The Air Pegasus of D.C.-South Capitol Street Heliport in downtown Washington is fighting to avoid a death by proximity–proximity to Capitol Hill, that is.
When it opened for business in 1998, its location one mile south of the Capitol complex was considered an advantage–one embraced by corporations, government officials, the military, ENG crews and several law-enforcement agencies.
Last month’s announcement that Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) is being permitted to resume its pre-September 11 airline schedule on April 15 underscored the fact that Part 91 and Part 135 on-demand operators are still on the outside looking in, despite efforts by NBAA and others seeking access to the downtown airport.
Flush with the success of the forum and static display held at Chicago DuPage Airport (DPA) in June, NBAA held another such event last month at Fort Worth (Texas) Meacham International Airport (FTW). The terminal there was transformed into a mini convention center, and an estimated 1,500 people attended the one-day event’s forums and training meetings.
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) last month extended the compliance date for the Twelve-Five Standard Security Program (TFSSP), which will require new security measures for operators of aircraft with an mtow of 12,500 lb or more, and later announced it would also delay the Private Charter Standard Security Program (PCSSP).
On November 5, U.S. voters will determine whether Republicans or Democrats have the majority in the House and Senate, and how this pans out has obvious importance to the Bush Administration. In the Senate, where the Democrats enjoy a one-vote majority, Sen. Tom Daschle (D-S.D.), who may have aspirations to run for president in 2004, has been a constant thorn in the side of President Bush by holding up progress on a number of bills.
Declaring that “this meeting is not designed to ask for a bailout of the American airline industry,” U.S. Chamber of Commerce president Thomas Donohue said last month at the chamber’s second annual national aviation summit that “we’re simply asking government not to require the airline industry to absorb more than its fair share of the costs associated with the war on terrorism and defense of our homeland.”
Million Air Cleveland has installed a new security system at its Burke Lakefront Airport (BKL) facility that it hopes will become the prototype for other FBOs.
In the past month the nation and the aviation industry have successfully navigated the first-year anniversary of September 11, the first Code Orange alert (one tier below the highest level) and additional TFRs (around the three crash sites) that actually proved to be “temporary.”
Perhaps the sector of aviation most visibly affected by the events of September 11, the airline industry continues its struggle toward recovery, as security burdens, economic jitters and lingering public apprehension over flying conspire to sustain the worst slump in the history of the business.
One year after September 11, corporate aviation is still seeking assurances that its business aircraft will be able to operate on par with the commercial airlines in the event there is a future shutdown of parts or all of the National Airspace System.
AINonline is a publication of The Convention News Co., Inc., 214 Franklin Avenue, Midland Park, NJ 07432. Copyright 2013. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission from The Convention News Co., Inc., is strictly prohibited. The Convention News Co., Inc., publishes Aviation International News, AINalerts, AIN Defense Perspective, AIN Air Transport Perspective, AINmxReports, Business Jet Traveler, BJTwaypoints, Dubai Airshow News, EBACE Convention News, Farnborough Airshow News, HAI Convention News, MEBA Convention News, NBAA Convention News, Paris Airshow News, Singapore Airshow News, iPhone Apps: AINonline · BJTonline Log In
