Airline History Museum

12/21/2024

The latest PR on our fight to save the museum.

FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION ISSUES NOTICE OF EXTENSION IN CASE AGAINST THE KANSAS CITY AVIATION DEPARTMENT
DEADLINE IS NOW FEBRUARY 7th, 2025 IN CASE FILED BY “SAVE-A-CONNIE,” dba THE AIRLINE HISTORY MUSEUM OF KANSAS CITY.

December 21st, 2024, Kansas City, MO – The Office of the Chief Counsel of the Federal Aviation Administration has issued a Notice of Extension in response to a Part 16 complaint filed by longtime aviation museum “Save-A-Connie,” dba The Airline History Museum of Kansas City. The FAA states that “additional time is necessary and appropriate for a fair and complete consideration of the matters before the agency.” The new date for a decision to be rendered is February 7th, 2025.
More details about this case are posted on the Museum website at www.AirlineHistory.org
FAA Documentation can be found at https://www.regulations.gov/search?filter=16-24-04

Airline History Museum Kansas City, MO NOVEMBER 2024 UPDATE JUST A FEW MORE WEEKS OF WAITING The Airline History Museum (AHM), as you know, has been through the wringer for…

12/16/2024

Today in Aviation History
12/16/1997 – Air Canada Flight 646, a Bombardier CRJ200, crashes after a failed go-around attempt in Fredericton, New Brunswick. All passengers and crew survive.
Photo: Alain Rioux

12/13/2024

Today in Aviation History
12/13/1977 – University of Evansville men’s basketball team perish in a chartered DC-3 crashed on takeoff. The picture of the memorial is the “Weeping Basketball”
Photos: SanFrancisco415
*Don’t let history museums become history*

12/03/2024

The Airline History Museum (AHM), as you know, has been through the wringer for the last few years, embroiled in a battle with the City of Kansas City, with the FAA docketing a formal complaint submitted by AHM.

This all began when the City of Kansas City (via the City Council and the KC Aviation Department) decided to void an agreement we had with the City allowing AHM a full rent abatement for use of Hangar 9 through 2035 (it’s all exhaustively documented). Signature Aviation became the de facto supervisor of Downtown Airport and, in short order, went after the Museum for rent they did not owe. A lawsuit was the result.

To our absolute astonishment, the State of Missouri ruled against AHM. Locked out of the hangar for 2 years running now, Signature has showed no evidence of wanting to talk, even though AHM has made multiple offers.

Outside of the illegal lockout, AHM filed a Part 16 Complaint with the FAA, essentially spelling out chapter and verse how the City, the Aviation Department, and the City Council allowed Signature Aviation to run Downtown Airport, either through deliberate or benign neglect in violation of Grant Assurances.

The Part 16 Complaint specifically demonstrates how the City misused the funds from government grants meant to support aviation efforts at the Downtown Airport, as well as at MCI through repeated violations of the terms of FAA Grant Assurances issued to the City. The City relies heavily on those grants, which is millions of dollars.

The Part 16 Complaint goes on to cite separate instances where: AHM has lost revenue due to the Museum closure; AHM has been denied use of the space leased to them; AHM has been denied use of their own aircraft, access to the airport; been deprived of the benefits of abatements and support which were granted (but diverted to Signature Aviation ) and suffered damage to our reputation and loss of donor confidence.

The KC Aviation Department must follow FAA Regulations in the management of aviation-related activities to qualify for these grants. They have not.

So, what is the Good News?

As it is public information, we are sharing that the dear, beloved Connie, has a new owner. A true supporter of aviation and other historical birds, the Connie welcomes this support.

For now, we are awaiting the decision by the FAA, which is due 12/10/2024. They could investigate some, none, or all our Complaints. No doubt, if the FAA sides with AHM, you can expect follow-up legal activity on our part to be granted access to the entire fleet.

If you are reading this, please know you have the power to help keep the museum and all the artifacts in the great city. Let the Mayor and your City Council Representative hear you. Support the museum by a letter to the editor of the KC Star.

The museum is not gone, and the desire is to open the doors so all can see the rich history Kansas City has had in part of aviation!

11/18/2024

The Airline History Museum (AHM), as you probably know, has been through the wringer for the last few years, embroiled in a battle with the City of Kansas City, with the FAA docketing a formal complaint submitted by AHM.

This all began when the City of Kansas City (via the City Council and the KC Aviation Department) decided to void an agreement we had with the City allowing AHM a full rent abatement for use of Hangar 9 through 2035 (it’s all exhaustively documented). Signature Aviation became the de facto supervisor of Downtown Airport and in short order went after the Museum for rent we did not owe. A lawsuit was the result.

To our absolute astonishment, the State of Missouri ruled against AHM. Locked out of the hangar for 2 years running now, Signature has showed no evidence of wanting to talk, even though AHM has made multiple offers.

Outside of the illegal lockout, AHM filed a Part 16 Complaint with the FAA, essentially spelling out chapter and verse how the City, the Aviation Department, and the City Council allowed Signature Aviation to run Downtown Airport, either through deliberate or benign neglect, in violation of Grant Assurances.

The Part 16 Complaint specifically demonstrates how the City misused the funds from government grants meant to support aviation efforts at the Downtown Airport, as well as at MCI, through repeated violations of the terms of FAA Grant Assurances issued to the City. The City relies heavily on those grants, which amount to millions of dollars.

The Part 16 Complaint goes on to cite separate instances where: AHM has lost revenue due to the Museum closure; AHM has been denied use of the space leased to them; AHM has been denied use of their own aircraft, access to the airport; been deprived of the benefits of abatements and support which were granted (but diverted to Signature Aviation ) and suffered damage to our reputation and loss of donor confidence.

The KC Aviation Department must follow FAA Regulations in the management of aviation-related activities to qualify for these grants. They have not.

As it is now public information, we are sharing that the dear, beloved Connie, has a new owner. This person is true supporter of aviation and other historical aircraft; it could not be in better hands.

For now, we are awaiting the decision by the FAA, which is due 12/10/2024. They could investigate some, none, or all our Complaints. No doubt, if the FAA sides with AHM, you can expect follow up legal activity on our part and to be granted access to our entire fleet.

That’s all we can share at the moment.

The Board of AHM

10/03/2024

Today in Aviation History
10/2/2009 – Feel Air, a Norwegian low-cost airline, was announced to operate intercontinental flights with a starting date was spring 2011 utilizing Airbus A330-200 aircraft. It never came to fruition, and all was dropped in 2011. (Guess they just weren't 'feelin' it').

*Don’t let history museums become history*

10/01/2024

Today in Aviation History: 10/1/1958 - The National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA) becomes National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). The change was the result of the National Aeronautics and Space Act of 1958, which was passed in response to concerns that the U.S. was falling behind the Soviet Union in space exploration.
Image Credit: NASA
*Don’t let history museums become history*