June 07, 2014
Puerto Rico New airport renovations to be unveiled Puerto Rico’s main international airport is scheduled to reopen two terminals by next year as part of a nearly $200 million renovation and security upgrade, officials said Tuesday. The first terminal is scheduled to open in November and the second in December 2015. Read more: KHOU
Alabama
FAA issues deadline for repairs to Tuscaloosa Airport runway
Tuscaloosa city and airport officials are now facing a deadline to repair a secondary runaway at the Tuscaloosa Regional Airport. Runway 11-29 is literally cracking up at its foundation.
Read more: ABC 3340
4th Annual Rocky Mountain Aviation Expo
Photos by Mike Straka
Sunny weather greeted pilots flying in to Fort Collins-Loveland Municipal Airport in Loveland, Colorado on June 21st for the Colorado Pilots Association’s annual Aviation Expo and Fly-In.  More than 200 pilots and dozens of aircraft were on hand. Dave Gordon, Colorado Aeronautic Division Director (shown on the left, with Baker and Ulane), met with AOPA President Mark Baker and AOPA Northwest Mountain Regional Manager David Ulane, both who were present to meet with pilots and host a breakfast for Denver-area AOPA Airport Support Network volunteers. Baker, also a keynote speaker at the event and Ulane, briefed attendees on AOPA’s state and local advocacy efforts in Colorado.
Arizona
SCOTTSDALE MAYOR PROCLAIMS JULY AS GA APPRECIATION MONTH
 W.J. ‘Jim’ Lane, Mayor of Scottsdale, Arizona and an advocate of business aviation, proclaimed July 2014 as General Aviation Appreciation Month in the city of Scottsdale and urged his citizens to recognize the importance that aviation plays in their community. The Scottsdale Airport accounts for 182 million dollars in annual economic activity and is the second largest employment center in the state of Arizona.
Read Proclamation: State Aviation Journal
Watch Video: Business Takes Flight
Arizona
Phoenix Sky Harbor is latest airport to opt for APC kiosks
Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport will install 12 Automated Passport Control (APC) kiosks to help cut passenger waiting times at immigration. The BorderXpress kiosks, developed by Vancouver Airport Authority, have been funded by the City of Phoenix and will become operational in July 2014.
Read more: Future Travel Experience
Navajo Nation Airports System Master Plan Underway
 With the much anticipated kick-off meeting for the Navajo Nation Airports System Master Plan (ASMP) held in May at the Navajo D.O.T. Transportation Complex in Tse Bonito, New Mexico, work on the comprehensive study of several of the Navajo Nation’s airports, led by Armstrong Consultants, Inc., is underway.
Read more: Arizona Aviation Journal
Minnesota Plans for temporary terminal move forward Members of the Chisholm Hibbing Airport Authority (CHAA) have given the go ahead to establishing a temporary passenger terminal at Range Regional Airport (RRA) in preparation for a new one. Read more: Hibbing Daily Tribune
Missouri
Sedalia Regional Airport’s main runway slated for reconstruction
Starting next Monday, June 30, construction will begin on runway 1836 at the Sedalia Regional Airport. The construction will consist of the tearing down and rebuilding the main runway, enabling it to handle more weight, as well as taking care of a cracking problem due to age and heat.
Read more: Sedalia Weekly Observer
West Virginia
Raleigh County Memorial Airport reaching for the future
A 2010 study found that the Raleigh County Memorial Airport was not quite to the stage where investment in a tower would be cost-effective since its 20,000 to 25,000 annual “activities” were below the numbers which determine an airport should have a tower. There are hopes that, in lieu of an actual tower, a virtual tower could be put in place to streamline air traffic control and replace reliance on controllers in Charleston.
Read more: Beckley Register-Herald
World flight by namesake honors aviation hero Amelia Earhart
 Flying is awesome, invigorating and a great joy, according to Amelia Rose Earhart, who has embraced her famous namesake and the childlike sense of adventure that comes with it. It has led her on a world voyage to retrace and finish the flight of Earhart, who disappeared without a trace 77 years ago.
Read more: fdlreporter.com
California
$66,000 grant sought for airpark runway design
The San Diego County Board of Supervisors voted 5-0 June 18 to authorize three grant applications to the Federal Aviation Administration and the State Division of Aeronautics, including one for design of runway safety improvements at Fallbrook Community Airpark.
Read more: Fallbrook Village News
Nebraska
Flying lanterns a concern for airport
Eppley Airfield officials are among those concerned about flying, lit lanterns being used as entertainment this holiday weekend. Last year they found them on the runways and taxiways.
Read more and See video: KETV
Illinois
IDOT Acquires Bult Field, Major Milestone for South Suburban Airport
 The Illinois Department of Transportation announced last week the acquisition of Bult Field, a general aviation airport and a key component of the state’s overall plan to develop the South Suburban Airport. The purchase, which closed this week, was for $34 million. “This acquisition marks a defining milestone for the South Suburban Airport,” said IDOT’s Director of Aeronautics, Susan R. Shea (shown at right). “The Bults are true aviation enthusiasts who built one of the finest general aviation airports in the country.
Read more: State Aviation Journal
California
AOPA JOINS COMPLAINT TO KEEP SANTA MONICA AIRPORT OPEN
The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) has joined with aviation businesses, organizations and individuals in a complaint filed with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) July 2 to ensure that Santa Monica Airport remains open after 2015.
Read more: State Aviation Journal
California
Tenants say airport must operate until at least 2023
National aviation groups and Santa Monica Airport tenants filed a federal complaint Wednesday challenging the long-held position of city officials that the airport can be shut down next July. But in a complaint filed with the FAA, tenants say a 2003 grant was added, pushing back the closure date to at least August 2023.
Read more: LA Times
Indiana
Huntingburg adds 10th hanger, business soars
Last month, the Dubois County Council agreed to give the Huntingburg Airport $450,000 to build a new hangar that will house up to 10 planes on the south side of the airport, including John Campbell’s six-seat Piper Lance airplane.
Read more: Indiana Economic Digest
Round 2
Small-plane overseers come up short on safety
Airline travel has become remarkably safe. Too bad the same thing can’t be said about the tens of thousands of flights every day that make up “general aviation” — everything from small private planes and medevac helicopters to crop dusters and business jets.
Read more: USA Today
FAA Working to Reduce Accidents
The Federal Aviation Administration and the entire general aviation community have been working together for years to reduce fatal accidents in small aircraft by using data to determine the leading cause of accidents.
Read more: USA Today
EAA, AOPA Welcome Second ‘Pilot’s Bill of Rights’
The Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) and the Aircraft Owners and Pilot’s Association (AOPA) applauded Senator James Inhofe (R-OK) for introducing a draft of the “Pilot’s Bill of Rights 2,” which addresses unfair practices and regulations toward small aircraft pilots. The bill expands on his initial Pilot’s Bill of Rights that was signed into law back in 2012.
Read more: State Aviation Journal |
Positions Open
Florida
FDOT RE-ADVERTISING FOR AVIATION PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT MANAGER
The FDOT Aviation and Spaceports Office is re-advertising the Aviation Program Development Manager position which is located in Tallahassee, Florida. Please note that there is an application deadline of July 23rd. You may use the following link to apply directly for the position.
Florida DOT
California
STATE SEEKING TO FILL AVIATION SAFETY OFFICER POSITION
The California Department of Transportation, Division of Aeronautics has an opening for the position of Aviation Safety Officer. The incumbent performs State permit compliance and aviation safety functions, and has duties that include implementing State aeronautics laws and regulations, working with airport/heliport owners and managers, local agencies, and FAA representatives, and providing technical expertise in the development and operation of aeronautical facilities. Candidates must have an FAA Commercial Pilot’s certificate with fixed-wing airplane and instrument ratings.
Read more: Jobs
International
World Premiere of Parking Robot “Ray” at Duesseldorf Airport
 Düsseldorf Airport is also called the airport of short distances — due to all its gates being in one building for easy connections — and a brand new parking robot by the name of Ray now makes the distances between planes and passengers’ vehicles even shorter. Travelers at DUS can now leave their cars near the airport terminal and a robot handles parking for them.
Read more: State Aviation Journal
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UAS
FAA Approves First Unmanned Quadrotor
The Instant Eye small unmanned aerial system received approval last week from the FAA to be used by an energy company, which will conduct research, development and training to see if the system is practical for inspecting infrastructure such as pipelines, power lines and insulators on towers.
Read more: Signal Online
DOT chief defends FAA’s drone testing progress
Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx defended the Federal Aviation Administration’s progress on testing nonmilitary drones Tuesday after a federal auditor said the agency was likely to miss a congressionally mandated deadline.
Read more: The Hill
Federal appeal may define FAA authority over drones
The Federal Aviation Administration’s ability to regulate flying drones is at stake in a case before an appeals board that typically investigates transportation accidents. The case began when the FAA fined Raphael Pirker $10,000 for flying a drone with a camera around the University of Virginia in 2011.
Read more: USA Today
Drone Flies Through Fireworks – Remarkable Footage
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to fly through a fireworks display?
This video, shot from a drone with an on-board camera, shows exactly what that looks like. It’s footage nothing short of incredible.
View: Time
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AVED
Alabama
Auburn University upgrades aviation program with focus on research and industry
Just a year after Auburn University considered eliminating its professional flight program, university officials are moving to expand the school’s aviation program.
Read more: AL.Com
California
Local Youth Aviation Education Program Soars
The Coachella Valley Youth Aviation Education Program is rounding out its fourth year of free FAA instruction and flight education to area high school students. The program runs for seven days and offers 18 hours of FAA certified instruction to put students on a fast track to become pilots.
Read more: KESQ
Quicksilver Receives Airworthiness Certificate for Special Light-Sport Aircraft
 After a three-hour safety inspection from the FAA, Quicksilver received an airworthiness certificate for its first ever Special Light-Sport Aircraft, the Sport 2SE. News of the final approval now allows the company to begin offering the aircraft to buyers at a retail price of $39,999, which makes it one of the lowest SLSA models available.
Read more: State Aviation Journal
Hawaii
State DOT will host airport info meeting
The state Department of Transportation Airports Division will hold a public informational meeting from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday at the Kaunoa Senior Center, 401 Alakapa Place in Spreckelsville, to discuss a runway resurfacing project at Kahului Airport.
Read more: Maui News
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