Regulators Seek Still More Information from ADI
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – The U.S. Department of Transportation has requested “additional and/or clarifying information” from Aerodynamics Inc. before it completes its review of the airline’s fitness to operate interstate scheduled air operations.
ADI is seeking to provide daily service between Youngstown-Warren Regional airport and Chicago O’Hare International Airport. In January, the company’s request for the certification required to offer the flights triggered a show cause order by DOT questioning ADI’s fitness to operate due to its former owner’s role in a civil fraud case.
The Aug. 5 letter to ADI’s legal counsel, Robert Cohn and Patrick Rizzi, is from Catherine J. O’Toole, an analyst with DOT’s Air Carrier Fitness Division. In the letter, O’Toole noted that the carrier had requested that DOT not impose a fleet size restriction on the amount of aircraft ADI operates in scheduled service.
“If ADI intends to operate more than three aircraft in scheduled service, it may provide an updated forecast that incorporates any costs associated with this service as well as a description of the scheduled service it intends to operate,” O’Toole wrote.
“In addition, please remember that ADI should promptly provide the Department with any information regarding changes it may undergo in areas affecting its fitness (i.e., management, operating plans or financial condition, compliance disposition, or ownership) while its application is under review by the Department,” O’Toole added.
DOT requested a response to its letter within 30 days.
With these “last questions” from DOT, the Vienna Township airport is “almost there with daily service,” said Dan Dickten, director of aviation for the Western Reserve Port Authority, which operates the airport.
Dickten also dismissed several anonymous comments posted to DOT’s online docket last week as being written by a disgruntled former employee. Among the comments are complaints that ADI cuts corners and is negligent with repairs, and that Beale is still in control of ADI through its current CEO, F. Darrell Richardson.
“The anonymous postings were all five unfounded and without credibility,” Dickten said.
In May the company’s former owner, Scott Beale, entered into an agreement with ADI Acquisition LLC to purchase the company. ADI Acquisition is owned equally by John and Janet Beardlsey, who also own 80% of the voting interests in SeaPort Airlines through a holding company, Janair LLC.
BACKGROUND:
ADI Execs, Beale Tell DOT They Operate Separately
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