Category Archives: aviation

Airlines Post Record On-Time Performance but Complaints Up

Between January and March this year, the nation’s largest airlines posted their best on-time arrival rate for the first quarter of any year since the Department of Transportation began collecting comparable flight delay data in 1995. Supporters cite this as a clear example of the effectiveness of government regulation back by stiff fines. Continue reading

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Bankrupt Hawker Beechcraft Pensions Only 56% Funded

Collectively, Hawker Beechcraft’s three pension plans are only 56% funded, with $769 million in assets to cover $1.4 billion in benefits. If Hawker Beechcraft ended the plans under the bankruptcy, the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation of the U.S. Federal government would pay $533 million of the $611 million shortfall. PBGC is the company’s largest creditor. Continue reading

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Air Fares Soar 10% in Q4 as 2011 Prices Highest on Record

The slow economic recovery the U.S. is enduring isn’t all good for embattled consumers as the average price of U.S. domestic air fares increased to $368 in the fourth quarter of 2011, up 10% from $335 in the fourth quarter of 2010, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) reported today. The latest price hike was far above $320 average fare during the same period in 2009 as the Great Recession took hold. Continue reading

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Delta Largest U.S. Airline. American Largest Overseas

Delta Air Lines, because of its merger with Northwest Airlines, carried more total system passengers in 2011 than any other U.S. airline for the second consecutive year. American Airlines carried more international passengers to and from the United States in 2011 than any other U.S. or foreign carrier, followed closely by Delta. Continue reading

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Lockheed Martin Fined $15.85 Million for Taxpayer Rip-off

“It is troubling that a large defense contractor with long-established contractual ties with the United States failed to undertake appropriate measures to ensure the integrity and validity of the costs it submitted to the United States,” said Stuart F. Delery, Acting Assistant Attorney General for the Justice Department’s Civil Division. It is more troubling that seven years of fraud when revealed took another seven years for the Federal government to resolve. Continue reading

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Airline On-Time Performance Improves in January

Flights to or from Phoenix (PHX) operated by Southwest or United had the dubious distinction of posting the most delays of greater than 30 minutes in January more than 50% of the time. Continue reading

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BizJet Pays $11.8 M Fine under Foreign Corrupt Practices Act

BizJet International Sales and Support will pay an $11.8 million criminal penalty to resolve charges under the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act for bribing government officials. The Tulsa, Oklahoma-based aircraft maintenance company with links to Lufthansa was under investigation by the Department of Justice for bribing government officials in Latin America to secure contracts to perform aircraft services for government agencies. Continue reading

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Airlines Profitable as Passenger Fees Continue to Rise

As part of their third-quarter revenue, the airlines collected almost a billion dollars – $898 million – in baggage fees and $603 million from reservation change fees from July to September 2011. Baggage fees and reservation change fees are the only ancillary fees paid by passengers that are reported to BTS as separate items. Other fees, such as revenue from seating assignments and on-board sales of food, beverages, pillows, blankets, and entertainment are reported in a different category with other items and cannot be identified separately. Continue reading

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How Things Fly Website Compliments Smithsonian Exhibit

The National Air and Space Museum now has a companion electronic exhibit to its most popular physical exhibit covering the basic principles of flight. In this new How Things Fly website viewers can explore the flight environment, aerodynamics, propulsion, structures and materials, flight dynamics and see the forces of flight- all in interactive action. Continue reading

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Federal Regs Work as Airlines Cut Delays and Cancellations

It is a clear example of the effectiveness and the need for government regulation of industry since airline passengers were not treated fairly or getting reliable transportation until DOT put in place regulations with stiff fines to stop all too common abuses. Continue reading

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Alcoa Expanding to Make More Lightweight Aluminum Alloys

With the auto industry now pursuing composites to reduce weight to meet increasingly stringent emission and fuel economy standards, the increased supply of lightweight aluminum alloys could find its way onto production automobiles. The question is at what rate? Continue reading

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PBGC Says American Airlines Workers Should Worry About Pensions and Medical Care – So Should Taxpayers

The Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation has called out what it says is misleading statements to American Airlines employees by its management about their pension plans under a bankruptcy reorganization. “American Airlines is telling their workers and retirees not to worry, … Continue reading

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Tougher DOT Airline Regulations Take Effect This Week

In addition, airlines will be required to promptly notify passengers of flight delays of over 30 minutes, as well as flight cancellations and diversions, and they will generally be prohibited from increasing the price of passengers’ ticket after it is bought. Continue reading

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Beware of Super Bowl Air Travel Ticket Scams DOT Warns

DOT’s rules state that if a tour was described as including a game ticket and you do not receive one, you are entitled to a full refund of the entire package price upon your return. Continue reading

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FAA Clears Santa Claus One for Christmas Eve Flight

Santa Claus has been flying accident-free for centuries, and FAA safety inspectors have cleared Santa Claus One–the world’s only known reindeer-powered aircraft–to deliver presents to children around the world this year. Continue reading

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