Industry News

GRESHAM, SMITH & PARTNERS — a national architecture, engineering, interior design, and planning firm based in Nashville, is selected as part of the design/build team led by Messer Construction Co. to provide architecture and design services for a new in-line explosives detection system at Nashville Int’l Airport (BNA) for the Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority.   

• Phase I of the multi-year interior renovation of BNA’s existing terminal was recently completed on time and under budget. A third Starbucks location opens, along with the first of two lounges developed by the Graycliff Company, a fine tobacconist based in Nassau, Bahamas.

illinois gov. pat quinn — renews the state’s commitment to building a third airport near Chicago, saying the airport is part of much-needed economic development efforts around the state. The proposed Will County airport has been a project of U.S. Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr., who created the Abraham Lincoln National Airport Commission to bring the airport to an area near Peotone. Illinois DOT estimates the airport would create 9,700 jobs within five years after it opens.

jacksonville aviation authority — approves spending $1.5 million in order to receive $4.6 million from FAA for airport improvement projects at Jacksonville Int’l Airport (JAX).

• JAA board approves the establishment of a Cecil Field Development Policy that allows JAA to offer special considerations, such as lease concessions and incentives, to help stimulate development at Cecil Field.
• Jacksonville Aviation Authority announces that John D. Clark has accepted an offer as executive director and CEO of the Indianapolis Airport Authority, effective April 10, and names Ernestine Moody-Robinson, JAA’s deputy executive director and COO, to the position of interim executive director and CEO while the authority searches for a permanent replacement.

LOS ANGELES — Board of Airport Commissioners unanimously awards an $82-million contract to R&L Brosamer Inc. to build a cross-field taxiway for Los Angeles Int’l Airport to facilitate movement between the north and south runway complexes. The wider taxiway, which will be located west of the Tom Bradley Int’l Terminal, is designed to handle the next generation of large commercial aircraft, such as the Airbus A-380, the Boeing 747-8, and the Boeing 787 Dreamliner.

meridian air charter — a private aviation services company based in Teterboro, NJ, expands its charter fleet with the addition of a Challenger 601; aircraft is based at White Plains, NY.

metratech corp. — of Waltham, MA, a billing, settlement, and customer care product provider, reports its MetraNet™ product has been deployed by the City of Chicago as the billing and partner settlement solution for the Chicago Dept. of Aviation.

metropolitan nashville airport authority — is the first airport authority to seize the benefit of the Stimulus Bill allowing airports to issue tax-exempt bonds, according to The PFM Group, financial advisor assisting the authority. MNAA priced bonds totaling $36 million to fund Phase II of the Terminal Renovation Program at Nashville Int’l Airport. The bonds are not subject to the Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT) for individuals or corporations. Avoiding the AMT is estimated to save MNAA $3.2 million in total debt service savings.

miami-dade aviation dept. — expands its flight information display system service to more hotels in the area of Miami Int’l Airport (MIA), with installation of FIDS monitors at Hotel Sofitel Miami scheduled for completion this spring.  

million air dallas — at Addison adds a Citation III to its charter fleet, now offering 14 aircraft.

natca — National Air Traffic Controllers Assn. president Patrick Forrey tells the House Aviation Subcommittee that the union supports NextGen and believes it has a chance to succeed, but only if FAA collaborates meaningfully with NATCA and all aviation stakeholders.

nbaa — National Business Aviation Assn. president and CEO Ed Bolen cites Senators Pat Roberts (R-KS) and Sam Brownback (R-KS) for writing to President Barack Obama to express concern over “a vital American industry that has suffered not only from global economic challenges but also from misinformed public statements ... The reality is that many businesses of all sizes rely on these aircraft to provide the most cost-effective and efficient means of transportation for their business model.”