Res Communis

by P.J. Blount with the blog faculty

S. 1422: Airline Flight Crew Technical Corrections Act was
introduced on July 9, 2009 by Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA). The text is not yet available.

by P.J. Blount with the blog faculty

H.R. 3159: To provide for the apportionment of funds to airports for fiscal years 2011 and 2012 based on passenger boardings during calendar year 2008 to prevent additional harm to airports already harmed by the financial crisis, and for other purposes was introduced on July 9, 2009 by Rep. Adrian Smith (R-NE3). The text is not yet available.

by P.J. Blount with the blog faculty

From the Huffington Post:

Registered Traveler Meltdown: Fraud Action Against Clear? Investigate the TSA?

Last month, the Clear “registered traveler” program that operated with the blessing of the US government abruptly closed. About 200,000 people discovered passes they’d purchased were now worthless. No refunds would be given. A class action lawsuit has been filed. But forget the money. Will anyone consider a fraud action against the company’s executives and perhaps against competing “registered traveler” company Flo? And should someone hold the Transportation Security Agency accountable for the mess? . . . [Full Story]

by P.J. Blount with the blog faculty

From the Department of State:

Air Shunt Instruments, Inc. Settles Proposed Charges Involving Violations of the Arms Export Control Act and International Traffic in Arms Regulations

Office of the Spokesman
Washington, DC
July 8, 2009

The U.S. Department of State and Air Shunt Instruments, Inc., (Air Shunt) have reached an agreement to resolve violations of the Arms Export Control Act (AECA) and International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) committed by Air Shunt between September 2003 and January 2004.

Under the Consent Agreement signed this week to settle the case, Air Shunt agreed to pay a civil penalty of $100,000, of which $70,000 will be suspended on the condition that they have already applied that amount to self-initiated, pre-Consent Agreement remedial compliance measures; and the remaining $30,000 will be suspended on the condition that they will apply this amount to Consent Agreement-authorized remedial compliance measures. Additionally, Air Shunt will institute enhanced compliance measures, and will have two independent audits of its compliance program conducted prior to the termination of the Consent Agreement.

Air Shunt has acknowledged the seriousness of its conduct and has cooperated with the Department’s investigation, expressed regret for these activities and taken steps to improve its compliance programs. Air Shunt has also undertaken to make amends by implementing the remedial compliance actions specified in this Consent Agreement. For these reasons, the Department has determined that an administrative debarment of Air Shunt is not appropriate at this time.

The Consent Agreement, and related documents are available to public on the website of the Directorate of Defense Trade Controls (www.pmddtc.state.gov).

PRN: 2009/694

by P.J. Blount with the blog faculty

From Press TV:

Iraq airspace ‘off limits’ for Israeli attack on Iran
Wed, 08 Jul 2009 14:33:57 GMT

Tel Aviv has kept its options for an attack on Iranian nuclear facilities open.
Amid reemerging speculations of an Israeli sneak attack on Iran, Baghdad warns Tel Aviv against using Iraqi airspace to carry out its military plans against Tehran.

Iraqi lawmakers said Tuesday that any violation of Iraqi airspace for an attack on Iran’s nuclear infrastructure would be met with a severe reprimand, as it would be considered an attack on Iraq.

“Iraq would use all political, legal, diplomatic and security measures” to protest Israeli use of Iraqi airspace in any hypothetical attack against Iran, said Hassan al-Sanid, a member of Iraq’s parliamentary committee on security and defense. . . . [Full Story]

by P.J. Blount with the blog faculty

The United Kingdom’s Statutory Instrument 2009 No. 1605: The Civil Aviation (Customs and Excise Airports) Order 2009 was made 30th June 2009 and comes into force 1st August 2009 (PDF). The explanatory note states:

This Order amends the Civil Aviation (Customs and Excise Airports) Order 2001 so as to revoke the designation of Sheffield City Airport as a place for the landing or departure of aircraft for the purposes of enactments relating to customs and excise.

by P.J. Blount with the blog faculty

From RIA Novosti:

Kyrgyz president signs law on U.S. Manas transit center U.S. Manas Air Base
BISHKEK, July 7 (RIA Novosti) – Kyrgyz President Kurmanbek Bakiyev signed on Tuesday a law allowing the U.S. to continue using its Manas airbase for the transit of troops and supplies to Afghanistan.

In February, the ex-Soviet Central Asian state ordered the shutdown of the base, which has been used to support U.S.-led operations in Afghanistan since 2001. The decision was widely seen as being influenced by Russia, which had just granted Kyrgyzstan a large financial aid package.

However, Kyrgyzstan and the U.S. signed on June 22 an agreement to establish a transit center at Manas international airport “to address the situation in and around Afghanistan, which is beginning to present a real threat to Central Asia, and Kyrgyzstan in particular.” Rental charges for the base have more than tripled under the new deal.

The Kyrgyz parliament approved the deal on June 24. . . . [Full Story]

by P.J. Blount with the blog faculty

S. 614: which provides for the award of a single congressional gold medal in honor of the Women Airforce Service Pilots has been signed into law by President Obama:

THE WHITE HOUSE

Office of the Press Secretary

______________________________________________________________
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE JULY 1, 2009

President Obama Signs Bill Awarding Congressional Gold Medal to Women Airforce Service Pilots

First women to fly American military aircraft served courageously, blazed trails during WWII

WASHINGTON – President Obama today signed into law S. 614, a bill to award a Congressional Gold Medal to the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP). WASP was established during World War II with the primary mission of flying non-combat military missions in the United States thus freeing their male counterparts for combat missions. Its pilots were the first women ever to fly American military aircraft and flew almost every type of aircraft operated by the United States Army Air Force during World War II on a wide range of missions.

“The Women Airforce Service Pilots courageously answered their country’s call in a time of need while blazing a trail for the brave women who have given and continue to give so much in service to this nation since,” said President Obama. “Every American should be grateful for their service, and I am honored to sign this bill to finally give them some of the hard-earned recognition they deserve.”

From 1942 to 1943, more than 1,000 women joined the WASP. 38 of them made the ultimate sacrifice for their nation in performing its mission. But their contribution went largely unrecognized for years, not even being acknowledged with veteran status until 1977.

The groundbreaking steps taken by the WASP paved the way for hundreds of United States servicewomen combat pilots who have flown fighter aircraft in recent conflicts.

The bipartisan effort in Congress to recognize the contributions of the WASP was led by Sens. Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX) and Barbara Mikulski (D-MD), and Reps. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL) and Susan Davis (D-CA). At today’s signing, President Obama and Rep. Ros-Lehtinen were joined by three members of WASP as well as five active duty United States Air Force pilots who have followed in their footsteps.

To view a picture of the President signing the bill to award a Congressional Gold Medal to the Women Airforce Pilots in the Oval Office today click HERE.

The names of the pilots in attendance are below:

Women’s Airforce Service Pilots
Elaine Danforth Harmon
Lorraine H. Rodgers
Bernice Falk Haydu

Active Duty United States Air Force Pilots
Colonel Dawn Dunlop
Colonel Bobbi Doorenbos
Lieutenant Colonel Wendy Wasik
Major Kara Sandifur
Major Nicole Malachowski

by P.J. Blount with the blog faculty

H.R. 3093: To require the Transportation Security Administration to engage in a negotiated rulemaking process for the purposes of creating a security regiment for general aviation aircraft was introduced on June 26, 2008 by Rep. Charles Dent (R-PA15). The text is not yet available.