Maryland Aviation Administration

Suburban Airport doesn't really have a lounge, it has two yard-sale sofas and a coffee pot.And airport manager Charlie Crew doesn't wear a suit, he wears something more appropriate for pushing the vacuum cleaner or planning the next cookout or manning the radio or paying the bills.Suburban Airport is unapologetically small-time, tucked beneath the flight paths of the big-time airports near Baltimore and Washington. There's one short runway, most of the hangars are tents and about 75 propeller-driven airplanes call it home.

The midair jet-fuel dumping that sprayed a Glen Burnie mother and son with an oily mist two weeks ago has prompted state delegates to draft a bill that would require airport officials to report all such incidents within 24 hours to state and county agencies."

Westminster police arrested an 8-year-old boy Monday after he became disruptive in class and charged him with disorderly conduct in school and assault and battery.Police released the boy to the custody of his grandfather.School authorities called police to Westminster Elementary after the boy allegedly began striking at them in the school office.The vice principal and a counselor brought the boy to the office after he became disruptive in class.4 from East Middle School attending fly-in at airportTwo teachers and two students from East Middle School will participate in the Opportunity Skyway Student-Teacher Fly-In on Saturday at Easton Airport.

Two Carroll airports received top awards yesterday for their contributions to the state aviation industry at the first Maryland Aviation Summit Conference.Carroll County Regional Airport in Westminster was named the best publicly owned airport in the state, and Clearview Airport, a small facility south of Westminster, was recognized as the best privately owned Maryland airport.The daylong conference, held at Baltimore-Washington International Airport and sponsored by the Maryland Aviation Administration and the Federal Aviation Administration, included workshops on aviation issues and honored excellence in airport management, flight instruction, aviation maintenance and other areas.

An activist group's six-year legal battle over jet noise at Baltimore-Washington International Airport ended yesterday when an Anne Arundel County Circuit Court judge upheld a state review board's 1993 dismissal of the case.Judge Bruce C. Williams ruled that the Maryland Department of Transportation's Board of Review acted correctly when it dismissed an appeal of a case filed against the Maryland Aviation Administration in 1988.In the original case, the Airport Coordinating Team Inc. (ACT)

Despite a recession that has hit the hotel industry hard, the owners of the Sheraton International Hotel at Baltimore-Washington International Airport are pushing ahead with plans that will almost double the hotel's size.Creative Inns Inc. of Norfolk, Va., plans to add 152 suites to the 196-room hotel, said Earle K. Shawe, a Baltimore attorney representing Creative Inns.The suites will be designed for business travelers."We're going to give Maryland one of the finest airport hotels in America," said Mr. Shawe.

Despite a recession that has hit the hotel industry hard, the owners of the Sheraton International Hotel at Baltimore-Washington International Airport are pushing ahead with plans that will almost double the hotel's size.Creative Inns Inc. of Norfolk, Va., plans to add 152 suites to the 196-room hotel, said Earle K. Shawe, a Baltimore attorney representing Creative Inns. The suites will be designed for business travelers."We're going to give Maryland one of the finest airport hotels in America," said Mr. Shawe.

Passengers flying from Baltimore-Washington International Airport could be charged $3 per ticket as early as September to help pay for an expansion of the international wing of the terminal.International traffic at BWI has been booming in the past two years, while domestic traffic has fallen slightly. Airport officials think BWI can sustain that growth in traffic only if the international wing is expanded.But expansion of the terminal and a lengthening of the runway would cost well over $100 million.

Passengers flying from Baltimore-Washington International Airport could be charged $3 per ticket as early as September to help pay for an expansion of the international wing of the terminal.International traffic at BWI has been booming in the past two years, while domestic traffic has fallen slightly. Airport officials think BWI can sustain that growth in traffic only if the international wing is expanded.But expansion of the terminal and a lengthening of the runway would cost well over $100 million.

To accommodate growing international traffic, the state is moving ahead with plans for a $100 million expansion of Baltimore-Washington International Airport -- including a light rail station within the terminal.While still in the formative stages, the project calls for:* Increasing the number of international gates from three to six or eight.* Enlarging the areas used for customs and immigration inspections.* Building a light rail station below the expanded international wing of the terminal building.

The state is assessing airlines operating at Baltimore-Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport $25 million in new charges, including $13 million it says is owed by dominant carrier Southwest Airlines. Airport officials said the additional charges were being imposed to cover increased expenses, including higher security and utility costs. In Southwest's case, the state said it found that it had been undercharging the airline for its new terminal space. Southwest Chief Financial Officer Laura H. Wright disclosed the "surprise audit settlement charge" that it is negotiating with the Maryland Aviation Administration during the airline's first-quarter earnings conference call yesterday.

The aviation executive who led the Salt Lake City airport through post-Sept. 11 security upgrades and preparations for the 2002 Winter Olympics will take over Baltimore-Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport next month, Maryland officials announced yesterday. Timothy L. Campbell, 58, will replace Paul J. Wiedefeld, a well-regarded administrator who chose to return to the international engineering management and consulting firm where he worked before being tapped to head BWI and other state-owned airports about 3 1/2 years ago. He will come to BWI near the conclusion of a $1.8 billion expansion there, including a new terminal for Southwest Airlines, the airport's biggest carrier.

MAA charity drive for nonprofit groups in Md. under way The Maryland Aviation Administration has begun its three-week Maryland Charities Campaign. The MAA's goal is to collect $29,000 from its employees to support Maryland nonprofit organizations. The drive lasts through Friday. Saturday event promotes benefits of state-run trails The Maryland Department of Transportation plans to promote the transportation and recreational benefits of state-run trails during a celebration at Baltimore-Washington International Airport on Saturday.

BWI volunteers to be honored at banquet Tuesday The Maryland Aviation Administration and Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. are scheduled to honor those who volunteer at Baltimore-Washington International Airport at an awards banquet tomorrow in Glen Burnie. As members of the Pathfinders program, 85 volunteers aid airport customers by answering questions and guiding travelers around BWI. Each Pathfinder will be honored with a gift and certificates from Ehrlich and the MAA. The ceremony is scheduled for 5 p.m. at Michael's Eighth Avenue.

Black History Month event scheduled for Thursday at BWI The Maryland Aviation Administration will hold a Black History Month event at 10 a.m. Thursday in the observation gallery of Baltimore-Washington International Airport. Featured will be two pilots from Southwest Airlines. The event is free and open to the public. Information or to reserve a seat: 410-859-7229. Aeronautics institute to hold dinner meeting The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics will be host for a dinner meeting Thursday at the Maryland Aviation Administration.

Arundel chief to speak at BWI business breakfast Anne Arundel County Executive Janet S. Owens will speak at the BWI Business Partnership breakfast meeting tomorrow. The meeting will begin at 7:45 a.m. at the Rose restaurant inside the Comfort Inn, 6921 Baltimore-Annapolis Blvd., Baltimore. Paul Wiedefeld, executive director of the Maryland Aviation Administration, also will present an update on business and construction at BWI. Military personnel can call free from BWI on Friday The Call Home for the Holidays mobile satellite van will stop at Baltimore-Washington International Airport on Friday to give U.S. troops passing through the airport the opportunity to make free phone calls to family members and loved ones anywhere in the world.

Charity campaign kicks off this week at Observation Gallery Baltimore-Washington International Airport will hold the kickoff for the Maryland Aviation Administration's 2003 Maryland Charity Campaign at 10 a.m. Wednesday at the airport's Observation Gallery. The campaign is a workplace charitable-giving program that offers state employees the chance to make contributions to any of 742 participating charities through payroll deduction. Information: 410-895-1339 or www.mdcharity.org. Business Networking Fair for small companies is set Baltimore-Washington International Airport will hold its Business Networking Fair from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Nov. 13 in International Terminal E. The eighth annual fair is an opportunity for small and minority-owned businesses to network with larger contractors that work with and serve the airport.

Business fair set for Nov. 13 to offer chance to network Baltimore-Washington International Airport will hold its Business Networking Fair from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Nov. 13 in International Terminal E. The eighth annual fair is an opportunity for small and minority-owned businesses to network with larger contractors that work with and service the airport. The event is sponsored by the Maryland Aviation Administration Office of Fair Practices. Registration is required. BWI Pathfinders group is seeking volunteers The BWI Pathfinders group is seeking volunteers willing to spend a minimum of four hours a week assisting and directing passengers in the airport's main terminal.

At Airport Square Amoco, managers say at least half the gas station-convenience store's business comes from travelers moving through Baltimore-Washington International Airport. Wendy's restaurant next door says at least one in five customers is headed to or coming from an airplane. And at the Hampton Inn-BWI Airport, it's about one-third, helping to consistently sell out the hotel Monday through Thursday, said Rick Homonai, general manager. These are some of the businesses that benefit from their location in BWI's shadow.

John Fulton Reynolds Scott Jr., a decorated World War II fighter pilot who was later associate administrator for the Maryland Aviation Administration, died Thursday of complications from a stroke at Gilchrist Center for Hospice Care. He was 82 and lived in Homeland. The son of a career Army officer, Mr. Scott was born at Fort Huachuca, Ariz. He was descended from Samuel Moore, who served with George Washington during the Revolutionary War as captain of the 3rd Pennsylvania Regiment. His paternal great-uncle was Union Gen. John F. Reynolds, who was killed at Gettysburg on July 1, 1863, while leading the 1st Corps into battle.