Contract-tower program supporters are appealing to the FAA to limit the number of airport tower closures set to start April 7 due to across-the-board budget cuts. Senate leadership rejected the efforts of Sen. Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) to keep the FAA from closing up to 189 contract towers and restore funding for the program in a short-term spending bill that passed Congress last week.

With the help of all of the supply chain solutions available and the plethora of options for component asset management, airlines are gaining efficiencies and improving their bottom lines.

Each year, in addition to naming Laureates, Aviation Week honors outstanding cadets at U.S. military academies as Tomorrow's Leaders. The awards are sponsored by BAE Systems. This year, four cadets were named and recognized at the Laureates gala by Aviation Week President Greg Hamilton.

Al Peterson has become general manager of Houston-based Landmark Aviation's Los Angeles location. He was airport and FBO manager at Nantucket (Mass.) Memorial Airport.

The final chapter has apparently opened in the turf war among national security agencies over which should control the most prominent weapon system in use since the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

Martha May has been named senior VP-human resources and corporate officer of Cedar Rapids, Iowa-based Rockwell Collins, effective April 8. She will succeed Ron Kirchenbauer, who will retire at the end of April. May was senior VP and chief human resources officer of Bell Helicopter.

After cutting its workforce nearly in half in recent years, Cessna Aircraft is now looking at expansion: it wants to increase its sales force by 50%. The move comes as the Wichita airframer is in the throes of bringing six new or upgraded aircraft to market this year. The first of which, the more powerful Caravan, has already entered service.

While the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) early March 15 hadn’t yet acknowledged its receipt of the long-overdue repair station security rule, Transportation Security Administration chief John Pistole says the rule has been forwarded to OMB for the beginning of a 60- to 90-day review. OMB review is usually the final hurdle before a rule can be issued. “For the first time in a while, we are making progress,” Pistole told the House transportation security subcommittee during a March 14 hearing when asked for an update on the rule.