The U.S. Court of Appeals, District of Columbia Circuit has referred an agreement by the FAA and the city of Santa Monica, California, to close Santa Monica Municipal Airport to a merits panel for further review about the legality of the settlement agreement. This May 4, 2017, ruling defers the FAA’s motion for dismissal of the […]
Airport
Business is booming at KLAL
While Lakeland-Linder Regional Airport (KLAL) is a beehive of activity during the week of SUN ‘n FUN, it’s also pretty busy the other 51 weeks of the year. The airport, which had about 115,500 operations in 2016, expected to have anywhere between 8,000 and 9,000 during the week of SUN ’n FUN, according to Gene […]
AEAV to build fuel farm at KSDF
American Environmental Aviation (AEAV)has been tapped by Atlantic Aviation to build its new fuel farm at Louisville International Airport (KSDF). The project will include the construction of a new 180,000-gallon JetA fuel farm on a portion of Atlantic’s expanded leasehold. Avgas and MoGas will also be stored at the new farm. Under the terms of the contract, AEAV […]
Oklahoma streamlines laws to protect pilots
The Oklahoma Aeronautics Commission (OAC) recently worked with state Rep. Charles Ortega and state Senator Joe Newhouse to streamline laws regarding any structure near a public use airport in the state. Governor Mary Fallin signed HB 2179 into law last week. During the 2010 legislative session, the “Aircraft Pilot and Passenger Protection Act” (APPPA) provided […]
Aeroplex takes over self-fueling at SMO
The City of Santa Monica, California, has selected Aeroplex Group Partners, a division of the Aeroplex/Aerolease Group, to provide interim management of Santa Monica Municipal Airport’s (SMO) self-serve fueling station starting April 16, 2017, following the scheduled departure of American Flyers, the tenant that has been maintaining the facility. “We recognize the urgent need to transition […]
SkyTrek makes first sale at SUN ‘n FUN
The first Light-Sport Aircraft to enjoy both Chinese and U.S. certification — Triton Aero-Marine’s SkyTrek — made its first sale at SUN ‘n FUN. In addition, Triton has purchased South Lakeland Airport (X49) — just 4.5-miles from SUN ‘n FUN — intending to open a training facility featuring the SkyTrek.
$4 million expansion planned at 6PN4
Pocono Mountain Municipal Airport (6PN4) in Pennsylvania hopes to start a $4 million expansion project this summer, according to a report from the local ABC affiliate WNEP. New hangars and a new terminal are included in the first phase of the project, which is expected to begin in July. A second phase will include a new fuel […]
Paper addresses non-traditional uses for GA airports
PITTSTOWN, N.J. — “Effective Outreach: Preserving General Aviation by Putting the ‘Public’ in Public-Use Airports” is a recently released paper from Up, Up, and Away. Written by SAFE members Linda Castner and Rich Stowell, the paper discusses 17 years of experimentation and research exploring non-traditional uses and alternative revenue streams for airports and their businesses. Lessons learned […]
Could STEM prevent the next Santa Monica fiasco?
To say my “Don’t Cry for Santa Monica” column struck a chord would be an understatement. Sadly, I fear it struck the wrong chord. (And, for the record, I support the efforts of the National Business Aviation Association and others as they continue to fight SMO’s closure.) A sampling of comments taking me to task… “Ben’s attitude […]