An outside team of aviation safety experts will review the government’s oversight of the airline industry in the wake of the maintenance scandal that has rocked the aviation industry in recent weeks, Transportation Secretary Mary Peters said Friday.

Peters also demanded that federal aviation regulators and American Airlines explain why the airline had to ground nearly half its jet fleet and cancel 3,100 flights last week after botching required safety inspections and maintenance.

The measures are designed to rebuild confidence in the government’s aviation safety system. “No one at all was well-served by what happened last week,” Peters said. Read more…

After getting the permit from China, Jet Airways plans to launch its Mumbai-Shanghai-San Fransisco services from first week of June.

“We received the permit on Thursday. We plan to start our services to Shanghai and San Fransisco from the first week of June,” an official of the premier private carrier said.

Jet Airways was also carrying out talks with several Chinese carriers for partnerships to provide connectivity in the region, on the lines of the one it has with Brussels Airlines for onward journey to other European cities, he said. Read more…

All the airlines are moving their U.S.-London service to London’s Heathrow Airport as quickly as they can secure the landing and takeoff slots.

But British Airways has a prize for those of us who like Gatwick.

On Oct. 27, British Airways is starting up New York JFK-Gatwick service with a Boeing 777. Says Robin Hayes, British Airways’ executive vice president, Americas:

The new Gatwick service will give our customers even more choice when flying between New York and London. Not only do we already have an extensive schedule from both JFK and Newark to Heathrow, but next year we will launch business-only flights to London City.

The once-daily flights are in addition to the 55 weekly flights from JFK to Heathrow. Read more…

Avfuel Corp., a nationwide supplier of aviation fuel, is planning an expansion of its corporate headquarters on Ellsworth Road in Washtenaw County’s Scio Township.

Plans submitted to the township call for two additions totaling 14,544 square feet. The existing building, on Ellsworth between State Street and Stone School Road, is 19,803 square feet.

Township planning director Bruce Fowler said the company needs to submit more information to address some issues identified by the planning commission and staff. He said the largest potential issue was that part of the lot is on a flood plain, and so Avfuel would have to make sure the building would not damage it. Read more…

The U.S. government is getting ready to sell off part of one of Tucson’s more unusual tourist destinations - the aircraft “boneyard” at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base.

And, it’s a good time to sell aging airplanes. Soaring scrap-metal prices have turned the dormant aircraft into cash cows that are expected to generate up to $10 million for the government.

The Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Center in southern Tucson is home to roughly 4,200 C-141 Starlifters, A-4 Skyhawks,HH-3E “Jolly Green Giant” helicopters and many other aircraft, which have been retired from military service. Read more…

US Airways Group Inc. said Friday it has finalized a code-share agreement with Swiss International Air Lines.

Code sharing allows different airlines to mesh and coordinate their schedules and reservation systems so they can offer more seamless travel.

The new agreement involves Swiss International flights out of Zurich to 10 European cities, including Geneva; Athens; Vienna, Austria; Bucharest, Hungary; and Nice, France. Read more…

Hamilton Aerospace Technologies, Inc. (HAT), a wholly owned subsidiary of Global Aircraft Solutions, Inc. (OTCBB: GACF), today announced that it has received Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) approval to add Boeing 737-600, 737-700, 737-800 and 737-900 aircraft to its repair station certificate. Together with its existing Boeing 737 certifications, HAT is now authorized to perform airframe heavy maintenance up through ‘D’ check on all series Boeing 737 aircraft.

HAT also announced that, for the sixth year in a row, it is the recipient of the FAA “Diamond Certificate of Excellence” for maintenance training. The Diamond Certificate of Excellence is the FAA’s highest maintenance honor, designed to encourage aviation maintenance technicians and their employers to participate in initial and recurrent training programs. Read more…