Briefings ...
aAAE — American Assn. of Airport Executives applauds expansion of the Registered Traveler program with the opening of RT lanes at Washington-Dulles Int’l and Ronald Reagan Washington National Airports.
aci World — appoints Angela Gittens as director general. Gittens is the former director at Miami and Atlanta Int’l Airports, and most recently had served as a consultant with HNTB.
aci-na/aaae — Spring Legis-lative Conference attendees are told that chances are slim for comprehensive reauthorization of FAA this year. Doubt remains that the measure will be passed for FY09.
aCI-nA — Airports Council Int’l-North America honors Rep. Jerry F. Costello (D-IL) with the 2008 Commissioners Congressional Leadership Award for his ongoing support of the aviation industry. Rep. Costello chairs the Aviation Subcommittee of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.
• ACI-NA will join other industry stakeholders to begin work with TSA to review and validate the risk management methodology the agency will use as part of a risk-based security regime.
• ACI-NA meets with a TSA contractor team that is studying the issue of harmonizing international and domestic general aviation security measures. ACI-NA suggests that the TSA team visit U.S. airports that have significant international general aviation traffic to review their operations and the Customs and Border Protection’s arrival process, and that any changes to general aviation security protocols should be very carefully considered to ensure they are as efficient as possible and avoid unnecessary operational impacts.
akron-canton airport — announces a $110 million expansion, planning to build 1,000 parking spots, three gates, a 25-percent larger security area, a business lounge, a ticket counter, ARFF facility, customs area, and a runway extension.
american airlines — cancels eight domestic flights from Los Angeles Int’l Airport after grounding 80 of its MD-80 jetliners nationwide for wiring inspections after federal regulators raise questions about domestic airlines complying with safety regulations for parts.
arinc inc. — is awarded a technology contract valued at over $1 million to install its iMUSETM common-use check-in and boarding system for use by participating airlines for the North Terminal Redevelopment Project at Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport.
asig® — is selected by AeroMexico to provide the carrier with ground handling and aircraft fueling services at Chicago O’Hare Int’l Airport.
aspen avionics — receives FAA’s Approved Model List Supplemental Type Certificate for the EFD1000 Primary Flight Display (PFD). Combined with the Technical Standard Order certification, this authorizes installation of Aspen’s Evolution PFD in some 400 aircraft models.
atlantic aviation — reportedly buys three FBOs from SevenBar Enterprises, in Albuquerque and Farmington, N.M., and Hailey, ID, bringing Atlantic’s total to 68 locations.
avfuel — debuts shopAvFuel.com, a source for researching and purchasing aviation supplies, including aviation refueler and fuel storage system parts; quality assurance test equipment; deicing fluids; fuel additives; FBO supplies; and apparel.
baa — is under fire by members of Parliament for its “stranglehold” over British airports. Opponents argue that the operator’s monopoly, particularly in London, has stifled competition.
bob hope airport commissioners — complete an FAA-required study that could lead to mandatory nighttime curfews for flights. Burbank-Glendale-Pasadena Airport Authority votes 8-0 to move forward, via a Part 161 study, for 45 days of public comment; airport seeks FAA approval of a curfew by summer 2009.
bruegger’s bagels — opens one of its first airport locations at Boston Logan.
casper/natrona county (wy) int’l airport — implements an oxygen concentrator program allowing passengers requiring medical oxygen to use one of the airport’s concentrators at no cost.
chevron global aviation — announces a new online training course designed for FBO employees that are new to the various quality assurance practices and procedures required in the aviation industry; offered through Chevron General Aviation’s TotalGA.com website.
Cincinnati/Northern kentucky int’l airport — will begin construction on a $22 million, 36,000-sq. ft. expansion to accommodate up to 22 checkpoint security lanes, as well as room to utilize more efficient security equipment such as puffer machines, shoe scanners, etc. as they are introduced by TSA.
clear® — opens security screening lanes at Oakland Int’l Airport.
Continental Airlines — CEO Larry Kellner is named the recipient of the 2008 Tony Jannus Award, which celebrates those with outstanding achievements, leadership, and perseverance within the airlines industry.
delaware north companies — Travel Hospitality Services unveils new local and national concepts as part of Nashville Int’l Airport’s $44 million renovation project, including O’Charley’s, Whitt’s Barbecue, Tootsie’s Orchid Lounge, Swett’s, Wendy’s, Villa Pizza, and Manchu Wok.
delta airlines — backs out of a $3 million plan to help upgrade the baggage sorting system at the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky Int’l Airport. Airport is seeking TSA funding to cover the shortfall.
• Delta offers buyouts to more than half its employees, making substantial reductions in domestic flights while adding to international routes. The cutbacks will eliminate at least 2,000 jobs.
detroit metropolitan airport board — delays a decision on a 20-year plan that includes a new, 10,000-ft. runway that would displace 3,500 people, about 15 percent of Romulus residents, and force the closing of two elementary schools and 50 businesses.
DOE— U.S. Department of Energy determines that the department does not need to promulgate a regulation requiring private and local government fleets to acquire alternative fueled vehicles.
dOT — is imposing a cap on flights at Newark Liberty Int’l Airport similar to the one at JFK Int’l Airport. A cap of 83 flights per hour during peak travel periods has been agreed to by the airlines, allowing 30 more flights per day than last summer. DOT says that in the future it will auction off slots at Newark as capacity grows.
• U.S. DOT and the European Commission launch a joint research project aimed at understanding of how alliances have affected competition in trans-Atlantic markets and the potential impact of the new U.S.-EU Air Transport Open Skies Agreement instituted in April.
downing aviation associates — which specializes in providing consulting and contract services for business and general aviation and regional aircraft clients, opens an office at the Chandler (AZ) Municipal Airport.
eads socata — chooses Midcoast Aviation as its Western Hemisphere repair center for the Falcon 7X aircraft.
emirates airline — will begin daily, non-stop flights between Los Angeles Int’l Airport and Dubai in September.
eos airlines — announces an introductory fare for its newest route between Newark’s Liberty Int’l Airport and London Stansted.
faa — Federal Aviation Administra-tion will add a runway version of traffic signals at 20 busy airports in the next three and a half years to help counter errors by pilots and controllers. System will use a computer to determine when a runway is in use, and then turn on red lights embedded in the pavement at each intersection.
• A congressional committee is investigating regulators’ decision to grant immunity to Continental Airlines pilots for mistakes that led to an El Paso mechanic being sucked into a jet engine in 2006.
• FAA also proposes a three-year aircraft “re-registration” requirement that would replace the current triennial reporting requirement. FAA is seeking comments on the NPRM by May 28, 2008.
• FAA publishes its final rule for modifications to cockpit voice recorders (CVR) and flight data recorders (FDR) that will require modifications to CVR/FDR recording time, power supplies, sampling rates and installation locations. Aircraft operators must address other aspects of the final rule by April 7, 2012; visit nbaa.org/cns.
• FAA submits an alternative runway safety proposal to the Santa Monica City Council in an effort to convince the board not to ban certain business jets from its municipal airport.
• FAA releases its fiscal year 2008-2025 forecast for commercial and general aviation, as well as cargo transportation and FAA workload. Acting Administrator Robert Sturgell predicts a “definite pause in growth” for domestic airlines, with traffic reaching the 1 billion level in 2016. Passenger levels are predicted to rise an average of 3 percent each year, with regional carriers growing faster than mainline airlines. FAA forecasts a 4.5 percent annual increase for total international passengers flown by U.S. and foreign flag airlines. Domestic cargo revenue ton miles (RTMs) are expected to increase an average of 2.9 percent annually, compared with 5 percent in total RTMs.
frontier airlines — will end its nonstop service between Cancun and Indianapolis Int’l Airport on May 31.
galvin flying services — based at Seattle’s Boeing Field, expands its pilot training programs to Hawaii, through the University of Hawaii and Honolulu Community College on Oahu. Flight training takes place at Kalaeloa Airport at the former Barbers Point Naval Air Station near Pearl Harbor.
General administration of civil aviation of china — says it plans to build 97 more airports in China before 2020, including a second international airport in Beijing. Airports will cost an estimated total of 450 billion yuan ($64 billion).
Hawker beechcraft corp. — Charitable Gift Fund donates $50,000 to Corporate Angel Network.
heathrow airport terminal 5 — officially opens in April and immediately experiences significant issues with its automated baggage handling system, stranding passengers.
hmshost — and Mango, the Spanish designer apparel brand, open the first MNG by Mango store in a U.S. airport, at San Francisco Int’l.
jeppesen — wins FAA approval for its Airport Moving Map application for Class 2 EFB devices.
jetblue airways — announces that Orlando will become the airline’s seventh focus city, with an expansion into as many as 10 gates, the development of a 292-room JetBlue Crew Lodge, and a local crew base for JetBlue pilots and flight attendants.
kh consulting group — will conduct a comprehensive review of the performance of Los Angeles World Airports.
La guardia food & shops — announces the winners of its ‘Quest for the Best’ employee recognition and incentive program. Winners of the program were: InMotion Entertainment, First Place; Airport Wireless, Second Place; and The Body Shop, Third Place.
lancair int’l, inc. — announces the latest addition to its line of aircraft kits, the Evolution, has achieved its first flight.
larry a. silverstein — seeks $12.3 billion in damages from airlines and airport security companies for the 9/11 attacks. Silverstein, the developer of Ground Zero, sought the damages in a claim that says the airlines and airport security companies failed to prevent terrorists from hijacking the planes used to destroy the buildings.
lee county (fl) port authority — approves an agreement for a ground lease and commercial development of non-aviation land at Southwest Florida Int’l Airport.
linear air — joins the newly launched Virgin Charter Marketplace (www.virgincharter.com), offering very light jet charter service.
local charm — opens at Terminal B at Boston Logan. Known for its location at the historic Faneuil Hall Marketplace in Boston, Local Charm offers women’s jewelry.
Lochard corp — wins a 5-year, $5.4 million contract to update and manage Chicago’s airport noise management system.
mead & hunt — receives the Asphalt Pavement Association of Michigan’s Award of Excellence for the company’s design of the Taxiway B Relocation project at Kalamazoo/Battle Creek Int’l Airport.
miami-dade aviation dept. — holds a final workshop with the investor community for its largest Public-Private Investment Partnership project, seeking input. Airport is preparing an RFP that will cover four sites within the boundaries of Miami Int’l Airport (MIA), including: the existing MIA Hotel site within the airport; one designated site for a convenience store plaza and one for a major hotel; and an area located primarily at the immediate northside of the entrance to MIA, available for mixed-use development.
• MIA also reports that its director, José Abreu, is appointed by the U.S. Secretary of Commerce to serve on the U.S. Travel and Tourism Advisory Board.
mse branded foods — renovates and reopens the Samuel Adams Bar and JJ’s Sports Grill at the Myrtle Beach Int’l Airport.
myrtle beach direct air — will provide non-stop jet service between Rickenbacker Charter Terminal in Columbus, OH and Myrtle Beach three days a week until October.
newark liberty int’l airport — baggage handlers were used by a counterfeiting ring to steal U.S. Treasury checks from cargo, federal authorities charge. Two more airline workers at EWR were charged with conspiring to smuggle bundles of heroin aboard a number of Continental commercial flights from South America.
phoenix sky harbor int’l airport — plans to send an official delegation to Dubai this spring to cement a partnership that could bring a direct flight from the emirate to PHX by 2010.
• PHX also will start building a $1.1 billion, 4.8-mile automated train system; the first, $440 million leg of the project will take five years to build and will link a light-rail station, East Economy Parking, and Terminal 4.
priva technologies — Inc. is approved by TSA as a service provider for Registered Traveler.
qatar airways — will launch three flights a week to Houston Intercontinental using new Boeing 777-200 aircraft beginning Nov. 10.
raa — Regional Airline Assn. says more than 100 airports could lose some or all airline service under a recent congestion pricing proposal by DOT that allows airports to use a two-part formula for structuring landing fees based on aircraft weight plus a per-operation charge rather than the standard weight-based fees.
RAleigh-durham int’l airport — projects its expenses will soar in the coming fiscal year due to the opening of its new Terminal 2. Operating budget projects that expenses will increase some 25 percent, from $36.3 million this year to $45.5 million.
sacramento county (CA) board of supervisors — votes to terminate existing month-to-month operating and lease agreements with all airlines operating at Sacramento Int’l and Mather Airports. Airlines will operate under an existing county ordinance that gives the county more control to manage space at the airports.
san francisco int’l airport — showcases a layer of defense against bioterrorism known as Biowatch Indoor Reachback Center, providing scientific modeling support to responders to a public release of a biohazard agent.
san joaquin (ca) county board of supervisors — considers creating an independent authority to oversee Stockton Metropolitan Airport.
Southern skyways — will begin non-stop service between Rockford, IL, and Detroit, three-times per week beginning June 6.
tsa — announces plans to hire as many as 100 part-time screeners at Portland (OR) Int’l Airport. It currently has 440 transportation security officers at PDX, about a third part-time.
(2nd) U.S. circuit court of appeals — rejects the first law in the nation requiring airlines to provide relief to passengers trapped in a plane delayed on the ground. Court rules that New York state law interferes with federal law, but that the new law was laudable and the circumstances that brought them about were deplorable. The law was challenged by the Air Transport Association.
veracity aviation — helicopter flight school is opened by former Silver State Helicopters Inc. instructor Derrick Smith, at New Braunfels, TX.
