Aerodynamics Inc. — of Waterford, MI reports that the company and it subsidiary, ADI Shuttle Group LLC, have been acquired by Scott Beale, former president, founder and co-owner of FlightWorks. ADI is a full-service flight and maintenance repair firm based at the Oakland County Int’l Airport.
Gulfstream Aerospace Corp. — of Savannah launches a multi-tiered recycling program that has diverted more than 1.2 million pounds of recyclables from the company’s waste stream. Gulfstream Savannah has slashed its landfill trash by approximately one-third compared to the same period in 2010.
Exclusive Aviation — the aircraft sales division of the Fargo Jet Center, stages a three-stop tour of Western North Dakota to highlight its Cessna line of aircraft, featuring the 162 Skycatcher and 182T lines.
Rogue Valley (OR) Int’l-Medford Airport — receives FAA approval to launch its new fog seeding mechanism, the “cable attached system providing effective release” system – CASPER.Based on the same principles as a fertilizer spreader, the mechanism disperses dry ice particles while attached to a helium filled balloon, which is tethered to a moving vehicle. The spreader works via remote control and is winched up to approximately 500 feet where it disperses the dry ice particles over the fog.
AOPA — Aircraft Owners & Pilots Assn. joins other groups in petitioning FAA to fix a flaw in the original sport pilot rule that prevents student sport pilots who received their training from Sport Pilot Instructors from counting their training flight hours toward a higher rating, should they seek to pursue one. In their petition, the associations say the clear intent of the new certificate was to make it easier – not harder – to enter aviation.
Flight School Assn. of North America — based in Allentown, PA, launches a flight school accreditation program. A committee comprised of flight school owners and operators and a variety of industry partners drafted the accreditation standards. Schools will be evaluated on seven core areas: safety, security, risk management, business practices, finance and accounting, education, and customer satisfaction.
FAA — publishes a final rule with updates to regulations that affect pilot, flight instructor, and flight-school certification. The rule allows pilot applicants to apply concurrently for a private pilot certificate and an instrument rating, and permits flight schools to apply for a combined private pilot certification and instrument rating course. The rule also allows pilot schools to offer Internet-based training programs even if they don’t have a physical ground-training facility and revises the definition of “complex airplane” to include airplanes with full authority digital engine control.
• FAA proposes a $1.1 million civil penalty against Aviation Technical Services, Inc. of Everett, WA for allegedly making improper repairs to 44 Southwest Airlines B-737-300s.
Allegiant — announces nonstop service between Grand Rapids, MI and Fort Lauderdale, beginning Nov. 18.
O’Hare Int’l Airport — receives FAA approval for the new, wide-body Boeing 747-800 to operate at the airport.
Naples Jet Center — in Florida is named as an Embraer Authorized Phenom Service Center.
Maguire Aviation — of Van Nuys, CA, and NetJets Inc., a Berkshire Hathaway company, enter of a long-term lease that will provide NetJets with a dedicated, private terminal at Van Nuys Airport. The private-use facility will be custom-designed and operated to NetJets’ specifications. Project includes a 10,000 sq. ft. new terminal.
George Best Belfast City Airport — and Eurojet Aviation, the locally based FBO, partner with US-based Avfuel Corp. for fuel and services and marketing support.
Vector Aerospace Corp. — announces the opening of Vector Aerospace Engine Services new service center in Grapevine, TX, in support of the Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A, JT15D, and PW100 series of engines, and the Rolls-Royce M250 engine.
NBAA — National Business Aviation Assn. applauds the House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee for approving legislation (H.R. 2594) prohibiting U.S. participation in the European effort to limit and tax carbon emissions from civil aircraft.
• NBAA selects pilot/entrepreneur Clay Lacy to receive its 2011 NBAA Meritorious Service to Aviation Award, and international business aviation pioneer Don Spruston for its John P. “Jack” Doswell Award. Awards will be given at the upcoming Annual Meeting & Convention Oct. 10-12 in Las Vegas.
COCHRAN — of Seattle launches Solar Secure, a solar-powered structure that enables the deployment of Emergency Assistance Stations. It houses the communications, energy, and technology patent-pending platform named Solar System™; www.solarsecure.net.
NCR CORP. — of Princeton, NJ releases a study, “More Airport Revenues Coming From Concessions”, which finds that nearly half of airport income is now generated by retail and concession sales and parking as travelers spend at least one hour between clearing security and boarding their flights, according to a study commissioned by
Lee County Port Authority — of Ft. Myers, FL receives the Award of Distinction from the Florida Public Relations Assn., which recognizes outstanding public relations programs. LCPA was recognized for its United Way Campaign 2011.
Icelandair — will begin service from Denver next spring with four flights a week to Reykjavik, Iceland.
ARGUS — reports that business aircraft activity was up 4 percent in August from July. Part 91 operations jumped 7.4 percent, while the Part 135 charter segment rose 0.5 percent. Fractionals were down 0.6 percent.
FT. LAUDERDALE-HOLLYWOOD INT’L AIRPORT — gets FAA approval for modifications to its $1.16 billion, three-part plan for terminal construction and runway expansion. Demolition of properties to extend the South Runway to 8,000 feet and widen it to 150 feet will begin by early 2012.
California Senate — approves a bill, already passed by the Assembly, to exempt state flight training organizations from fees and reporting requirements recently implemented by the Bureau of Private Postsecondary Education. AOPA and NATA had pushed for the relief bill.
MASSPORT — teams with the FBI to establish the first airport-based office in the U.S. dedicated to the Joint Terrorism Task Force, a federal, state, and local law-enforcement body.
Eagle Creek Aviation Services — of Indianapolis delivers the first of two refurbished Grand Renaissance Twin Commanders to the Colombian Army.
West Star Aviation — at East Alton, IL is appointed an authorized service center for Embraer Phenom 100 and 300 aircraft.
AIRSPRINT — of Calgary, Alberta begins to build a second base in Scottsdale, AZ to expand its Pilatus PC-12 fractional ownership business.
Flexjet — begins selling fractional shares in Bombardier’s newest Learjet, the Model 85.
JetFlite International — an aircraft management/charter firm based at Long Beach, CA, expands its Moscow presence by adding a Challenger 601 based at Vnukovo Airport.
Detroit Metro airport — plans to offer buyouts to as many as 100 employees to cut costs, in a move annouced by new airport CEO Turkia Awada Mullin.
Tucson Airport Authority — Board of Directors approves a $43.5 million operating and capital budget that includes TAA’s first-ever Air Service Incentive Program to encourage new non-stop flight destinations for the region. Under the plan, landing and other fees would be waived and TAA would provide marketing support for up to one year for new entrants.
ACI-NA — Airports Council Int’l – North America submits comments in response to DOT’s Notice of Proposed Rulemaking regarding “Reporting Ancillary Airline Passenger Revenues”. ACI-NA supports the proposal to create a stand-alone reporting form to accurately capture airline ancillary revenues.
SAN FRANCISCO – The U.S. Department of Transportation’s (DOT) Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and Australia’s Department of Resources, Energy and Tourism have reached a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to continue research and development of clean, sustainable alternative aviation fuels. U.S. Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood and Australian Ambassador to the United States Kim Beazley signed the agreement today.
Airport Minority Advisory Council — selects Shelby Scales as its new executive director. Scales is the former Small Business Program Officer for Raleigh-Durham Int’l Airport.
Smiths Detection — launches a new wireless communication system to improve both situational awareness and early-warning response to chemical attacks or threats detected by its suite of chemical sensors. Sensa-LINX is designed for perimeter protection, surveillance and reconnaissance, event protection, and incident response; www.smithsdetection.com/sensa-linx.php
TAMPA INT’L AIRPORT — awards its Main Terminal Modernization contract to global design firm Hellmuth, Obata + Kassabaum. Once interior design plans are completed, the final design will be passed along to Hardin Construction Co., which was awarded the contract for the $30 million modernization plan in August.
Southwest Florida Int’l Airport — completes a sale of $174 million Airport Revenue Refunding Bonds on Aug. 4, resulting in some $9.37 million in savings.
Portland (ME) Int’l Jetport — nears completion of its $75 million passenger terminal, following completion of a pair of parking garage expansions totaling $60 million. Terminal will feature the largest geothermal system at a U.S. airport, and a deicing system to recapture as much as 70 percent of the deicing fluids.
Miami Int’l Airport — unveils its MIA Mover, a 1.25-mile-long automated people mover system between MIA and the Miami Rental Car Center that opened to the public on Sept. 9.
Threshold Technologies, Inc. — of Chino, CA reports it will provide a Gulfstream II to participate in NASA’s High Ice Water Content (HIWC) flight campaign. Threshold and sister company Aviation Maintenance Group will also provide maintenance and support for the aircraft.
ACC — Airport Consultants Council organizes the Security Manufacturers Coalition, which will focus on aviation and intermodal security issues, advocate for adequate government funding and transparency for security technology, and draw attention to the adoption of international standards and regulations.
Chicago Dept. of Aviation — releases its 2011 Sustainability Report, which highlights the CDA’s industry-leading sustainability accomplishments.
Magellan Jets — of Boston expands into the Chinese market. launching the Cultural Educational Charter Service, the only of its kind in the industry, which will transport Chinese students to the U.S. for higher education, and handle their needs upon arrival.
Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson Int’l Airport — announces it will restart the airport’s international terminal concessions RFP, after required documents were missing from 41 of the 95 proposals submitted for available concessions package
