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Press Release – FAA Works to Ease Delays for Thanksgiving Holiday Travel

For Immediate Release
November 18, 2010

WASHINGTON – The Federal Aviation Administration is preparing for a busy Thanksgiving holiday travel week by working with the Department of Defense to clear the way for commercial aircraft to fly in airspace normally reserved for the military.

“We want to do everything we can to make it easier for people to travel so they can spend Thanksgiving with their loved ones,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. “We appreciate the military’s help in making this happen.”

Air traffic controllers may begin routing commercial aircraft through the restricted airspace at 6 a.m. EST on Tuesday, Nov. 23, a day earlier than in previous years. The use of restricted airspace will end at 6 a.m. EST on Monday, Nov. 29. The busiest travel days are expected to be Tuesday, Wednesday and Sunday.

Under the agreement, DOD will release airspace off the east coast above 24,000 feet. The added capacity is expected to ease delays during one of the busiest travel periods of the year, saving time and money for passengers and airlines while reducing fuel burn.
The FAA has developed dedicated routes off the east coast to allow airlines to plan their flights through the normally restricted airspace. Normal inland routes will still be available. Weather permitting, the combination of both sets of routes is expected to ease congestion.

“The FAA is using all the tools available to try and give airlines the most efficient routes so air travelers can reach their destinations safely and on time,” said FAA Administrator Randy Babbitt.

“The nation’s air traffic controllers are committed to upholding the safety of the system while working the most efficient airspace system in the world,” said NATCA President Paul Rinaldi. “Over the past year we’ve experienced a movement toward collaboration at all levels of the agency and we look forward to continuing to work together to improve air travel for the flying public.”

The DOD is also allowing commercial flights to use restricted airspace in other parts of the country. These include:
Airspace over the Gulf of Mexico to ease congestion for commercial aircraft flying between Florida and the Louisiana and Texas areas, as well as points beyond.

Airspace over Twentynine Palms in California to ease congestion for commercial aircraft flying to and from markets in Southern California.

Airspace over the White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico to allow for more direct routings for aircraft flying over the Southwest.
Air travelers interested in flight and airport status should visit www.fly.faa.gov for real-time updates.

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    Blue Grass Airport Executive Director Eric Frankl Receives Federal Aviation Administration Award

    LEXINGTON, Ky., Jan. 28, 2011 — Eric J. Frankl, A.A.E., Executive Director of Lexington’s Blue Grass Airport, has been selected as the 2010 Air Carrier Airport Manager of the Year by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Southern Region. The award was presented at the annual FAA Southern Region Airports Communications Conference in Atlanta, Georgia on January 27, 2011.

    “Eric Frankl has been very instrumental in the remarkable accomplishments at Lexington’s Blue Grass Airport,” said Winsome A. Lenfert, Manager, Airports Division, FAA Southern Region. “Frankl’s tireless leadership has transformed Blue Grass Airport into a model facility. He is an inspiration to airport managers throughout the Southern Region.”

    In his position at Blue Grass Airport, Frankl and his team have overseen more than $66 million worth of airport improvement projects to ensure a safe and efficient airport for the traveling public. Projects included renovation of the airport terminal interior and exterior, building a new crosswind general aviation runway, unveiling a new airport entrance reflective of the Bluegrass region, and taxiway, ramp and electrical vault improvements.

    Under Frankl’s leadership, Blue Grass Airport has seen a 19.3 percent passenger growth rate in 2010. This double-digit increase is attributed to the welcoming of AirTran Airways in February 2010 as well as new Allegiant Air service to Punta Gorda/Southwest Florida, American Eagle service to Chicago, Delta Air Lines service to Minneapolis and US Airways service to New York’s LaGuardia Airport.

    In October 2010, as the airport hosted the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games, Frankl led the airport through one of the busiest months in its history when it experienced a 39 percent growth in passenger enplanements over the previous year. Held every four years, attendance for the Games exceeded 500,000 spectators and included representation from 58 countries.

    “We are proud of the accomplishments Eric Frankl and his staff have undertaken since his tenure at Blue Grass Airport,” said Richard Hopgood, Chairman of the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Airport Board. “He has made tremendous efforts in building relationships within the aviation industry and local community, and he has led us through one of the busiest construction seasons in the airport’s history. We are pleased he is receiving this distinguished recognition and appreciate the excellent relationship he has built with the FAA.”

    Since 2008, the FAA has provided Blue Grass Airport with 15 grants totaling $26 million in Airport Improvement Program funds for various airport projects including the new general aviation runway. The Southern Region is the FAA’s largest, encompassing eight southeastern states, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

    In addition to this award, Blue Grass Airport was recognized with the FAA Airport Safety Mark of Distinction Award earlier in the week at the FAA Southern Region 2011 Airport Safety and Certification Conference. Blue Grass Airport received this honor for construction of its new general aviation runway and for the development of an airport operations department.
    Eric Frankl was confirmed as Executive Director of Blue Grass Airport in October 2009. In addition to his work for Blue Grass Airport, Frankl previously served as Director of Airports for the Toledo-Lucas County Port Authority (Ohio), Executive Director for the Abraham Lincoln Capital Airport in Springfield, Illinois and Director of Operations at Fort Wayne International Airport in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Frankl received his professional accreditation from the American Association of Airport Executives (AAAE) in 1996, and he served as President of the AAAE Great Lakes Chapter in 2004/2005.

    Blue Grass Airport, located in Lexington, Kentucky, is served by seven major airlines providing convenient non-stop service to 15 major hub cities and connecting service to hundreds of destinations worldwide.

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    Boeing Leaders to Address Bio-Fuels, Growth, Emerging Issues at Asian Aerospace 2011

    HONG KONG, Mar. 2, 2011 – Experts from Boeing, the world’s largest aerospace company, will present key trends at Asian Aerospace 2011 and discuss their implications for commercial aviation. Asian Aerospace takes place March 8-10, at AsiaWorld-Expo in Hong Kong.

    Boeing also will provide the latest information about its commercial business, including updates on recent improvements to its existing family of airplanes and the company’s single- and twin-aisle development programs.

    Boeing executives will speak at conference sessions that address sustainable aviation bio-fuels and explore developments in the cargo sector. The company also will conduct a media briefing to share the company’s market outlook for the next 20 years. All Boeing speakers and executives will be available for exclusive interviews prior to and during Asian Aerospace 2011 on a first-come, first-served basis.

    Asia continues to be a growth region for Boeing Business Jets (BBJ) which now has airplanes certified and available for charter in both Hong Kong and mainland China. Media are invited to tour a BBJ, managed by Hong Kong based Metrojet, on static display March 8 and 9 at the Hong Kong Business Aviation Centre (HKBAC). Transportation will be provided from AsiaWorld Expo to HKBAC during show business hours, 10:00am – 4:00pm, by Asian Aerospace organizers.
    “Asian Aerospace is a great venue for Boeing to work with Asian customers, partners and suppliers, to share ideas and identify opportunities in technologies, products and services that present the best value,” said Rob Laird, vice president of Sales for India, East and South Asia, Boeing Commercial Airplanes. “Asia leads the world in terms of growth and the return to profitability. Boeing’s strategy is to provide the right mix of products and services that enable our customers provide a great customer experience, generate more revenue and reduce operating expenses.”

    With the commercial aviation sector growing ever more conscious of environmental issues, Al Bryant, vice president of Boeing Research and Technology, plans to share Boeing’s experience in promoting the development of sustainable aviation biofuels. The presentation will take place during “The Future of Aviation-Emerging Issues & Solutions” conference as part of the Asian Aerospace Congress.

    Randy Tinseth, vice president of Marketing, and Jim Edgar, regional director, Cargo Marketing, both of Boeing Commercial Airplanes, will provide a commercial airplane and air cargo market update for media, with a focus on the Asia Pacific region. In addition to providing the company’s market projections for the next 20 years, the media briefing also will include product updates.
    Edgar also will participate on a panel at the “Air Freight Asia Conference” on the growth of the air cargo industry in countries neighboring China.

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    NASA WANTS STUDENT INNOVATORS FOR 2011 GREAT MOONBUGGY RACE

    HUNTSVILLE, Ala. — Four decades after the first NASA lunar rover
    rolled across the surface of the moon, innovative students are
    preparing to design and build a new generation of wheeled wonders.

    Registration is open for the 18th annual NASA Great Moonbuggy Race,
    set for April 1-2, 2011, in Huntsville, Ala. Participating schools
    and institutions may register one or two vehicles and teams.
    Registration closes Feb. 1.

    For complete rules, vehicle design parameters and registration for the
    race, visit:

    http://moonbuggy.msfc.nasa.gov

    NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center organizes the races held at the
    U.S. Space & Rocket Center, both in Huntsville. The event challenges
    high school and college students to design, build and race
    lightweight, human-powered “moonbuggies.”

    The first rover was developed, built and tested at Marshall in just 17
    months. The rover’s inaugural trip across the moon’s surface took
    place on July 31, 1971. It was driven by Apollo 15 astronauts David
    Scott and James Irwin. Two more rovers followed, enabling expanded
    scientific exploration during the Apollo 16 and 17 missions in 1972.

    NASA Great Moonbuggy Race teams carry on the tradition of engineering
    ingenuity. The teams attempt to post the fastest vehicle assembly and
    race times in their divisions, while incurring the fewest penalties
    on a challenging course simulating the rocky, unforgiving surface of
    the moon.

    Prizes are awarded to the three teams in each division that finish
    with the fastest race times. NASA and industry sponsors present
    additional awards for team spirit, best newcomer, most memorable
    buggy wipeout and other achievements.

    In 2010, for the first time, the victors in the high school and
    college divisions were both from outside the continental United
    States. The International Space Education Institute of Leipzig,
    Germany, raced to a winning time of just 3 minutes, 37 seconds in the
    high school category. The University of Puerto Rico in Humacao, the
    only school to enter a moonbuggy every year since the races began in
    1994, won the college division with a time of 4 minutes, 18 seconds.

    Participation in the race has increased from just eight college teams
    in 1994 to more than 70 high school and college national and
    international teams in 2010. The high school division was added in
    1996.

    More than 32,000 people watched live, streaming coverage of the 2010
    race on UStream, an interactive, real-time webcasting platform. For
    archived footage of the competition, visit:

    http://www.ustream.tv/channel/the-great-moonbuggy-race-2010

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    American Airlines and American Eagle Extend Ticketing Deadline to Help Customers Affected by Mexicana Airlines Service Suspension

    FORT WORTH, Texas, Sept. 3 /PRNewswire/ — American Airlines and its regional affiliate, American Eagle, today announced that the deadline for the special 20 percent discount off of any published fare for customers holding tickets for confirmed bookings on cancelled Mexicana flights has been extended until Sept. 12, 2010.

    Under an offer that became effective on Aug. 30, 2010, American and American Eagle will replace a customer’s travel itinerary with a new confirmed ticket to their original destination or to the closest airport served by the carriers. This offer is only valid for travel between the U.S. and Mexico. Changes to the closest airport served by American or American Eagle are permitted only if American or American Eagle do not serve the original destination. Travel must occur within seven days of the original travel dates. Travel must be completed by Oct. 28, 2010.

    To take advantage of this special offer, customers may call American Airlines reservations:

    U.S.-based Customers

    1-800-433-7300 (English)
    1-800-633-3711 (Spanish)

    Mexico-based Customers

    5209-1400 (Mexico City only)
    01-800-904-6000 (Rest of Mexico)

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  • Flight 447: Press release N° 6

    Paris, 01 June 2009 – 20:30 local time
    Press release N° 6
    Versão brasileira abaixo

    Air France is doing its utmost to provide support for relatives and friends.

    Medical and psychological assistance involving 15 specialist physicians has been set up at Paris-Charles de Gaulle 2 and Rio de Janeiro airports.

    Some one hundred voluntary members of Air France staff are backing up the teams in Paris-Charles de Gaulle and Rio de Janeiro.

    Air France has also established a special toll-free number for the relatives and friends of passengers.

    Phone numbers reserved for relatives and friends

    0800 800 812 in France,
    0800 881 20 20 in Brazil,
    and + 33 1 57 02 10 55 for calls from all other countries.

    Air France will release further information as soon as it is available.

    NB: We ask journalists not to call this number, which is reserved for relatives and close friends.
    Português

    A Air France está fazendo tudo ao seu alcance para dar apoio aos familiares e pessoas próximas aos passageiros.

    Os familiares estão sendo encaminhados a um hotel na Barra da Tijuca, no Rio de Janeiro, onde podem se hospedar se assim desejarem. Além disso, uma equipe de médicos e psicólogos está no local para total assistência, sendo: 4 psicológos, 2 psiquiatras e dois clínicos.

    Equipes médica e psicológica também estão disponíveis no aeroporto do Galeão, no rio e no de Paris – Charles de Gaulle.

    Cerca de 100 voluntários da Air France reforçam as equipes dos aeroportos de Paris Charles de Gaulle e do Rio de Janeiro.

    Números toll free estão disponíveis para atendimento às famílias:

    Para todo o Brasil: 0800 881 2020;
    Para a França: 0800 800 812;
    Para outros países: + 33 1 57 02 10 55

    NB : Solicitamos aos jornalistas que NÃO liguem para este número, reservado às famílias.

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    New Software Tool to Optimize Available Airport Pavement Information

    The Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) Airport Technology Research and Development Team, based at the William J. Hughes Technical Center, has released its newest software program, FAA PAVEAIR.

    Airport managers, engineers, consultants and technicians can use FAA PAVEAIR to assess the condition of airport pavements, and make informed decisions to best allocate funds for pavement repair and maintenance. Use of this software is not required to obtain Airport Improvement Project funding assistance.

    FAA PAVEAIR is a web-based airport pavement management system that provides users with historic current information about airport pavement construction, maintenance and management. The program offers users a planning tool capable of modeling airport pavement surface degradation due to external effects such as traffic and the environment. The program can be used with other FAA pavement applications, such as BAKFAA and COMFAA, to give users input to determine repair scheduling and strategies. It has been developed for installation and use on a stand-alone personal computer, a private network, an intranet and the internet. An implementation of the internet version of FAA PAVEAIR will be hosted and supported on a server at the William J. Hughes Technical Center, near Atlantic City, N.J., and will be accessible from the FAA PAVEAIR website.

    FAA PAVEAIR will be posted for download as a beta version for about one year in the initial release. Airport technology research and development specialists will hold workshops and user group meetings to assess the software utility, during this time.

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