Coalition seeks Avgas Solution
A coalition of general aviation and petroleum associations unveils its Future Avgas Strategy and Transition (FAST) plan to find a long-term solution for a replacement fuel for leaded aviation gas. The Environmental Protection Agency released an advance notice of proposed rulemaking seeking input on the potential phasing out of 100LL. The comment period for the ANPRM, released April 28, was extended until Aug. 27.
The coalition’s goals include establishing a process to develop the most viable unleaded solution; spurring the development of high-octane, unleaded avgas; and making recommendations on the transition from 100LL.
The coalition seeks to create a public/private partnership led by FAA to find the most viable unleaded solution to replace 100LL avgas. It also plans to support research and development of related airworthiness and emissions regulatory standards.
Arcadia Aviation to Acquire Wayfarer
Arcadia Aviation based in New York proposes to acquire Wayfarer Aviation via a signed letter of intent, averting a shutdown of Wayfarer’s operations. Wayfarer was formed following an investment group’s purchase of the assets of bankrupt JetDirect Aviation.
Arcadia, an airport real estate development and aviation services company, develops facilities for corporate flight departments and managed aircraft. Wayfarer would add national charter capabilities. The company operates FBOs at Eastern West Virginia Regional Airport in Martinsburg and at Sullivan County International Airport in New York.
Wayfarer’s base in Weymouth, MA and sales offices in New York, Washington D.C., Philadelphia, and Los Angeles would be retained.
At San Jose, a New Terminal B Debuts
On the weekend of June 26-27, Mineta San Jose International Airport offered local residents an opportunity to pass through the security checkpoint at new Terminal B to see the transformation of Silicon Valley’s airport. The terminal opened the following week.
The $1.3 billion project was downsized from $4.5 billion, and features high-tech amenities and a state-of-the-art, solar-powered rental garage with 3,000 car spaces adjacent to the new terminal. Gensler was charged with the master design; Fentress Architects instituted it.
Briefings ...
ACI-NA — Airport Council Int’l-North America names Jerry Staples, VP of marketing and business development at the Halifax Int’l Airport Authority, the 2010 winner of the Ted Bushelman Legacy Award for Creativity and Excellence.
Aero Comfort — opens a 10,000-sq.ft. facility just outside San Antonio Int’l Airport on the northeast end of the airfield. The facility will support Aero Comfort’s aircraft interior refurbishment and completion work.
Air Canada — launches daily service between San Diego Int’l Airport and Toronto Pearson.
AJ Walter Aviation — a spares support specialist, is making a $10 million investment in its A320/A330 inventory. AJW is growing its Los Angeles hub to support an increasing number of operators and MRO facilities, while developing its Miami base to include significant in-service Boeing component inventories.
allfbo.com — a Bellingham, WA-based company is launched, providing a web-based software application that offers a streamlined way for FBOs to book trips with pilots, schedulers, or dispatchers either over the phone or through the Web.
American Airlines — is awarded by U.S. DOT rights to fly eleven flights per week between the U.S. and Brazil beginning Nov. 18.
• American discontinues its twice daily non-stop Boston to San Francisco route this November.
AOPA — AOPA Aviation Summit returns to the Long Beach Convention Center Nov. 11-13, 2010.
Argus Traqpak — flight data show that business aviation activity in May was down 0.4 percent over April 2010. Part 135 charter was up 0.4 percent, with midsize jet charter aircraft activity increasing 5.4 percent over the previous month.
Asheville (Nc) regional airport — celebrates its three-year old Art in the Airport program, showcasing the creative talents of Western North Carolina artists.
Bluegrass Airport — in Lexington, KY introduces vehicle detailing services for customers who use valet parking, with packages ranging from $40 to $160.
Branson (mo) Airport — announces additional non-stop service to Chicago Midway and Indianapolis Int’l airports via public charter flights by Branson AirExpress, operated by ExpressJet Airlines using ERJ-145 airliners.
Cessna Aircraft Co. — reports that the model 162 Skycatcher is named winner of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) Piper General Aviation Award for 2010. The Skycatcher is Cessna’s entry in the new light sport aircraft category.
Citationair — by Cessna, a private jet transportation solutions company, joins The Robb Report as an official co-sponsor of “A Drive in the Fast Lane,” a luxury automotive racing event held June 26 in Monticello, New York.
City of Chicago — Department of Aviation (CDA) issues a bid package for construction of a new railroad over roadway grade separation structure for the realigned Union Pacific Railroad, along with railroad embankment south and north of the bridge.
• CDA also identifies the proposal submitted by Westfield Concessions Management II LLC as the successful respondent to design, redevelop, and operate the concessions program for the International Terminal 5 at O’Hare Int’l Airport.
Corsairfly — of France begins non-stop passenger and cargo service from Miami Int’l Airport to Paris Orly Airport - the first scheduled service to any U.S. city by Corsairfly.
Detroit metro airport — drops the price for long-term parking in the airport’s Big Blue Deck to $10 per day.
DHS — Dept. of Homeland Security announces an additional $78 million in funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, with a majority of the funds going towards an inline baggage system at San Diego Int’l Airport, two inline baggage systems at Phoenix Sky Harbor, and one inline baggage system at Little Rock National Airport.
Eclipse Aerospace, Inc. — selects Boca Aircraft Maintenance located in Boca Raton, FL as the exclusive U.S. Southeast Region factory authorized “Gold Service Center” for the Eclipse 500 aircraft.
FAA — awards $125 million in contracts to five aerospace companies in a major environmental initiative aimed at accelerating the development of new aircraft technologies — Boeing, General Electric, Honeywell, Pratt & Whitney, and Rolls-Royce North America. Each will receive $25 million, and are required to match at least that amount in resources under FAA’s continuous lower energy, emissions, and noise (CLEEN) program.
• FAA proposes a civil penalty of $700,000 against Executive Airlines, Inc., a San Juan, Puerto Rico airline which does business as American Eagle Airlines, for allegedly operating eight of its ATR-42 airliners when they were not in compliance with FARs.
• FAA also proposes a $450,000 civil penalty against Dassault Falcon Jet Corp. and its completion center in Little Rock, Ark., for improperly plating certain parts and installing them on airplanes.
• FAA proposes expansion of its icing certification standards, including a new requirement that manufacturers show airplanes can operate safely in freezing drizzle or freezing rain, conditions that constitute an icing environment known as “supercooled large drops” (SLDs). NPRM can be found at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2010/2010-15726.htm
FCC — Federal Communications Commission releases the notice of a rule prohibiting the “certification, manufacture, importation, sale, or continued use of 121.5 MHz ELTs.” 14 CFR Part 91.207 requires aircraft to carry a fixed ELT, but does not specify either 121.5 or 406 MHz. GA groups are seeking a delay in implementation.
Flight Options — the Cleveland-based fractional aircraft ownership company, launches a 40-city nationwide tour to showcase the new Phenom 300 business jet in its fleet — including New York, Atlanta, Miami, Dallas, Houston, Kansas City, Santa Monica, CA, and Seattle.
Florida DOT — conducts a Statewide Aviation Economic Impact Study that shows that Southwest Florida Int’l Airport and Page Field in Fort Myers contributed more than $3.8 billion to the region’s economy in 2009.
Frontier Airlines — plans to expand service to Mexico with the addition of new nonstop destinations from both Denver and Kansas City.
GAMA — General Aviation Manufacturers Assn. supports U.S. Senate legislation that would extend bonus depreciation for businesses that purchase general aviation (GA) aircraft in 2010. Bonus depreciation was enacted as part of the 2008 economic stimulus efforts and was extended through the end of 2009.
GAO — Government Accountability report says the Dept. of Homeland Security and TSA need to improve their risk assessments across a range of transportation modes, including aviation. Rep. John Mica (R-FL) claims the GAO findings validate his calls for reorganization of TSA.
Gresham, Smith & Partners — a design and consulting firm, is selected by Tampa Int’l Airport to be part of a design/build team with Skanska to design modifications to the existing parking and rental garage facilities to accommodate a new rental car concession agreement.
• GS&P announces it will provide design services for Akron-Canton Airport’s passenger security checkpoint expansion.
• Firm is also selected by the Rhode Island Airport Corporation to provide design and construction services for a new deicer management system at T.F. Green Airport.
Hawker Beechcraft Services — completes composite winglet testing and certification on the Beechcraft King Air 90x. Winglets for King Air C90 and E90 models are now available for installation at the company’s network of factory-owned service centers.
• HBS also reports its Indianapolis service center is now offering full paint capabilities, from high-performance single-engine Beechcraft Bonanzas to the Hawker 4000.
Jetflite International — a charter/management company, launches JetFlite Select, a private jet membership and lifestyle program.
Jetnet LLC — a Utica, NY-based provider of corporate aviation information, reports that at the end of May the percentage of pre-owned business jets for sale was 15.3 percent, compared to 17.4 percent in May 2009. Inventory levels for pre-owned turboprops were 10.8 percent in May, down from the peak set in mid-2009 of 12.0 percent.
Kansas Aviation — in Inde-pendence, KS becomes the first flight school to offer training using Cessna Model 162 Skycatcher light-sport aircraft. The aircraft was delivered earlier this month to Bravo Sierra Group, LLC, which is leasing the aircraft to Kansas Aviation. Aircraft is available for a “fueled rate” of $98 per hour.
Melbourne (fl) Int’l Airport — teams with US Airways, the City of Melbourne, and the Space Coast Office of Tourism to market the Space Coast as a destination. The six-month campaign combines nearly $200,000 in local dollars with a more than 2-to-1 match from US Airways.
miami int’l airport — welcomes the inaugural flight of Alitalia’s new Milan-Miami non-stop service, using Boeing B767-400 aircraft.
Nashville Int’l Airport — and Saginaw Int’l Airport are the newest gateway airports for Ronald Regan Washington National Airport (DCA), allowing operators with the DCA Access Standard Security Program to fly directly to DCA from Nashville or Saginaw.
NATA — National Air Transportation Association reports that Phillips 66 Aviation is providing introductory membership in NATA to its branded dealers that are currently not members.
Newton Security Inc. — a Seattle-based supplier of machine vision single-person detection systems, and SimplexGrinnell, a provider of life safety and property protection, are installing Newton Security Inc’s T-DAR access control system at employee entrance/exit points at the Winnipeg Int’l Airport.
NTSB — National Transportation Safety Board returns to its full complement of board members with the confirmation of Earl Weener and Mark Rosekind.
OSHA — Occupational Safety & Health Administration’s Voluntary Protection Program (VPP) recognizes Standard Aero’s Los Angeles location (LAX) for achieving its most advanced level of certification.
Pigs can fly Aviation, LLC — opens The Jet Center at PCF Aviation, a full-service FBO at San Luis Obispo (CA) County Regional Airport.
port of skagit — in Burlington, WA approves a set of development standards for Skagit Regional Airport that effectively reopens property at the airport to private construction. Standards call for future construction along main runway 10/28 to support corporate/business aircraft use.
Projet Aviation — an aircraft management/charter firm, opens its new Jet Center at Leesburg Executive Airport, with over 25,000 sq. ft. of hangar and office space.
Qantas Airways — introduces six A380 services per week between Los Angeles and Melbourne, in addition to existing daily A380 service between LAX and Sydney.
RDU Airport (nc) — Raleigh-Durham Airport Authority is awarded the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting for its Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR) for the fiscal year that ended March 31, 2009.
Region of Waterloo (Ont.) — Int’l Airport and WestJet celebrate the launch of seasonal daily non-stop service to Vancouver.
Sacramento — County Airport System chief administrative officer Lisa Stanton is named CFO of the Year in the Public Agency category by the Sacramento Business Journal.
San Diego County — Regional Airport Authority implements a comprehensive Concession Development Program to completely redevelop San Diego Int’l Airport’s food, beverage, and retail environments.
Shannon Airport — in Ireland announces a further extension of the U.S. preclearance program for business jet flights effective, June 1. In March 2010, Shannon became the first airport in the world to introduce full U.S. preclearance for private aircraft, which allows direct access to over 220 U.S. airports.
Showalter Flying Service — in Orlando unveils a new SimCom Advantage program that offers free hangarage for nearby SimCom customers. The FBO has dedicated three covered hangars that can store up to a Learjet 35 for the training center’s customers’ exclusive use.
Smiths Detection — expands its Edgewood, MD facility to help supply the U.S. military with its lightweight Joint Chemical Agent Detector (JCAD) and to meet global demand for its advanced x-ray checkpoint scanners.
Solairus Aviation — adds a Florida-based Gulfstream G550 to its charter fleet and takes delivery of a California-based Challenger 601-3R.
Southwest Airlines — launches nonstop service between Los Angeles and New Orleans and the addition of another daily non-stop between Dallas Love Field and New Orleans.
• Southwest expands service to Philadelphia with an expansion at Boston’s Logan Int’l Airport with five daily non-stop flights.
Spirit Airlines — and its pilots, represented by the Airline Pilots Association, Int’l (ALPA) reach a tentative agreement on a new contract, following a walkout.
Star Flight — an air medical provider based in Austin, TX places into operation a new Eurocopter EC145 completed by Metro Aviation, Inc. of Shreveport, LA.
TWG Aviation — which operates the Business Jet Center and Business Jet Access, agrees to purchase certain assets from Vitesse Aviation Services, also based at Dallas Love Field. Agreement includes the 7.5-acre leasehold and two hangars. Vitesse will retain its Part 145 repair station certificate.
Twin Commander Aircraft — in collaboration with Twin Commander authorized Dash 10T installation service centers, Standard Aero, and Honeywell, is offering a 16 percent limited-time discount on the Dash 10T two-engine conversion.
U.S. Senate — confirms John Pistole as TSA Administrator by unanimous consent.
Vancouver Airport Services — reaches agreement with The Peel Group to acquire a 65 per cent share in Peel Airports Limited (PAL) which includes key airport assets of Liverpool John Lennon Airport (LJLA), Robin Hood Airport Doncaster Sheffield (DSA), and Durham Tees Valley Airport (DTVA) in Great Britain.
