Trump signs order to pay TSA employees after Congress fails to agree on DHS funding
Instead, the House on Friday night passed a bill to fund the entire department through May 22. The vote was 213-203.
Aviation
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Vincennes University expanding aviation maintenance program in Indianapolis
The $4.5 million in funding comes from the latest two-year state budget approved this year by the Indiana General Assembly. VU said the effort will help address a growing demand for professionals in the aviation industry.
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Jet Access moving headquarters from Greenfield to Fishers
Jet Access intends to relocate 63 corporate employees from offices in the Indianapolis area as part of the move and hire 20 more employees in Fishers by 2025, according to the city.
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IBJ Podcast: Sweetwater’s Surack on selling stake in billion-dollar firm, backing Indy heliport
In this week’s edition of the IBJ Podcast, Chuck Surack sheds more light on his decision to sell a controlling stake in Sweetwater and step away from day-to-day operations. And he explains the reasoning behind his desire to keep the heliport open.
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Downtown heliport expected to remain open at least through February
The Indianapolis Airport Authority said it hopes to receive tentative approval to decommission the facility at 51 S. New Jersey St. by the end of February. It is working with the Federal Aviation Administration to secure the designation, which is crucial for future redevelopment of the site.
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UPDATE: TSA says PreCheck still operational after previous announcement of suspension during funding fight
However, the agency says it has suspended airport police escorts for members of Congress as the White House negotiates with Democrats over funding for the Department of Homeland Security.
City disputes Chuck Surack’s claims that MLS effort is dead
Surack told Fox 59/CBS 4 over the weekend that in 2025 he was told by those involved in the effort that the stadium plan was no longer moving forward. He said he heard similar remarks from city hall.
Smaller airports around Indiana struggle to keep up with needs
Nearly three quarters of Indiana’s private hangars are at 90% capacity or greater and many Hoosier airports have waiting lists for hangar space of several years or more.
FAA reconsidering heliport closure after Rokita’s intervention
In a letter, Indiana Attorney General Todd said he believes that the $15 million offer made by Chuck Surack prior to the approval of the Indianapolis Downtown Heliport’s sale to the city did not receive due consideration.
Indiana wins national drone test site designation
Sen. Todd Young said the site will mean more training opportunities for the Indiana National Guard and other military who come here to train, plus spillover economic benefits to communities that host them.
Republic designates longtime executive to be its next CEO
Republic Airways president Matt Koscal has been with the company since 2014, serving in several positions.
Republic Airways goes public again with acquisition of Arizona-based Mesa Air Group
The Carmel-based regional airliner had been a publicly traded company until April 2017, when it emerged from Chapter 11 bankruptcy as a privately held company.
Amelia Earhart expedition postponed until 2026
The expedition team, which includes researchers from Purdue University, was set to launch from Majuro in the Marshall Islands on Nov. 4, sailing about 1,200 nautical miles to Nikumaroro.
US government proposes easing some restrictions on drones traveling long distances
Drones are already used in a variety of ways, including bolstering search and rescue operations, applying fertilizer, inspecting power lines and railroad bridges and delivering packages.
FAA chief: American Airlines crash hearings will prompt ‘uncomfortable conversations’
The National Transportation Safety Board investigation found that the Army chopper involved in a fatal midair crash at Reagan National earlier this year was flying above its altitude limit.
Overhaul of US air traffic control system will revolutionize industry, Trump says
The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee estimated last week that it might cost $12.5 billion to overhaul the air traffic control system.
Indianapolis aviation companies plan significant expansions
Dabico A-Bridge LLC and its parent company, Dabico Airport Solutions LLC, plan to expand their Indianapolis facilities and add another 151 jobs by the end of next year.
Smaller airports across the state are spending big to upgrade service, experience
At least six regional, municipal and county airports in Indiana are expanding or replacing their terminal buildings or improving their runways. Several others are weighing renovations and upgrades that are expected to take shape over several years.
Could two NASA astronauts be stuck at space station until next year?
Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams have been up there since early June, their planned eight-day mission at the two-month mark and possibly heading toward eight months.
Justice Department pushes Boeing to plead guilty in 737 Max crash case
The deal includes just over $487 million in penalties—the statutory maximum—although Boeing would only have to pay half because it is receiving credit for payments it made as part of a previous agreement.
Prosecutors recommend Justice Dept. charge Boeing over 737 Max crashes, sources say
The Justice Department in May said Boeing had violated terms of a 2021 “deferred prosecution agreement” that would have allowed the company to avoid criminal prosecution in exchange for meeting a number of conditions.
Indianapolis Airport Authority moving ahead with decommissioning downtown heliport
Decommissioning the heliport is a needed step in the Hogsett administration’s plan to develop a professional soccer stadium on the east side of downtown.
IRS to go after executives who use business jets for personal travel in new round of audits
The audits will focus on aircraft used by large corporations and high-income taxpayers and whether the tax purpose of the jet use is being properly allocated, the IRS says.
FAA probes potential flaws in Boeing’s manufacturing process
The Federal Aviation Administration said Thursday that it is launching an investigation into whether aerospace giant Boeing followed rules to ensure the aircraft that it built were safe for operation.