Aircraft News - North America

AirGuide Business, May 5, 2008

May 5, 2008

Pension provision stalls FAA reauthorization bill A bill that would reauthorize funding for the FAA stalled in the Senate on Wednesday. Lawmakers disagreed over a provision that would toughen airline pension rules and debated whether other amendments should remain in the legislation. The bill includes a multi-year plan for overhauling the FAA's approach to safety, its core functions, and the nation's aging air traffic control system. May 1, 2008

As the battle over funding the Federal Aviation Administration and upgrading the nation's air-traffic control system comes to a head, anyone with anything to do with airlines is scrambling to get aboard. Sen. Claire McCaskill, D-Mo., backed by the Teamsters Union and the Business Travel Coalition, plans to introduce an amendment to strengthen standards for aircraft maintenance performed outside the U.S. Sen. Olympia Snow, R-Maine, wants slipped into the bill a "Passenger Bill of Rights" which would allow passengers stranded on runways for at least three hours to get off the plane if they wish. Sen. Frank Lautenberg, D-N.J., plans to introduce at least two amendments, one to improve runway safety and another to require airlines to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Apr 30, 2008

Lawmaker says measure to limit oil reserves gains support A Democratic lawmaker said a plan that would require the U.S. to delay filling the Strategic Petroleum Reserve until prices drop has enough support to overcome a presidential veto. Sen. Byron Dorgan, D-N.D., said he will try to attach his plan to the FAA reauthorization bill. Apr 30, 2008

Proposal would require waiting period for FAA inspectors The Senate is considering a new rule that would require inspectors leaving the FAA to wait for two years before taking a job at a commercial airline. The proposal would become part of a bill that authorizes funding for the FAA. Apr 30, 2008

White House raises objections to FAA reauthorization bill The White House on Tuesday criticized a bill that would reauthorize FAA funding and said the president may veto the legislation if it includes provisions that would "encumber the FAA with additional workload and divert needed resources from ongoing safety projects." Additionally, the Office of Management and Budget indicated that a veto was possible if the bill included provisions that would limit DOT efforts to manage congestion. The Senate version of the bill includes provisions that would boost oversight of the FAA's program that allows carriers to voluntarily disclose safety issues. Apr 30, 2008

White House raises objections to FAA reauthorization bill The White House on Tuesday criticized a bill that would reauthorize FAA funding and said the president may veto the legislation if it includes provisions that would "encumber the FAA with additional workload and divert needed resources from ongoing safety projects." The Senate version of the bill includes provisions that would boost oversight of the FAA's program that allows carriers to voluntarily disclose safety issues. Apr 30, 2008

The U.S. Senate Monday agreed, 88-0, to limit debate on a four-year reauthorization of the Federal Aviation Administration, moving closer to a vote on the bill which could take place by Thursday. The legislation reauthorizes funding for FAA activities for four years and provides for an additional $800 million over the next three years to modernize the nation's air-traffic-control. Apr 29, 2008

Adacel Systems

Aviation simulation and training firm Adacel Systems Inc. is starting to soar, thanks to a $48 million Federal Aviation Administration contract and new aviation-related training products. The Orlando company plans to hire as many as eight people within the next couple of weeks for jobs paying roughly $50,000-$90,000, bringing the local staff count to about 70. That's on top of the 17 jobs it added in the last six months -- and Adacel executives expect to hire 30-40 more people by the end of the year. The bulk of the jobs are in support activities such as installation and maintenance, but the firm also is hiring engineers. May 2, 2008

American Airlines

American Airlines is poised to say in a report to be delivered on Friday that it wouldn't have had to cancel over 3,000 flights last month if a tentative agreement it had with local aviation officials hadn't been overruled, according to a newspaper. The Wall Street Journal report will say that the carrier thought it had a "hand-shake" pact with regional Federal Aviation Administration managers, through which it meant to repair wiring systems on its MD-80 planes on a schedule that would not have forced it to cancel flights, which left over 300,000 passengers stranded last month. But FAA headquarters overruled those local officials and pressed forward with a tougher enforcement plan literally overnight, the report said, according to the Journal. The report, to be delivered to the US Department of Transportation, is also expected to say that FAA officials did not check any of the affected planes or raise doubts about the initial wiring work until March 2008, the Journal reported. The FAA and American Airlines were not immediately available for comment. May 2, 2008