Industry News

Briefings ...
Air charter safety foundation — conducts its new Industry Audit Standard, covering an in-depth Part 135 regulatory review and evaluation of Million Air Dallas’s Safety Management System. Million Air Dallas becomes the first non-beta test operator to gain the ACSF registration.

airmall — at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport signs a lease with retailer Swatch to open a unit on Concourse C in February 2010. 

airtran airways — launches nonstop service to Milwaukee’s General Mitchell Int’l Airport (MKE) from Akron-Canton Airport.
• AirTran Airways also announces it will open both a pilot and flight attendant base in Milwaukee to support its increased operations. The flight bases will open in April 2010 and will consist initially of 50 pilots to support Boeing 737 flying and a minimum of 50 flight attendants to support both Boeing 717 and Boeing 737 operations. The payroll for these Milwaukee-based positions is expected to exceed $6.5 million per year.  

altair fuels — based in Seattle reports it has entered into a memorandum of understanding with 14 airlines from the U.S., Mexico, Canada, and Germany, led by the Air Transport Assn., to negotiate the purchase of up to 750 million gallons of renewable jet fuel and diesel derived from camelina and produced by AltAir Fuels. The renewable fuel, to be produced at a new facility in Anacortes, WA, would replace some 10 percent of fuel consumed annually at Seattle-Tacoma Int’l Airport, reducing carbon emissions by some 14 billion pounds over 10 years.

american science and engineering, inc. — of Billerica, MA, a supplier of X-ray detection solutions, receives a $39.7 million order for cargo X-ray inspection systems from an unnamed government agency to screen

cargo and vehicles for explosive threats and contraband at strategic border crossings.

argus — of Cincinnati, OH, awards 18 charter operators the Platinum rating during the fourth quarter of 2009. List of Platinum-rated operations is available at www.aviationresearch.com.

asheville regional airport — commemorates inaugural United Airlines service to Chicago’s O’Hare Int’l Airport.

asig — of Orlando begins ground handling operations for Air Canada’s 80-plus weekly flights at Newark Liberty Int’l Airport.

Associated air center — successfully transitions its Designated Alteration Station to Organization Designation Authorization at its Dallas location.

bristow academy — a leading helicopter flight training school with campus facilities in Titusville, New Iberia, LA, Concord, CA, and Gloucester, U.K. will establish a flight training operation at Orlando Sanford Int’l Airport.

cessna aircraft co. — a Textron Inc. company based in Wichita, KS, recognizes four Cessna Pilot Centers as the first schools to gain approval from FAA under FAR Part 141 to use Cessna’s new Sport/Private Pilot Course in their private pilot certificate training programs. The centers: Air Fleet Training Systems Inc., Fairfield, N.J.; Snohomish Flying Service, Snohomish, WA.; Trade Winds Aviation (dba for Skyworks Inc.), San Jose, CA; and Pensacola Aviation Center, Pensacola, FL.
• Cessna also delivers its first Model 162 Skycatcher Light Sport Aircraft during a ceremony at Yingling Aircraft in Wichita. Yingling is one of three U.S. re-assembly facilities for the Skycatcher. Rose Pelton, wife of Cessna Chairman, President and CEO Jack J. Pelton, received the first Skycatcher.

city of chicago — receives FAA approval to revive privatization plans to privatize Midway Airport.

delta air lines — reports that its wholly owned subsidiary, Delta AirElite, acquires Kinston, NC-based Segrave Aviation in an all-cash transaction.

dhl express — is working with the Clinton County (OH) Port Authority on an agreement to donate the former DHL Air Hub/Wilmington Airpark to the community for redevelopment and future use of the site as an airport/commerce park.