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DFW NEWSFLASH - September 2015
September 2015 DFW AIRPORT PERMIT NO. 239084
Secretary of the Air Force Frontiers of Flight visits Lockheed Martin Museum opens Virgin and F-35s America Display
DFW Airport celebrates decade of International Terminal D
A young Rosie the Riveter, Charlotte Gaberino explores a cockpit during Frontiers of Flight’s “The Greatest Generations Greatest Day” celebration. / Photo by John Starkey
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COVER STORY The entire contents of this magazine are the sole property of Rambler Newspapers, Inc., with all rights reserved. Reproduction or use, without permission, of editorial or graphic content in any manner is prohibited. If you have an upcoming event, game, a press release, or interesting story, please let us know. DFW NewsFlash encourages submission of articles, facts, and photographs pertaining to the people, life, business, and entertainment of aviation industry in the DFW metroplex. DFW NewsFlash is published monthly by Rambler Newspapers, Inc. and is distributed throughout the DFW Airport in businesses and public areas. DFW NewsFlash is also delivered to locations at many of the other airports throughout the DFW metroplex market. Deadline for the submission of articles and advertising is the 10th of the month prior to the publication date. All submitted articles are subject to editing. Opinions expressed in submitted advertisements, articles, editorial, or commentary are those of the writer, and not necessarily those of DFW NewsFlash, the publisher, editor, or any staff member. All articles, press releases, photographs and other materials submitted become the property of Rambler Newspapers, Inc. The Publication of columnists’ views, as well as advertising, does not constitute endorsement. Rambler Newspapers, Inc. reserves the right to reject or edit any advertising. DFW NewsFlash, its publisher, and editor are not responsible for errors in advertising. Mailed subscriptions of DFW NewsFlash are $45 per year. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Rambler Newspapers, Inc., P.O. Box 177731, Irving, TX 75017. Publisher John Starkey Managing Editor Stacey Starkey Advertising sales@dfwnewsflash.com 972-870-1992. Newsroom news@dfwnewsflash.com
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Edna Grammage Simpson shares her WWII experience as a real life Rosie with a Rosie reenactor during “The Greatest Generation’s Greatest Day” celebration, commemorating the 70th anniversary of the war’s end. /Photo by John Starkey
“Rosies” honored for strength By Teri Webster “Rosie the Riveter” is a famous icon that represents the women who worked in factories and shipyards during World War II. Posing with her arm flexed in a show of strength, Rosie wears a red and white polka dot bandanna and a blue work shirt. Her slogan, “We Can Do It,” represents the determination of women entering the workforce in unprecedented numbers and assuming male roles in the workplace. “The Greatest Generation’s Greatest Day,” celebration at the Frontiers of Flight Museum took time to honor the history of the Rosies on Saturday, Aug. 15. Women of all ages attended the event dressed up as “Rosie.” The event commemorated the 70th anniversary of the final day of World War II. Edna Gammage Simpson, 91, is one of several million women who met the challenge of factory work. Between 1941 and 1942, Simp-
son worked on portions of B-24 Liberators for Consolidated Vultee Aircraft in Fort Worth. “It’s wonderful to be remembered,” Simpson said. “I wouldn’t have missed it. “Some of the plants had people wear [red bandannas] but mine didn’t,” Simpson said. “I wore a cap with a snood.” The polka-dotted bandanna Rosie wears was actually a look worn by Westinghouse employees, according to Lisa Foster, a teacher, corporate trainer and historian. “It was only in the Westinghouse Plant,” Foster said. “It didn’t surface in the general population until 1980. So, this is not how Rosie looked. But a lot of companies did make you wear your hair up. A bandanna was obviously an easy thing, or you could wear a cap.” The “hair-up” rule was a safety measure, to prevent the women’s hair from getting entangled in the equipment or tools.
Frances Perkins, the fourth Secretary of Labor in the U.S., resisted plans to have women in serve in the military in World War II. Instead, women were encouraged to enter the workforce and fill the jobs left behind by the men who went off to war, Foster explained. The percentage of women in the workforce increased from 27 percent to almost 37 percent from 1940 to 1945. Nearly one in four women worked outside the home by 1945, according to history. com. Simpson applied for a job in Palestine, TX, and was linked to a program with the National Defense University. After receiving training in working with aircraft sheet metal in Waco, Simpson went to the Consolidated Vultee Plant in Fort Worth. At one point, Simpson lived in a room with bunk beds that she shared with other “Rosies.” See ROSIE, Page 4
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Continued from page 3 “My roommate would kick and wake me up during the night,” Simpson said. She worked the second shift at the plant from 4 p.m. until midnight. She still has pictures of her roommate and others she worked with. “I never really stayed in touch,” she said. “But I still remember them.”
Since then, Simpson has led a full life. “She outlived three husbands,” said her daughter, Donna Mosley of Duncanville. “One of her husbands (the late Cleo Simpson) was a gunner on a B-24 in World War II.” During World War II, Simpson was not the only fam-
ily member to work in the defense industry. A brother worked as a welder in Houston shipyards. She also had two sisters who worked in production for the defense industry. One worked California, and the other sister worked in Houston. She did not follow her brother to Houston, because
“he had a family, and I figured I’d have to spend a lot of time babysitting.” Simpson’s love for her work and the world of flight still remains strong. In 2009, she took her first flight in a B-24, the same model she worked on. “I wasn’t afraid,” she said.
UPS, Millennium Health partner with BBBS for bike build By Courtney Ouellette
During Millennium Health’s annual sales meeting, reps got together to help “Bigs” and their “Littles” put together and decorate bikes in a relay-style competition for children in the Big Brother Big Sisters DFW chapter. The event took place in the Omni Fort Worth Hotel on July 27. “We have 300 sales folks here today,” Millennium Health’s Nicole Quiroz said. “They’re all broken up into groups, with I think 32 groups altogether. Each team is building a bike. “It’s like a competition. They answer a trivia question, and when they get it right, they get a tool or a part and build it. Everyone rallies around, and one team wins and gets bragging rights and the Littles help with the parts and decorating the bike. “It’s fun for the kids and for our sales reps to do something that impacts a community, and they can actually see who they’re impacting, which is the kids. “The BBBS kids are in there decorating their own bikes. There are only eight of them here. The other kids will have their bikes delivered by UPS. After the relays, the remaining bikes were auctioned off to the VPs of sales and delivered to their new owners the next day.
“It was well-received in San Diego,” Quiroz said. “We were able to get in the caravans with UPS, and deliver them to the homes. The expressions on the faces of these kids when they see their bikes – you feel like Santa. It’s like Christmas in July. So it’s a very beautiful thing; we’re very committed to the organization. We’re in line with their mission, so it was just a no-brainer to bring this bike build here to this community.” Being directly involved in BBBS of San Diego, CEO of Millennium Health Brock Hardaway values the opportunity to partner with BBBS DFW as well. “Millennium has a long history with BBBS in California,” Hardaway said. “I’m actually on the board of BBBS San Diego, and so we have a strong partnership there. We felt as we were having our sales meeting in Dallas, it would make sense to do something here. “I think we actually get more out of it. Our young folks are excited about participating, and so they get a lot of it for that reason,” he said. Millennium Health hopes to bring the bike build event to more of the communities its reps live and work. “We’ve done a bike building San Diego, and we’ll certain-
ly do it everywhere and anywhere we can,” Hardaway said. “It’s something we’re excited about, because this is something that makes our people feel good about what they’re doing. We’re happy to support different communities,” he said. UPS marketing managerManny Vargas is excited to continue the partnership with both organizations. “We are a long standing partner with Millennium Health, as well as having an extensive partnership with BBBS,” Vargas said. “So it only made a natural fit support Millennium Health in their efforts to support BBBS. “I think anytime you can come out and impact the life of very deserving youth in the community, it’s a very gratifying experience not
only for myself, but for the organization. We actually have people who served on the board of directors for BBBS. We’ve had UPS employees that have a long-standing history of volunteerism with BBBS. The UPS Foundation has granted nearly $100,000 in grants towards BBBS for efforts to support the volunteerism of our people,” he said. Like Quiroz and Hardaway, the real gratification for Vargas lies in the reaction of the newly proud bike owners. “I’ve had a few chances to interact with the kids, and they seem pretty excited about receiving a bike,” Vargas said, “You know, we were all kids once, and so we know how exciting it is to get a bike. It’s definitely an exciting time for these kids.”
“Big Sister” Candy helps her “Little” Veronica decorate her new bike during the bike build competition. / Photo by Courtney Ouellette
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DFW Airport to transform customer experience in Terminal D with new duty-free shopping plans Dallas/Fort Worth International (DFW) Airport will revolutionize the customer experience inside International Terminal D with an expansive new duty-free shopping experience that includes luxury and premium retail brands. DFW has selected TRG Duty Free Joint Venture (TRG) – a partnership involving a global leader in duty free and a Texas retailer – to design and operate the new dutyfree stores, which includes a total of six shopping locations covering nearly 20,000 square feet. TRG’s plans include a two-level, 13,000 square foot primary store that will significantly upgrade the central area of the terminal, along with an executive lounge as well as smaller specialty stores and kiosks. “Terminal D hosts more than 7 million international travelers each year, and as our international profile grows those customers look for world-class experiences and amenities,” said Sean Donohue, chief executive officer for DFW Airport. “The new duty-free experience at DFW will transform Terminal D and bring our customers an unparalleled level of luxury and service with high-end brands, VIP concierge services, cutting-edge technology and local flair.” TRG’s duty-free shops will feature renowned international retail brands such as Ferragamo, Gucci, Dior, Chanel, Lancôme and Burberry. The shops will sell a variety of goods clothing, cosmetics, electronics, leather goods, jewelry, handbags, wine and spirits, specialty foods and more. Passengers will also dis-
An artist’s rendering of Terminal D shows a future facelift in the form of a twolevel duty-free shopping experience. /Courtesy Photo cover exclusive local brands, including Bohlin Company western wear with Texas roots dating back to 1920, world-renowned Fort Worth distiller TX Whiskey and native Texas artist James Surls. A unique sculpture by Surls will suspend over the central store to give shoppers a true Texas welcome. “When looking for a dutyfree retailer, we asked for a blend of international couture, state-of-the-art technology, luxurious services—all while capturing the spirit and beauty of Texas,” said Ken Buchanan, executive vice president of revenue management. TRG is a partnership of several experienced and respected duty-free operators and local business experts. Members of the joint venture include: t %VUZ 'SFF "JS BOE 4IJQ Supply Company (DFASS), the world’s largest in-flight duty free enterprise; t $#* 3FUBJM 7FOUVSFT MPcally owned with more than 35 years of retail experience with international brands, as well as a relationship with the Luskey family. t $IBSMFT #VTI $POTVMUJOH which has owned and operated concessions locations at DFW Airport for over 15
years; and t .%5 4USBUFHJD 7FOUVSFT Innovative Strategies, a new partner to DFW Airport. TRG’s new duty-free shopping main store will be located in the center of Terminal D between Gates D22 and D23. All of the new locations
should be installed and operational by the end of calendar year 2016. The new duty-free operation is part of the Airport’s overall plan for new premium retail, spa and food and beverage concessionaires in the first major update to the Terminal D concessions program since the terminal opened in 2005. New brands coming to DFW include Hugo Boss, TUMI, Michael Kors, Coach, Mont Blanc, Longchamp, M·A·C, Jo Malone, Aveda, The Italian Kitchen by Wolfgang Puck and Café Izmir Mediterranean Tapas of Dallas. SOURCE Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW) International Airport
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Maintenance crews keep planes flying By Teri Webster
This is where the rubber hits the runway - and where it gets cleaned off. A lot happens behind the scenes in the maintenance division of Dallas Love Field Airport, a transportation hub that serves about seven million people a year. Crews work around the clock to ensure the runway areas are kept clean and safe. They also assist with painting, landscaping and security. Another important task is cleaning off skid marks left behind by airplanes as they land and barrel down the runways. “When the airplane tires hit the concrete, they leave a
little bit of rubber,” said Gentry (Shane) Gravens, manager of airfield maintenance. “Over a period of time, it builds up, and that makes it harder and harder for the airplanes to stop. So we have to go and remove it.” Maintenance crews use special equipment to measure friction and remove rubber build-up. Too much rubber on a runway can create a slick landing surface. “Equipment readings tell us if we need to remove rubber and what the condition of the concrete is,” Gravens said. “We tell the tower, the tower in turn tells the airplane, and the airplane knows how fast it has to come in.”
Gravens’ comments came during a tour of the maintenance area as part of the Turn Up! event through the Frontiers of Flight Museum and Dallas City of Learning on Saturday, Aug. 1. The event featured terminal tours, arts and crafts, the Airport Rescue Fire-Fighter Truck (ARFF), a police K-9 demonstration, as well as a living history performance representing important people in aviation history, among. In addition, registration was held for Dallas City of Learning, a program that helps young people explore hobbies and potential careers. An estimated 1,200 peo-
ple attended the event, according to Jose L. Torres, a spokesman for Dallas Love Field. Rubber from aircraft tires is not the only potential runway problem, especially during the winter months. Although the harshest winter weather is likely several months away, equipment is already being tested and prepared. Winters in the Dallas-Fort Worth area can be brief yet brutal. As a result, the maintenance staff has gone as far as seeking advice from experts in Buffalo, NY, one of the snow capitals of the nation. “While they deal with a lot of snow, we deal with ice,” Gra-
www.dfwnewsflash.com vens said. “You can’t land on ice.” When snow and ice hit, special maintenance equipment distributes chemicals to dissolve snow, sleet and ice on the runways. One trip up and down a runway uses about 2,100 gallons of chemical, which costs about $10 a gallon. Snowplow equipment is used to clear snow or slush from the runways. “We go 40 to 50 miles-anhour down a runway,” Gravens said. “Our main goal is to maintain at least 50 feet on each side of the center line down the runway. That’s where the wheels land. But we try to go at least to the hedge line, which is 200 feet.” Runways must be kept open for safety and financial reasons. The airport can lose up to one-million-dollars a minute if runway operation is lost and various fees are not collected. Airport crews are also responsible for maintaining an executive airport in south Dallas and a downtown helipad at the convention center. Maintenance crews will have even more ground to cover with a new parking lot at the airport. All of that concrete must be cleaned and maintained as well. The Dallas City Council approved the 4,000-plus space parking garage, because an increase in flights has caused parking shortages, Torres said in a written statement. “During peak times, parking becomes an issue,” Torres said. The parking garage is expected to be completed in 2017. Summer months present another set of challenges.
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Maintenance crews can spend up to 17 hours a day mowing grassy areas at the airport. Most of the mowing takes place in the evening hours. “From midnight to 6 a.m. we’re kind of at a standstill,” said Gravens. “If you mow during the day the bugs get active and then the birds During the Turn Up! event at Frontiers of Flight, the men and women behind the secenes were fly in. We also recognized for their part in maintaining Dallas Love Field and its runways. /Courtesy Photo can’t have trees around with fruits or berries. That will attract birds.” Scorching temperatures this summer have made it DFW Airport announced third phase of the ongoing difficult on crews. When the Aug. 5 it has been awarded project to rehabilitate Taximercury hits more than 100 $23 million in Federal Avia- way L. FAA Grant Number degrees, temperatures soar tion Administration (FAA) 112 will deliver $9,003,360 on and near the runways. grants for runway rehabilito rehabilitation projects “It was [recently] 143 degrees on the concrete and tation projects. Congress- for Runway 17R/35L and Eddie Bernice for runway lighting on 121 degrees in the shade,” woman Johnson (Texas-30th Dis- Runway 18L/36R. Each Gravens said. trict) and representatives grant covers 75% of the During the extreme temperatures, he had crews focus from the FAA were on hand cost of those projects. The Taxiway L project is on working on equipment to officially present the scheduled for completion inside the garage, drinking grant to Airport leaders. “We are pleased to re- in early 2018, while the plenty of water, and limiting ceive these funds from our runway rehab and lighting direct sun exposure. partners at the FAA in or- projects should be com“We had to have the guys in der to maintain the airfield plete by late next year. safe mode,” he said. infrastructure in prime conThe grants are part of While working, maintenance dition here at DFW Airport,” the FAA’s Airport Improvecrews follow one simple but critical rule: Stay out of the said Sean Donohue, CEO ment Program, which proof DFW Airport. “We are vides grants for the planway of the airplanes. “We always face the air- also thankful to Congress- ning and development of planes,” Gravens said. “We woman Johnson and other public use airports. Eligidon’t ever turn our back in an members of Congress for ble projects include those area, because we don’t want their great support of DFW improvements related to enhancing airport safety, a plane to land on us acci- Airport.” The two grants will help capacity, security, and endentally. We have to move out of the way of every air- fund three ongoing airfield vironmental concerns. plane, no matter where it is rehabilitation projects. FAA SOURCE Dallas / Fort Worth Grant Number 111 will deon the airport.” International Airport
Grants totaling $23 million fund infrastructure renewal
liver $14,000,000 for the
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Great minds create the ultimate weapon: Remembering WWII and the Manhattan Project By Teri Webster One of the most important scientific discoveries of all time was the development of the atomic bomb during World War II. Cas Milner, an adjunct physics professor of the Southern Methodist University (SMU) and James K. Hopkins, a professor emeritus from SMU, offered a presentation on the personalities and events surrounding the first splitting of an atom at the Frontiers of Flight Museum on Saturday, Aug. 15. Milner and Hopkins’ extensive research on the topic included traveling to the site of the former Manhattan Project, Los Alamos, New Mexico. The project was developed under the Manhattan Engineering District of the War Department. The Manhattan Project, an extensive U.S. effort to develop an atomic bomb, came about after Albert Einstein wrote a letter to President Franklin D. Roosevelt on Aug. 2, 1939. Einstein warned the president that Nazi Germany planned to build an atomic bomb. The project represented an extensive effort. In all, the project cost more than $2 billion over a six year period, from 1939 to 1945, according to Milner and Hopkins’ research. Led by Robert Oppenheimer, one of the nation’s most gifted scientists, a team of dedicated people worked tirelessly worked to develop the atomic bomb. “This whole project really changed the scale of international science,” Milner
said. “This is the laboratory in which fission was discovered. “In the early going, it was not really clear to all of the top scientists that it would be possible to make a weapon that was delivered by a plane,” he said. Milner read a portion of Einstein’s letter, which stated: “This new phenomenon would also lead to the construction of bombs, and it is conceivable - though much less certain - that extremely powerful bombs of a new type may thus be constructed. A single bomb of this type, carried by boat and exploded in a port, might very well destroy the whole port together with some of the surrounding territory. However, such bombs might very well prove to be too heavy for transportation by air.” There were and are two types of weapons deployed by the U.S. – Uranium and Plutonium. When a bomb detonates, it is instantaneous, Milner explained. How fast the explosion occurs has never been able to be measured. “There is a tremendous amount of energy, and that’s where the heat and radiation comes from,” Milner said. “It also turns out that the amount of energy released in one of these fission events is more than a million times greater than any typical chemical reaction. “Compared to a conventional explosive like dynamite, which would be a chemical reaction, this has the potential to be a million times
stronger. The trick in making a weapon is to hold together this critical mass of material long enough so that there could be 80 generations or more of these fission events that occur. Every time there’s a generation, it doubles the energy.” The end result is a “trillion, trillion” magnification, he explained. Part of Hopkins presentation focused on some of the people behind the research during World War II. “By 1939, a brain drain of epic proportions had taken
place in Germany,” Hopkins said. “As a result of the antiJewish laws, 600 full-time professors at German universities were forced to flee from Germany. A third of these were physicists.” Overnight, the U.S. became the epicenter of scientific excellence. “It’s a great story,” said James F. Gregory of Dallas, who attended the lecture. “Something important came out of this, and that is atomic energy. That’s the good part.”
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Secretary of the Air Force celebrates production of 100th F-35 Lightning II with Lockheed Martin By Courtney Ouellette
It’s not uncommon to hear the roar of sleek new aircraft around Fort Worth, home of Lockheed Martin’s assembly plant. Amid the serious work of creating the world’s fiercest aircraft, Lockheed took a moment to celebrate the assembly of the forward fuselage of the 100th U.S. Air Force F-35 Lightning II with Secretary of the Air Force Deborah Lee James on August 26. Following completion, each aircraft undergoes several tests to ensure they operate correctly. “They go out to the flight line and they do three company flights with us to make sure everything’s fine,” said Michael Rein, director of F-35 communications. “Then the government pilots fly it twice to say it’s all good.” With 24 million lines of software code as a platform, a primary reason for the quick turnaround is the technology found in the aircraft. “The computer will tell us,” Rein said. “The great thing about this thing is you can plug in a system we call ALIS [Autonomic Logistics Information System] to it, and the plane will go ‘hey on the wing something’s not right.’ It’s actually got voice recognition software, so in the British plane it has a British accent. “[The pilots] go through a series of checks. Anything they might find, they’ll tell the crew to fix. Then they’ll fly it again and hopefully [the crew] got it all fixed; but if something comes up again, by the third flight we usually have it all in place. “From the plane being
rolled out that door to actually being ferried somewhere is about a 60-day process,” he said. “Before each plane leaves here, [it] flew at least five times. We’re up to 150 jets, so over 750 flights minimum.” After seeing the assembly process firsthand, Secretary James also took time to speak with the men and women involved. “It’s fantastic for me to be able to be here in Fort Worth and to be able to visit the plant here at Lockheed Martin,” James said. “It is my first visit, and I have been thoroughly, thoroughly impressed with everything I have seen. My focus of course has been on the F-35 program, which is the future of our fighter force in the
United States Air Force. It’s the future for our joint forces in the U.S. military as well as with many of our allies and partners. “As the secretary of the Air Force, my job is to organize, train and equip our Air Force. I want to say once again that the F-35 is going to be a crucial part of our future Air Force.” Lockheed Martin’s various contracts will also bring in more jobs to north Texas in addition to impacting the economy. “Of course as many of you know, this is a crucial program here for this part of Texas,” James said. “We’ve got about 10,000 jobs directly and about 28,000 indirectly tied to this program, so it’s very important from an eco-
nomic perspective as well.” The current economic impact of the F-35 program is $4.5 billion a year. Hoping to ensure growth of the program, Secretary James encouraged the government to do their part. “Of course I never miss an opportunity to call upon our congress to lift sequestration and give our military the right amount of money,” James said. “We need to be able to support our people and their training and their equipment. I’m worried about our current state of affairs in Washington. If sequestration is not lifted, it will impact important programs like the F-35. “I want to point out I’ve had the chance to chat with some of the fantastic work force that is here at Lockheed Mar-
www.dfwnewsflash.com tin as well as some of our military as well as some of our civilian employees who are on scene. I had the chance to congratulate them and thank them for what is a job I think extremely well done and for always thinking about affordability and quality and safety. These are crucial aspects and the team here is really hitting the ball out of the ball park,” she said. The Air Force plans to be in a position to declare initial operating capability at which point the initial group
DFW NEWSFLASH - September 2015 of aircraft will be available for combat use. In the future, the completed aircraft will be fielded in a wider series of locations. “The F-35 will provide our pilots of the future with unprecedented situational awareness,” James said. “This is the opportunity to see far, far away into the distance and be able to get weapons off, to be able to hit a target and to do so before the enemy even sees us coming. This will allow us to go further, to shoot farther.”
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Having delivered 73 F-35’s so far, the Air Force plans to purchase 1,763 aircraft. The entire contract, ranging from 2001 to 2039 is valued at approximately $389 billion.
Sure to include an exlaimation of “Go Air Force,” Air Force Secretary James left her mark on the 100th F-35 in production for the Air Force. /Courtesy Photo
DFW International Airport celebrates a decade of International Terminal D, Skylink, Grand Hyatt DFW The Dallas/Fort Worth International (DFW) Airport observed 10 years of successful operation for International Terminal D, the Grand Hyatt DFW and the Skylink people mover system on Aug. 24. Since opening in 2005, the three projects have transformed DFW into one of the world’s favorite connecting hubs for travelers and have elevated DFW’s global reputation for excellence. “When Terminal D, the Grand Hyatt and Skylink opened a decade ago, DFW Airport had a vision to become a world-renowned super-hub,” Sean Donohue, DFW Airport’s chief executive officer said. “While we are pleased with the progress made to expand international service and offer new terminal amenities and conveniences not experienced anywhere else, we’re not resting there. We pledge to continue working to elevate the customer experience and seek future opportunities to serve all of our Airport customers and the Dallas/Fort Worth community.”
In the ten years since its opening, Terminal D has elevated DFW’s international stature for air service by helping the Airport attract nine new international carriers and 20 new international destinations, and grow DFW’s annual international business by over 2 million passengers, an increase of 38 percent. In its decade of service, Skylink has significantly transformed the DFW connecting experience into one of the world’s most efficient, with trains running every two minutes between terminals and briskly connecting passengers to their flights. Skylink train cars have transported over 141 million people, or nearly the population of Russia, and they have accumulated over 32.4 million fleet miles, roughly equivalent to 68 round trips to the moon. The Grand Hyatt DFW has consistently ranked among the world’s finest airport hotels, offering customers award-winning accommodations and a peaceful oasis
with modern sophistication that is perfectly integrated into Terminal D. The Grand Hyatt DFW features outstanding amenities and culinary offerings that range from contemporary American dining to the innovative, globally inspired menu at the hotel’s Grand Met restaurant. “DFW’s expansion into new international markets, made possible by Terminal D’s amenities and exceptional operations, has been vital to growing opportunities for the Airport and for Dallas/ Fort Worth as a whole, positioning the region as an influential international player,” Donohue said.
Today, the Airport hosts routes to 149 domestic and 56 international destinations for 63.5 million annual passengers, including over 7 million international passengers. In the past 15 months, Terminal D has welcomed new direct flights to Beijing, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Abu Dhabi and Doha. Terminal D, the Grand Hyatt DFW and Skylink were built as the major portion of DFW’s Capital Development Program launched in 1999, and collectively cost about $2 billion to design and complete. SOURCE Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport
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Frontiers of Flight opens Virgin America display By Courtney Ouellette Virgin America flight attendants and aspiring aviation professionals were among some of the people gathered in a small crowd on the second floor of the Frontiers of Flight Museum for the unveiling of Virgin America’s new exhibit on Tuesday, Aug. 11. Cheryl Sutterfield-Jones, president and CEO of Frontiers of Flight expressed her excitement regarding the partnership, which supports children’s and STEM (science, technology, engineering, math) programs offered through the museum. “It is fantastic,” SutterfieldJones said. “The exhibit really reflects the spirit of Virgin America. It talks about how Virgin America was built from the ground up. “From the time Virgin landed here at Love Field, not too long ago, they became a great partner. They immediately showed us that they want to invest in and make a difference in the community. We really appreciate the partnership that we’ve had right from the beginning. “Our mission at the museum is to educate and motivate and inspire the next generation. We do that through our unique and excellent exhibits and our STEM curriculum,” she said. Gesturing to the young faces around her, SutterfieldJones described the impact Virgin America has made on one of its education programs. “Look at these kids right here” she said. “They are getting to experience all that we are able to offer. “This could be the future of Virgin America. You’re looking at future mechanics,
Accompanied by Steve Forte, Cheryl Sutterfield-Jones cuts the ribbon, officially opening the Virgin America display at Frontiers of Flight. /Photo by John Starkey marketers, designers, pilots, flight attendants. We’re investing in the next generation, bringing them up,” Sutterfield-Jones said. In anticipation of Love Field’s 100th anniversary, Sutterfield-Jones looks forward to collaborating with Virgin America and celebrating with the airline’s well-known flare. “Virgin America landed almost to the day of the 97th anniversary of Love Field. If you watched how Virgin came to the community, they did it with style, they did it with pizzazz,” she said. “So we may be reaching out to Virgin for the 100th anniversary of Love Field to call in some of that style and pizzazz.” Steve Forte, COO of Virgin America, also looks forward to continuing the partnership with the museum, despite the resistance Virgin America faced upon arriving at Love Field. In addition to business, the museum holds personal
significance to Forte. “I want to start out by recognizing the tremendously important role that the Frontiers of Flight Museum plays in helping to remind us all of the incredible history and progression of flight and the aviation industry in particular,” Forte said. “When I was young like these kids here, I was lucky for two reasons. Number one, I knew what I wanted to do from a very young age. I loved airplanes, I loved airports. And then as I got older, I had people around who helped me and mentored me, so that I could follow my dreams, and not everybody is that lucky. “That’s why the future of aviation and aerospace depends on places like Frontiers of Flight Museum – to inspire and help educate the leadersof the future. I think many of us take aviation for granted,” he said. “We fly through the air at hundreds
of miles an hour, five, six miles in the air, and if you think about it, we’re basically in a chair in the sky. “If that’s not awe-inspiring, I don’t really know what is, especially when you consider that just over 100 years ago, Orville and Wilbur Wright were making their historic first flight. We’ve come a long way since then,” he said. The museum’s educational programs offer a unique learning environment for school age students and are designed to supply STEM studies specifically to the aviation and space flight fields using guided museum tours and classroom programs. Virgin America’s support helped send 50 students through the flight school program. Tristan Sneed, 10, attended the exhibit unveiling through one of the museum’s STEM education programs. “Yesterday, we learned all about how lift and thrust and drag and gravity work with planes and we learned about the speedometers inside the planes,” Tristan said. “Then we got to make models. We made paper helicopters, Then we made airplanes out of foam. “My friend won the airplane contest. We had to throw the airplane that we made, and his went the farthest,” he said. “Then we went to the hangar at the airport and saw all the planes.” Like a young Forte, Tristan has already found an interest in airplanes, and even has mentor should he choose to pursue his interests further. “I wanted to learn how to make an airplane, because my uncle makes airplanes. I think I want to work with airplanes too,” Tristan said.
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DFW AIRPORT POLICE REPORT Criminal Trespass Habitation/ Shelter On 7/19/15, at approximately 11:40 a.m., officers were dispatched to Terminal E, Exit doors 7, in reference to an unknown male entering the sterile area of Terminal E from the public exit door. Upon arrival, officers made contact with the reporting parties in reference to this criminal trespass. The reporting parties both advised they were in the area of the exit door located at gate 7 when this occurred. One man stated he was waiting on family members at the door when he noticed a white male wearing shorts with a black shirt and black back pack enter the no entry doors. The man then notified the door attendant of what he had just observed. He was told that police would be notified. The door guard at that time noticed the same thing as the man and called 911. At approximately 11:45 a.m. MCR stated the person fitting that description was observed on camera heading towards the higher gates from gate 7 sterile side while reviewing footage. At approximately 11:48 a.m. MCR stated the white male had walked back to the public side. Officers arrived to the public side and noticed a white male at the United E 7 baggage carousel. The suspect advised he flew in from Denver to DFW at approximately 11:31 a.m. He stated when he arrived at the public side he noticed he didn’t have his luggage containing important information. He then
walked through the exit door at gate 7 walking back to gate E8 to ask a United Airlines gate agent where his bag would be. The suspect stated he was advised that his bag would be at the E7 baggage carousel, so he exited the sterile side arriving back at the baggage carousel at Gate E7. He stated he noticed the signs saying “No Entry Violators Will Be Prosecuted� on the door, but he needed his bag containing important information. MCR confirmed the suspect entered the exit doors (breached) at 11:35 a.m. The suspect was checked through TCIC/ NCIC and did not have any wants/warrants. Based on the fact that the suspect walked through the exits doors that clearly stated “NO Entry Violators will be Prosecuted For Criminal Trespass Texas Penal Code 30.05� without the authorization from the airport or an emergency situation, the suspect was arrested for Criminal Trespass under Texas Penal Code 30.05 (A) HAB Criminal Trespass Habitation/ Shelter. Assault On 7/23/15 at approximately 3:51 a.m., officers were dispatched to Sky Chefs to an assault which had just occurred. Upon arrival an officer met with the complainant, she is a temporary employee, employed by Timeline Staffing and working at Sky Chefs in the Assembly department. The complainant stated she was working between 3 a.m. and 3:46 a.m. when another employee, approached and
tried to take an oscillating fan which the complainant was using to keep cool. The complainant told the other employee she could not have the fan. A verbal argument ensued. The complainant stated the other employee slapped her hand followed by the other employee pushing the complainant in the chest with her hands. The complainant called for a supervisor. The supervisor asked the complainant to go home for the day but invited her back for the following day. The complainant informed officers there are cameras all throughout the facility which will corroborate her story. The complainant has only been working at Sky Chefs a short time but the relationship between the other employee and herself has been friendly up to this point. Officers were able to make contact with the other employee. The account given by the other employee matches, however she denies making any physical contact with the complainant. She further informed us there were witnesses to the confrontation and introduced us to a witness. The witness was working her first day of employment at Sky Chefs and states she does not have a prior relationship with either party. The witness stated she did not witness any physical contact occur from the other employee toward the complainant. A Human Resources representative was on scene and confirmed there are working cameras throughout the facility, however there were no employees on shift at the
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time of report who could access the recorded video. She stated they would return at 7 a.m. The complainant wishes to press assault charges against the other employee as the physical contact was offensive to her. Public Intoxication On Thursday, July 30 at approximately 5:52 p.m., officers were notified by the manager of Pappasitos restaurant (Terminal A, gate 28) of a possible intoxicated passenger sitting at the bar. The manager advised the passenger was falling asleep at the bar and may have been over served. The manager advised the passenger had been served two drinks of liquor while at this restaurant. He was uncomfortable with the passenger remaining in the restaurant and other customers were bothered by him. The manager advised some passengers were laughing at the passenger as he started to fall asleep and started blowing “snot rockets� out of his nose. While speaking with the manager outside the restaurant officers observed a male sitting at the bar hunched over. The passenger put his leg up on the stool next to him in an attempt to get his other leg on the stool, however, his leg fell back down. An officer asked to speak with the passenger outside the restaurant. The passenger agreed and began to walk toward the exit. His balance was poor while walking. The officer asked how much the passenger had to drink. He stated, “Six beers.� The officer asked the passenger where he was drinking. The passenger stated, “My place.� The officer asked where his place was. The passenger grew agitated, pointed, and stated it was over there. The passenger stated he was drinking at a training sight on a base in Virginia. The officer asked if he owned the site and if it was his place. The passenger stated he never said it was his place and advised he was going to Utah to instruct a military exercise. The officer asked the passenger if he knew where he was now. The passenger replied, “Utah.� The officer asked the passenger when his next flight was. The passenger said his flight was later on this evening, and he was traveling with friends. The passenger was unable to point out his friends, tell the officer their names, or describe them. The passenger stated, “Are you serious� several times and grew more agitated. The passenger said he planned on staying in the restaurant with his friends until his flight tomorrow morning. The officer asked the passenger if he
www.dfwnewsflash.com had anything to drink anywhere else. The passenger advised he did not know and became irate. The officer advised the passenger he was under arrest for Public Intoxication. The officer walked around the bar and asked if anyone was traveling with the man standing outside the restaurant. No one knew the passenger. Officers escorted the passenger outside and away from the public view. During this time the officer again noted the passenger’s poor balance. Another officer searched the passenger in front of his marked patrol vehicle. During the search the passenger asked the other officer if he could “reach a little lower and grab his balls.� The reporting officer observed the other officer perform the search professionally, per policy and procedure. The passenger’s boarding passes showed he arrived to DFW Airport on an American Airlines flight from Salt Lake City at 8:45 a.m. The passenger had a boarding pass showing he was booked on an American Airlines flight departing at 1:45 p.m. The passenger had another boarding pass showing he was rebooked on an American Airlines departing at 6:55 p.m. Criminal Mischief On Monday, August 10, at 3:06 a.m., an officer responded to the Grand Hyatt Hotel lobby in reference to a possible theft. The officer met with the victim who advised his phone was missing and he believed he knew who took it. The victim stated approximately 30 minutes prior to the officer’s arrival he met up with another male named “Hunter.� the victim advised he had just met “Hunter� online through “Grinder� and that he was staying at the Hyatt Regency. The victim stated “Hunter� came over to his room for approximately 20 minutes. The victim stated after “Hunter� left, he noticed his cell phone that was sitting on the nightstand was gone. The victim advised he ran after “Hunter� down to the lobby, but he was not there. The victim advised he did not want to press charges for theft, and he just wanted his phone back. The victim’s phone is an Apple iPhone 5 in an Otterbox case. Inside the case were the victim’s driver’s license and two credit cards. While the officer was speaking with the victim, Grand Hyatt personnel advised the suspect was in the hotel lobby. The officer asked the suspect what happened, and he advised it was nothing more than a casual sexual encounter. The officer asked the suspect if he knew where the phone was. The suspect advised he did not know, and he did not take it. The suspect voluntarily emptied his pockets to
DFW NEWSFLASH - September 2015 show he did not have it. The officer went back to the Grand Hyatt lobby to finish gathering information. The victim requested Hyatt personnel to call the suspect’s hotel room. The officer heard the victim plead with the suspect to tell him the location of his phone. The victim stated if the suspect told him he would not press charges for theft. The victim advised the suspect told him he threw it in the first stall in the men’s bathroom closest to the Terminal Link bus stop. The victim and the officer checked the bathrooms on the first level of terminal D and located the phone in the toilet. The phone was determined to be nonoperational. The other property (DL and credit cards) were intact. The suspect intentionally damaged the phone which is valued at $500. The victim stated he would like to press charges against the suspect for Criminal Mischief. The officer spoke with the suspect again and advised him the phone was damaged. The suspect made the statement that he did it for “spite,� because he was upset the way the victim had treated him. The suspect explained during his encounter, the victim was very “rough� with him and pulled his hair. The suspect then stated he was sorry for lying to the officer earlier. Organized Criminal Activity On August 5, about 12:02 p.m. a detective arrived at 1901 W. Airfield Drive, Grapevine. The reporting party provided the detective with documentation and a flash drive containing CCTV footage, which were submitted as evidence. On July 21, the reporting party received
an email about Tech Data past due shipments. Tech Data uses CEVA Logistics extensively, and CEVA assumes ownership for any property stolen while in their custody. Of concern to the reporting party were two shipments which contained televisions. The reporting party investigated the two shipments. A review CCTV located unusual activity on June 29 when two freight handlers moved flat screen TVs from a domestic staging area to the OS&D bay. On June 30, the same two suspects met with a Central Freight driver at Bay #10 and the televisions were loaded into a truck. The two suspects working at CEVA were identified. The CEVA investigative report documents an additional three occasions in which the suspects stole TVs utilizing the same method of operation. The reporting party provided dispatch sheets to demonstrate the driver had no legitimate business on all theft dates, except July 10. On August 3, the reporting party interviewed CEVA employee XX who subsequently provided a written statement to the effect a suspect had asked if XX wanted to help steal TVs. Also on August 3, the reporting party met with another suspect who explained he and a second suspect had decided to steal TVs. This suspect stated they discussed the plan in the presence of the driver and he told them he could take the TVs out on his trailer. The suspect claimed to have been given cash for the first ($400) and third ($600) thefts and had not been paid for the fourth yet. The suspect was on vacation during the second theft. The suspect
Page 15 stated he met with an unknown subject to be paid for the TVs but would not explain any further. The suspect then provided the reporting party a written statement which is included with the evidence turned over by the reporting party. During the interview, the second suspect left the facility without notifying anyone. On August 4, the reporting party met with a representative at Central Freight, 5200 East Loop South, Fort Worth. The representative stated the driver had called in that he was having car problems. The driver was given the number of a nearby dispatcher and told to call them for a ride. The dispatcher, who lived nearby, was not contacted, and the driver could then no longer be reached by phone. Given the facts and circumstances as well as the confession by the suspect, officers believe the three named suspects acted in combination to steal 29 televisions with a total value of $44,351.52, in violation of Engaging in Organized Criminal Activity (PC 71.02), a Felony Level 2.
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