Air traffic

February 13, 2008 -- WASHINGTON—Capt. John Prater, president of the Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l (ALPA), asked members of Congress today to remedy runway incursions and other airport safety issues facing America’s airline industry by increasing funding for the National Airspace System (NAS) modernization effort.    » read more »

February 13, 2008 -- Washington, D.C. – The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced today that it has begun collecting additional fingerprints from international visitors arriving at Miami International Airport (Miami). The change is part of the department’s upgrade from two- to 10-fingerprint collection to enhance security and facilitate legitimate travel by more accurately and efficiently establishing and verifying visitors’ identities.    » read more »

Senators Say FAA Must Take Action to Relieve Stress on Air Traffic Controllers in Order to Ensure the Safety of the Travelling Public

February 12, 2008 -- Washington D.C. – U.S. Senators Russ Feingold and Herb Kohl are calling on the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to address an air traffic controller shortage at General Mitchell International Airport in Milwaukee. Feingold and Kohl’s concerns were raised after hearing that the Milwaukee airport is currently suffering a 30 percent shortage in air traffic control specialists.    » read more »

12 February 2008 -- French air traffic controllers are in the second of a planned five-day strike that has disrupted some flights at Paris-Orly airport.

Half of the flights leaving Orly were canceled Tuesday morning, while others experienced delays. Air traffic is reported normal at Charles de Gaulle airport.

The communist-led General Labor Federation union called the strike to protest government plans to centralize air traffic control for the Paris region at a single site.    » read more »

February 4, 2008 -- HONOLULU, HAWAII – Hawaiian Airlines and the Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l (ALPA), ended weeks of intense negotiations today by endorsing a plan that will enable the airline to consummate a multi-billion dollar aircraft deal while the pilots continue to negotiate with management on other important contract issues.    » read more »

New Bill Helps Pilots Obtain State of the Art Avionics

January 25, 2008, Juneau, Alaska – Alaska Governor Sarah Palin today announced details of her administration’s comprehensive aviation safety initiative.

This multi-departmental effort includes a bill that will establish a new loan program in the Department of Commerce, Community & Economic Development. Under the program, low interest loans will be provided for the purchase and installation of advanced satellite based avionics in aircraft.    » read more »

January 24, 2008 -- MEMPHIS, Tenn. – On January 17 and 18, pilot union leaders from the Capital Cargo Int’l (CCI) unit of the Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l (ALPA), the ABX Teamsters Local 1224, and the Air Transport Int’l (ATI) Teamsters Local 747 met to identify and discuss common concerns regarding the recent transaction between ABX Holdings, Inc. (formerly known as ABX Air, Inc.) and Cargo Holdings International, Inc. (CHI).    » read more »

January 23, 2008 -- PHOENIX – For the first time in the history of the new US Airways (NYSE:LCC), labor groups representing approximately 30,000 union members at the airline have joined together in a coalition to demand that management complete the merger that began nearly three years ago. Specifically, management needs to adhere to current labor contracts and reach new collective bargaining agreements that improve the wages, benefits and working conditions of US Airways employees.    » read more »

January 16, 2008 -- OLYMPIA – Following Boeing’s announcement that the first flight of the new 787 Dreamliner would be delayed until about June 2008, Washington Governor Chris Gregoire had the following statement:

“While we all would rather see completion of the 787 Dreamliner take place sooner rather than later, we shouldn’t be surprised at delays in the development of such an innovative new airliner. I appreciate Boeing’s commitment to quality and safety.”

Source: Washington Governor

Statement of Michael Kirkpatrick, Attorney, Public Citizen

Jan. 11, 2008 -- In a decision released Thursday, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit in Boston has given air carriers a license to discriminate against passengers based upon their race or ethnicity.

In writing that safety takes precedence over civil rights, the court put its stamp of approval on racial profiling. We believe this decision opens the door for airlines to arbitrarily violate the rights of passengers.    » read more »

Airline previously committed to maintain hub and headquarters in Twin Cities

January 11, 2008 -- Saint Paul – Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty today appointed Metropolitan Airports Commission Chair Jack Lanners and Employment and Economic Development Commissioner Dan McElroy to lead a group that will closely monitor any talks regarding a Northwest Airlines merger to ensure Minnesota’s interests are protected.    » read more »

Gassing Up on Tar Sands, Coal, Shale Sharply Increases Aviation Emissions

WASHINGTON (January 10, 2008) -- The Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) today urged 15 major U.S. and Canadian airlines and The Boeing Company to publicly oppose the use of jet fuel made from highly polluting sources including liquefied coal, oil shale, and so-called “tar sands,” and called on the airlines to join a campaign seeking increased investment in cleaner fuels throughout the airline industry.    » read more »

Menendez has pressured FAA about need for NJ/NY regional approach to addressing delays

December 19, 2007 -- WASHINGTON – Today, the Department of Transportation announced several actions meant to reduce air traffic congestion and flight delays in the New Jersey/New York region, including an intention to cap flights at Newark Liberty Airport, a cap on flights at New York’s JFK Airport beginning in March, an auctioning off of new capacity at the region’s airports and a beginning of the implementation of the regional airspace redesign.    » read more »

December 19, 2007 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Frank R. Lautenberg (D-NJ) issued the following statement after the Bush Administration announced plans to limit flights at Newark Liberty International and John F. Kennedy International Airport:    » read more »

Legislation Included in FY 2008 Omnibus Appropriations Bill; Amendments Require Bush Administration to Develop Plan to Ease Congestion in NY/NJ/Philly Airspace

December 19, 2007 -- Washington, DC – New Jersey and New York’s U.S. Senators announced today that the Senate has approved two measures they authored to reduce flight delays and ease congestion in the New York/New Jersey airspace as part of the Fiscal Year 2008 Omnibus Appropriations Bill.    » read more »