Things To Do In SW Florida

By TARA COPP and DAVID KOENIG

WASHINGTON (AP) — Boeing overcharged the Air Force nearly $1 million for spare parts on C-17 cargo planes, including an 8,000% markup for simple lavatory soap dispensers, according to the Pentagon’s inspector general.

The Defense Department’s auditor reviewed prices paid for 46 spare parts on the C-17 from 2018 to 2022 and found that 12 were overpriced and nine seemed reasonably priced. It couldn’t determine the fairness of prices on the other 25 items.

The Office of the Inspector General said it reviewed the soap dispenser prices after getting a hotline tip.

Boeing disputed the findings.

“We are reviewing the report, which appears to be based on an inapt comparison of the prices paid for parts that meet aircraft and contract specifications and designs versus basic commercial items that would not be qualified or approved for use on the C-17,” Boeing said in a statement. “We will continue to work with the OIG and the U.S. Air Force to provide a detailed written response to the report in the coming days.” read more

Chapter 7

Central Florida individuals and businesses that have filed for liquidation under Chapter 7 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code include:

VetJet LLC, 3232 E. Colonial Drive, Orlando. Filed: Oct. 21. Assets: $57,029. Liabilities: $491,290. Major creditors: Barr Credit Services, Tucson, Ariz., $150,755; NIA Broadcasting OTA TV Partners, Washington, D.C., $150,000; Everbank, Denver, $100,000. Creditors meeting: Nov. 19.

GGA Concept LLC, 1276 Twin Rivers Blvd., Oviedo. Filed: Oct. 23. Assets: $233,970. Liabilities: $196,091. Major creditors: U.S. Small Business Administration, Washington, D.C., $121,709; Chase, Charlotte, N.C., $24,102; Square Financial Services, San Francisco, $20,000. Creditors meeting: Nov. 26.

Chapter 11

Central Florida individuals and businesses that have filed for reorganization and protection from creditors under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code include:

Thomas Roofing and Repair Inc., 924 W. Colonial Drive, Orlando. Filed: Oct. 26. Assets: $100,001-$500,000. Liabilities: $1,000,001-$10 million. Major creditors: U.S. Small Business Administration, Portland, Ore., $1,124,000; American Builders & Contractors Supply, St. Petersburg, $541,432; David Tom, Miami, $250,000. Creditors meeting: Nov. 18. read more

Blue Origin hauled the immense first stage booster for its upcoming debut launch of its New Glenn rocket to Cape Canaveral Space Force Station on Wednesday.

Blue Origin CEO Dave Limp posted images to social media showing the 188-foot-long first stage with its seven BE-4 engines wrapped up in coverings with not-so-little Blue Origin logos making the trip from its factory in Merritt Island adjacent the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex over to its future launch site at Canaveral’s Space Launch Complex 36.

Jeff Bezos’ rocket company is still aiming for a November launch of the heavy-lift rocket, which when combined with the second stage and fairing would be more than 320 feet tall. The exact date has not been announced, although Port Canaveral officials alluded to a Nov. 30 target date in a recent port commission meeting.

Up next: Integrated launch vehicle hotfire. (And one of my favorite photos from the move!) https://t.co/mdaADyKWhY pic.twitter.com/fSEtAa8bZt

— Dave Limp (@davill) October 30, 2024 read more

Spirit Airlines is following through on a sweeping $80 million cost reduction plan, which includes the furlough of another 330 pilots by the end of January 2025, the pilots union and company confirmed Thursday.

The move, first reported by Reuters, comes after the airline dropped 186 pilots from its roster in early September. The latest round of furloughs would be accompanied by the demotion of 120 other pilots.

“We are implementing a series of cost savings initiatives throughout our business, including a reduction in workforce, as part of our comprehensive plan to return to profitability,” the airline said in a statement.

Ryan Muller, chairman of the Spirit unit of the Air Line Pilots Association, said in a note to members that the union is “actively seeking options to mitigate these furloughs and are committed to supporting affected pilots during this challenging time.”

He said management notified the union that the reductions would take place effective Jan. 31, 2025.

The personnel moves follow Spirit’s recent deal to sell 23 older Airbus jetliners to an aviation services firm. Besides labor force cuts designed to streamline the operation, the airline is also cutting unprofitable routes. read more

TALLAHASSEE — A state program that provides critical backup coverage for property insurers could pay out an estimated $4.6 billion because of claims from hurricanes Milton and Helene, officials said Wednesday.

If that preliminary estimate holds, the Florida Hurricane Catastrophe Fund would have adequate cash to cover its share of losses, leaders and a financial adviser told members of the Florida Hurricane Catastrophe Fund Advisory Council. The vast majority of estimated losses stem from Hurricane Milton.

Widely known as the “Cat Fund,” the program provides relatively low-cost reinsurance to property insurers. Carriers must pay losses up to certain amounts, known as retention levels, before they can tap the state fund.

The Cat Fund is projected to have $7.12 billion in cash to pay losses this year and has access to $3.25 billion in what is known as “pre-event” bond money if needed.

“Initial estimates for Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton as it relates to the Cat Fund are at $4.6 billion, which the Cat Fund can cover with its current available cash,” said Chris Spencer, executive director of the State Board of Administration, an agency that includes the Cat Fund. read more