Southwest Airlines begins Cuba service from Florida

Southwest Airlines inaugurated service between South Florida and Cuba on Sunday with the scheduled 11:00 a.m. EST departure of Flight 3914 to Varadero from Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport. Over 140 passengers and a crew of five Southwest employees donned Cuban-style hats as the aircraft departed to an orchestra playing Caribbean music.

Steve Goldberg, Southwest Airlines' vice president of Ground Operations, announced the airline intends to begin daily service from Fort Lauderdale to Santa Clara, Cuba, on Dec. 15, subject to requisite approvals of the Cuban government. "By the end of this year, we'll offer six daily round trips between two Florida gateways and three Cuban cities as the work continues to open a new, five-gate international concourse in Fort Lauderdale next summer,” Goldberg said.

On Oct.13, Southwest announced its flight schedule of new nonstop service between Florida and both Varadero and Havana. Cuba is the ninth country served by Southwest. Service between Havana and both Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport and Tampa International Airport begins Dec. 12, subject to requisite approvals of the Cuban government.

JetBlue adds nonstop service between Daytona Beach and New York City

As the home of the Daytona Beach International Speedway, the greater Daytona Beach area is used to victory celebrations. But no celebration means more to this seaside resort area than the news that its years-long effort to recruit JetBlue Airways to serve Daytona Beach International Airport had finally succeeded.

Daily service to New York's Kennedy International Airport begins Jan.7.

"It was a magic moment," said Rick Karl, director of Aviation and Economic Resources for Volusia County Government, which owns the airport. "Ironically, I got the news just minutes after briefing a room full of community leaders that JetBlue had not made its decision, but that our proposals had been well-received. When I returned to my office there was a message waiting for me: JetBlue had decided to add nonstop service between Daytona Beach and New York City."

Community backing included a "travel bank" funded by business professionals who have committed to purchasing tickets during the airline's first years of service and startup advertising dollars provided by Volusia County Government and the area's three tourism advertising authorities.

The influence of Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University also was a factor in the airline's decision to serve the Daytona Beach/DeLand/New Smyrna Beach area, which is within an hour's drive to the Orlando resort area.

Contract: Escort services for military aircraft towed on public roads

The U.S. Navy in Jacksonville, Fla., is conducting a market survey to determine the availability of vendors for Fleet Readiness Center Southeast (FRCSE) which is an industrial facility that accomplishes rework, repair, and overhaul of various aircraft, engines, and components located at Naval Air Station Jacksonville (NAS Jax), Duval County, Fla.

“This requirement is to provide escort transportation services for military aircraft on public roads between NAS Jax and the Cecil Commerce Center (CCC) for a total of 60 moves during the period from March 1 through Oct. 31, 2015,” the Navy said in contract documents released Tuesday. “The government will provide the tow equipment and a driver for the movement of the aircraft and obtain a blanket permit from the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) authorizing the tow of aircraft on public roads between NAS JAX and CCC.”

The contractor will provide all labor, supervision, vehicles, equipment, law enforcement escorts, and any other items necessary to transport aircraft to include coordination with Jacksonville Sheriff's Office, FDOT, as well as the safety offices and security departments of FRCSE, NAS Jax, and CCC.

The aircraft will be reduced to the smallest size possible, ranging in height from 9-17 feet, width ranging from 16-34 feet, and length ranging from 28-61 feet. Tows will typically be Tuesday and Thursday from 1:00 a.m. to 5:00 a.m. and involve only one aircraft, but the contractor must be prepared for other days/times and for two aircraft at a time.

Companies interested in supporting the contract should contact the U.S. Navy Supply Systems Command Fleet Logistics Center Jacksonville by Jan.15.

Pilot in stable condition after plane crash off Miami Beach

The U.S. Coast Guard and local authorities are responding to the report of a Cessna aircraft that crashed, Saturday, approximately 200 yards from Miami Beach, Fla.

The Coast Guard received a call from the Miami Beach Police Department at approximately 2:30 p.m. EDT, Saturday, reporting a down aircraft with one person aboard approximately 200 yards from 45th Street and Collins Ave in Miami Beach.

Responding assets are:

• Coast Guard Station 45-foot Response boat - Medium.
• Coast Guard Air Station Miami MH-65 Dolphin helicopter crew.
• Miami Beach Police Department.
• City of Miami Beach Ocean Rescue.

The pilot of the aircraft was rescued by Ocean Rescue crewmembers and transported to awaiting emergency medical services in stable condition.

The plane, a Cessna 305A (tail number N212KY), has been reported as fully submerged and Coast Guard crews are continuing to work all response efforts and mitigation of pollution.

NOAA aircraft ground support equipment contract announced

The U.S. Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Aircraft Operations Center at MacDill Air Force Base in Florida is seeking a contractor to maintain its Aircraft Ground Support Equipment, the agency said in contract documents released Tuesday. [Full story]

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Sequestration: Florida-based company offers alternative to military flyovers

As sequestration continues to affect the U.S. military's ability to perform at air shows and participate in flyovers, civilian-owned Black Diamond Jet Team is stepping in as an alternative for professional and college-level sports teams, as well as other organizations looking to book a flyover for an upcoming event.

Black Diamond Jet Team, based in Lakeland, Fla., has performed at dozens of air shows and performed numerous flyovers since it was founded in 2010. The team has seen an increase in demand for flyover appearances since sequestration, recently performing a five-ship flyover as part of an elaborate grand opening event for Transformers: The Ride-3D at Universal Studios in Orlando. Black Diamond Jet Team has already booked additional air show appearances and event flyovers for the coming months and encourages universities, National Football League teams and other organizations looking to replace traditional military flyovers to consider the aerobatic jet team as an alternative option.

The Black Diamond Jet Team includes five L-39s and a Canadair CT-33.

In October, the team will participate in the 2013 Wings Over North Georgia show.

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Explosion at Blue Rhino propane facility

Ferrellgas Partners, L.P., one of the nation's largest propane distributors, confirmed Tuesday that an incident occurred on Monday evening at the company's Blue Rhino propane tank production facility in Tavares, Fla. “The cause of the incident, which resulted in an explosion, is under investigation,” the company said in a press statement.

The company reported that all 24 employees onsite at the facility during the time of the incident have been accounted for by Lake County officials. Six employees were injured and were quickly transported to local hospitals for treatment and evaluation. One employee has since been discharged.

“Upon learning of the incident, the company immediately put into effect its standing contingency plans, designed to prevent business interruptions,” company officials said. “The company does not expect this incident to affect customers or any other aspects of its business.”

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Air Force QF-4 aerial target drone crashes in Florida

U.S. Highway 98 from Tyndall Air Force Base to Mexico Beach in Florida is expected to remain closed until mid-day Thursday as a result of an unmanned Air Force QF-4 full scale aerial target drone that crashed.

"This closure is being done strictly as a precautionary measure due to fires resulting from the crash and a small self-destruct charge carried on board the target," said Col. William Grund, 325th Mission Support Group commander. "We understand that the closure of U.S. Highway 98 is a huge inconvenience to our local community, but we ask for everyone's patience and understanding as we work to secure the area and maintain safety."

The status of this device is unknown; however it is powered by a short-life battery which will be fully depleted in 24 hours, at which time the Explosive Ordnance Disposal team can go out and secure the site. The charge is used to destroy the target if it leaves its pre-approved flight plan.

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Jet service offers discounts to travelers affected by Asiana crash

A private jet service based in Florida is offering discounted flights for travelers affected by the crash of Asiana Airlines flight 214 on Saturday.

"In an effort to support as many travelers as possible both in the San Francisco area, and those needing to get there, SMART Jets will locate all available private jets and put them into service," said SMART Jets CEO and Co-Founder Sergey Petrossov.

Flights can depart from other local airports, including Oakland International Airport, just 35 minutes from San Francisco International Airport (SFO) where the crash of the Boeing 777 occurred.

Discounts will continue until at least Tuesday, when flight schedules are expected to be back to normal at SFO.

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NTSB responds to fatal parasailing accident in Florida

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is sending an investigator to Pompano Beach, Fla. to investigate a fatal parasailing accident that occurred on Wednesday.

 

At about 3:15 p.m. EDT, a female passenger, parasailing in tandem with another individual, fell from her harness approximately 150-200 feet into water. The woman was fatally injured. The other passenger was unharmed. The parasailing trip was being operated by Waveblast Water Sports. The NTSB has investigated a number of parasailing accidents, and will examine the circumstances of this accident for any recurring safety issues.

 

NTSB investigator Larry Bowling will join the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and the U.S. Coast Guard investigating the accident, the board said on Friday.