Aviation News February 2019

2018 Airline Safety

Last year some 4.3 billion passengers flew safely on 46.1 million flights worldwide.  According to the International Air Transport Association (IATA) there hasn’t been a major U.S. airline accident in years. 
Last year some 4.3 billion passengers flew safely on 46.1 million flights - which translates into the equivalent of one accident every 740,000 flights. 
The African continent was the only region worldwide to see a decline in the all-accident rate compared to 2017.
Part of IATA’s mandate is the search for additional risks in commercial aviation with one well-known hazard being inflight turbulence. 
IATA stated: “Flying is safe, and the data tell us that it is getting safer.

.
Million Air Debuts New FBO at New York’s Westchester County Airport (HPN)
The famous FBO chain introduced its new stunning FBO with a gala opening night party. It took 20 months of construction to finish the 29,000-sq-ft, two-story Adirondack-inspired building.

It includes a new 52,000-sq-ft hangar, which was completed last May, and 100,000 sq ft of additional ramp space. The main building holds a complimentary Starbucks coffee bar, three conference rooms, six fireplaces, pilot lounge with en suite showers and two snooze rooms, flight-planning area, a room-sized golf simulator, and 22 tenant offices, including a 4,000 sq ft suite occupied by flight training provider Performance Flight.

.
Meigs Field Chicago
One of the most exciting airports - located on an island next to downtown Chicago - was not only popular with pilots and passengers, but also with Microsoft simulator pilots.  I flew in and out on a sunny morning and it was an exciting moment, also because there was a rumor that the airfield should be closed - a personal fight between the then mayor and the Illinois senator.  The whole airport appearance was much of a bygone era and somewhat enchanting.

It’s been nearly 16 years since the city’s former Mayor Richard M. Daley’s illegal destruction of the airport.  While the property, which was built in the 1930s, was initially intended to be a park, the airport had been in operations there since 1947. It was a convenient place to land for visitors to the nearby convention center and downtown Chicago.Undecided pilots who are eligible to vote in the Chicago area might want to take a close look at Willie Wilson, who has vowed to reopen Meigs Field, should he be elected. 

.

<><><><><>

.