypass turbofans and accommodating 138 to 204 people, entered service in 2017. Boeing Business Jet versions have been produced since the 737NG, as well as military models. As of October 2024 , 16,705 Boeing 737s have been ordered and 11,898 delivered. Initially, its main competitor was the McDonnell Douglas DC-9 , followed by its MD-80 / MD-90 derivatives. In 2013,

5586-486: The Air Transport Association maintenance and engineering conference by chief project engineer Jack Steiner, where its elaborate high-lift devices raised concerns about maintenance costs and dispatch reliability. The original 737 continued to be developed into thirteen passenger, cargo, corporate and military variants. These were later divided into what has become known as the four generations of

5733-718: The Airbus A318 . The 737-700, the first variant of the Next-Generation, was launched in November 1993 with an order of 63 aircraft. The -700 seats 126 passengers in a two-class or 149 passengers in a one-class layout. The launch customer Southwest Airlines took the first delivery in December 1997. The 737-700 replaced the 737-300 and competes with the Airbus A319 . The 737-700C is a convertible version where

5880-482: The Airline Deregulation Act of 1978 phased out the CAB's economic regulation of the airlines. A nationwide strike by the air traffic controllers union in 1981 forced temporary flight restrictions but failed to shut down the airspace system. During the following year, the agency unveiled a new plan for further automating its air traffic control facilities, but progress proved disappointing. In 1994,

6027-471: The BAC One-Eleven (BAC-111), Douglas DC-9 , and Fokker F28 were already into flight certification. To expedite development, Boeing used 60% of the structure and systems of the existing 727, particularly the fuselage, which differs in length only. This 148-inch (3.76 m) wide fuselage cross-section permitted six-abreast seating compared to the rivals' five-abreast. The 727's fuselage was derived from

Muskegon County Airport - Misplaced Pages Continue

6174-464: The Boeing 737 MAX , following the crash of Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 . Boeing 737-200 The Boeing 737 is an American narrow-body airliner produced by Boeing at its Renton factory in Washington . Developed to supplement the Boeing 727 on short and thin routes, the twinjet retained the 707 fuselage width and six abreast seating but with two underwing Pratt & Whitney JT8D low-bypass turbofan engines. Envisioned in 1964,

6321-548: The CFM LEAP -1B engine, with American Airlines intending to order 100 of these aircraft. On August 30, 2011, Boeing confirmed the launch of the 737 new engine variant, to be called the Boeing 737 MAX . It was based on earlier 737 designs with more efficient LEAP-1B power plants, aerodynamic improvements (most notably split-tip winglets ), and airframe modifications. It competes with the Airbus A320neo family that

6468-567: The CFM56 . The 737 went on to become the highest-selling commercial aircraft in terms of orders until surpassed by the competing Airbus A320 family in October 2019, but maintains the record in total deliveries. The fuselage is manufactured in Wichita, Kansas , by Boeing spin-off company Spirit AeroSystems , before being moved by rail to Renton. The Renton factory has three assembly lines for

6615-535: The DOT for federal Essential Air Service (EAS) subsidies to continue operating scheduled passenger service into Muskegon as well as seven other communities. Per DOT procedure, bids were opened for proposals for passenger service to these cities by all interested air carriers. For Muskegon, SkyWest Airlines submitted a bid to provide service to Chicago which required less than half the annual subsidy that Mesaba had proposed in order to continue its service to Detroit. SkyWest

6762-621: The Department of Commerce assumed primary responsibility for aviation oversight. In fulfilling its civil aviation responsibilities, the U.S. Department of Commerce initially concentrated on such functions as safety regulations and the certification of pilots and aircraft. It took over the building and operation of the nation's system of lighted airways, a task initiated by the Post Office Department . The Department of Commerce improved aeronautical radio communications—before

6909-617: The U.S. Air Force . Some were modified into CT-43s, which are used to transport passengers, and one was modified as the NT-43A Radar Test Bed. The first was delivered on July 31, 1973, and the last on July 19, 1974. The Indonesian Air Force ordered three modified 737-200s, designated Boeing 737-2X9 Surveiller . They were used as Maritime reconnaissance (MPA)/transport aircraft, fitted with SLAMMAR (Side-looking Multi-mission Airborne Radar). The aircraft were delivered between May 1982 and October 1983. After 40 years, in March 2008,

7056-596: The fuselage of an aircraft , but was prevented by supervisors he said were friendly with the airline. This was validated by a report by the Department of Transportation which found FAA managers had allowed Southwest Airlines to fly 46 airplanes in 2006 and 2007 that were overdue for safety inspections, ignoring concerns raised by inspectors. Audits of other airlines resulted in two airlines grounding hundreds of planes, causing thousands of flight cancellations. The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee held hearings in April 2008. Jim Oberstar , former chairman of

7203-410: The -500. The Boeing 737 Next Generation , abbreviated as 737 Next Gen or 737NG , is the name given to the main models 737-600/700/800/900 series and the extended range -700ER/900ER variants of the Boeing 737 family. It has been produced since 1996 and introduced in 1997, with a total order of 7,097 aircraft, of which 7,031 have been delivered as of May 2019 . The primary goal was to re-engine

7350-411: The 1960s had already brought the agency into the field of civil aviation security. In response to the hijackings on September 11, 2001, this responsibility is now primarily taken by the Department of Homeland Security . The FAA became more involved with the environmental aspects of aviation in 1968 when it received the power to set aircraft noise standards. Legislation in 1970 gave the agency management of

7497-467: The 707. The proposed wing airfoil sections were based on those of the 707 and 727, but somewhat thicker; altering these sections near the nacelles achieved a substantial drag reduction at high Mach numbers. The engine chosen was the Pratt & Whitney JT8D -1 low-bypass ratio turbofan engine, delivering 14,500 pounds-force (64  kN ) of thrust. The concept design was presented in October 1964 at

SECTION 50

#1732788057883

7644-655: The 737 MAX; a fourth is planned to open at the Everett factory in 2024. The Boeing 737 Original is the name given to the -100/200 and -200 Advanced series of the Boeing 737 family. The initial model was the 737-100, the smallest variant of the 737 aircraft family, which was launched in February 1965 and entered service with Lufthansa in February 1968. In 1968, its unit cost was US$ 3.7M (1968), $ 32.4M today. A total of 30 737-100s were ordered: 22 by Lufthansa, 5 by Malaysia–Singapore Airlines (MSA) and 2 by Avianca with

7791-421: The 737 project would not be canceled. Consultation with Lufthansa over the previous winter had resulted in the seating capacity being increased to 100. On April 5, 1965, Boeing announced an order by United Airlines for 40 737s. United wanted a slightly larger capacity than the 737-100, so the fuselage was stretched 36 inches (91 cm) ahead of, and 40 inches (102 cm) behind the wing. The longer version

7938-532: The 737 with the high pressure ratio CFM56-7. By the early 1990s, as the MD-80 slowly withdrew from the competition following the introduction of the MD-90, it had become clear that the new A320 family was a serious threat to Boeing's market share. Airbus won previously loyal 737 customers, such as Lufthansa and United Airlines. In November 1993, to stay in the single aisle competition, Boeing's board of directors authorized

8085-432: The 737-100 for commercial flight on December 15, 1967. It was the first aircraft to have, as part of its initial certification, approval for Category II approaches , which refers to a precision instrument approach and landing with a decision height between 98 and 197 feet (30 and 60 m). Lufthansa received its first aircraft on December 28, 1967, and on February 10, 1968, became the first non-American airline to launch

8232-537: The 737-900 and competes with the Airbus A321neo . The 737 MAX 10 was proposed as a stretched MAX 9 in mid-2016, enabling seating for 230 in a single class or 189 in two-class layout, compared to 193 in two-class seating for the A321neo. The modest 66-inch (1.7 m) stretch of fuselage enables the MAX 10 to retain the existing wing and CFM Leap 1B engine from the MAX 9 with a trailing-link main landing gear as

8379-408: The Boeing 737 family: The launch decision for the $ 150 million (~$ 1.11 billion in 2023) development was made by the board on February 1, 1965. The sales pitch was big-jet comfort on short-haul routes. Lufthansa became the launch customer on February 19, 1965, with an order for 21 aircraft, worth $ 67 million (~$ 494 million in 2023) after the airline had been assured by Boeing that

8526-532: The CFM56 included the U.S. Air Force with its program to re-engine KC-135 tankers. The passenger capacity of the aircraft was increased to 149 by extending the fuselage around the wing by 9 feet 5 inches (2.87 m). The wing incorporated several changes for improved aerodynamics. The wingtip was extended 9 inches (23 cm), and the wingspan by 1 foot 9 inches (53 cm). The leading-edge slats and trailing-edge flaps were adjusted. The tailfin

8673-419: The FAA and Boeing had colluded on recertification test flights, attempted to cover up important information and that the FAA had retaliated against whistleblowers. SpaceX CEO Elon Musk criticized the FAA as moving too slowly, after a 2020 launch of a Starship prototype rocket violated the company's license. Musk said the agency's regulations are tailored for "a handful of expendable launches per year from

8820-474: The FAA announced it will allow airlines to expand the passengers use of portable electronic devices during all phases of flight, but mobile phone calls would still be prohibited (and use of cellular networks during any point when aircraft doors are closed remains prohibited to-date). Implementation initially varied among airlines. The FAA expected many carriers to show that their planes allow passengers to safely use their devices in airplane mode , gate-to-gate, by

8967-796: The FAA by authority of the International Civil Aviation Organization . The FAA was created in August ;1958  ( 1958-08 ) as the Federal Aviation Agency, replacing the Civil Aeronautics Administration (CAA). In 1967, the FAA became part of the newly formed U.S. Department of Transportation and was renamed the Federal Aviation Administration. The FAA's roles include: The FAA operates five "lines of business". Their functions are: The FAA

SECTION 60

#1732788057883

9114-771: The FAA called the Air Traffic Organization , (ATO) was set up by presidential executive order. This became the air navigation service provider for the airspace of the United States and for the New York (Atlantic) and Oakland (Pacific) oceanic areas. It is a full member of the Civil Air Navigation Services Organisation . The FAA issues a number of awards to holders of its certificates. Among these are demonstrated proficiencies as an aviation mechanic (the AMT Awards),

9261-461: The FAA cleared the MAX to return to service. Before the aircraft can fly again, repairs must be implemented and airlines' training programs must be approved. Passenger flights in the U.S. are expected to resume before the end of the year. Worldwide, the first airline to resume passenger service was Brazilian low-cost Gol , on December 9, 2020. The 737 MAX 7, a shortened variant of the MAX ;8,

9408-483: The FAA declined to ground MAX 8 aircraft operating in the U.S. On March 12, the FAA said that its ongoing review showed "no systemic performance issues and provides no basis to order grounding the aircraft." Some U.S. Senators called for the FAA to ground the aircraft until an investigation into the cause of the Ethiopian Airlines crash was complete. U.S. Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao said that "If

9555-441: The FAA discriminated against qualified candidates. In December 2015, a reverse discrimination lawsuit was filed against the FAA seeking class-action status for the thousands of men and women who spent up to $ 40,000 getting trained under FAA rules before they were abruptly changed. The prospects of the lawsuit are unknown, as the FAA is a self-governing entity and therefore can alter and experiment with its hiring practices, and there

9702-514: The FAA identifies an issue that affects safety, the department will take immediate and appropriate action." The FAA resisted grounding the aircraft until March 13, 2019, when it received evidence of similarities in the two accidents. By then, 51 other regulators had already grounded the plane, and by March 18, 2019, all 387 aircraft in service were grounded. Three major U.S. airlines-- Southwest , United , and American Airlines —were affected by this decision. Further investigations also revealed that

9849-432: The FAA proposed to fine Southwest $ 10.2 million for failing to inspect older planes for cracks, and in 2009 Southwest and the FAA agreed that Southwest would pay a $ 7.5 million penalty and would adopt new safety procedures, with the fine doubling if Southwest failed to follow through. In 2014, the FAA modified its approach to air traffic control hiring. It launched more "off the street bids", allowing anyone with either

9996-431: The FAA shifted to a more step-by-step approach that has provided controllers with advanced equipment. In 1979, Congress authorized the FAA to work with major commercial airports to define noise pollution contours and investigate the feasibility of noise mitigation by residential retrofit programs. Throughout the 1980s, these charters were implemented. In the 1990s, satellite technology received increased emphasis in

10143-450: The FAA when acting under the authority of a DER appointment; a DER has no federal protection for work done or the decisions made as a DER. Neither does the FAA provide any indemnification for a DER from general tort law . "The FAA cannot shelter or protect DERs from the consequences of their findings." A DAR is an individual appointed in accordance with 14 CFR 183.33 who may perform examination, inspection, and testing services necessary to

10290-532: The FAA's development programs as a means to improvements in communications, navigation, and airspace management. In 1995, the agency assumed responsibility for safety oversight of commercial space transportation, a function begun eleven years before by an office within DOT headquarters. The agency was responsible for the decision to ground flights after the September 11 attacks . In December 2000, an organization within

10437-458: The FAA. Qualifications and policies for appointment of Designated Airworthiness Representatives are established in FAA Order 8100.8 , Designee Management Handbook . Working procedures for DERs are prescribed in FAA Order 8110.37 , Designated Engineering Representative (DER) Handbook . Neither type of DER is an employee of either the FAA or the United States government. While a DER represents

10584-446: The FAA. Whitaker previously served as deputy administrator of the FAA under President Barack Obama . The FAA has been cited as an example of regulatory capture , "in which the airline industry openly dictates to its regulators its governing rules, arranging for not only beneficial regulation, but placing key people to head these regulators." Retired NASA Office of Inspector General Senior Special Agent Joseph Gutheinz , who used to be

10731-646: The Federal Aviation Administration as it became one of several agencies (e.g., Federal Highway Administration, Federal Railroad Administration, the Coast Guard, and the Saint Lawrence Seaway Commission) within DOT. The FAA administrator no longer reported directly to the president, but instead to the Secretary of Transportation. New programs and budget requests would have to be approved by DOT, which would then include these requests in

10878-475: The International Community (commonly abbreviated as CANIC) is a notification from the FAA to civil airworthiness authorities of foreign countries of pending significant safety actions. The FAA Airworthiness Directives Manual, states the following: 8. Continued Airworthiness Notification to the International Community (CANIC). The FAA issued a CANIC to state the continued airworthiness of

11025-535: The MD-80 and MD-90 aircraft, following Boeing's merger with McDonnell Douglas . The 737-800 is the most widely used narrowbody aircraft and competes primarily with the Airbus A320. The 737-900 was launched in 1997 and took its first flight on August 3, 2000. It retains the MTOW , fuel capacity, trading range for payload and also the exit configuration of the -800, limiting its seat capacity to approximately 177 in

11172-1084: The Muskegon Air Fair until 2006. Due to budget deficits, the air fair was placed on hiatus for the summer of 2007, but had been reinstated during Muskegon's Summer Celebration. However, as of 2011, the air show was then indefinitely canceled due to additional financial losses. In 2023, a new air show, Wings Over Muskegon, was presented by Yankee Air Museum and hosted by the airport. It was significantly smaller than previous shows. Delta Connection , operated by Mesaba Airlines with code sharing service on behalf of Delta Air Lines , flew nonstop to Detroit until United Express began flights to Chicago with passenger counts to Detroit then decreasing resulting in Delta Connection ceasing all service to Muskegon. In March of 2022, SkyWest announced that it would soon be ending service to Muskegon. On October 1, 2022, Southern Airways Express announced service between Muskegon and Chicago O'Hare. Southern Airlines

11319-407: The Next Generation program to mainly upgrade the 737 Classic series. In late 1993, after engineering trade studies and discussions with major customers, Boeing proceeded to launch a second derivative of the Boeing 737, the 737 Next Generation (NG) -600/700/800/900 series. It featured a redesigned wing with a wider wingspan and larger area, greater fuel capacity, longer range and higher MTOWs . It

11466-403: The Next Generation series. The 737-500 was offered as a modern and direct replacement of the 737-200. It was launched in 1987 by Southwest Airlines , with an order for 20 aircraft, and it flew for the first time on June 30, 1989. A single prototype flew 375 hours for the certification process, and on February 28, 1990, Southwest Airlines received the first delivery. The -500 incorporated

11613-980: The OAG, these four air carriers were operating a combined total of 35 flights every weekday into the airport at this time in 1985. The June 1, 1999 OAG lists four nonstop flights to Chicago O'Hare operated every weekday by Great Lakes Airlines flying as United Express via a code sharing agreement on behalf of United with Beechcraft 1900 and Embraer EMB-120 Brasilia commuter propjets as well as five nonstop flights to Detroit every weekday operated by Mesaba Airlines with Saab 340 turboprops as Northwest Airlink code sharing service on behalf of Northwest Airlines and also three nonstop flights every weekday to Milwaukee operated by Skyway Airlines with Beechcraft 1900s flying Midwest Express Connection service on behalf of Midwest Express . Airline service to Chicago then ended in 2002. North Central Airlines subsequently merged with Southern Airways to form Republic Airlines which in 1979

11760-549: The Second Generation 737 Classic -300/400/500 variants were upgraded with more fuel-efficient CFM56-3 high-bypass turbofans and offered 110 to 168 seats. Introduced in 1997, the Third Generation 737 Next Generation (NG) -600/700/800/900 variants have updated CFM56-7 high-bypass turbofans, a larger wing and an upgraded glass cockpit , and seat 108 to 215 passengers. The latest, and Fourth Generation,

11907-476: The aft fuselage instead of as a T-tail. Many designs for the engine attachment strut were tested in the wind tunnel and the optimal shape for high speed was found to be one which was relatively thick, filling the narrow channels formed between the wing and the top of the nacelle, particularly on the outboard side. At the time, Boeing was far behind its competitors; the SE 210 Caravelle had been in service since 1955, and

12054-579: The aftermath of the Southwest Airlines inspection scandal, a bill was unanimously approved in the House to tighten regulations concerning airplane maintenance procedures, including the establishment of a whistleblower office and a two-year "cooling off" period that FAA inspectors or supervisors of inspectors must wait before they can work for those they regulated. The bill also required rotation of principal maintenance inspectors and stipulated that

12201-552: The aircraft to modern specifications, while also retaining commonality with previous 737 variants. In 1980, preliminary aircraft specifications of the variant, dubbed 737-300, were released at the Farnborough Airshow . This first major upgrade series was later renamed 737 Classic. It competed primarily with the MD-80, its later derivative the MD-90 , and the newcomer Airbus A320 family . Boeing engineer Mark Gregoire led

12348-824: The airport by the spring of 1984. According to the OAG, four airlines were serving Muskegon in late 1989 including American Eagle (airline brand) operating five daily nonstops from Chicago O'Hare with Short 360 turboprops on behalf of American Airlines via a code sharing agreement, Midwest Express Connection operated by Skyway Airlines with service on behalf of Midwest Express (which subsequently changed its name to Midwest Airlines ) with four nonstops every weekday from Milwaukee flown with Beechcraft 1900 commuter propjets, Midway Connection operating on behalf of Midway Airlines (1976-1991) with five nonstops every weekday from Chicago Midway Airport flown with Dornier 228 commuter turboprops, and Northwest Airlink operated by Mesaba Airlines on behalf of Northwest Airlines via

12495-433: The airport including Air Wisconsin operating four flights every weekday with de Havilland Canada DHC-7 Dash 7 turboprops, Midstate Airlines operating six flights every weekday with Fairchild Swearingen Metroliners and Simmons Airlines operating four flights every weekday with NAMC YS-11 and Short 360 turboprops for a combined total of fourteen flights from O'Hare every weekday. At this same time in 1985, Air Wisconsin

12642-571: The airport with nonstop service to Grand Rapids, Lansing and Milwaukee as well as direct one stop service to Chicago O'Hare and also direct one or two stop service to Detroit. According to the Official Airline Guide (OAG), United was continuing to serve the airport in 1975 with three daily flights operated with Boeing 737-200 jets with one service operating an eastbound routing of Chicago O'Hare Airport - Muskegon - Flint, MI - Cleveland - Baltimore with another service operating

12789-645: The airways. In 1936, the Bureau itself took over the centers and began to expand the ATC system. The pioneer air traffic controllers used maps, blackboards, and mental calculations to ensure the safe separation of aircraft traveling along designated routes between cities. In 1938, the Civil Aeronautics Act transferred the federal civil aviation responsibilities from the Commerce Department to

12936-426: The committee, said its investigation uncovered a pattern of regulatory abuse and widespread regulatory lapses, allowing 117 aircraft to be operated commercially although not in compliance with FAA safety rules . Oberstar said there was a "culture of coziness" between senior FAA officials and the airlines and "a systematic breakdown" in the FAA's culture that resulted in "malfeasance, bordering on corruption". In 2008

13083-467: The competition between the two giant aircraft manufacturers, which has since become a duopoly competition . An optional upgrade with winglets became available for the Classic and NG series. Development began in 1979 for the 737's first major revision, which was originally introduced as the 'new generation' of the 737. Boeing wanted to increase capacity and range, incorporating improvements to upgrade

13230-450: The denser, 200-seat MAX 200), and MAX 9 replace the 737-700, -800, and -900 respectively. The further stretched 737 MAX 10 has also been added to the series. The aim was to re-engine the 737NG family using CFM LEAP-1B engines having very high bypass ratio, to compete with the Airbus A320neo family. On July 20, 2011, Boeing announced plans for a third major upgrade and respectively fourth generation of 737 series to be powered by

13377-564: The dice and taking the chance on getting caught. He also said the FAA is often too quick to bend to pressure from airlines and pilots." Other experts have been critical of the constraints and expectations under which the FAA is expected to operate. The dual role of encouraging aerospace travel and regulating aerospace travel are contradictory. For example, to levy a heavy penalty upon an airline for violating an FAA regulation which would impact their ability to continue operating would not be considered encouraging aerospace travel. On July 22, 2008, in

13524-571: The downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 , the FAA suspended flights by U.S. airlines to Ben Gurion Airport during the 2014 Israel–Gaza conflict for 24 hours. The ban was extended for a further 24 hours but was lifted about six hours later. The FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018 gives the FAA one year to establish minimum pitch, width and length for airplane seats, to ensure they are safe for passengers. The first FAA licensed orbital human space flight took place on November 15, 2020 , carried out by SpaceX on behalf of NASA. The administrator

13671-415: The early 1980s with its flights in 1981 including direct, no change of plane DC-9 jet service to Baltimore , Miami , Nashville and Orlando as well as direct, no change of plane DC-9 jet service from Memphis , Montreal and New Orleans in addition to direct one stop DC-9 jet flights to Chicago O'Hare via Milwaukee plus nonstop and one stop DC-9 jets to Detroit. However, Republic was no longer serving

13818-441: The end of 1979 with only one daily nonstop flight; however, United then ceased serving Muskegon shortly thereafter. In the spring of 1981, Midstate Airlines , an independent commuter air carrier, was operating seven nonstop flights every weekday to Chicago O'Hare from Muskegon flown with Fairchild Swearingen Metroliner commuter propjets. By early 1985, three independent airlines were flying nonstop service from Chicago O'Hare to

13965-449: The end of 2013. Devices must be held or put in the seat-back pocket during the actual takeoff and landing. Mobile phones must be in airplane mode or with mobile service disabled, with no signal bars displayed, and cannot be used for voice communications due to Federal Communications Commission regulations that prohibit any airborne calls using mobile phones. From a technological standpoint, cellular service would not work in-flight because of

14112-437: The engines to the wings which lightened the structure and simplified the accommodation of six-abreast seating in the fuselage. The engine nacelles were mounted directly to the underside of the wings, without pylons, allowing the landing gear to be shortened, thus lowering the fuselage to improve baggage and passenger access. Relocating the engines from the aft fuselage also allowed the horizontal stabilizer to be attached to

14259-611: The final 737-200 aircraft in the U.S. flying scheduled passenger service were phased out, with the last flights of Aloha Airlines . As of 2018, the variant still saw regular service through North American charter operators such as Sierra Pacific Airlines . The short-field capabilities of the 737-200 led Boeing to offer the "Unpaved Strip Kit" (see the Air North example, right). This option reduced foreign object damage when operated on remote, unimproved or unpaved runways, that competing jetliners could not use safely. The kit included

14406-411: The final commercial aircraft delivered to MSA on October 31, 1969. This variant was largely overshadowed by its bigger 737-200 sibling, which entered service two months later. The original engine nacelles incorporated thrust reversers taken from the 727 outboard nacelles. They proved to be relatively ineffective and tended to lift the aircraft up off the runway when deployed. This reduced the downforce on

14553-541: The first variant of the 737 MAX, has a longer fuselage than the MAX 7. On July 23, 2013, Boeing completed the firm configuration for the 737 MAX 8. Its first commercial flight was operated by Malindo Air on May 22, 2017. The MAX 8 replaced the 737-800 and competed with the A320neo. The 737 MAX 200 , a high-density version of the 737 MAX 8, was launched in September 2014 and named for seating for up to 200 passengers in

14700-543: The founding of the Federal Communications Commission in 1934, which handles most such matters today—and introduced radio beacons as an effective aid to air navigation. The Aeronautics Branch was renamed the Bureau of Air Commerce in 1934 to reflect its enhanced status within the Department. As commercial flying increased, the Bureau encouraged a group of airlines to establish the first three centers for providing air traffic control (ATC) along

14847-559: The global 737 fleet had completed more than 184 million flights over 264 million block hours since its entry into service. It was the highest-selling commercial aircraft until being surpassed by the competing Airbus A320 family in October 2019, but maintains the record in total deliveries. The 737 MAX, designed to compete with the A320neo , was grounded worldwide between March 2019 and November 2020 following two fatal crashes. Boeing had been studying short-haul jet aircraft designs, and saw

14994-487: The improvements of the 737 Classic series, allowing longer routes with fewer passengers to be more economical than with the 737-300. The fuselage length of the 737-500 is 1 foot 7 inches (48 cm) longer than the 737-200, accommodating up to 140 passengers. Both glass and older-style mechanical cockpits arrangements were available. Using the CFM56-3 engine also gave a 25 percent increase in fuel efficiency over

15141-456: The initial 737-100 made its first flight in April 1967 and entered service in February 1968 with Lufthansa . The lengthened 737-200 entered service in April 1968, and evolved through four generations, offering several variants for 85 to 215 passengers. The First Generation 737-100/200 variants were powered by Pratt & Whitney JT8D low-bypass turbofan engines and offered seating for 85 to 130 passengers. Launched in 1980 and introduced in 1984,

15288-538: The issuance of certificates. There are two types of DARs: manufacturing, and maintenance. Specialized Experience – Amateur-Built and Light-Sport Aircraft DARs Both Manufacturing DARs and Maintenance DARs may be authorized to perform airworthiness certification of light-sport aircraft. DAR qualification criteria and selection procedures for amateur-built and light-sport aircraft airworthiness functions are provided in Order 8100.8. A Continued Airworthiness Notification to

15435-438: The larger diameter of the engine over the original Pratt & Whitney engines. Gregoire's team and CFM solved the problem by reducing the size of the fan (which made the engine slightly less efficient than it had been forecast to be), placing the engine ahead of the wing, and by moving engine accessories to the sides of the engine pod, giving the engine a distinctive non-circular "hamster pouch " air intake. Earlier customers for

15582-428: The last 737-100s in service. The first aircraft used by Boeing as prototype under registration N73700 was later ordered by and delivered to NASA on July 26, 1973, which then operated it under registration N515NA and retired after 30 years on September 27, 2003. The last 737-100 built and also the last operating was originally sold to Malaysia–Singapore Airlines : it was transferred to Air Florida before being used as

15729-457: The longer length. Entry into service with launch operator Southwest Airlines was expected in January 2019, but the airline deferred these orders until 2023–2024. The 737 MAX 7 replaced the 737-700 and was predicted to carry 12 more passengers and fly 400 nautical miles (740 km; 460 mi) farther than the competing Airbus A319neo with 7% lower operating costs per seat. The 737 MAX 8,

15876-477: The main wheels thereby reducing the effectiveness of the wheel brakes. In 1968, an improvement to the thrust reversal system was introduced. A 48-inch tailpipe extension was added and new target-style thrust reversers were incorporated. The thrust reverser doors were set 35 degrees away from the vertical to allow the exhaust to be deflected inboard and over the wings and outboard and under the wings. The improvement became standard on all aircraft after March 1969, and

16023-413: The older 737-200s P&W engines. The 737-500 has faced accelerated retirement due to its smaller size, after 21 years in service compared to 24 years for the -300. While a few 737-300s were slated for freighter conversion, no demand at all existed for a -500 freighter conversion. The 737-500 was replaced by the 737-600 of the Next Generation series, though the -600 was not as successful in total orders as

16170-505: The only major change. The MAX 10 was launched on June 19, 2017, with 240 orders and commitments from more than ten customers. The variant configuration with a predicted 5% lower trip cost and seat cost compared to the A321neo was firmed up by February 2018, and by mid-2018, the critical design review was completed. The MAX 10 has a similar capacity to the A321XLR, but shorter range and much poorer field performance in smaller airports. It

16317-590: The original -200s and respectively -100s. The 737-200 Advanced became the production standard in June 1971. Boeing also provided the 737-200C ( Combi ), which allowed for conversion between passenger and cargo use and the 737-200QC (Quick Change), which facilitated a rapid conversion between roles. The 1,114th and last delivery of a -200 series aircraft was in August 1988 to Xiamen Airlines . Nineteen 737-200s, designated T-43 , were used to train aircraft navigators for

16464-569: The overall budget and submit it to the president. At the same time, a new National Transportation Safety Board took over the Civil Aeronautics Board's (CAB) role of investigating and determining the causes of transportation accidents and making recommendations to the secretary of transportation. CAB was merged into DOT with its responsibilities limited to the regulation of commercial airline routes and fares. The FAA gradually assumed additional functions. The hijacking epidemic of

16611-457: The primary competitor for the 737NG series remained only the A320 family. The 737-600, the smallest model of the Next-Generation, was launched by Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) in March 1995 with the first aircraft delivered in September 1998. A total of 69 aircraft without winglets have been produced with the last one delivered to WestJet in 2006. The 737-600 replaced the 737-500 and is similar to

16758-588: The promotion of aviation safety. The FAA Safety Team, or FAASTeam, works with Volunteers at several levels and promotes safety education and outreach nationwide. On March 18, 2008, the FAA ordered its inspectors to reconfirm that airlines are complying with federal rules after revelations that Southwest Airlines flew dozens of aircraft without certain mandatory inspections. The FAA exercises surprise Red Team drills on national airports annually. On October 31, 2013, after outcry from media outlets, including heavy criticism from Nick Bilton of The New York Times ,

16905-409: The rapid speed of the airborne aircraft: mobile phones cannot switch fast enough between cellular towers at an aircraft's high speed. However, the ban is due to potential radio interference with aircraft avionics. If an air carrier provides Wi-Fi service during flight, passengers may use it. Short-range Bluetooth accessories, like wireless keyboards , can also be used. In July 2014, in the wake of

17052-515: The same committee sent before a meeting to discuss air traffic control privatization noted a 35-year legacy of failed air traffic control modernization management, including NextGen. The letter said the FAA initially described NextGen as fundamentally transforming how air traffic would be managed. In 2015, however, the National Research Council noted that NextGen, as currently executed, was not broadly transformational and that it

17199-450: The seats can be removed to carry cargo instead. There is a large door on the left side of the aircraft. The United States Navy was the launch customer for the 737-700C under the military designation C-40 Clipper . The 737-700ER (Extended Range ) was launched on January 31, 2006, and featured the fuselage of the 737-700 and the wings and landing gear of the 737-800. A 737-700ER can typically accommodate 126 passengers in two classes with

17346-491: The series has received 5,011 firm orders. In March 2019, civil aviation authorities around the world grounded the 737 MAX following two hull loss crashes which caused 346 deaths. On December 16, 2019, Boeing announced that it would suspend production of the 737 MAX from January 2020, which was resumed in May 2020. In the midyear 2020, the FAA and Boeing conducted a series of recertification test flights. On November 18, 2020,

17493-471: The service operated by North Central from the airport at this time was flown with Convair 580 turboprops with four daily direct one stop flights to Chicago O'Hare via Milwaukee, three daily direct one stop flights to Detroit via Lansing and two daily direct flights to Cleveland via stops in Lansing and Detroit. According to the OAG, United was still operating its mainline 737 jet service from Chicago (ORD) at

17640-417: The small commercial service airport category. Midwest Connect , operating code sharing service on behalf of Midwest Airlines , discontinued service to Milwaukee (MKE), effective September 2008. Also in September, the airport was awarded a $ 650,000 federal Small Community Air Service grant to restore nonstop flights to Chicago - O'Hare International Airport . On July 15, 2009, Mesaba Airlines petitioned

17787-577: The spring of 1961, Capital was serving the airport with Vickers Viscount turboprop aircraft with nonstop and direct one stop flights to Chicago O'Hare Airport as well as nonstop flights to Milwaukee with direct, no change of plane Viscount flights from both New York Newark Airport and Washington D.C. National Airport via Detroit. At this same time, Capital was also operating Douglas DC-4 propliner service on an eastbound routing of Chicago O'Hare - Muskegon - Lansing - Detroit - Cleveland - Pittsburgh - Baltimore - Washington D.C. National Airport and

17934-520: The three European short-haul single aisles slowly withdrew from the competition. Sales were low in the early 1970s and, after a peak of 114 deliveries in 1969, only 22 737s were shipped in 1972 with 19 in backlog. The US Air Force saved the program by ordering T-43s , which were modified Boeing 737-200s. African airline orders kept the production running until the 1978 US Airline Deregulation Act , which improved demand for six-abreast narrow-body aircraft. Demand further increased after being re-engined with

18081-409: The war. The application of radar to ATC helped controllers in their drive to keep abreast of the postwar boom in commercial air transportation. In 1946, meanwhile, Congress gave CAA the added task of administering the federal-aid airport program, the first peacetime program of financial assistance aimed exclusively at development of the nation's civil airports. The approaching era of jet travel (and

18228-479: The word "customer" properly applies to the flying public, not those entities regulated by the FAA. The bill died in a Senate committee that year. In September 2009, the FAA administrator issued a directive mandating that the agency use the term "customers" to refer to only the flying public. In 2007, two FAA whistleblowers , inspectors Charalambe "Bobby" Boutris and Douglas E. Peters, alleged that Boutris said he attempted to ground Southwest after finding cracks in

18375-400: Was US$ 4.0M (1968) ($ 35M today). The -200's unit cost was US$ 5.2M (1972) ($ 37.9M today). The 737-200 Advanced is an improved version of the -200, introduced into service by All Nippon Airways on May 20, 1971. After aircraft #135, the 737-200 Advanced has improved aerodynamics, automatic wheel brakes, more powerful engines, more fuel capacity, and hence a 15% increase in payload and range over

18522-624: Was a former Air Force general and adviser to President Eisenhower . The same year witnessed the birth of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), which was created in response to the Soviet Union (USSR) launch of the first manmade satellite. NASA assumed NACA's aeronautical research role. In 1967, a new U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) combined major federal responsibilities for air and surface transport. The Federal Aviation Agency's name changed to

18669-440: Was continuing to serve Muskegon. According to the August 1963 United system timetable, the airline was serving the airport with Vickers Viscount turboprops as well as Douglas DC-6B prop aircraft with Viscount service including a westbound flight operating a routing of Washington D.C. National Airport - Detroit Willow Run Airport - Lansing - Grand Rapids - Muskegon - Chicago O'Hare Airport and an eastbound Viscount flight operating

18816-473: Was continuing to serve the airport with McDonnell Douglas DC-9-30 jets as well as Douglas DC-9-10 jets and McDonnell Douglas DC-9-50 jets in addition to Convair 580 turboprops with direct, no change of plane DC-9-30 service from Atlanta , direct one stop DC-9 and Convair 580 service from Chicago O'Hare via Milwaukee, and direct one stop DC-9 and Convair 580 service from Detroit via either Grand Rapids, MI or Lansing. Republic continued to serve Muskegon during

18963-450: Was designated the -300SP ( Special Performance ). The 737-300 was replaced by the 737-700 of the Next Generation series. The 737-400 was launched in 1985 to fill the gap between the 737-300 and the 757-200. In June 1986, Boeing announced the development of the 737-400, which stretched the fuselage a further 10 feet (3.0 m), increasing the capacity to 188 passengers, and requiring a tail bumper to prevent tailstrikes during take-off and

19110-405: Was designated the 737-200, with the original short-body aircraft becoming the 737-100. Detailed design work continued on both variants simultaneously. The first -100 was rolled out on January 17, 1967, and took its maiden flight on April 9, 1967, piloted by Brien Wygle and Lew Wallick. After several test flights the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued Type Certificate A16WE certifying

19257-502: Was due to be retired in early 2023. As of September 2023 , a relatively high number of 737-200s remain in service compared to other early jet airliners, with fifty examples actively flying for thirty carriers. During the 737 MAX groundings , older 737s, including the 200 and Classic series , were in demand for leasing. C-GNLK, one of Nolinor's 737-200s, is the oldest jet airliner in commercial service as of 2024, having entered service 50 years prior in 1974. The Boeing 737 Classic

19404-414: Was due to enter service in April 2019. The 737 MAX 9, the stretched variant of the MAX 8, was launched with an order of 201 aircraft in February 2012. It made its roll-out on March 7, 2017, and first flight on April 13, 2017; It was certified by February 2018. The launch customer, Lion Air Group, took the first MAX 9 on March 21, 2018, before entering service with Thai Lion Air . The 737 MAX 9 replaced

19551-405: Was equipped with CFM56-7 high pressure ratio engines, a glass cockpit , and upgraded interior configurations. The four main models of the series can accommodate seating for 108 to 215 passengers. It was further developed into additional versions such as the corporate Boeing Business Jet (BBJ) and military P-8 Poseidon aircraft. Following the merger between Boeing with McDonnell Douglas in 1997,

19698-559: Was introduced to meet the range and passenger capacity of the discontinued 757-200 and to directly compete with the Airbus A321 . The Boeing 737 MAX is the name given to the main models 737 MAX 7/8/9/10 series and the higher-density MAX 200 variant of the Boeing 737 family. It is offered in four main variants, typically offering 138 to 230 seats and a range of 3,215 to 3,825 nautical miles [nmi] (5,954 to 7,084 km; 3,700 to 4,402 mi). The 737 MAX 7, MAX 8 (including

19845-437: Was launched in December 2010 and reached 1,029 orders by June 2011, breaking Boeing's monopoly with American Airlines , which had an order for 130 A320neos that July. The 737 MAX had its first flight on January 29, 2016, and gained FAA certification on March 8, 2017. The first delivery was a MAX 8 on May 6, 2017, to Lion Air 's subsidiary Malindo Air , which put it into service on May 22, 2017. As of January 2019 ,

19992-438: Was never any guarantee of a job in the CTI program. In August 2023 The New York Times published an investigative report that showed overworked air traffic controllers at understaffed facilities making errors that resulted in 46 near collisions in the air and on the ground in the month of July alone. A May 2017 letter from staff of the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure to members of

20139-402: Was not a model delivered by Boeing and hence the nickname Special Freighter (SF) . Alaska Airlines was the first to convert one of their 400s from regular service to an aircraft with the ability to handle 10 pallets. The airline had also converted five more into fixed combi aircraft for half passenger and freight. These 737-400 Combi aircraft were retired in 2017 and replaced by the 737-700F of

20286-403: Was operating all of its flights into Muskegon with Boeing 737-200 jets with three daily nonstops to Chicago O'Hare with one of these flights providing direct, no change of plane service to Omaha and Lincoln, NE with another 737 flight operating direct one stop service from Cleveland via Flint. Also in 1969, North Central Airlines was operating eight daily Convair 580 turboprop flights from

20433-457: Was operating nonstop DHC-7 Dash 7 service from Battle Creek, MI while Midstate was operating nonstop Metroliner service from Milwaukee and Traverse City with Simmons Airlines operating nonstop and direct Embraer EMB-110 Bandeirante turboprop flights from Detroit as well as nonstop NAMC YS-11 and Short 360 service from Traverse City in addition to nonstop Embraer EMB-110 or Short 360 flights from Flint, Grand Rapids and Jackson, MI . According to

20580-802: Was operating the Cessna 208 Caravan turboprop on this route and proposed offering more flights out of Muskegon; however, this airline no longer serves the airport. On October 1, 2024, Muskegon County Airport announced that Denver Air Connection would be taking over the Essential Air Service (EAS) contract to Muskegon effective November 1, 2024. Denver Air Connection announced it would operate 24 weekly departures to and from Chicago O'Hare (ORD) with Embraer ERJ-145 regional jet aircraft. Muskegon County Airport covers an area of 1,200 acres (486 ha ) at an elevation of 629 feet (192 m) above mean sea level . It has two asphalt paved runways : 6/24

20727-399: Was operating three daily nonstop flights to Detroit with Saab 340s while Midwest Connect (which was formerly Midwest Express Connection) operated by Skyway Airlines was flying four nonstops every weekday to Milwaukee with Beechcraft 1900s. Muskegon County Airport was the recipient of both the 2007-2008 and 2008-2009 Balchen/Post Awards for outstanding achievement in snow and ice control in

20874-497: Was originally based on the 737-700, flying 1,000 nautical miles (1,900 km; 1,200 mi) farther and accommodating two more seat rows at 18% lower fuel costs per seat. The redesign uses the 737-8 wing and landing gear; a pair of over-wing exits rather than the single-door configuration; a 46-inch-longer (1,200 mm) aft fuselage and a 30-inch-longer (760 mm) longer forward fuselage; structural re-gauging and strengthening; and systems and interior modifications to accommodate

21021-538: Was passed at the urging of the aviation industry, whose leaders believed the airplane could not reach its full commercial potential without federal action to improve and maintain safety standards. The Act charged the Secretary of Commerce with fostering air commerce, issuing and enforcing air traffic rules, licensing pilots , certifying aircraft, establishing airways, and operating and maintaining aids to air navigation. The newly created Aeronautics Branch, operating under

21168-450: Was redesigned, the flight deck was improved with the optional EFIS (Electronic Flight Instrumentation System), and the passenger cabin incorporated improvements similar to those developed on the Boeing 757 . The prototype -300, the 1,001st 737 built, first flew on February 24, 1984, with pilot Jim McRoberts. It and two production aircraft flew a nine-month-long certification program. The 737-300 retrofitted with Aviation Partners ' winglets

21315-499: Was responsible for ATC, airman and aircraft certification, safety enforcement, and airway development. CAB was entrusted with safety regulation, accident investigation, and economic regulation of the airlines. The CAA was part of the Department of Commerce. The CAB was an independent federal agency. On the eve of America's entry into World War II , CAA began to extend its ATC responsibilities to takeoff and landing operations at airports. This expanded role eventually became permanent after

21462-441: Was selected in November 2009, and began service on February 12, 2010, replacing Mesaba. SkyWest initially operated under a two-year contract for the service and was operating flights to Chicago O'Hare with Canadair CRJ200 regional jets operating as United Express on behalf of United Airlines via a code sharing agreement; however, SkyWest then ended all United Express service to Muskegon. The airport hosted an air show called

21609-502: Was widely preferred over the -100 by airlines. The improved version, the 737-200 Advanced, was introduced into service by All Nippon Airways on May 20, 1971. The 737 original model with its variants, known later as the Boeing 737 Original , initially competed with SE 210 Caravelle and BAC-111 due to their earlier entry into service and later primarily with the McDonnell Douglas DC-9, then its MD-80 derivatives as

#882117