Industry News

May 4, 2007

Briefings ...

AEA — Aircraft Electronics Assn. awards 30 individuals more than $100,000 in scholarships for the 2007/2008 academic year through the AEA Educational Foundation.

Airfield asphalt pavement technology program — under an FAA cooperative agreement with Auburn University, issues a request for proposals for AAPTP Project 06-02, Use of Recycled ASR PCC Materials in HMA Airfield Pavements, and Project 06-03, Performance Based Specifications for HMA Airfield Pavements. Project 06-02 is an 18-month, $150,000 research effort to look at all aspects of using recycled PCC pavement that has been affected with alkali silica reaction as aggregate for new HMA pavement; www.aaptp.us.

Airforwarders assn. — the voice for air freight forwarders, and the National Customs Brokers and Forwarders Assn. of the Americas, Inc. announce the formation of Strategic Alliance for Freight Forwarder Endeavors, to promote advocacy issues facing forwarders.

American concrete pavement assn. — offers its newest publication, Stormwater Management with Pervious Concrete Pavement, with details of various applications for the technology, as well as information about special considerations when using pervious concrete in cold-weather climate; www.pavement.com.

ARINC ENGINEERING SERV-ICES, LLC — opens an 81,000-sq.ft. Aircraft Modification and Operations Center at Oklahoma City’s Will Rogers World Airport.

ASHTON CAPITAL PARTNERS, LLC — of Dallas completes its acquisition of Crash Rescue Equipment Service, Inc., a remanufacturer of ARFF vehicles for airport and government agencies.

Aspen/pitkin county (co) AIRPORT — begins a two-month shutdown to replace its lone, 7,000-ft. runway in a $11.9 million project scheduled to be completed June 7.

Aurora (OR) jet center — increases its hangar space at Southend Airpark with an additional 82,000 sq. ft. of hangar space and 10,800 sq. ft. of corporate office space.

CANADIAN AIRPORTS — will receive some $33 million (CAN) for 28 new projects to enhance their safety under the 2007-08 Airports Capital Assistance Program.

Denver int’l airport — seeks proposals from qualified participants to own, manage, finance, and/or build a 500-room, four-star, four-diamond hotel to be connected to Jeppesen Terminal.

EAA young eagles — program celebrates its 15th anniversary and has now flown more than 1,300,000 Young Eagles, supplying flight experiences free of charge to young people on six continents.

FAA — dismisses nearly all complaints lodged by Jimsair Aviation Services a year ago, which had charged the San Diego County Regional Airport Authority undermined the company’s efforts to improve and expand operations. FAA rejected seven of eight claims made against the authority.

Gainesville (FL) regional airport — begins a $6.3 million renovation of its terminal, including a new concession area, expanded passenger waiting area, and other refurbishing.

Gary (IN) jet center — releases plans to build a second hangar for corporate jets at the Gary/Chicago Int’l Airport. The 38,000-sq. ft., $5 million hangar will more than double GJC’s hangar space.

Greater baton rouge metropolitan airport district — and the Baton Rouge Coca-Cola Bottling Co. of the Gulf Coast Region unveil plans for a new production and distribution facility located on airport property.

Greater peoria (IL) Regional airport — begins a $6 million jet taxiway relocation project.

Landmark aviation — based in Tempe, AZ is named the Beechcraft Domestic Dealer of the Year for 2006, selling 23 new aircraft valued at more than $50 million.

LAX — Los Angeles Int’l Airport approves a $192 million contract with Swinerton Builders for in-line baggage systems in Terminals 1, 2, 3.

Metropolitan airports commission — votes to suspend a driver’s airport taxi license for 30 days for the first offense and revoke it for two years for a second offense at Minneapolist/St. Paul Int’l Airport. Airport officials say more than 70 percent of the cabbies at the airport are Muslim, and many of them claim Islamic law prohibits them from giving rides to people carrying alcohol.

Miami-dade county commission — approves a $963 million increase in capital spending at Miami Int’l Airport, to be funded with new bonds. The increase takes planned spending on a new north terminal and other projects at the airport to $6.2 billion through 2010.

Mooney airplane co. — and Jeppesen announce a program to allow customers of new Mooney Ovation2 GX, Ovation3, and Acclaim airplanes to take delivery with Jeppesen’s NavData services and electronic charts preloaded onto their Garmin G1000 avionics systems.

Missoula (MT) Int’l airport — opens a $4.2 million addition to its terminal, part of a five-year upgrade, adding 18,000 sq. ft. to the original terminal.

NAV canada — proposes a three percent reduction in its customer service charges, effective September 1, 2007. Move follows a reduction in charges of 1.8 percent that came into effect September 1, 2006.

Neubert aero corp. — organizes with equipment manufacturers and others to create the Int’l Friction Trade Assn. to standardize procedures and promote research for enhancing safety operations for aircraft at airports. Association will hold its first board meeting with reps from aircraft and tire manufacturers, airline pilots, and friction device manufacturers at the NASA Tire/Runway Friction Workshop, May 14-18; for information, contact Steve Meitzen at (800) 600-5906

SITA — and Servisair announce a working partnership to provide ground airport services in Europe and North America. Agreement includes use of the SITA DCS (Departure Control Services) along with e-ticketing and web check-in applications, Advance Passenger Information System (APIS) processing, and network connectivity. 

United airlines — implements a $10 surcharge for passengers on flights originating at Los Angeles Int’l Airport to offset a rent increase. In December, Los Angeles World Airports raised the rent for all LAX airlines to finance airport upgrades. United also joined several other airlines in a lawsuit against LAWA.