A hidden gem of an airport in the gangland of Southern California Compton-Woodley Airport (KCPM) is doing its part to both survive and promote a healthy love for aviation along with a healthy outlet for today’s youth. Read the LA Times article
Compton Woodley Airport Bret Hartman/For The Times / 12-10-2009
The National Transportation Safety Board released its preliminary aviation accident statistics for 2007. The number of GA fatalities decreased by 30 percent; 703 fatalities were reported in 2006 compared to 491 last year, marking the lowest annual total in more than 40 years.
Based on fewer than 10 seats, no fatalities occurred on FAR Part 135 commuter aircraft. As for on-demand air charter–air taxis, air tours and medical services [when a patient is on board]–135 operations reported 43 fatalities, comprised of 62 accidents and 14 fatal accidents, up from 16 fatalities reported in 2006.
The NTSB said that in 2007, based on aircraft with 10 or more seats, there were 24 nonfatal accidents involving FAR Part 121 airlines. Foreign registered aircraft accounted for 11 accidents in the United Sates in 2007, with three fatalities from a single fatal accident. Fourteen accidents involved unregistered aircraft; six were fatal and resulted in seven fatalities.
West Virginia now apparently seeing some of the other positive economic impacts from aviaition is now lowering the tax assessed on airplanes in West Virginia Read the article.
AAI Acquisition Inc, a Russian owned company was approved by the bankruptcy court to purchase Adam Aircraft. They bought the company for $10 million plus assumption of some liabilities.
The company has already hired some of the old Adam employees and plans to work hard on getting the new VLJ A700 certified as quickly as possible. The FAA however said since it is a new company they will have to start over in the certification process, but it will be much faster than start from the beginning. Read more of an Article from the Denver Post.
An agreement has been reached to have the assets of Adam Aircraft purchased by a new company and to reopen and operate it under new ownership, support the A500 inline twin engine airplane and continue the certification process of the A700 VLJ. The proposed purchase must still be approved by the court in a hearing set for Wednesday, April 9, 2008.
In the past many aircraft manufacturers have struggled to survive. As Howard Hughes once said
“the only way to make a small fortune in aviation is to begin with a large fortune!”
Mooney although plagued many times over the last 30+ years with cash flow issue has been able to find new buyers and make it through bankruptcy and stay around to support its past aircraft and excel in producing a strong product for the 21st century. Others such as Beechcraft, Columbia Aircraft, Piper have had struggles of their own and made it through the trying economic times and years of aviation “issue”.
Good luck to Adam Aircraft, hope they can be a success story too.
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