43
ADI says safety allegations erroneous
VIENNA
The air carrier that applied to the U.S. Department of Transportation for approval to offer daily flights between Youngstown and Chicago says it is financially and physically “fit, willing and able” to provide those flights.
Aerodynamics Incorporated (ADI) wants to run flights from Youngstown-Warren Regional Airport to Chicago.
In a document dated Sept. 3, ADI responded to the DOT Air Carrier Fitness Division’s request for information the regulating agency wants before potentially approving ADI’s application.
The DOT, in a letter dated Aug. 5, asked the Beachwood, Ohio-Atlanta-based ADI to provide it with more details on management and personnel, operations and financial position, flight safety and other items.
The air carrier is under new ownership. The former ADI ownership was a concern to DOT.
Transfer of ownership from Scott A. Beale, who resigned as chief executive officer, president and chairman of ADI and its parent companies, to John Beardsley and his wife, Janet, occurred July 15.
All of Beale’s ownership interest in Aviation Capital Partners, ADI’s holding company, was placed into a voting trust.
The Beardsleys are primary owners of SeaPort Airlines through holding company Janair LLC. SeaPort is a scheduled commuter airline based in Portland, Ore.
New top managers include Darrell Richardson, an industry veteran who took over ADI in January and is its president and in charge of daily operations.
Rob McKinney, president and CEO of SeaPort Airlines for five years, will spend about one-third of his time as ADI CEO.
The DOT was also concerned about ADI’s finances, specifically wanting to know ADI or Seaport liabilities that are more than 60 days in arrears.
According to the ADI document, the firm is on a cash-only basis with only two companies and is making payroll payments in a timely manner.
Even in the aftermath of a Show Cause Order, ADI was never more than one or two days late in payroll payments, and since finalization of the purchase of ADI, its payroll payments have been on time.
Referring to what it called “erroneous” safety allegations, ADI says it “feels confident” that the Federal Aviation Administration will advise the DOT that there are no safety concerns.
ADI is in full compliance with all applicable FAA requirements, its document said.
The ADI document concludes by asking that DOT “expeditiously” issue a letter determining that ADI is fit, willing and able after consummation of the change of ownership transaction and grant ADI’s application for scheduled certificate authority.
Western Reserve Port Authority, which operates Youngstown-Warren Regional Airport, and Dan Dickten, director of aviation, recently said they still support Aerodynamics Inc.’s efforts to bring service here.