United Airlines is working out a deal with the University of Hawaii that will allow the football team to charter a flight to the Air Force Academy in late October, a source close to the team said last night.

Rainbows head coach Fred vonAppen said he had heard something similar, but couldn't confirm it until the final details are ironed out this week.

"The proposal I heard is not exactly a true charter flight from here to there," vonAppen said yesterday. "But once we get to the mainland, United will fly us directly to Colorado Springs (Colo.). We should get home Saturday night after the game if everything falls into place."

Rainbows athletic director Hugh Yoshida has been looking at the proposal that would cut Hawaii's travel time by one day. VonAppen first broached the subject of charter flights with Yoshida nine months ago.

It didn't appear anything could be worked out this year, but apparently United has come up with a plan that suits vonAppen.

"We almost got a charter flight for our next game to Fresno State," vonAppen said. "Hawaiian Airlines worked up until the 11th hour to try to take us directly to Fresno (Calif.), but apparently the airport couldn't service a plane of that size."

As a result, the team will have to fly into Los Angeles on Delta Airlines on Thursday, then take a four-hour bus ride to Fresno. VonAppen said the team doesn't get home until late Sunday night.

"It's less than ideal, but it's all we can do," vonAppen said. "Hopefully, the charter flight to Air Force will come to fruition."