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FAA Shutdown

All air traffic controllers and safety inspectors continue to work at full capacity during the shutdown, however:
4,000 FAA employees are still furloughed
70,000 construction workers commissioned for aviation-related projects out of a job.

FAA Administrator Randy Babbitt has come out in support of a long-term reauthorization bill recognizing the safety priorities of the FAA. “We’re not going to budget safety.”

219 STOP WORK ORDERS have been issued.

A Press Release was submitted July 27, 2011 titled What They’re Saying: We Need an FAA Bill Extension

Contractors have been told to stop work on critical airport modernization projects around the country after Congress failed to pass legislation giving the FAA the authority necessary for work to continue by last Friday’s deadline. Dozens of “stop work orders” have been issued for major projects designed to build and modernize control towers and other aviation infrastructure from coast to coast. Construction workers, engineers and planners were told not to come to worksites across the country after the FAA was forced to issue stop work orders on projects ranging from the construction of new air traffic control towers to the rehabilitation and modernization of air traffic facilities. Nearly 4,000 FAA personnel, many needed to oversee various aspects of these projects, were furloughed on Saturday. Stopping work on these projects could significantly increase the ultimate costs of construction for taxpayers. Affected contractors, airport managers, and local officials across America are calling for action.

“This is no way to run the best aviation system in the world.”
-Ray LaHood, Secretary of Transportation, Portland Press Herald, July 26, 2011

“Unless Congress acts quickly, more work on projects critical to our nation’s aviation system will come to a halt.”
-Randy Babbitt, FAA Administrator, My Fox News Chicago, July 25, 2011

“So for them [construction workers] this is like running into a brick wall, and they’re asking me, ‘How do we explain this to our families?’ I don’t know what to say to them.”
– Lucca Toscano, Vice President Paul J. Scariano construction firm, Fast Lane, July 25, 2011

“I got a telephone call Friday about noon that said the job was going to go into suspension effective midnight Friday…Disappointment for the most part. Most don’t really understand what’s going on and why something like that there is affecting what’s going on here on their everyday job.”
–Ken Hengst, project manager for EAS Contracting, KRIV-FOX Houston, July 26, 2011

“It’s never a good way to run a construction project just to randomly tell people just to stop work.”
-Paul Bradbury, Jetport Director, Portland Daily Sun, July 26, 2011

“I’ve been doing this for 19 years, 7 here at this airport. I’ve never seen anything quite like this… As you can tell, if this project stopped right now, we’d literally have a torn-up ramp. The busiest ramp here at the airport, having this kind of hole in it.”
– Brian Kulpin, Reno-Tahoe International Representative, KTVN Nevada, July 25, 2011

“It’s depressing, you got a site [McCarran Control Tower] that was flourishing with activity and there’s nothing going on right now.”
–Sasha Milosavljevich of Archer-Western Contractors, CBS News, July 26, 2011

“The economy has devastated construction in Las Vegas in the last couple years and we were really excited to get this going…It’s disheartening we’re in this position now and our people have to stay home while Congress works this out.”
–Darren Enns, secretary-treasurer of the Southern Nevada Building and Construction Trades Council, Las Vegas Sun, July 26, 2011

“It’s very frustrating. It puts about 50 construction workers out of a job. But about 200 people are involved in this some way—designers, engineers, vendors, delivery folks. It’s going to be a hardship on them.”
– Kevin Klein, Cherry Capital Airport Director, Associated Press, July 26, 2011

“The longer it goes on, the worse it affects us.”
– Bob Graf, contractor for Palm Springs International Airport, Desert Sun, July 26, 2011

“We were informed Friday to stop all construction activity… The scary portion for us is the indefinite nature of all this”
– Dan Anello, project manager at Oakland International Airport, San Francisco Chronicle , July 26, 2011
“The shutdown affected all airport divisions…The folks I normally deal with have been furloughed. Any questions or things we have to do are on hold until this is resolved.”
– Rich Nuttall, Denver Airport Manager, Telluride News, July 26, 2011

“We had already bidded and awarded the contract and most of that cash would have stayed in the local economy, so there is an economic impact.”
– Cindi Martin, Glacier Park International Airport Director, Daily Inter Lake, July 26, 2011

“Our airports are not only our most important resources for moving goods and people, they are critical to creating jobs and putting Americans back to work…we need Congress to pass extension legislation for the FAA now.”
-Antonio Villaraigosa, Mayor of Los Angeles, Our Weekly, July 25, 2011

“We seem to be being hijacked by a completely ego-driven and frankly ridiculous fight in Washington,”
– Annise Parker, Houston Mayor, KHOU 11 News, July 26, 2011.

“It’s inaction like this that’s hurting our economy that everyone is working so hard to improve. Laying all these employees off, stopping this project, delaying grant money that’s already been awarded, it only trickles down to hurt our economy even more.”
-Luzerne County Commissioner Maryanne Petrilla, Citizen’s Voice, July 27, 2011

“It’s very important that the people in Washington get back to work and get this bill passed so the tower is completed and the working-class people get back to work.”
– Wilkes-Barre Mayor Tom Leighton, Citizen’s Voice, July 27, 2011

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    AAR to Relocate Airlift Group to Melbourne, Florida

    Named as one of ‘The Most Trustworthy Companies’ by Forbes Magazine, AAR Reaches Major Milestones with the Transformation of New Airlift and Modifications Businesses.

    WOOD DALE, Ill., Nov. 8, 2010 — AAR announced today that it has selected Melbourne, Fla. as the new location for its airlift services and specialized aircraft modifications businesses, which the Company acquired in April 2010. Since completing the acquisition, AAR has installed a new leadership team and is rebranding the businesses as part of its overall integration strategy.

    “When we acquired Aviation Worldwide Services and its subsidiaries earlier this year, we shared our plans to relocate the operations, transform the leadership team with our people to instill AAR values and rebrand the business,” said David P. Storch, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of AAR CORP. “I’m very pleased with the progress our team has made toward these goals and I look forward to being an important part of Melbourne’s business community and economy. I want to thank the State of Florida for their support and for working diligently to help make this move happen.”

    The business will move to hangars, facilities and offices at and near Melbourne International Airport. The relocation will be conducted in phases and is expected to be completed by spring 2011. AAR will establish an on-site management team and begin hiring select positions immediately. The business is expected to create as many as 225 jobs by the end of 2012.

    The business will operate as AAR Airlift Group, with airlift services provided by AAR Airlift and specialized aircraft modifications performed by AAR Aircraft Services – Melbourne. AAR Airlift Group is led by Jeffrey Schloesser, a former U.S. Army major general with more than 20 years of senior-level leadership and operations experience, which includes leading the Army’s modernization and transformation plan for a fleet of 4,000 aircraft and 76,000 personnel.

    AAR collaborated with elected officials from the State, economic development groups and the city of Melbourne to identify locations that would support AAR’s requirement for world-class flight operations, warehousing and administrative facilities and to develop a partnership to ensure the future growth of the business.

    “Aviation and aerospace is one of Florida’s targeted industries for stimulating economic growth and diversification; therefore, AAR’s entry is in line with our expansion strategy for this key sector,” said John Adams Jr., president & CEO of Enterprise Florida, the state’s principal economic development organization. “This project has exemplified Florida’s competitiveness; our ability to attract progressive and innovative businesses as we compete in the global economy.”

    Senate President–designate, Mike Haridopolos said, “We are pleased to welcome a company of AAR’s recognized quality and expertise to the Space Coast. Its relocation to Florida will create high-quality jobs, provide an instant economic boost, and solidify the leadership of the Space Coast in the defense and aerospace sectors.”

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    “Companies like AAR will create the types of jobs we need in Florida during this critical time of transition in the aerospace industry,” noted State Senator Thad Altman, who represents East Central Florida. “In addition, the technological expertise and capabilities of AAR could lead to a terrific partnership with the state of Florida in areas such as emergency management preparation and civil defense.”

    “AAR is a highly respected, very successful company and we knew that this project would be extremely competitive,” said Lynda Weatherman, President and Chief Executive Officer, Economic Development Commission of Florida’s Space Coast. “We developed a creative package that showcased the Space Coast’s core capabilities, including the tax advantage benefits of a Florida location. We are delighted that AAR recognized our competitive advantages and look forward to the company’s success here at the Space Coast.”

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    “All over the country communities are working hard to land companies of AAR’s caliber. We’re fortunate Melbourne International Airport was chosen as the site for this significant expansion. It’s good for Melbourne. It’s good for the region,” said Harry Goode, Mayor of Melbourne and Chairman, Melbourne Airport Authority.

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    Pilots urged to keep Warrnambool skies safe

    CASA Media Release –
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    Boeing Confirms Success on 787 Wing, Fuselage Ultimate Load Test


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    Video of the static test can be found below:

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    Boeing-built LightSquared Space-Based Network Ready to Begin Service

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    Boeing Celebrates Final Assembly of 1,000th 767

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