Airports
Congress to take up key step in Ontario airport transfer process -- The U.S. House of Representatives will consider Tuesday Rep. Ken Calvert's bill that would facilitate the transfer of L.A./Ontario International Airport to a local authority. In January, the majority leader introduced Bill 4369, which would allow Ontario International Airport Authority to use passenger fees at ONT to help pay off the cost for the two terminals, a 2015 condition of returning the airport to local ownership. Liset Marquez/Inland Valley Daily Bulletin House Calendar H.R. 4369 
Ontario airport worker's action avoids emergency landing -- Normally, Jesus Garcia would have been in the office had it not been for the unusual activity at LA/Ontario International Airport. The morning of April 15 was already shaping up to be busy: Crosswinds had diverted some flights from LA to the Ontario airport. As he waited in his car on the southeast end of the runway to cross, Garcia noticed something peculiar from an arriving Cessna - its landing gear was not extended. Liset Marquez/Inland Valley Daily Bulletin
The pipe dream of easy arrivals at a Southern California airport -- At a daylong conference dubbed Greener Valleys 2016 held at Cal Poly Pomona on Monday, I caught the afternoon panel, "What Are the Opportunities for Community Development Along Our Transit Corridors?" - interesting stuff, for planning wonks. But I missed the fireworks of the noon session, "Connecting Rail Transit to Ontario Airport: Opportunities, Challenges & Solutions," covered by my colleague Steve Scauzillo, who reports on environmental and transit matters, and had to catch up on it by reading his next-day story. Larry Wilson/San Gabriel Valley Tribune
California airport could become ground zero for commercial drone research -- San Bernardino International Airport could become ground zero for commercial drone research and technology. The airport is partnering with Tesla Foundation Group, not connected to Elon Musk's Tesla Motors, but a leader in the field of drone use and technology. "The [drone] industry is evolving and we are trying to evolve with it," said Mark Gibbs, director of aviation at SBIA. Neil Nisperos/Inland Valley Daily Bulletin Related: FAA expected to announce rules for commercial drones this week  
Mechanical problems cause flight from SF to land in San Jose -- An American Airlines flight from San Francisco to Los Angeles was diverted to Mineta San Jose International Airport early Friday due to a mechanical issue, officials said. The flight, which took off just before 6 a.m. from San Francisco International Airport, landed in San Jose as a precautionary measure due to an "indication of a possible pressurization issue," said Matt Miller, a spokesman for the airline. The plane, a Boeing 737, landed without incident in San Jose. Hamed Aleaziz/SF Gate
75 years after it opened, Reagan National Airport is getting an upgrade -- Reagan National Airport turned 75 this month with much fanfare: a white-tablecloth luncheon. A historic flight. Giveaways and music. But the biggest gift of all may be for harried fliers: a $1 billion renovation that will include a new concourse for short-hop flights. More than 23 million passengers used National last year, making it the second-busiest airport in the region, after Baltimore-Washington International Marshall Airport. Lori Aratani/Washington Post
Airport renovations touch down in time for RNC -- A whirlwind of construction and remodeling, hospitality bookings and security planning is almost complete at what will be the threshold for thousands of visitors arriving for the Republican National Convention - Northeast Ohio's airports. Cleveland Hopkins International Airport takes the wraps off a $42 million terminal modernization next week that has a spruced-up fa�ade, a ticketing level with more natural light and a reconfigured Checkpoint B to help smooth the flow of passengers through security. Alison Grant/Crain's Cleveland Business
The hottest destination from Midway isn't in the U.S. -- Chicago's Mexican community is subtly transforming Midway International Airport into a place that better lives up to its middle name. Long known for its domestic routes and dominated by Southwest Airlines, Midway is drawing a rising number of Hispanic passengers flying to Mexico on Volaris, a carrier akin to Spirit Airlines in terms of its bargain pricing. The volume of fliers heading south of the border from Midway is tiny compared to the airport's overall traffic. But the growth illustrates the economic power of the estimated 1.6 million people in greater Chicago with Mexican backgrounds. Micah Maidenberg/Crain's Chicago Business 
Which U.S. airports allow Uber, Lyft? -- Can I take Uber or Lyft from the (fill-in-the-blank) airport?It's a question travelers across the country ask over and over these days as the affordable car services and a handful of competitors gain in popularity and encroach on the airport turf once reserved for taxis, limos and shuttles.Tech-savvy travelers love the services because they can order a ride from an app on their smartphone or tablet after they land, meet the driver outside and bill the fare to their account. Dawn Gilbertson/Arizona Republic
Airlines
How should airlines spend their record profits? -- Thanks to low fuel costs, high demand and a series of airline mergers, the nation's largest carriers have been reporting record profits for a few years now. But instead of paying out more dividends to shareholders or raises to managers, it might be time to invest money in ways that will make passengers happy in the long run. That is the conclusion of a report by the corporate consulting firm PwC, also known as PricewaterhouseCoopers. Hugo Martin/Los Angeles Times
New space-based navigation prompts proposition from some U.S. airlines -- Some big U.S. airlines are questioning the benefits of proposed next-generation satellite navigation over oceanic routes, even as Russia is about to take a big step toward potentially embracing the concept. The ambivalence of American carriers about the anticipated services was on display at an industry meeting here Friday, when a federally created advisory group launched a cost-benefit analysis of space-based aircraft surveillance slated to be provided in coming years by Aireon LLC. Andy Pasztor/Wall Street Journal
Hawaiian Airlines offers first class upgrade auction -- Hawaiian Airlines today announced Bid Up by Hawaiian Airlines, a new auction upgrade service allowing guests to enhance their in-flight experience by bidding on available First Class seats when traveling between Hawai'i and North America. Maui Now
Airlines helping to save lives with humanitarian efforts -- Airlines, which have been making money hand over fist as energy costs decline and passenger traffic rises, are applying some of that bounty toward humanitarian purposes. The industry is helping to offset a $15 billion funding hole in global disaster relief by flying supplies to needy countries. Harriet Baskas/CNBC
Investigators examine damaged EgyptAir black boxes -- Investigators have begun analyzing the two severely damaged black boxes from EgyptAir flight MS804 as they seek to explain why the plane plunged into the sea, killing all 66 people on board. It would require "lots of time and effort" to fix the two badly damaged black box recorders, sources on Egypt's Aircraft Accident Investigation Committee told Reuters on Sunday. Ahmed Aboulenein/Reuters
Airplanes
Industry 'godfather' Udvar-Hazy to cede CEO's role at Air Lease -- The self-proclaimed godfather of the aircraft-leasing industry, Steven Udvar-Hazy, is stepping down as chief executive officer of Air Lease Corp. Udvar-Hazy, 70, will become executive chairman of the board on July 1, Air Lease said in a statement Friday. John Plueger, 61, the chief operating officer of the commercial-aircraft leasing company, will take over as CEO. Thomas Black/Bloomberg
Boeing said near $4 billion deal with Russian firm to save 747 -- Boeing Co. is nearing a $4 billion deal with Russia's largest air-freight company that would help extend the life of the iconic, hump-nosed 747 jumbo jet amid waning demand for four-engine aircraft, people close to the transaction said. The U.S. planemaker is in advanced talks with AirBridgeCargo Airlines and its Moscow-based parent, Volga-Dnepr Group, to convert a year-old commitment into more than 10 firm orders for 747-8 freighters, two of the people said. Julie Johnsson/Bloomberg 
Aviation Expo
Desert trip hotel prices drive Aviation Expo to new date -- The latest sign of just how much the mega-music concert Desert Trip is shaking up the desert's October event calendar, is the move by a large aviation conference in Palm Springs to a weekend when hotel rooms will be both more available and cheaper. The Flying Aviation Expo, which brings about 5,000 attendees and vendors every year has moved off of the Oct. 13 to 15 weekend to Oct. 20 to 22. Skip Descant/The Desert Sun
Aviation Data & Analysis
Air Cargo Volume Declines 7.8% For US Carriers in March
Courtesy Oliver Wyman PlaneStats
Monday @ the Memories
TWA L1011 Tristar Commercial - 1972
TWA L1011 Tristar Commercial - 1972
Subscribe to Eye on L.A. Aviation (1,582 Subscribers)
Follow Eye on L.A. Aviation on Twitter (1411 Followers)