Industry News
forecast international — in its new analysis entitled “The Market for Light Aircraft Retrofit & Modernization,” estimates that nearly $1.7 billion will be spent on upgrades for fixed-wing aircraft weighing less than 70,000 pounds during the 2009-2018 period. As the electronics sector has stabilized after a spike fueled by FAA mandates, the market will be led by propulsion upgrades.
fsana — Flight School Assn. of North America based at Allentown, PA is formed as the first aviation association dedicated solely to the flight training industry. FSANA represents flight schools, firms that provide products or services to the flight training industry, and supporting partners; www.fsana.com.
george Bush intercontinental airport — celebrates the grand opening of its IAH Fresh Cargo Center. IAH partnered with Trammell Crow to develop the 61,484-sq. ft. facility, which opens Houston as a major gateway for temperature and time-sensitive air cargo.
honeywell international inc. — Honeywell International Inc. receives FAA approval for its SmartRunway and SmartLanding safety systems designed to prevent runway accidents at crowded airports. The systems alert pilots about runway and taxi locations, unstable approaches, and long landings when an aircraft lands too far down the runway to safely stop. The systems require one hour of aircraft downtime for installation and minimal pilot training.
jet edge — of Van Nuys, CA adds two large-cabin Gulfstream aircraft, a G-V and a privately managed G-550, to its charter fleet.
l-3 security & detection Systems — of Woburn, MA introduces the new ultra-compact, high-performance PX 5.3 X-ray inspection system for use where space is at a premium.
lee county port authority — announces Midwest Airlines will start nonstop service to Kansas City from Southwest Florida Int’l Airport (RSW) on Dec. 17, operating a 76-seat Embraer 170 aircraft.
los angeles — Board of Airport Commissioners approves environmental impact and compliance reports for the reconfiguration of the Tom Bradley Int’l Terminal (TBIT) at Los Angeles Int’l Airport. The Bradley West Project calls for new concourses to replace existing ones; the addition of nine gates to the west side of the terminal to supplement existing gates on the east side of the terminal; addition of secured concourses between Terminals 3 and 4; and relocation of existing Taxiways S and Q and a vehicle service road that connects the north and south runway complexes.
maryland aviation administration — executive director Timothy L. Campbell is retiring. His predecessor, Paul J. Wiedefeld, will replace him.
milwaukee county — is getting $6.3 million in federal stimulus funds to help install safety areas on two airport runways at General Mitchell Int’l Airport.
nata — National Air Transportation Assn. and the Aircraft Electronics Association oppose foreign repair station provisions in both the U.S. House and Senate versions of FAA reauthorization legislation. Each bill contains a provision requiring additional FAA oversight of foreign repair stations.
natca — National Air Traffic Controllers Assn. members vote to ratify a collective bargaining agreement with FAA, ending a union/FAA impasse held over from the Bush Administration.
nbaa — National Business Aviation Assn. and the General Aviation Manufacturers Assn. applaud a new study showing that, by a host of measurements, companies using business aviation outperform those without aircraft. The study, conducted by NEXA Advisors, examined how companies included in the Standard & Poor’s (S&P) 500 performed in revenue growth, profit growth, and asset efficiency from 2003 through 2008. Average annual earnings growth was 434 percent higher for users of business aircraft than for non-users; visit www.noplanenogain.org.
new orleans int’l airport — has its preliminary application to lease Louisiana’s largest commercial airport to a private operator approved by FAA under the agency’s privatization pilot program. Under the program, an airport may continue to receive FAA funds and grants and collect fees and charges. The city could use lease proceeds for non-aviation purposes after money is set aside for airport debt service. Congress is allowing up to five public airports to participate in the program, including a large hub airport and at least one general aviation airport that does not have scheduled airline service.
