Southwest Airlines announced service to Hawaii this evening at their company ‘Spirit Party’. Service will begin in 2018. The airline also announced its intention to launch an application process for Federal Aviation Administration authorization for Extended Operations (ETOPS). Service details will be announced at a later date.
The ‘Spirit Party’ is a company-wide celebration of what makes the airline unique. This year, Southwest rented out Universal Studios in Hollywood for the evening. At the party, a large screen said, “Be here at eight sharp for big news.” CEO Gary Kelly made the announcement at 8pm PT sharp.
Southwest Airlines CEO Gary Kelly announced that service to Hawaii will begin in 2018. He made the announcement while dressed very appropriately in a Hawaiian shirt. Destinations and launch dates will come later.
“A day long-awaited by our Customers, fans, and more than 55,000 of the world’s most-loved airline Employees is finally within sight–a day that will showcase your Hospitality, about as far Southwest as you can go in the U.S.,” Chairman & CEO Gary Kelly told thousands of Southwest Employees at a Company gathering in Southern California. “Hawaii is an important place for Southwest Airlines because so many people count on us to take them everywhere they want to go reliably and affordably. We’re ready and excited to address a request we’ve heard for years.”
The move to Hawaii is long expected, and some would even say overdue. Southwest has actually served Hawaii before through a codeshare with ATA or American Trans Air. Back in 2006, Southwest held a code-share agreement with the now-defunct airline. Southwest flew passengers to Oakland and Ontario while ATA flew passengers to Hawaii with their 737-800 fleet. The service was very popular for Rapid Rewards members but it was cancelled in 2007 as ATA wound down operations and declared bankruptcy. While Southwest acquired the assets of ATA, they did not introduce service to Hawaii.
A new Southwest Airlines 737-8MAX. Photo: Southwest Airlines
Rumors of Southwest flying to Hawaii have been swirling for years. They peaked last month when Southwest sponsored a major Hawaii travel conference in Honolulu. Southwest didn’t announce anything at the time. Some blamed the hurricanes impacting other Southwest stations like San Juan and Houston for the delay.
The news comes as Southwest recently introduced the Boeing 737-8 MAX. The new version of the 737 is more fuel efficient and has a longer range than the existing 737-700s and -800s. The new -8MAX seats 175 people with Wifi, adjustable headrests, and even slightly wider seats. Service is expected to begin using the 737-800 first. However, the -8MAX will become the primary aircraft for flights to Hawaii once the aircraft is ETOPs certified by the FAA.
This is a breaking news story. We will update you with additional information as soon as possible.
The Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker first entered service with the United States Air Force (USAF) in 1957. Boeing built just a couple more than 800 of these aircraft. They have been adapted to perform scores of missions in addition to airlifting and aerial refueling. Developed from Boeing’s 367-80 prototype along with the hugely successful 707 series of commercial airliners, the KC-135 has flown millions of miles and thousands of refueling sorties all over the world. The aircraft, in updated and improved form, is still operated by the USAF and has been operated by several foreign countries as well. This film, titled “The Indispensables”, and uploaded by AIRBOYD explains how the Strategic Air Command (SAC) utilized their KC-135s when the film was produced during the 1960s.
Some of the very first KC-135s served as test aircraft designated NKC-135A. Some of these aircraft were equipped with refueling booms and some were not. Early on the Air Force also used KC-135s as platforms for airborne command posts designated KC-135Bs. Later they became EC-135Cs. The KC-135Q stratotanker was specially equipped to refuel the Lockheed SR-71 Blackbirds. These Q models were later redesignated KC-135T.
Official US Air Force Photograph
A single EC-135Y served as a VIP transport. The first Stratotankers designated KC-135Rs were four KC-135As converted for reconnaissance and evaluation of above-ground nuclear tests and later retired. The majority of KC-135s still serving today are the current KC-135R and KC-135R(RT) variants equipped with CFM-56 engines, and in the case of the KC-135R(RT) capable of receiving fuel while airborne. Some of the lessons learned through the 60 years of KC-135 operations came at a high cost.
Last month, 17,000 spectators at the Ginkel Heath in Ede, The Netherlands, watched 250 Paratroopers from the United States, England, Poland and Germany jump out of transport aircraft like the USAF C-130 Hercules, the Polish CASA C-295 and the German C-160 Transall and an old USAAF C-47 Skytrain during Airborne 2017, the 73rd Commemoration of Operation Market Garden.
Operation Market Garden, developed and led by Field Marshal Bernard Montgomery, was an unsuccessful Allied Military Operation, fought in the Netherlands and Germany. Market Garden took place between September 17 and 25, 1944.
During World War II (1939-1945) the operation was split into two sub-operations:
Market – the Airborne Forces, the First Allied Airborne Army, who would seize bridges
Garden – the Ground Forces, consisting of the British XXX Corps
Market Garden contained the largest Airborne Operation up to that point and Market would be the largest Airborne Operation in History. More than 41,000 Paratroopers from Airborne Divisions of the United States Army, British Army and Polish Army participated in Operation Market Garden. Among them were 15,000 – 18,000 casualties. 1,274 USAF C-47 Skytrains, 164 Dakotas, 321 RAF Bombers (converted to towing planes), 2160 RAF Waco Gliders, 916 RAF Horsa Gliders, and 64 RAF Hamilcar Gliders were used during the largest Airborne Operation ever.
Paratrooper jumping out of an USAAF C-47 Skytrain. Photos captured by still images from Jerry Taha Productions Video
On September 18 1944, 1900 Paratroopers from the 1st British Airborne Division landed on the Ginkel Heath in Ede, near the City of Arnhem. Their mission was to secure the bridge in Arnhem to
allow a rapid advance by armoured ground units to consolidate north of Arnhem, resulting in the Allied Forces finding their way into Germany through the Ruhr Valley, cutting Germany off from the majority of its industry. Unfortunately they encountered initial strong resistance from the Germans, which resulted in many casualties. The Battle of Arnhem became a Bridge Too Far. Market Garden was a failure, because of a multitude of factors, ranging from intelligence failures, overly optimistic planning, bad weather, poor radiocommunication, and the lack of tactical initiative on the part of commanders. Despite its failure, Field Marshal Montgomery called the operation “90% succesful” .
Because the operation did not achieve its objectives or its goal to end World War II by Christmas 1944, as a result 20,000 people in the northern and western part of Holland died of starvation during the tough winter, also known as the ‘hunger winter’. They were cut off from the agricultural lands of the south, which was liberated thanks to Market Garden.
It took till May 5 1945, before Holland was finally liberated completely from the Germans.
From Jerry Taha Productions comes this amazing video. The video shows the story of Operation Market Garden and its 73rd commemoration.
In 1976, 32 Years after Operation Market Garden, Arnhem and Holland would became a Hollywood filmset for the famous movie ‘A Bridge Too Far’, directed by the late Richard Attenborough.
Starring a 70s star cast, including Robert Redford, Anthony Hopkins, Sean Connery, Dirk Bogarde, Michael Caine, and James Caan. The epic war film was based on the 1974 book ‘A Bridge Too Far’ by Cornelius Ryan. The film was released in 1977 and was a huge succes.
USAF C-130 Hercules dropping Paratroopers. Photos captured by still images from Jerry Taha Productions Video
There is a magic about Arnhem and its surrounding towns of Oosterbeek and Ede, where I grew up and spent most of my childhood. We have never forgotten our debt to all the thousands of British and Polish soldiers who gave their lives for our freedom. Like the people of Nijmegen and Eindhoven will never forget their debt to all the thousands of fallen American soldiers.
Every year on the 3rd Saturday of September, Operation Market Garden is being remembered by the Airborne Commemoration Foundation and the people of Ede with an Airborne Parachute Drop at the Ginkel Heath in Ede. The commemoration is being attended by the last British Veterans who are still with us, although they are becoming rare every year.
During Market Garden they were young men, from late teenagers up to in their early 20s. Now they are men who are in the 90s. We honor them with our respect for what they did for our country.
When I was a soldier myself in the Royal Netherlands Army, I got my militairy training on the same fields of the Ginkel Heath in Ede, where these war heroes landed with their parachutes.
Many times I thought of them and I was grateful for being alive in a free country and being a soldier in peacetime, while they had no choice and had to make great sacrifices for our Freedom.
I will never forget and they shall always be remembered.
Editor’s Note: Avgeekery thanks Jerry Taha for his beautiful footage and story about the event.
ATLANTA — The first airshow to be staged above a motor speedway will take place this weekend as today’s top aircraft of the U.S. Navy and the Air Force take part in the inaugural Atlanta Airshow.
Atlanta Motor Speedway will become center stage as civilian aerobatic aircraft join with military jets for one of the top aviation events near Atlanta on October 14 and 15. Aircraft on static display will fill the front of the stadium and open at 9:00 a.m. The gates into the stadium seating and concessions will open at 10:00 a.m.
Photo: Charles Atkeison
“We’ve got an all-star lineup for our inaugural year,” Atlanta Air Show president Bryan Lilley said on Tuesday. “There has been significant interest by some of the nation’s best civilian performers and from the military in being part of this historic event, which is the first air show in history to be held inside an aerial stadium.”
The Navy’s F/A-18F Super Hornet — nicknamed the Rhino — will conduct a brief flight over the aerial stadium at noon to kick-off the airshow. The Rhino will scream over the stadium a few hours later to perform a thirty minute flight demonstration.
The Air Force F-16 Viper Demo team will perform each afternoon above the aerial stadium. The team’s pilot, Major John “Rain” Waters, is a native of Atlanta, born and raised in nearby Peachtree City.
“When I fly the demonstration, it’s not just the combat maneuvers we do, but it shows the agility and the maneuverability of the F-16,” Maj. Waters explained from the flight line. “We go out their and showcase the capabilities of a 4th generation modern fighter and what it’s able to do. But, showing that to get that one aircraft airborne and myself, to fly the demonstration, it really takes a whole team.”
The F-16 is the same aircraft flown by the Thunderbirds, except this Viper is in full military gray and outfitted for combat service if the need arises. Maj. Waters will also perform the crowd favorite Heritage Flight as he guides his F-16 in formation with the historic P-51 Mustang in a moving tribute to our armed forces.
“I am the commander and demonstration pilot for 22 airshows annually,” Maj. Waters continued. “The mission of the F-16 Viper Demo Team is to inspire the next generation of pilots and maintainers and airman, and really anyone to serve their country through the military or some other government service.”
As the Air Force’s Viper climbs and maneuvers overhead on Saturday, many at the airshow will pause to mark the 70th anniversary of Capt. Chuck Yeager’s mach-transcending flight. On Oct. 14, 1947, Yeager broke the sound barrier aboard a Bell X-1 aircraft 40,000 feet above the Mojave Desert. That flight set the stage to allow today’s aircraft to go supersonic.
The Air Force will also fly-in two A-10 Thunderbolt II aircraft, nicknamed the Warthog, to perform on Saturday only. It’s two pilots are Georgia natives, and each are proud to perform in the Peach State.
The straight wing Warthog can perform short take-off and landing on nearly any airfield. It’s twin engines can produce nearly 18,000 pounds of thrust during flight.
Photo: Charles Atkeison
Civilian aircraft will include the only WACO bi-plane with a jet engine as the Jack Link’s Screamin Sasquatch takes to the air to ‘feed your wild side’. Pilot Buck Roetman will perform aerobatics aboard his Pitts Special; while Kent Pietsch performs three times through out the afternoon mixing comedic fun with dead stick landings a top moving vehicles.
“If you can’t entertain, you have no business being out there,” Kent exclaimed with a smile. “The gratification is in knowing that people are enjoying themselves.”
Atlanta Motor Speedway is located 28 miles south of Downtown Atlanta, by following I-75 south to the Tara Blvd. exit and south to Speedway Blvd. Tickets remain available online and will be sold at the gate each day.
(Charles Atkeison reports on aerospace and technology. Follow his updates via social media @Military_Flight.)
A Russian Su-24 fighter jet has crashed at Hmeimim base while attempting take-off. The crew on board did not eject and were killed. Reports have said that technical failure is suspected.
The plane was on its way to Syria, where airstrikes have been ongoing since 2015 in retaliation against President Bashar Assad. Defense industry spokespersons say Russia has conducted as many as 150 airstrikes against Islamic jihadists in Syria.
So far, Russia has lost 37 service men in the fight, including a Russian general who was killed in Deir Ezzor, ground zero for the military offensive. Russia also lost two fighter jets last year, a Mig-29 and an an Su-33. Both were deployed from a carrier off the Syrian coast.
As some of you AvGeeks may recall, air racing champion Steven Hinton recently set a new World Speed Record over Labor Day weekend of 531.272 MPH in his highly modified P-51 Mustang “Voodoo”, owned by Bob Button from Dixon, CA and sponsored by Joe Clark and Aviation Partners Inc of Seattle, WA.
The fastest lap actually reached a speed of 554.69 MPH, but Hinton’s average speed of 531.27 mph over four passes on the 3km course, located at Clark’s Ranch in a remote part of Central Idaho, officially made him and Voodoo the fastest piston engine propeller driven airplane in the world, ever.
Hinton and Voodoo take off for the record. Credit: Pursuit Aviation
According to The Fédération Aéronautique Internationale, FAI – The World Air Sports Federation, Hinton’s new World Speed Record falls into the category for piston-engine airplanes with a takeoff weight between 3,000 and 6,000kg.
Documenting the historic event was Pursuit Aviation, a Southern California-based aerial cinematography company founded by Dan Friedkin and partner John Tamburro. Dan, who is chairman and CEO of The Friedkin Group, is founder and chairman of the Air Force Heritage Flight Foundation and one of nine civilian Heritage Flight pilots qualified to fly in formation with U.S. Air Force single-ship demonstration teams. He also participates in air shows throughout North America and Europe, flying right wing for the Horsemen P-51 Flight Team, the world’s only P-51 formation aerobatic team.
John has been flying helicopters in Southern California for over 28 years which includes time covering major news events like the OJ Simpson chase, the LA Riots, and the Northridge earthquake as well as flying the top organ transplant teams in Los Angeles. He is qualified on various helicopter types and has specialized in the motion picture and television industry for the past 21 years. In that time, he has accumulated over 7500 hours flying in feature films, television and commercials with a range of experience including close air-to-air formation, low-level chases, and military operations.
Needless to say, they are not short on experience in either flying or aerial cinematography, and they put a new, highly customized aerial camera system and setup into action for Hinton’s big day.
The company recently released a high-impact video package of Hinton’s flight, which is worth taking a minute to watch above.
Partnering with SHOTOVER, Pursuit Aviation mounted their setup to a photo chase jet and put the groundbreaking 6-axis gyro stabilized F1 camera system to work, which is specifically customized for capturing fully-stabilized imagery at over 350 kts and under heavy G-loading.
“We can maintain stabilization throughout the performance envelope and capture the aerial sequences that others can’t,” said a company spokesperson. “The aerial cinematographer sits in the rear seat of the tandem-seat jet aircraft, and operates the nose-mounted system via a gimbal controller with integrated monitor in real time.”
Shotover F1 camera system controlled remotely from cockpit. Credit: Pursuit Aviation
Pursuit Aviation spent much time and effort conducting R&D in collaboration with Shotover to properly mount and flight test the P-51 system, and the company has some big plans ahead with NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) to support the agency’s ambitious Mars 2020 Rover mission, conducting flight testing in support of the Lander Vision System (LVS) which will be imperative to the successful landing of the Rover 100 million miles away.
But Hinton’s new record isn’t as straightforward as one would hope. The 3km Closed Course record was held by Lyle Shelton and “Rare Bear” at 528mph, and rules require Steve and P-51 Voodoo to beat their 4-pass average speed of 528 MPH by 1%, or roughly 533 MPH, to own the record.
They fell short of the FAI’s “1% rule” when Voodoo’s engine started showing signs of problems and a loss of oil pressure by Hinton’s third lap, forcing him to shorten his last turn around to complete the 4th run and recording the slowest speed of the 4 laps by 12mph.
Pursuit Aviation’s SHOTOVER F1 camera and rig on the chase jet for Hinton’s recent World Speed Record. Credit: Pursuit Aviation
They did indeed fly faster than Rare Bear, giving them the speed record, but Hinton and Co did not beat Rare Bear’s record holding average speed (now a retired record).
“This was an awesome experience for everyone involved and we were thrilled to document Steven’s record-breaking flight using the SHOTOVER F1 camera system, which is truly groundbreaking technology in aerial cinematography,” said Friedkin (Founder, Pursuit Aviation). “It took a lot of test flights and extensive engineering to create a system that could withstand the extreme speed and force required for Steven to break this record and the setup performed great. The unique vantage points and quality of the video our team was able to capture of “Voodoo” is unlike anything that has been recorded at these speeds.”
“Flying and filming in the camera jet is like being in a real dogfight as I’d imagine – high speeds, high adrenaline, and high stress,” said Andrea Bassani (Aerial Cinematographer, Pursuit Aviation). “Shooting during a live event like the World Speed Record attempt presented unique challenges unlike anything I’ve experienced on closed-set filming with a carefully coordinated ‘shot list.’ The intensity of the flight and the pressures to ‘get the shot’ weigh heavily on you as a camera operator in the backseat flying with such legends as Steve Hinton, and his son, Stevo.”
Hinton and his team after setting the record. Credit: Pursuit Aviation
“This was a history making flight for both Steven and the aerial cinematography community as a whole, so I feel very privileged, humbled, and thankful to be a part of it,” added Bassani.
Recent Pursuit Aviation projects include the film “Dunkirk,” for which Dan served as an aerial unit coordinator, Spitfire pilot and helicopter camera pilot. Other major film and television projects include “Thor,” “Sons of Anarchy,” “Ray Donovan,” “24,” “Lethal Weapon,” and “NCIS: Los Angeles.” Pursuit Aviation provided everything from helicopters as well as camera platforms or picture ships to gimbals, camera equipment, and personnel in various forms depending on the production requirements. Pursuit Aviation has also done aerial shoots for the Horsemen Flight Team, which performs in air shows and puts on aerobatic displays in P-51 Mustang, P-38 Lightning, F4U Corsair, F8F Bearcat, and F-86 Sabre aircraft. The company also documented the historic transatlantic flight of the “Berlin Express” P-51D Mustang this past summer as pilot Lee Lauderback flew it from the U.S. to England to perform in the Flying Legends Airshow in Duxford.
As for more footage from Hilton’s record setting flight, Pursuit Aviation has no plans to produce another video or release further footage, at least not at this time.
If they do, rest assured it will show up on AvGeekery.
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– Follow Mike Killian on Instagram and Facebook, @MikeKillianPhotography
The Tomcatters of Strike Fighter Squadron THREE ONE (VFA-31) recently returned from their 2017 deployment with Carrier Air Wing EIGHT (CVW-8) aboard the carrier USS George H.W. Bush (CVN-77). The deployment, in support of Operation Inherent Resolve, also saw the Tomcatters participating in Exercise Saxon Warrior 2017 with the UK’s Royal Navy in the Atlantic Ocean. This cruise video, produced by VFA-31 and uploaded by YouTuber kekkats xD contains plenty of combat footage along with some sublime air-to-air footage.
VFA-31’s deployment began when the Bush and her Battle Group departed Norfolk on January 21st 2017. The squadron returned from deployment on August 21st. Port calls for the deployment included Souda Bay in Greece, Hidd in Bahrain, Jebel Ali in the United Arab Emirates, Haifa in Israel, Portsmouth in the United Kingdom, and Mayport in Florida USA. Operating with the Bush were the Ticonderoga-class guided missile cruisers USS Philippine Sea (CG-58) and Hue City (CG-66), the Burke-class guided missile destroyers USS Laboon (DDG-58) and USS Truxton (DDG-103), the Royal Danish Navy Iver Huitfeldt-class frigate HMDS Peter Willemoes (F362) and the underway replenishment ship USNS Supply (T-AOE-6).
Official US Navy Photograph
For this deployment CVW-8 consisted of VFA-31 Tomcatters and VFA-87 Golden Warriors flying the single-seat Boeing F/A-18E Super Hornet, VFA-213 Black Lions flying the twin-seat Boeing F/A-18F Super Hornet, VFA-87 Bulls flying the Boeing F/A-18C Hornet, VAW-124 Bear Aces flying the Grumman E-2C Hawkeye, VAQ-131 Lancers flying the Boeing EA-18G Growler, HSC-9 Tridents flying the Sikorsky MH-60S Knighthawk, HSM-70 Spartans flying the Sikorsky MH-60R Seahawk, and VRC-40 Rawhides Detachment 2 Bush Whackers flying the Grumman C-2A(R) Greyhound. During this deployment, LCDR Michael Mob Tremel of VFA-87 shot down a Syrian SU-22 Fitter fighter.
Southwest Airlines has done it again! Southwest Airlines partnered with Pixar to promote the new Disney movie titled “CoCo”. “Coco” is a story about an aspiring musician Miguel and charming trickster Hector embark on an extraordinary journey to unlock the real story behind Miguel’s family history.
As part of the promotion, Southwest has applied extensive decals on a Boeing 737-700 aircraft. The jet is emblazoned with the vibrant “Coco” logo and artwork inspired by the film. The jet was unveiled on Monday October 9th in Oakland. According to Southwest, the decals took over 30 hours of work to craft and apply on the jet.
In addition to the specially themed aircraft, Southwest has additional promotion tie-ins planned. According to the airline,
“Southwest is sharing the adventures of “Coco” with Customers onboard flights beginning Nov. 1, with the launch of the Disney/Pixar “Coco” OnDemand Channel, featuring complimentary movie clips and trailers to get everyone excited about “Coco” in 3D this Thanksgiving. Be sure to tune-in ahead of the film’s Nov. 22 theatrical debut. Later this fall, the music of “Coco” will come to life onboard the “Coco” aircraft with a Live at 35® inflight concert performance by Anthony Gonzalez, who voices Miguel in the movie. Customers will experience the sounds and culture up-close and in-the-moment as Anthony sings a song from the upcoming film accompanied by a guitarist.”
Video of Southwest applying the decals can be seen below:
Propaganda is used to incite fear or influence an audience towards a certain objective. The best propaganda can strike at the heart of the enemy without firing a single shot. This video is obviously meant to strike fear into the hearts of North Korea’s enemies.
In this YouTube clip, Werner Beroux captured footage broadcast on North Korean television showing North Korean pilots training for combat. On average, North Korean pilots only get about 20 hours of flight time annually. They fly in outdated aircraft like the Mig-21 with a few updated Mig-29s sprinkled in their inventory for show. With such an outmoded force, Kim’s training and highly-qualified instruction makes up for the lack of proficiency. Take notes, we break down how Kim Jong Un expertly trains his pilots in 5 easy steps:
Step 1: Give a rousing speech. Be sure an aide is nearby to take diligent notes. Smoke a cigarette to look extra intimidating.
Step 2: Use stick models to rehearse the plan to counter American ‘aggression’.
Step 3: Fly a practice Mission on a knockoff version of Microsoft Flight Simulator.
Step 4: Takeoff on dirt in your Mig-21. Fly a very loose formation to avoid striking your wingman.
Step 5: Land safely before you reach min fuel. Celebrate victory with your comrades.
You can see the full video here:
What crap!
If you want to see how real pilots train, be sure to check out one of our many pilot training videos that we’ve shared. We’ll post two awesome ones below to help you forget about the North Korean trash posted above:
Over 56 Years of Service the Phantom II Continually Evolved
When the McDonnell Corporation made the promotional film “The Record Breaking McDonnell Phantom II”, the jet was essentially brand new. The company’s F-4 had already set numerous low-level and at-altitude speed and time-to-climb records. Of course the Phantom II went on to serve the United States for 56 years and continues to serve in other countries. This film takes a look at the early record-setting flights of early Phantom II variants. Thanks to YouTuber PeriscopeFilm for uploading it.
The Phantom II underwent numerous changes over its service life. In Air Force service the F-4E version of the fighter was fitted with a M61 Vulcan 20 millimeter cannon. The Navy and Marine Corps never did adopt a variant with an internal gun, but their F-4s (A, B, J, N, S, and reconnaissance RF-4B models) were equipped with strengthened landing gear and structures modified to operate from aircraft carriers. Later versions of the aircraft were equipped with maneuvering slats, more advanced radar and fire control systems, and uprated engines.
Official US Navy Photograph
Sunsetting the Phabulous One
Navy and Marine Corps F-4N and F-4S models were upgraded previously manufactured F-4B and F-4J models respectively. They received “smokeless” engines and other modifications that allowed them to remain viable during the late 1970s and 1980s. As Navy squadrons transitioned to the Grumman F-14 Tomcat, Naval Reserve units continued to fly Phantom IIs. Fighter Squadron ONE SIX ONE (VF-161) Chargers were the last active-duty squadron equipped with the F-4S Phantom II. They flew them off the carrier USS Midway (CVA-41) for the last time on March 24th 1986. The Phantom finally retired at the end of 2016. Fittingly, their last flights involved supersonic flight and sonic booms.
STL is poised to become one of the few privatized airports in America. In 2012, Congress established the Federal Aviation Administration Airport Privatization Pilot Program as a means of testing initiatives that would generate access to private capital for public airports. This means private companies could lease, manage, develop and even own them. Nearly 40 percent of European airports are privatized. Of the 12 airports in the U.S. that have applied for the FAA program in the past two decades, only Luís Muñoz Marín International Airport in San Juan, Puerto Rico remains publicly held.
Main terminal, Lambert International Airport. By Matthew Hurst (Flickr: Main Terminal, Lambert) [CC BY-SA 2.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)], via Wikimedia CommonsPresident Trump proposed a major infrastructure overhaul during his campaign, to include “a bold, visionary plan for a cost-effective system of roads, bridges, tunnels, airports, railroads, ports and waterways, and pipelines.” Trump’s plan reduces federal intervention and moves the dial toward the private sector to own, operate and fund domestic infrastructure. A major challenge has existed for some time within the U.S. aviation infrastructure, in that passenger demand outstrips the existing capacity-constrained facilities.
In St. Louis, an advisory team to create an awareness program and vet potential investors is expected to be in place by October 20. So far, the program is receiving wide support. St. Louis Mayor Lyda Krewson has been a vocal proponent and created the advisory team.
Devastating Effects on STL from 9-11 and TWA Collapse
Jet taking off from Lambert International in 1985, during TWA’s heydey. Photo Jon Proctor, wikimedia commons
The city’s Deputy Mayor of Economic Development Linda Martínez points out that private investment in STL was important in the airport’s recovery following 9-11. She says privatization would increase the possibility of further improvements. Lambert has been on shaky ground since 9-11 and the TWA collapse in 2001, which cut the number of passengers going through its gates in half. STL has seen a slight rise in traffic over the past couple of years, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, but is hoping for an even greater uptick following improvements made with private monies from shareholders which could offer financial and other incentives to airlines to offset the higher Lambert landing fees.
What’s next…
Since almost all domestic airports are under the umbrella of the federal government, they are bound to restrictions on landing fees. The FAA limits public airports to using only so-called non-aeronautical revenue like concession profits or parking charges to pay for airline incentives, again putting airports like STL with notable drops in traffic at a disadvantage. Landing fees tend to be higher at airports with less traffic which makes attracting new business difficult, a situation that private investment could quickly remedy.
The advisory panel plans to launch campaigns to inform the public and gauge the opinion of the public, business and elected officials before moving forward. The move toward privatization would also require approval from the FAA, Board of Estimate and Apportionment and Board of Alderman.
Patrol Squadron SIXTEEN (VP-16 or PATRON 16) transitioned from the Lockheed P-3C Update IIIR Orion to the Boeing P-8A Poseidon in 2012. Since then the War Eagles have been flying the nation’s newest maritime patrol aircraft out of Naval Air Station (NAS) Jacksonville as part of Patrol and Reconnaissance Wing 11 (PATWING 11). The War Eagles were the first squadron to transition to the P-8A and the first to deploy overseas with the Poseidon. This video was shot during VP-16’s highly successful 2015-2016 deployment to Japan and the Western Pacific (WestPac). Thanks to YouTuber E. S. for uploading it.
VP-16 War Eagles P-8A Poseidons. Official US Navy Photograph
VP-16 can trace their lineage all the way back to 1946 when the squadron was formed as Reserve Patrol Squadron NINO ZERO SIX (VP-906) at NAS Jacksonville flying Lockheed PV-2 Harpoons. The squadron has also been designated Medium Seaplane Squadron FIVE SIX (VP-ML-56) when flying Consolidated PBY Catalina flying boats and VP-741 before being designated as VP-16 in 1951. After flying Catalinas the squadron flew several models of the Lockheed P2V Neptune and after 1964 flew most of the various models of the Lockheed P-3 Orion.
VP-16 War Eagles P-8A Poseidon. Official US Navy Photograph
