House Cuts AIP Funding

Airlines praise House version of FAA bill

On Friday, House Transportation and Infrastructure Chairman John Mica, R-Fla., released the House version of the FAA reauthorization bill. "This is a lean bill that recognizes our current budgetary difficulties and the need to do more with less," Mica said in a statement. "This bill saves $4 billion, requiring FAA to find significant cost savings without negatively impacting safety." The House measure does not include a passenger facility charge increase or labor provision opposed by FedEx and UPS, and it would phase out the Essential Air Service program except for Alaska and Hawaii. Reuters (02/11)AviationWeek.com (02/12) Dallas Morning News, The (free registration) (02/11) Hill, The (02/11)

CSN Review... Coming Soon!

The good folks over at CSN stores contacted us recently about doing a review over here at Stein & Baltimore, LLC.

Although reviews unrelated to aviation are not something we usually do, we've purchased items from CSN in the past and have nothing but wonderful things to say about them - so how could we refuse?

If you are not familiar with the CSN family of stores, go take a look! 

Do you need a new swing set for the kids? Or perhaps you plan to make some updates around the office and wish to browse a huge selection of modern decor... and right from the comfort of your office chair! Whatever you're after, CSN has over 200 websites to quickly and efficiently provide you with exactly what you're looking for!

Community Supports Balloon Companies

Hot-air balloonists buoyed by community support in Calif.

The Eldorado Polo Club in Indio, Calif., will hold a Save the Balloons fundraiser on Feb. 27. A local olive farm has filed numerous lawsuits against balloonists to ground hot-air balloons from flying over the farm. "This is what needed to happen, as far as the community coming out and showing its support," said Wil LaPointe, a pilot with Balloons Above. Desert Sun (Palm Springs, Calif.), The (02/13)

A Funny Email We Received...

A teacher was arrested today at John F. Kennedy International Airport as he attempted to board a flight while in possession of a ruler, a protractor, a compass, a slide-rule and a calculator.

At a morning press conference, the Attorney General said he believes the man is a member of the notorious Al-Gebra movement. He did not identify the man, who has been charged by the FBI with carrying weapons of math instruction.

"Al-Gebra is a problem for us," the Attorney General said. "They derive solutions by means and extremes, and sometimes go off on tangents in search of absolute values." They use secret code names like 'X' and 'Y' and refer to themselves as "unknowns", but we have determined that they belong to a common denominator of the axis of medieval with coordinates in every country.

As the Greek philanderer Isosceles used to say, 'There are 3 sides to every triangle'.

When asked to comment on the arrest, President Obama said, "If God had wanted us to have better weapons of math instruction, he would have given us more fingers and toes." White House aides told reporters they could not recall a more intelligent or profound statement by the President. It is believed that the Nobel Prize for Physics will follow.

TSA revises LASP proposal

TSA revises LASP proposal

06-Jan-2010

By Matt Thurber

While the business aviation community may have been hoping that the Transportation Security Administration’s controversial Large Aircraft Security Program (LASP) would go away, Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano testified last month that the TSA plans to issue a supplemental notice of proposed rulemaking (SNPRM) “before the end of 2010.”

LASP, as originally proposed in October 2008, would require all operators of Part 91 aircraft with an mtow of more than 12,500 pounds to create a TSA-approved security program (see article page 12), put all flight crew through FBI criminal history background checks, compare all passengers against the TSA’s watch lists and impose new restrictions on carriage of certain items in the cabin.

Napolitano told the Senate aviation subcommittee that the TSA will incorporate the input from GA stakeholders that it has sought throughout its rulemaking process for the SNPRM, including five public meetings, and hold “additional comment outreach sessions” with affected stakeholders to gain further input and feedback.

Late last summer, the agency re-engaged its aviation security advisory committee (ASAC), a part of the TSA that is charged with recommending improvements in security methods, equipment and procedures for civil aviation.

Government and industry officials received an update on the proposed LASP that was rescinded earlier in the year after a storm of overwhelming negative comments, which some have estimated at nearly 7,400. Napolitano said the TSA received 8,000 comments in response to the initial NPRM.

NBAA enlisted members to testify before Congress about their concerns with LASP. In July, Martha King, co-owner of association member King Schools, told the House subcommittee on transportation security and infrastructure protection that general aviation operators are concerned about security measures that sacrifice liberty without benefit to society.

“This proposal does not recognize the significant differences between airline operations and noncommercial operations, which do not carry members of the general public,” she explained. “General aviation operators personally know everyone on their aircraft. I believe general aviation security would be best enhanced by having the TSA establish a rulemaking committee to address the questions and concerns raised by industry and the public on the LASP.”

Source: AIN Online

Our Secret Santa Brought To Us...

We had a lot of fun participating in the 'Last Chance' Christmas Gift Exchange, which was hosted by Eve at Tranquility... and Turmoil.

As Eve is part of this company, she felt that someone else might have trouble discerning what we would be interested in because we're a business blog and asked if she could partner us with someone who knew us. We agreed...

And we were very happy to find out that Mike was our Secret Santa!
Look at what he sent!


You can't tell from the photo, but this is one heavy airplane - cast iron! And about 7 inches long.

The perfect gift for aviation enthusiasts.

Thanks Mike!

We are looking forward to checking out the other pages to see what everyone has received!

Merry Christmas!

Some 'Last-Chance' Christmas Fun!

We're participating in the
'Last Chance' Secret Santa Gift Exchange...

Come on over to Tranquility... and Turmoil
and join us for some Christmas fun!