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2008-04-14
NORTH/SOUTH AMERICA NEWS
Lawmaker Concerned about TSA Screening Program (April 10th)
Markey Doubts TSA Screening Plan
Air Cargo World Online
http://www.aircargoworld.com/break_news/04102008d.htm
Rep. Edward J. Markey, D-Mass, the lawmaker behind the 100% air cargo screening mandate, has concerns about how the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) will implement this mandate. He questions how secure cargo will be after it has been inspected by certified shippers and before it reaches the airport. “Markey, along with Rep. Bennie Thompson, D-Miss., the chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee, have asked the Government Accountability Office to investigate whether the program meets the standards of the law.”
FAA Selects New Air Traffic Director (April 9th)
New F.A.A. Official To Fight Delays
New York Times
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/09/washington/09airports.html?_r=1&ref=nyregion&oref=slogin
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has selected a director for the New York Integration Office of the Federal Aviation Administration. As director, Marie Kennington-Gardiner will tackle the chronic delays at the three major airports in the New York City metro region. “The position was created last year as part of an aggressive new strategy by the F.A.A. to reduce flight delays by limiting takeoffs and landings at peak times.”
FAA Regional Inspection Chief Given New Duties (April 7th)
FAA Reassigns Inspection Chief After Testimony
USA Today
http://www.usatoday.com/travel/flights/2008-04-07-faa_N.htm
The Federal Aviation Administration has reassigned one of its regional inspection chiefs, Thomas Stuckey after several allegations of wrongdoing were pointed at the office that he supervised. Stuckey, whose office oversaw the southwestern states, will now be reassigned to “an administrative position that does not have safety oversight responsibilities.”
FAA’s Oversight Mission Questioned During Congressional Hearing (April 3rd)
Behind The Chaos In The Skies
Business Week
http://www.businessweek.com/bwdaily/dnflash/content/apr2008/db2008043_381386.htm
During a congressional hearing, convened by Rep. James L. Oberstar (D., Minn.), chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) faced a myriad of questions concerning airplane inspections and the agency’s ability to oversee aviation safety. While the FAA contends aviation safety is its driving focus, consumer advocate groups and labor unions have joined forces to expose persistent safety problems in the U.S. airline industry. Four unnamed U.S. airlines are presently under investigation for not complying with FAA regulations and the investigation is expected to take several months.
EUROPE NEWS
Transport Select Committee Announces Inquiry into Heathrow Fiasco (April 10th)
MPs To Grill BA And BAA Bosses Over Heathrow Terminal 5 Fiasco
ComputerWeekly.com
http://www.computerweekly.com/Articles/2008/04/10/230249/mps-to-grill-ba-and-baa-bosses-over-heathrow-terminal-5.htm
MPs of the Transport Select Committee in the United Kingdom (UK) have announced an inquiry into the baggage problems at Heathrow’s Terminal 5 that recently resulted in massive flight cancellations. Officials of British Airways and BAA will be subjected to intensive scrutiny as the committee seeks to determine the root cause of the problem. The committee will examine a whole range of issues, including whether the terminal was understaffed and whether the capacity of the security vetting system was adequate.
ASIA/PACIFIC NEWS
India Reaches Aviation Agreements with Chile and Brazil (April 11th)
Cabinet Approves Air Services Agreement With Chile And Brazil
newKerala.com
http://www.newkerala.com/one.php?action=fullnews&id=47041
Once the Indian government approves and signs the Air Service Agreements with Brazil and Chile, each side will designate airlines according to available capacity. India entered into negotiations with the two countries last August. Indian Science and Technology Minister, Kapil Sibal, hopes the agreements will help strengthen economic cooperation.
European Commission, India Sign Aviation Agreements (April 10th)
European Commission Initials Civil Aviation Agreements With India
Avio News
http://www.avionews.com/index.php?corpo=see_news_home.php&news_id=1088278&pagina_chiamante=index.php
The European Commission and the Indian government recently signed two aviation agreements. The Horizontal Aviation Agreement brings “bring several provisions in the 26 bilateral air services agreements between EU member states and India in line with EU.” A Joint Action Plan was also signed which will set priorities for future cooperation in a broad range of issues relating to aviation.
Korean Air Rejected ACCC’s Proposal for Settlement (April 8th)
Korean Air Offered Deal On Freight Cartel Case
Sydney Morning Herald
http://business.smh.com.au/korean-air-offered-deal-on-freight-cartel-case/20080407-24cz.html
During court testimony it was revealed that the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) had offered Korean Air a settlement which included the carrier divulging “details of its alleged cartel-like freight deals with other airlines.” In exchange for assisting with the ongoing anti-cartel investigation, the airline would receive a discount of 20 percent on the total penalty of $10 million it would possibly be facing. Korean Air rejected the offer and ACCC has still not decided whether to launch legal proceedings against the carrier.
AFRICA/MIDDLE EAST NEWS
Virgin Nigeria Gets Nod of Approval (April 7th)
Nigeria: Virgin Nigeria Gets Approval On U.S. Route
allAfrica.com
http://allafrica.com/stories/200804070570.html
The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has recently granted a foreign air carrier permit to Virgin Nigeria. The designation permits the carrier to begin direct commercial flights to the U.S. from Lagos. “Virgin Nigeria and the two other airlines designated to US will only be able to fly their own branded aircraft to that country after the auditing of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) by US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) or another express approval by the body for the airlines.”
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