SAJ Aviation Brief

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Read on Four Continents 
April 16, 2012

Photo by Shahn Sederberg 

www.belfortinstrument.com Colorado Former State Aviation Official Joins Jviation as Senior Planner/Project Manager   Chris Pomeroy has joined Jviation, Inc. as a Senior Planner/Project Manager in their Denver, Colorado office. Jviation is an aviation-focused planning, engineering and construction management firm. Read more: State Aviation Journal Alaska Video details state aviation role The Department of Transportation and Public Facilities Division of Statewide Aviation produced the first of a two-part series videoillustrating how aviation serves as a lifeline for 82% of the communities in Alaska. Filmed in the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta, the video features interviews with village residents and service providers who describe how important aviation is in their lives.  Alaska's Steve Hatter shown at right.   Read more: State Aviation Journal Iowa DOT Launches Aviation Facebook Page The Iowa DOT’s Office of Aviation has launched a Facebook page called Iowa Aviation.  The page will provide a blend of serious, informational, and fun communications and is intended to share information and generate conversation related to aviation in Iowa.  You can access and “Like” the page at www.facebook.com/#!/IowaDOTaviation.   Alabama Governor Signs Aviation Amendment Governor Robert Bentleyon Tuesday signed into law House Bill 39, a measure that will help the state recruit new investment while also creating and sustaining new jobs. Commonly called the “Aviation Amendment,” House Bill 39 provides a state sales tax exemption that applies to aviation-related businesses.  Read more: WKRG News5 Louisiana 2012 Report  Gives Aviation a Grade of C Louisiana's top transportation advocacy group has endorsed four key elements of the American Society of Civil Engineers' 2012 Report Card for Louisiana's Infrastructure. The Louisiana Good Roads and Transportation Association, at its April 5 meeting, endorsed the report card's findings on roads, bridges, aviation and ports. Read more: KATC Drone Talk Drones to Increase 45% in Pentagon 30-Year Aviation Plan   The Pentagon plans to increase its fleet of armed and long-haul surveillance drones by at least 45 percent over the next 10 years. The U.S. military’s inventory of unmanned aerial vehicles, will grow to 645 aircraft in fiscal 2022 from about 445 in fiscal 2013.  Read more: Bloomberg Hawaii State DOT admits mistake with unusable drone aircraft The state Department of Transportation's Harbors Division has been unable to use an unmanned drone aircraft purchased with $75,000 in federal grant money to provide security at Honolulu Harbor because it falls within restricted airspace near Honolulu International Airport. "I'm not trying to make any excuses for the Department of Transportation," said Dan Meisenzahl.  Read more: Hawaii News Now http://www.baldwinllc.com/ Louisiana Air Force plans to pull controllers at Alexandria airport   Local airport officials and others are fighting Air Force plans that would disband the Louisiana Air National Guard squadron of air traffic controllers working at Alexandria International Airport and transfer the 110-airman unit to other U.S. flight duties by Oct. 1. Read more: Town Talk ATC - 1st - 25 Best Years - (1958-83) Significant Chronological History -  Album #1. Read more: RWF 2000 California Caltrans Division of Aeronautics Releases Latest Newsletter Read more: Caltrans Aeronautics North Dakota Hector International Airport battling bird problem Hector International Airport is battling a big threat: Birds. Pilots are now on the lookout even more after a recent flight was diverted and delayed after a bird hit a plane. Read more:  WDay News6 U.S. Retired Space Shuttle to Land at Udvar-Hazy NASA's space shuttle Discovery has traveled more than 238 million kilometers in space, and the now retired orbiter has roughly 1,000 kilometers more to go before its final stop.  It will leave the Kennedy Space Center on April 17, bound for the Udvar-Hazy Center just outside Washington D.C. Read more: Voice of America Louisiana Monroe airport operator: No room for competition The director of operations at JPS Aviation says the general aviation services he provides at Monroe Regional Airport have brought in seven new customers to the airport since his rental rates increased. These customers use services and pay for fuel, bringing in more revenue to the airport than the 11 inactive customers the airport has lost over the years, he said. Read more: The Town Talk   Tennessee Pilots, airport leaders debate Local pilots expressed disagreement with the Cleveland Municipal Airport Authority Wednesday over the terms of proposed lease agreements for hangar space at the new airport. About 30 pilots were present at the meeting between the airport governing body and loosely formed Cleveland Airport Owners and Pilots Association to engage in constructive dialogue.  Read more: Cleveland Daily Banner Massachusetts Commission Sought to Study Worcester Airport Alternatives Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr wants a commission to study alternatives for the struggling and mostly empty Worcester Regional Airport – including the possible sale of the property. The Massachusetts Port Authority owns the airport in Massachusetts’ second-biggest city and spends about $4 million a year to run it. Read more: BostonHerald.com  Don't rely on someone else to forward a copy - Get Your Complimentary Weekly Skybrief Direct North Dakota Up, up and away for Grand Forks International Airport boardings Even after Grand Forks International Airport added 70 to 100 additional parking spaces with its move to the new Byron L. Dorgan Terminal last August, the airport suffered a parking crunch in March, with some passengers resorting to leaving their vehicles on the grass because of a lack of nearby spaces. Read more: Grand Forks Herald Nevada Fired pilot files lawsuit against state A fired state pilot filed a lawsuit Friday that accuses the Department of Transportation and its director, Susan Martinovich, of defying a court order to reinstate him with back pay.  James Richardson was fired as state pilot in August 2008 after he failed to notify his supervisor that an engine on one of the state planes had "over-sped." Read more: Las Vegas Review-Journal Florida Gov. Scott spends work day at Tampa International Airport United Airlines Flight 349 arrived at Tampa International Airport a few minutes early on Friday. The jet's public address system crackled with what some assumed was the recorded voice of Florida's governor. "I'm Gov. Rick Scott and welcome to the great state of Florida." Scott spent the day at the airport for his eighth "Let's Get to Work" day, saying he wanted to bring attention to the economic impact of Florida's airports to tourism and international trade.  Read more: Tampa Bay Times North Carolina Charlotte airport "charging blindly ahead" Charlotte Douglas International Airport is at no risk as it embarks on a $1 billion expansion push, aviation director Jerry Orr said Friday, even if US Airways were to stop flying there completely. “We’re just charging blindly ahead, wide open, all day, every day,” Orr said of the expansion plans. Read more: Herald Online North Dakota Aviation parts company eyes Colombia expansion A Fargo aviation parts company that occasionally supplies Hollywood with helicopters for dramatic crash scenes is aiding Colombia with a mission that is all too real: a war on drugs. Dakota Air Parts specializes in the so-called Huey and other Vietnam-era helicopters, some of which have been employed in Colombia to combat the illegal drug trade.  Read more: Jamestown Sun

International   New Italian Tax Discouraging Business Aviation Business aviation advocates are warning that a new levy on private aircraft in Italy is discouraging operators from flying in the European country, and they have appealed to Italian authorities to repeal the tax. Read more: Aviation Week   News Release Idaho Governor C.L. Butch Otter Calls on President Obama to Protect General Aviation Washington, DC – Today, the Alliance for Aviation Across America released a letter from Idaho Governor C.L. “Butch” Otter toPresident Obama asking the administration to recognize the vital importance of general aviation for the economy and communities across the state of Idaho and country.   Read more: State Aviation Journal Coming Soon!  March/April   Available Now!   AVED Journal ~ A new publication from the staff of the State Aviation Journal                            Jan/Feb   Nov/Dec Arizona Aviation Journal   March/April Issue Lori Quan - Chandler, AZ Airport Administrator www.pantherinternational.com Coming Events Iowa Aviation Conference April 25 & 26   View other upcoming events FOLLOW US ON Facebook & Twitter!   WWII Aircraft Visit Scottsdale Arizona The Scottsdale Airport in Scottsdale, AZ hosted "Wings of Freedom" featuring a P-51, a B-24 and a B-17. The aircraft, which are on a 110-city nationwide tour, are sponsored by the Collings Foundation. This is the 23rd season for the tour. Photos by Kim Stevens. An attendee admires the B-17 Nine O Nine. B-24 Liberator "Witchcraft." P-51 Betty Jane.

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