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PR: $1.3 Million in Grants for Airport Vehicle Surveillance

WASHNIGTON–U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood today announced $1.3 million in grants for Chicago O’Hare, Denver and San Francisco International Airports to buy vehicle surveillance equipment that will increase safety by helping to reduce the risk of conflicts between airport vehicles and aircraft.
“This equipment will help ensure the safety of aircraft passengers and crew, as well as the safety of airport and airline vehicle operators,” said Secretary LaHood. “The safety of everyone involved in the aviation system is our top priority.”

Each of the three airports will receive $421,875 through the FAA’s Airport Improvement Program (AIP) to buy up to 75 Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) units that will allow air traffic controllers and vehicle drivers to precisely identify vehicle locations on the airfield, especially during low visibility conditions.

The ADS-B units will be installed in vehicles such as fire trucks, snow plows and other airport operations vehicles.

“This grant allows ground equipment operators to have a better situational awareness of where they are on the airfield, which increases airport safety,” said FAA Acting Administrator Michael Huerta.
The airports selected to receive the grants have operating environments that should benefit from this new surveillance technology. Chicago O’Hare will see enhanced surface coverage of vehicle locations across the busy, complex airfield. At Denver, the vehicle ADS-B units will provide precise vehicle tracking during low-visibility winter weather. At San Francisco, the vehicle units will improve situational awareness during upcoming airport construction projects.

AIP provides $3.35 billion in annual funding for airport improvement projects that are vital to maintaining the safety, capacity and environmental stewardship of our nation’s airports. More than 3,300 airports are eligible for AIP grants benefiting commercial passengers, cargo operations and general aviation activities throughout the nation.

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    Press: FAA Issues Cape Wind Determination

    The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) today issued a “Does Not Exceed (DNE)” determination for the proposed construction of 130 wind turbines in Nantucket Sound.
    The FAA completed an aeronautical study and has determined that the proposed construction of the 130 wind turbines, individually and as a group, has no effect on aeronautical operations. Therefore, the FAA concludes that the project, if constructed as proposed, poses no hazard to air navigation.
    The FAA makes obstruction evaluations based on safety considerations and the available solutions to mitigate potential risks.

    Form 7460-1 for ASN: 2012-WTE-322-OE

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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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    Saudi Arabian Airlines to Join SkyTeam

    Alliance expands reach to the Middle East

    Jan 10, 2011

    JEDDAH, Saudi Arabia, Jan. 10, 2011 — Saudi Arabian Airlines, the flag carrier of Saudi Arabia, today signed an agreement to join SkyTeam in 2012. The airline will be SkyTeam’s first member from the Middle East, adding 35 new destinations to the alliance network.

    Saudi Arabian Airlines complements the SkyTeam network by offering customers access to destinations across the Middle East not currently served by SkyTeam members. Through Saudi Arabia’s major hubs of Riyadh, Jeddah and Dammam, travelers can connect to new destinations on the Arabian Peninsula, the Indian subcontinent and Northern Africa. Examples are Alexandria, Aden, Colombo and Islamabad.

    SkyTeam members will have access to new potential customers from the region as Saudi Arabian Airlines offers direct flights to Europe, Asia, Africa and the United States. Customers can transfer to SkyTeam partner flights via hubs such as Paris, Rome, Nairobi and New York-JFK. SkyTeam partner China Southern also offers regular connections to Asia from Jeddah.

    Turnaround program to improve the product offering

    Saudi Arabian Airlines is focused on its four-year turnaround program to be completed by 2013. Key elements of this plan include modernization of its infrastructure, restructuring of its domestic and international network and implementing its fleet modernization plan through the purchase of the most advanced aircraft.

    Director General of Saudi Arabian Airlines, Eng. Khalid Al-Molhem, said joining SkyTeam will add value to the carrier’s services: “The SkyTeam network provides our customers with excellent connections to most parts of the world. Through the exchange of services and knowledge between all member airlines, Saudi Arabian Airlines can achieve qualitative improvements, made available to our customers. These include airport services, ground services and First Class and Business Class passenger lounges.”

    Leo van Wijk, Chairman of SkyTeam, said: “Saudi Arabian Airlines is a significant player in the Middle East and covers a considerable part of the Arabian Peninsula and the Indian subcontinent. Its membership in SkyTeam will enable us to compete more efficiently within the region.”

    Marie-Joseph Male, Managing Director of SkyTeam, added: “Announcing our first new member in 2011 clearly illustrates the continuing global expansion that we accelerated last year. In 2010, China Eastern and its daughter company Shanghai Airlines, China Airlines, Garuda Indonesia and Aerolineas Argentinas all confirmed their future membership in SkyTeam. Adding Saudi Arabian Airlines will definitely complement our network offer to our customers.”

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    FAA Delays Closure of 149 Air Traffic towers until June 15

    WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced today that it will delay the closures of all 149 federal contract air traffic control towers until June 15. Last month, the FAA announced it would eliminate funding for these towers as part of the agency’s required $637 million budget cuts under sequestration.

    This additional time will allow the agency to attempt to resolve multiple legal challenges to the closure decisions. As part of the tower closure implementation process, the agency continues to consult with airports and operators and review appropriate risk mitigations. Extending the transition deadline will give the FAA and airports more time to execute the changes to the National Airspace System.
    “This has been a complex process and we need to get this right,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. “Safety is our top priority. We will use this additional time to make sure communities and pilots understand the changes at their local airports.”

    As of today, approximately 50 airport authorities and other stakeholders have indicated they may join the FAA’s non-Federal Contract Tower program and fund the tower operations themselves. This additional time will allow the FAA to help facilitate that transition.

    “We will continue our outreach to the user community to answer any questions and address their concerns about these tower closures,” said FAA Administrator Michael Huerta.

    On March 22, the FAA announced that it would stop federal funding for 149 contract towers across the country. A phased, four-week closure process was scheduled to begin this Sunday, April 7. That phased closure process will no longer occur. Instead, the FAA will stop funding all 149 towers on June 15 and will close the facilities unless the airports decide to continue operations as a nonfederal contract tower.

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    Raw video

    When you see this amateur video of the Asiana Airlines crash, you really wonder how there were any survivors at all. Of the 307 people—291 passengers and 16 crew—aboard Asiana Airlines Boeing 777-200ER Flight 214, two passengers were killed and 181 injured.
    Click to open video page

    Asiana Press Releases for Incident Involving Asiana Flight

    OZ 214 – July 7, 2013 06:30 (Kor. Time) 2013-07-07 10:02
    The following information has been confirmed.

    Asiana Airlines flight OZ214 (Aircraft Registration HL7742) departed Incheon International Airport on July 6, 2013 at 16:35 (Korea time) bound for San Francisco. Only July 7, 2013 at 11:28 (Local time) an accident occurred as OZ214 was making a landing on San Francisco International Airport’s runway 28.

    There were a total of 291 passengers (19 business class, 272 travel class) and 16 cabin crew aboard. The majority of the passengers were comprised of 77 Korean citizens, 141 Chinese citizens, 61 US citizens, 1 Japanese citizen, etc. for a total of 291 people.

    Asiana Airlines is currently investigating the specific cause of the incident as well as any injuries that may have been sustained to passengers as a result. Asiana Airlines will continue to cooperate fully with the investigation of all associated government agencies and to facilitate this cooperation has established an emergency response center at its headquarters.

    At this point no additional information has been confirmed. New developments will be announced as more information becomes available.

    #2
    Official Asiana Statement from OZ214 Incident Press Conference 2013-07-07 16:31
    We at Asiana Airlines would like express our utmost sympathy and regret for the distress experienced by the passengers of OZ flight 214 and their families as a result of this accident. We apologize most deeply.

    Asiana Airlines flight OZ214 departed Incheon International Airport on July 6, 2013 at 16:35 (Korea time) bound for San Francisco. On July 6, 2013 at 11:27 (Local time) an accident occurred as OZ214 landed on San Francisco International Airport’s runway 28.

    A total of 291 passengers were aboard the aircraft. (77 Koreans, 141 Chinese, 64 Americans, 3 Indians, 3 Canadians, 1 French, 1 Japanese and 1 Vietnamese)

    Asiana Airlines has established emergency response centers to ascertain the cause of this crash and to look after injured passengers and contact their families. Asiana continues to actively cooperate with all Korean and US governmental institutions in the ongoing investigation.

    # 3
    Statement from July 8th Press Conference on OZ214 Incident 2013-07-08 15:42
    Asiana would like to provide a brief update regarding the status of OZ214.

    The special charter flight dispatched by Asiana Airlines yesterday at 13:33 (Korea Time) carrying twelve support staff, eight government inspectors and members of the Korean media has arrived on location in San Francisco. Its passengers have begun supporting the victims and their familes and assisting in the investigation.

    Asiana Airlines is providing airfare and lodging for families of the passengers. In the event that the number of family members seeking support increases, Asiana is also preparing to operate additional charter flights.

    Two Korean family members departed for the United States yesterday. Another four are expected to depart today followed by an additional four on Wednesday. Asiana Airlines is also supporting twelve Chinese family members and six Chinese government officials, who will depart from Shanghai for the United States (via Incheon) today.

    48 injured persons are being treated at local hospitals in the San Francisco area. Each hospital is staffed with dedicated personnel and transportation to provide the utmost support for the victims and their families.

    Asiana Airlines deeply regrets this accident and is dedicating great efforts to support and ensure a swift and thorough investigation.

    * A cautionary note: The official investigation of the cause of the crash will take a year or more. No matter what news releases or speculations come about before the official investigation is just speculation. We do not know, for example, if some part or software in the plane malfunctioned, leading the pilots to respond as they did.

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    CIT, Boeing Announce Order for 38 Next-Generation 737 Airplanes

    Order Includes 737-800s and 737-900ERs

    NEW YORK and SEATTLE, Jan. 4, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — CIT Group Inc. (NYSE: CIT), and Boeing (NYSE: BA) today announced that CIT Aerospace placed an order for 38 Next-Generation 737 airplanes and purchase rights for seven additional 737s.

    The order, with deliveries into 2017, includes 15 737-900ER (extended range) and 23 737-800 airplanes. It is the largest order placed by a leasing company for the 737-900ER, the largest and newest member of the Boeing Next-Generation 737 family. This is also the largest order placed by CIT for Boeing airplanes.

    “This order of Next-Generation Boeing aircraft reflects our efforts to maintain one of the youngest and most technologically advanced fleets in the industry,” said C. Jeffrey Knittel, president of Transportation Finance at CIT. “As a leading aircraft lessor, it is important that we continue to maintain a portfolio of operationally dependable and fuel-efficient aircraft for our customers.”

    “CIT’s choice of the Next Generation 737 shows its confidence in the product family and especially in its newest member, the 737-900ER, which features incredible economics and operational capability,” said Marlin Dailey, vice president of Sales & Marketing, Boeing Commercial Airplanes. “CIT is one of the leading companies in global transportation finance, and clearly recognizes the value that the Next Generation 737 will bring to its airline customers. CIT will be receiving its 737s with the innovative Boeing Sky Interior and other performance improvements that will keep its airplanes at the leading edge of passenger comfort, efficient operations and reduced fuel consumption.”

    CIT owns or finances a fleet of more than 300 commercial aircraft. As of Sept. 30, 2010, CIT had 140 Boeing airplanes in its portfolio. With this new order, the company now has a total order book of 111 aircraft, of which 58 are Boeing.

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