Airports
Flight Path Gala celebrates two decades of community service -- Flight Path will celebrate 20 years of service to the aviation community on October 1 with a festive Gala benefit at the Flight Path Museum in the LAX Imperial Terminal, 6661 W. Imperial Highway, Los Angeles.  Themed, "Flying Into the Future: Celebrating Two Decades," the Gala will showcase Flight Path's mission in preserving Southern California's air heritage and encouraging youth to pursue careers in aviation and aerospace.  Flight Path Press Release
LAX leads the country in close calls between drones and airplanes -- Los Angeles International Airport is the second busiest airport in the country. But it is second to none in close calls with drones. In the past month, there were 11 near-hits between drones and airplanes in the Los Angeles area, according to Federal Aviation Administration data obtained by CBS2 news. That's the most in the country. Many occurred just a couple miles from LAX. One flight coming into LAX from London, United Airlines flight 935, reported a drone was just 400 feet from the plane as it was four miles away from the airport and making its descent. CBS LA
Airplane lavatory truck catches fire at LAX -- As if traffic around Los Angeles International Airport isn't torturous enough, the region was infused with the smell of burning waste Friday when an airplane lavatory truck caught fire. The blaze, at Terminal 6, was reported at about 1:15 p.m., and firefighters were able to get the fire out by 1:30 p.m., said Airport Police Officer Alicia Hernandez. No injuries were reported as a result of the fire. Paige Austin/Palos Verdes Patch
Wiz Khalifa arrested for refusing to get off hoverboard -- The rapper Wiz Khalifa was handcuffed and forced to the ground by law enforcement officers at Los Angeles International Airport on Saturday night for, he said, refusing to get off a hoverboard. Wiz Khalifa, whose real name is Cameron Jibril Thomaz, posted footage of the incident on Instagram. In one video he is being handcuffed and pushed to the ground by three officers who can be heard saying, "Stop resisting"; however, Mr. Thomaz appears to submit to the arrest and repeats the phrase, "I'm not resisting." Andrew R. Chow/New York Times Marlow Stern/Daily Beast
Editorial: Skepticism is fair in Burbank rail station idea -- To be sure, a well-conceived high-speed rail station at the Burbank site might be just the ticket to help ease regional transportation issues, and we're glad the airport authority has provided, largely out of courtesy, a window of opportunity for the state to come up with a written proposal for local consideration. But along with that written proposal should be a sales contract, with, at the very least, a cash deposit. Otherwise, the airport authority should sell the land to the buyer it deems least likely to fly away." Glendale News-Press
Round-trip fare to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, is convenient from John Wayne and a bargain at $333 -- Here's a round-trip airfare deal to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, that's convenient from Orange County: Southwest is offering this $333 fare, including all taxes and fees, from John Wayne Airport. You must buy your ticket by Sept. 3, and the fare is subject to availability. Departures are Sundays-Wednesdays and returns are Tuesdays-Fridays for travel through Dec. 16 and again between Jan. 11 and March 13. Blackout dates apply. Info: Southwest, (800) 435-9792. Catharine Hamm/Los Angeles Times
Late for high school reunion, man charged for trying to stop jet on ramp -- Police say a Denver airline passenger exited an airport emergency door and ran out to the ramp area in an effort to stop the plane of the flight he had just missed. Authorities say the 58-year-old man was trying to get to his 40-year high school reunion. The Associated Press says the incident occurred Aug. 6 but wasn't disclosed until Wednesday. According to prosecutors, the man opened an alarmed concourse emergency exit door and ran onto the ramp as his plane was pushing back from the gate. Ben Mutzabaugh/USA Today
How Orlando airport's new south terminal might look -- Palms trees, citrus groves and Lake Eola's swans: Could any of these Central Florida features be used to inspire the design of Orlando International Airport's future $1.8 billion airport? That's something that will be determined via meetings between the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority, airport personnel and Denver-based Fentress Architects, which will be provide consulting and design work for the project. The terminal will include 16-24 gates that will increase the amount of visitation and travel business coming to the region. Richard Bilbao/Orlando Business Journal
All Aboard Florida train promises big impact, but will it deliver? -- The promised financial impact of the All Aboard Florida train is large: $6.4 billion infused into the state's economy by 2023, $2.4 billion in pay, benefits and taxes for labor through 2021 and 10,000 construction jobs each year through 2017. But how real are those numbers, which are coming from a report commissioned by the Coral Gables-based train company? Economic impact studies are "layer cakes of uncertainty," said Sean Snaith, an economist at the University of Central Florida who has authored a few of his own. But Snaith was not being overly critical. He predicted the $2.5 billion project linking Orlando International Airport with South Florida would end up being a plus financially for the state. Dan Tracy/Orlando Sentinel
People
Aviation Legends: The world according to Clay Lacy -- Aviation legend Clay Lacy has become synonymous with jet aircraft and Southern California, so it's with some surprise that when he appears at a Wichita Aero Club luncheon, he's introduced as a native son. Yes, Clay Lacy is so much a part of American aviation, he was even born and raised in the "Air Capital of the World." Julie Summers Walker/AOPA Pilot
Airlines
Emirates' USA growth anchored around JetBlue and Alaska Air hubs. Panama City for LatAm growth -- In the 2015 winter schedule, Emirates will have 35% more capacity to the United States than in winter 2014. Its growth is not random but targeted around partnerships: 90% of additional capacity will be put into four airports - New York JFK, Boston, Seattle and Orlando - that are hubs for its local partners, JetBlue and Alaska Air. The remaining 10% increase is largely a full season realisation of previous growth. Another partner hub - Fort Lauderdale - could be attractive to Emirates because of JetBlue's growing Latin American presence from the south Florida city. CAPA Centre for Aviation 
Airlines upscaling amenities for high-paying fliers -- First-class fliers can secure their furry friends in a special pet cabin on American Airlines. Delta Air Lines' highest-paying passengers are chauffeured in Porsches and dropped curbside at a private entrance at LAX. Not to be outdone, international airline Etihad Airways offers on-board nannies on flights to Dubai. Flush with record earnings, airlines are trying to keep the profit-party going by investing heavily in pampering high-paying customers while squeezing more people into the already crowded economy section. Hugo Martin/Los Angeles Times
SkyWest names Terry Vais as COO -- SkyWest, Inc. announced Friday the selection of Terry Vais as Chief Operating Officer of ExpressJet Airlines, Inc., effective Sept. 9, 2015. He will succeed Alex Marren, who has accepted a promotion as Executive Vice President at Hertz Corporation. As Chief Operating Officer, Vais will oversee ExpressJet's operations and activities, including Flight Operations, In-Flight operations, Maintenance, and partner relationships. "Alex assembled an outstanding leadership team that performed immediately and continues to produce solid results," said SkyWest, Inc. President Chip Childs. StreetInsider
Ready for takeoff: Hawaiian Airlines' new scenic safety video -- With Virgin American about to jump into the popular San Francisco to Honolulu and Maui routes,  Hawaiian Airlines is busy consolidating its reputation as the most, well, Hawaiian airline. Already, first- and business-class passengers on long-haul international routes and flights from New York's JFK airport receive Manuheali'i print amenity kits; Honolulu celebrity chef and Hawaiian Airlines executive chef Chai Chaowasaree has a new rotating culinary program featuring regional ingredients and recipes from other top chefs from the islands; and the airline still serves complimentary food in all classes of service on Mainland-Hawaii routes, plus sells "local kine" snacks and drinks. Jeanne Cooper/SF Gate
American Airlines workers say they face racial taunts, discrimination -- Black American Airlines employees at Reagan National and Philadelphia International airports say they have been subjected to racial taunts and are routinely assigned unsafe equipment and the most difficult tasks. The employees were among 80 minority workers who, through an attorney, have written to U.S. Attorney General Loretta E. Lynch seeking an investigation into their allegations against the airline. Ashley Halsey III/Washington Post
Alaska Airlines, Port of Seattle reviewing wage decision -- Alaska Airlines and the Port of Seattle are reviewing their options in the wake of Thursday's ruling by the state of Washington Supreme Court, which said the city of SeaTac's $15-an-hour minimum wage applied to workers at both the airline and Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. The city, where SeaTac Airport also happens to be located, last year voted to increase the minimum wage within city limits to $15.
But both Alaska Airlines and the Port of Seattle did not believe the city law applied to the airport. Alaska Airlines is Sea-Tac Airport's largest carrier. Rich Thomaselli/Travel Pulse
TSA
TSA not ready to directly take on Yelp reviewers -- The Transportation Security Administration, the bane of many travelers' existence, is not too psyched about giving grumpy jetsetters the chance to rip into their agents on an official Yelp page. Yelp and the federal government have struck a deal that would allow agencies to lay claim to their own official pages on the popular online review site, but so far, the TSA isn't biting. David Castelveter, a TSA spokesman, said he wasn't aware of the program that Yelp recently announced with the headline "How Many Stars Would You Give the TSA? Review Federal Agencies on Yelp...and Maybe Get a Response." Eliza Collins/Politico
FAA
A terrifying weather phenomenon nearly caused an American Airlines crash -- Federal Investigators have launched an investigation into an incident involving an American Airlines jet last week at Charlotte Douglas International Airport.  American Airlines Flight 1851 struck several runway lights and the tail of the jet slammed into the runway while attempting to land in Charlotte. According to the National Transportation Safety Board, the crew of the American Airlines flight reportedly encountered wind shear (sudden shifts in wind direction or speed over a small distance) shortly before touching down at the airport. Benjamin Zhang/Business Insider
Uber, but for planes -- While Uber fights the taxi industry on the ground, a website that aims to bring ride-sharing to the skies is in a legal dogfight with federal regulators who want to clip its wings. The site, Flytenow, is designed to allow passengers to hitch rides with private pilots while divvying up the costs - enabling travelers to avoid sitting in traffic or enduring airlines' luggage fees and cramped seats. But the Federal Aviation Administration effectively shut down the service and a second flight-sharing site last summer, accusing them of dodging the extra requirements that apply to pilots who ferry passengers for pay. Lauren Gardner/Politico
2024 Olympics
L.A. City Council to vote soon on authorizing 2024 Olympic bid -- The Los Angeles City Council expects to vote next week on whether L.A. should continue its quest to host the 2024 Summer Games, setting the stage for a public airing of questions surrounding an Olympic bid that has been largely opaque for the taxpayers who could be asked to underwrite the projected $4.1-billion event. Council President Herb Wesson submitted a motion Friday asking lawmakers to grant Mayor Eric Garcetti authority to sign a legally binding agreement with the U.S. Olympic Committee that would enable L.A. to compete with cities across the world for the Games. Peter Jamison/Los Angeles Times
City Government
At DWP, cracks in more than just the windows -- It used to be that if you worked downtown and wanted to go for a stroll on your lunch break, a good destination was the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, where a concrete apron runs around the headquarters building. But the concourse of what is officially called the John Ferraro Building has been cut off to pedestrians for months. Ever since December, to be precise, when an arsonist allegedly torched the nearby Da Vinci apartment building and the fierce heat cracked dozens of windows at the offices of nation's largest utility. Steve Lopez/Los Angeles Times
Monday at the Memories
LAX Celebrates the 100th Anniversary of Flight - 2003
LAX Celebrates the 100th
Anniversary of Flight - 2003
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