Air traffic

New Jersey Senators have blocked the nomination for FAA chief over a number of issues, are adding aircraft inspections to the list

April 10, 2008 -- WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Robert Menendez (D-NJ) and Frank Lautenberg are taking to task the Federal Aviation Administration’s acting Administrator, Robert Sturgell, in a letter today regarding the massive flight cancellations that have hit air travelers over the past couple of days.    » read more »

Adds Schedule Margin to Reduce Risk of Further Delays

EVERETT, Wash., April 09, 2008 -- Boeing [NYSE: BA] today announced a revised plan for first flight and initial deliveries of the 787 Dreamliner that includes additional schedule margin to reduce risk of further delays on the program.

Boeing 787 Dreamliner: Photo courtesy of The Boeing Company    » read more »

To Ensure Technical Compliance With FAA Directive

FORT WORTH , Texas – American Airlines is canceling several hundred flights today to conduct additional inspections of its MD-80 fleet to ensure precise and complete compliance with the Federal Aviation Administration’s airworthiness directive related to the bundling of wires in the aircraft’s wheel wells.

American Airlines MD-80: Photo by Martin Rottler (CC)

These inspections – based on FAA audits – are related to detailed, technical compliance issues and not safety-of-flight issues.    » read more »

April 8, 2008 -- HONOLULU – Hawaii Governor Linda Lingle today announced that her chief of staff and former director of the state Department of Transportation (DOT), Barry Fukunaga, will attend a U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation hearing on Hawaii’s air service market. The hearing will take place Thursday, April 10, 2:30 p.m. (EDT) in Washington, D.C.

Aloha Airlines jet: Photo by Bentley Smith (CC)    » read more »

Hoffa Says Teamsters Aviation Workers Have Expressed Concerns for Years

April 3, 2008 -- (Washington, D.C.) – Teamsters General President Jim Hoffa on Thursday thanked Transportation Committee Chairman Jim Oberstar for investigating the Federal Aviation Administration’s cozy relationship with airline management.

Southwest Airlines aircraft maintenance at Midway Airport in Chicago: Photo by Jim Wissemes (CC)

Oberstar, D-Minn., chaired the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee hearing on critical lapses in the FAA’s oversight of airlines.    » read more »

April 3, 2008 -- CHICAGO -- The union representing the pilots of ATA Airlines is condemning the airline’s management for its callous disregard of its employees and passengers in canceling all operations without warning early on Thursday morning.

“By shutting down in the middle of the night, this management group has let down its loyal customers and the flight crews, cabin crews, mechanics, and other employees who have made deep sacrifices over the past few years to keep ATA afloat,” said Capt. Steve Staples, chairman of the ATA unit of the Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l.

ATA Airlines Boeing 737-800: Photo by Matt Hintsa (CC)    » read more »

Senator's Inquiry Follows Allegation that 99% Flights Have No Air Marshal on Board

04/02/2008 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator John Kerry wrote to Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff today, urging him to provide more information about the number of flights in the U.S. that are actually covered by a Federal Air Marshal (FAM).

Photo by Bill Frazzetto (CC)    » read more »

April 02, 2008 -- MONTGOMERY - A bill supported by Alabama Governor Bob Riley requiring governors to disclose on the Internet details of state aircraft usage and spending out of the governor’s contingency fund has been approved by the House.

The House passed the bill 92-4 on Tuesday. Governor Riley has voluntarily disclosed on the Internet the flight logs of state aircraft he uses and spending from the contingency fund since he came into office, and he has supported legislation that makes the disclosures a requirement.    » read more »

March 31, 2008 -- HONOLULU, HAWAII – Hawaiian Airlines pilots expressed sadness Sunday at the news that Aloha Airlines had ceased operations after 61 years in business. Both the Hawaiian pilots and the Aloha pilots are represented by the Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l (ALPA).

Aloha management announced that the airline was shutting down its passenger operations effective March 31st. The airline had declared bankruptcy last week for the second time in as many years and was forced to cease operations after it failed to find new financial backers.    » read more »

Ending A 61-Year Tradition Of Service To Hawaii

HONOLULU –-- Aloha Airlines announced that it will be shutting down its inter-island and transpacific passenger flight operations. Aloha’s last day of operations will be Monday, March 31, 2008. On that day, Aloha will operate its schedule with the exception of flights from Hawaii to the West Coast and flights from Orange County to Reno and Sacramento, and Oakland to Las Vegas.

Code-share partner United Airlines and other airlines are prepared to assist and accommodate Aloha’s passengers who have been inconvenienced.    » read more »

March 30, 2008 -- HONOLULU – Hawaii Governor Linda Lingle today announced that the state, through its bankruptcy counsel, will ask the bankruptcy court not to allow the shutdown of Aloha Airlines' inter-island and transpacific flight operations until Aloha has shown it has exhausted all possible avenues for continuing its operations.

The state will also ask the court that Aloha Airlines be required to provide sufficient time and proper notification to employees of the shutdown and that all additional steps be taken to protect the interests and rights of Aloha employees given Aloha’s notice today that it will cease airline passenger operations at end of business, March 31, 2008.    » read more »

19 March 2008 -- The Indonesian government has suspended low-cost air carrier Adam Air, citing safety concerns. The budget carrier has been plagued accidents and mishaps in the last several years.

Indonesia Transport Ministry spokesman Bambang Erfan gave the news.

"The Adam Air has been grounded since last night at zero o'clock," he said. "The director general of civil aviation, the ministry of transportation, has sent a letter to the management of Adam Air that stated operations has already been suspended."    » read more »

Employees Picket, Demand Management Address Labor Issues

February 28, 2008 -- PHOENIX – US Airways (NYSE:LCC) employees today demanded that management address workers’ issues and work with labor groups to turnaround the fledgling airline. Employees picketed corporate headquarters with a large, 30-foot rat as a symbol of US Airways management’s anti-worker tactics.    » read more »

Secretary, Acting FAA Head Express Regret for Comments Encouraging Air Traffic Controllers With Safety Concerns to "Seek Employment Elsewhere"

February 28, 2008 -- WASHINGTON, DC - Under direct questioning from U.S. Senator Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ) today at a Senate hearing, U.S.    » read more »

28 February 2008 -- Air travel is growing rapidly around the world and the fuel jets burn is a major contributor of greenhouse gases. Virgin Atlantic Airlines President Richard Branson demonstrated this week that using biofuel to power a commercial jetliner may make the sky a little greener.

With much fanfare billionaire entrepreneur Richard Branson tested a Boeing 747 jumbo jet's ability to fly with biofuel powering its massive engines.    » read more »