Aerodynamics Inc.’s management, financial fitness and transparency once again called into question

Staff report

VIENNA

Aerodynamics Inc.’s management, financial fitness and transparency have once again been called into question.

After the U.S. Department of Transportation issued an order allowing Aerodynamics Inc. to bring air service from the Youngstown-Warren Regional Airport to Chicago O’Hare International Airport, Via and Paquette objected to the issuance of a certificate of service because the company was in default on a $400,000 promissory note owed to Paquette.

Now, Via Airlines and James Paquette, two separate parties, have issued a response to ADI’s own response to their objection.

The original objection said ADI failed to make $8,766 payments in August, September, October and November.

ADI responded by calling the objection “moot because the note has been paid in full,” adding that the objection also was “a misguided effort by a competitor of ADI to retaliate against ADI.”

ADI’s response also contained an emailed letter from ADI saying the company would be sending payment that day in excess of $410,000 to pay the remaining principal balance, interest and late fees on the $400,000 note to Paquette.

In the latest response, Paquette and Via contend their objection is not “moot.”

“Without even contacting Via or Mr. Paquette’s counsel to determine the costs and fees owed, ADI hurriedly wired funds so that it could file its reply to the instant objection and to self-declare the issue moot,” Via and Paquette’s response states.

Both Via and Paquette say the company has not paid the debt in full.

The ADI response includes two court entries in which a federal judge approved a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction against Via relating to a lawsuit ADI filed against Via and other entities for breach of contract and misappropriation of ADI trade secrets.

Via and Paquette contend that this is irrelevant to the objection and ADI “fails to advise the DOT that Via did not receive, does not have to access to, nor does it have any need or desire to use ADI’s materials.”

Finally, Paquette and Via proclaim that the DOT should deny ADI the certification.

“Although ADI claims that it is fit, willing and able to begin scheduled air transportation services, its managerial, financial fitness and transparency should be significantly scrutinized,” their objection states.

The ADI service would provide a 10 round-trip flights per week between the two airports on a 50-passenger plane.