Shipping Industry Leaders Announce Clean Air Partnerships With Top U.S. Ports

/PRNewswire/ --The Coalition for Responsible Transportation (CRT) announced today that three of the nation's largest ports—the Georgia Ports Authority, the South Carolina State Ports Authority, and the Virginia Port Authority—have joined CRT as Charter Port Members.

This announcement marks the first time that CRT's membership has expanded to include public sector representatives, and will allow CRT to serve as a forum for ports around the country to collaborate with leading cargo owners, trucking companies, ocean carriers and CRT's partner organizations, including Environmental Defense Fund and the Retail Industry Leaders Association, to identify and implement best practices to reduce port-related diesel emissions.

CRT is a national coalition of importers, exporters, trucking companies and ocean carriers who share the belief that by partnering together, ports and their customers can improve the environmental quality of port communities while ensuring that the ports remain an engine for job creation and a thriving economy.

"CRT's mission is to develop public-private partnerships to solve air quality problems, and today's announcement is the next step in CRT's efforts to create a national venue to share best practices, build clean air partnerships between America's ports and their customers and service providers," said CRT President Rick Gabrielson, who is the Director of International Transportation for Target Corporation.

CRT's Charter Port Members share a commitment to environmental sustainability that has been demonstrated by their significant capital investments in air quality improvements across port operations and their development of innovative programs to reduce diesel emissions.

For example, through the Georgia Ports Authority's crane electrification, use of refrigerated container racks, rubber-tired gantry crane repower project and use of fuel additives, the Port of Savannah avoids use of more than 4.5 million gallons of fuel annually, resulting in tremendous emissions savings.

Curtis Foltz, Executive Director of the Georgia Ports Authority, commented, "Our commitment to being a leader in environmental stewardship is a key tenet of our fundamental mission at the GPA. We look forward in working with the CRT to identify collaborative industry solutions to improve overall air quality."

The South Carolina Ports Authority's award-winning environmental program, its "Pledge for Growth," includes voluntary efforts to address land, air, water and community impacts of the port. For example, air projects range from crane electrifications and energy efficiency projects to more than $5 million in public-private, voluntary initiatives that include using cleaner fuels, installing cleaner engines and reducing emissions from four tug boats, 57 port stacking cranes, a dredge and more than 170 trucks.

"The Port of Charleston shares CRT's commitment to practical solutions for improving air quality, while also enhancing the flow of commerce," said Jim Newsome, President & CEO of the South Carolina Ports Authority. "We look forward to continuing our productive relationship with CRT and its member companies, delivering programs that make environmental and economic sense."

Jerry Bridges, Executive Director of the Virginia Port Authority commented, "For more than a decade the Virginia Port Authority has voluntarily engaged in—and developed—diesel emission-reduction programs. The CRT is an industry leader in the development of clear-air programs that engage the critical players within the transportation logistics supply chain. It is that industry-wide influence and leadership that led the VPA to seek a charter membership in the organization."

Among its many environmental initiatives, in 2007 the Virginia Port Authority launched its Green Operator (GO) program, which is one of the first voluntary clean truck programs at a U.S. port. The VPA's dedication to this program, the cooperative efforts of the Federal, State and non-profit GO partners, and the support of Virginia's trucking industry have led to the replacement and/or retrofit of over 200 trucks within the last 18 months. The program continues to gain momentum, as currently 120 additional trucks are awaiting funding for replacement and "GO" is serving as a model for a larger regional program currently under development in the Mid-Atlantic region.

Today's announcement was made at the Retail Industry Leaders Association Logistics Conference in Orlando, Florida, where over 1,000 shipping industry leaders are gathered to discuss topics including ways to promote environmental sustainability in the supply chain.

CRT looks forward to additional ports around the country joining this partnership in coming months.

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Gulfstream Expanding Its Savannah Site

/PRNewswire/ -- Gulfstream Aerospace Corp. today announced that it will expand its Savannah facilities through a $500-million, seven-year plan to ensure that the company is well-positioned to meet future demand for business-jet aircraft and support services. The growth is expected to result in 1,000 additional Gulfstream jobs, an increase of more than 15 percent from Gulfstream's current Savannah employment level of approximately 5,500 employees.

"With our own sales trends and market forecasts suggesting an upturn over the next decade, we want to ensure Gulfstream is well-positioned to meet the demand in terms of products and services," said Joe Lombardo, president, Gulfstream. "We are already beginning to see signs of a modest recovery. In the third quarter of 2010, we booked more orders than we had in any quarter since the downturn began in mid-2008. Furthermore, as flying hours have increased, Gulfstream service centers have enjoyed a significant increase in service volume."

"This expansion is necessary to meet the projected increase for new business-jet aircraft and the maintenance that will follow," Lombardo said.

In the presence of state and local dignitaries, including Gov. Sonny Perdue, Gulfstream's Savannah employees learned that the expansion would include building new facilities at the northwest quadrant of the Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport, renovating several existing facilities on the main campus off Gulfstream Road and expanding office and lab facilities at the Gulfstream Research Development Center in Crossroads Business Park.

During the event, Gov. Perdue said, "Gulfstream is the world standard in business aviation, and we're proud that the company the world looks to for the best business jets is based right here in Georgia." He continued, "The expansion of Gulfstream's facilities will have a major impact on both the state and local economies by creating 1,000 new full-time jobs, not to mention the ripple effects in terms of construction and service workers, as well."

The new positions are expected to include production specialists, engineers, and support technicians.

"The effect this initiative will have is very simple," Lombardo said. "It's jobs for 'G-A.' That means good, high-tech jobs for Georgia. Jobs for Gulfstream Aerospace. And jobs for general aviation, a vital aspect of this nation's industrial base."

First opened in 1967, Gulfstream's Savannah headquarters includes initial-phase manufacturing of five aircraft models: the Gulfstream G650, G550, G500, G450 and G350. The site also includes the largest of the company's five final-phase manufacturing facilities and the largest of Gulfstream's 10 service centers.

Gulfstream announced a $300 million expansion of its Savannah facility in March 2006 and later increased it to $400 million. That expansion was completed in 2009 and included the development of the largest general aviation aircraft maintenance facility in the world; the Nicholas D. Chabraja Manufacturing Facility for the assembly of the ultra-large-cabin, ultra-long-range Gulfstream G650; a state-of-the-art, three-bay final phase paint facility; and a 300,000-square-foot Research and Development Center. In addition, Gulfstream met its commitment to hire 1,100 new employees as part of that expansion.

"While Gulfstream's international presence has grown, we are committed to Georgia and Savannah," Lombardo said. "And we certainly appreciate the efforts of the Georgia Department of Economic Development, the Savannah Economic Development Authority, Chatham County, the city of Savannah and the Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport in supporting this expansion."

Gulfstream will utilize the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) Leadership in Engineering and Environmental Design (LEED) program to implement sustainable design and construction elements into its projects. In choosing contractors and subcontractors for the expansion, Gulfstream will continue its existing policy of providing opportunities to regional small, minority-owned, disadvantaged, veteran-owned and service-disabled veteran businesses.

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Imperial Sugar Settles $345 Million Insurance Claim

(BUSINESS WIRE)--Imperial Sugar Company (NASDAQ:IPSU) announced that it settled the property insurance claim for the February 2008 industrial accident at its Port Wentworth, Georgia refinery for an aggregate of $345 million. The Company expects to recognize pre-tax gains of approximately $278 million in its first fiscal quarter ending December 31, 2009, as a result of the settlement. A final $45 million payment on the claim is expected to be received in early January. Previously the insurers had provided advance claim payments aggregating $300 million under the $350 million policy which provides for replacement cost coverage of physical property damage and business interruption coverage.

About Imperial Sugar

Imperial Sugar Company is one of the largest processors and marketers of refined sugar in the United States to food manufacturers, retail grocers and foodservice distributors. The Company markets products nationally under the Imperial®, Dixie Crystals® and Holly® brands. For more information about Imperial Sugar, visit www.imperialsugar.com.

Statements regarding future market prices and margins, refinery construction costs, timelines and operational dates, future expenses and liabilities arising from the Port Wentworth refinery incident, the timing of final insurance payments, future costs and liabilities arising from the Louisiana Sugar Refining LLC venture, future import and export levels, future government and legislative action, future operating results, future availability and cost of raw sugar, operating efficiencies, results of future investments and initiatives, future cost savings, future product innovations, future energy costs, our liquidity and ability to finance our operations and capital investment programs, future pension plan contributions and other statements that are not historical facts contained in this release are forward-looking statements that involve certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions. These risks, uncertainties and assumptions include, but are not limited to, market factors, farm and trade policy, unforeseen engineering and equipment delays, results of insurance negotiations, our ability to realize planned cost savings and other improvements, the available supply of sugar, energy costs, the effect of weather and economic conditions, results of actuarial assumptions, actual or threatened acts of terrorism or armed hostilities, legislative, administrative and judicial actions and other factors detailed in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual outcomes may vary materially from those indicated.

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AirTran Airways Agents Reject Representation by International Association of Machinists

/PRNewswire/ -- AirTran Airways, a subsidiary of AirTran Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:AAI) , today announced that its customer service, ramp and Reservations agents have rejected representation by the International Association of Machinists (IAM).

The National Mediation Board (NMB) notified AirTran Airways today that they have dismissed the IAM's petition for a representation election because the group failed to garner the required 35 percent of eligible agents to sign representation cards requesting an election. The Board cited an "insufficient showing of interest" in its dismissal notification to both parties.

This is the fifth time since 1998 that this work group has elected to forgo representation. The company has ramp and customer service agents located in airports around the country while the Reservations agents are located in three cities -- Atlanta, Carrollton, and Savannah, Ga.

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Department of Justice Will Not Challenge Hospitals' Joint Purchasing Agreement

/PRNewswire/ -- The Department of Justice announced today that it will not challenge a proposal by Memorial Health Inc. (Memorial), and St. Joseph's/Candler Health System (St. Joseph's/Candler) to enter an exclusive joint purchasing agreement with respect to the purchase of certain medical and surgical supplies. The Department said that the proposed joint purchasing agreement may yield volume discounts and reduced transaction costs for the hospitals and ultimately could result in lower costs and increased hospital services for consumers.

Under the proposed agreement, Memorial and St. Joseph's/Candler would jointly evaluate medical and surgical products, designate suppliers and negotiate prices and other terms with them.

Memorial and St. Joseph's/Candler are 501(c)(3) non-profit organizations that own acute tertiary care hospitals in Savannah, Ga., that serve Southeast Georgia and the low-country area of South Carolina. Memorial owns and operates the Memorial Health University Medical Center. St. Joseph's/Candler owns and operates St. Joseph's Hospital and Candler Hospital.

The Department determined that the proposal meets the requirements of the antitrust safety zone set forth in Statement 7 of the Department's and Federal Trade Commission's Statements of Antitrust Enforcement Policy in Health Care. The safety zone requires that the cost of all products purchased through the joint purchasing agreement account for less than 20 percent of the total revenue of all products and services sold by each participant in the agreement. It also requires that products purchased through the joint purchasing agreement from a given supplier account for less than 35 percent of that suppliers' sale of those products in the relevant market. Memorial and St. Joseph's/Candler represented that they will abide by these limitations.

Under the Department's business review procedure, an organization may submit a proposed action to the Antitrust Division and receive a statement as to whether the Division currently intends to challenge the action under the antitrust laws.

A file containing the business review request and the Department's response may be examined in the Antitrust Documents Group of the Antitrust Division, U.S. Department of Justice, 450 Fifth Street, N.W., Suite 1010, Washington, D.C. 20530. After a 30-day waiting period, the documents supporting the business review will be added to the file, unless a basis for their exclusion for reasons of confidentiality has been established under the Business Review Procedure.

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The Bohemian Hotel Savannah Riverfront, Latest Kessler Collection Property, Set to Open in Savannah, Ga. on July 24

(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Bohemian Hotel Savannah Riverfront, the latest luxury boutique hotel by The Kessler Collection, will officially open in Savannah, Ga. on Friday, July 24, 2009.

This exquisite new property, which is the first new hotel overlooking the Savannah River to open in 17 years, complements The Kessler Collection's AAA Four-Diamond Mansion on Forsyth Park in Savannah. Defined by majestic brick and glass architecture and inspiring interior design, The Bohemian Hotel features nine stories of luxury including 75 spacious, impeccably-appointed guest rooms and suites, concierge service, valet parking, an on-site fitness center and more.

Located at 102 West Bay Street, the hotel is the latest property by acclaimed hotelier and real estate developer Richard C. Kessler, Chairman and CEO of The Kessler Enterprise, Inc. With a premier location overlooking the Savannah River, The Bohemian embodies classic Southern hospitality. The hotel's new construction and brick façade echo River Street's historic riverwalk, where shipping and the cotton trade once dominated.

The Bohemian Hotel's contemporary design, which was approved by Savannah's historic review board, features a vintage allure that recalls the era when British settlers first landed on the bluff above the Savannah River in 1733. This premier location, coupled with the service and luxurious quality standards synonymous with The Kessler Collection, make this hotel the perfect getaway for leisure and business travelers alike. Each guest room features luxury bedding and linens, high-definition television with Roomlinx® interactive media and entertainment system, high-speed wireless Internet connection and spectacular city and river views.

Savannah's newest hotel will also be one of the city's most exceptional destinations for dining and entertainment. Rocks on the River, a full-service restaurant on River Street serving breakfast, lunch and dinner, serves fresh seafood and casual American fare, while Rocks on the Roof, a rooftop lounge providing spectacular views of the Savannah River, will be the city's most talked about nightlife destinations.

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Dr. Thomas Kollars, Chief Scientific Advisor for MIT and his New Biopesticide ProVectorTM Bti Designed to Eradicate Mosquitoes Featured on CNN

Dr. Thomas Kollars, Chief Scientific Advisor for MIT and his New Biopesticide ProVectorTM Bti Designed to Eradicate Mosquitoes Featured on a CNN inside Africa Report Concerning Malaria


(BUSINESS WIRE)--CNN recently aired a feature story on Dr. Kollars new invention the ProVectorTM Bti a flower containing the biopesticide Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis (Bti) for use in killing mosquitoes especially those transmitting deadly diseases such as malaria, dengue fever, rift valley fever, and others. (Copy and paste the following to your browser to see the CNN report) http://edition.cnn.com/video/#/video/international/2009/06/09/inside.africa.06.06.bk.c.cnn

What makes ProVectorTM Bti unique is, it is the first commercially available device to imitate a flower to which adult mosquitoes will come to feed on digesting the biopesticide Bti contained inside. It was designed with the philosophy of keeping “Green” and made of virtually indestructible plastic which reduces waste and it only allows mosquitoes to feed on it, eliminating the spread of pesticides into the environment. Dr. Kollars’ believes his invention will help to reduce mosquito populations down in geographical locations to threshold levels where in nature these types of diseases will cycle out of the mosquito population.

Forward-Looking Statements

Some of the information contained in this release contains forward-looking statements (as defined in Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 (the "Securities Act") and Section 21E of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934 the "Exchange Act"), which mean that they relate to events or transactions that have not yet occurred, our expectations or estimates for our future operations, our growth strategies or business plans or other facts that have not yet occurred. These statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "might," "may," "could," "expect," "anticipate," "estimate," "likely," "intend," "believe," or "continue" or the negative thereof or other variations thereon or comparable terminology. For an explanation of some of the risks and uncertainties facing MIT HOLDING and its investors, please see our most recent prospectus on file with the Securities Exchange Commission. The risk factors contained therein should be considered by prospective investors for their potential impact on forward-looking statements included in this release. These important factors, among others that might not be listed, may cause actual results to differ materially and adversely from the results expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. We caution investors that such discussions of important risks and uncertainties are not exclusive, and our business may be subject to other risks and uncertainties, which are not detailed there.

Investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on our forward-looking statements. We make forward-looking statements as of the date of this release, and we assume no obligation to update the forward-looking statements after the date hereof whether as a result of new information or events, changed circumstances, or otherwise, except as required by law.

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Baskin-Robbins Opens Albany, Augusta and Savannah, Georgia for Franchise Sales; Plans Nearly 30 New Stores

/PRNewswire/ -- Baskin-Robbins, America's favorite ice cream shop, is rapidly expanding its national footprint with today's announcement that Albany, Augusta and Savannah, Georgia are now open for franchise sales. Nearly 30 new stores are projected throughout the three cities and the surrounding communities.

Baskin-Robbins currently operates more than 6,000 stores in 35 countries and opened more than 600 stores globally in 2008. With a domestic footprint of nearly 2,700 locations, Baskin-Robbins is now seeking exceptional franchisee candidates in Georgia to be part of an unprecedented growth campaign designed to increase its U.S. presence over time. Built over the last 64 years, Baskin-Robbins currently enjoys 98 percent brand awareness across the country and was named for the second consecutive year the number one ice cream and frozen dessert franchise in Entrepreneur magazine's annual "Franchise 500" ranking.

To fuel this growth in and around Albany, Augusta and Savannah, Baskin-Robbins is actively seeking store developers who possess strong financial backgrounds, the desire to maximize their territory's sales and have a passion for the communities they will serve.

"As the Baskin-Robbins brand continues to develop in Georgia, we're excited to provide new store owners with the unique opportunity to capitalize on their territory's potential, serve as the face of the brand in the community, as well as set the direction of the market's growth," said Salman Siddiqui, vice president of global business development, Baskin-Robbins.

Baskin-Robbins enters 2009 with several new real estate concepts that provide interested area developers with a range of flexible real estate design options. Part ice cream indulgence, dessert-theater and test kitchen rolled into one, the revolutionary Cafe 31 model operates as a high-end dessert bar with unique ice cream and coffee products. Cafe 31 is currently being tested outside of Boston. The traditional concept is an updated, stand-alone store featuring all of Baskin-Robbins' standard equipment and offerings. Traditional stores can also support a drive-thru depending on the real estate selected. Lastly, the BR Express concept is a brand new soft serve-based kiosk design offering a convenient and simplified solution for malls, sports arenas, airports or other small co-branded real estate opportunities.

"By continuing our history of developing new product innovations and keeping our focus on customer service and business success for our franchisees, Baskin-Robbins is providing a completely new experience in 2009," said Siddiqui. "We share common objectives with our store developers, which focus on building and sustaining a profitable business and strong brand in this increasingly challenging economy."

Furthering its commitment to its franchisees, Baskin-Robbins also offers extensive training programs and comprehensive operating systems designed to help build business. A broad franchise support team is geared to simplify operations and includes development and construction experts, operational support professionals, training managers and field marketing managers. Baskin-Robbins also employs state-of-the-art technology and the latest point of sale terminals to help stores run more efficiently and cost effectively. Baskin-Robbins has proven to be a simple business to run with convenient hours of operation, minimal equipment, little waste and a majority of inventory that has a shelf life of one year with proper storage.

Over six decades ago, Baskin-Robbins was founded by ice cream enthusiasts Burton "Burt" Baskin and Irvine "Irv" Robbins who shared a dream to create an innovative ice cream store that would be a neighborhood gathering place for families. Today, over 300 million people visit Baskin-Robbins each year to sample the more than 1,000 flavors available in its ice cream library, as well as enjoy its full array of frozen treats including ice cream cakes, frozen beverages and sundaes.

"Baskin-Robbins will satisfy a growing demand in and around Albany, Augusta and Savannah for high-quality ice cream, specialty frozen desserts and beverages," said Siddiqui. "Over the past 64 years, Baskin-Robbins has become the brand of choice for consumers and has consistently delighted them with our irresistible flavors and treats. We look forward to being an important part of the community."

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Imperial Sugar Updates Port Wentworth Rebuild Project

(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Imperial Sugar Company (NASDAQ:IPSU) updated the status of its project to rebuild its Port Wentworth, Georgia, refinery which was extensively damaged in an industrial accident in February 2008. The Company reported that through March 31, 2009, it had spent approximately $54 million of the estimated $200 million to $220 million construction costs. The Company’s property insurance policy provides coverage for construction replacement cost, as well as business interruption and certain payroll and other costs. The Company received an additional $35 million advance under the property insurance policy in March 2009.

Advances, which total $160 million to date, are not identified with any specific coverage under the policy. Imperial expects to begin producing granulated bulk sugar at the facility in late May of 2009 and complete restoration of the packaging capabilities by the fall of 2009. The Company also reported that as of March 31, 2009, it had cash balances of $79 million and available, undrawn revolving credit capacity of $55 million, after deducting $30 million of outstanding borrowings under that facility.

John Sheptor, Imperial’s President and CEO, said, “The rebuild project continues to progress nicely and we are on track to begin bulk sugar production in late May. Our employees are enthusiastic about the project and we are working closely with our customers and suppliers to coordinate the restart of the refinery. Discussions with representatives of our insurance companies continue productively, and an additional $35 million of advances were received in March.”

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DIRTT adds new assembly plant in Savannah, GA

/PRNewswire/ -- DIRTT stands for Doing It Right This Time. That now includes setting up a new assembly plant in Savannah, Georgia to build the company's modular, movable walls. The new 81,000-square-foot DIRTT Environmental Solutions (www.dirtt.net) assembly plant is located at 155 Knowlton Way in the Crossroads Business Center. DIRTT will be the first tenant in this state-of-the-art industrial facility. The new plant is slated to open in the spring of 2009. Job fairs will be held in the Savannah area in the meantime.

DIRTT Walls are used for office interiors as an alternative to conventional studs and drywall construction. The walls support furniture and can be tilted down and moved to a new location when change occurs in the office, providing a more sustainable solution than building on-site, then demolishing walls only to build them again. DIRTT is the recipient of several environmental and design awards, and is in thousands of projects because of the walls' function, aesthetics and custom abilities.

The choice of Savannah for their second plant (the first being in Calgary, Canada) is a logical progression of the company's mandate. "We have the word 'Environmental' in our name," says CEO Mogens Smed from DIRTT Environmental Solutions in Calgary. "By setting up in Savannah we are much closer to our key eastern markets, and we can take advantage of existing rail lines and shipping lanes for delivery. It is an important component of our business' environmental leadership."

The proximity to clients is also helpful in DIRTT's mission of hospitality. As an immigrant from Denmark, Smed believes in the tradition of getting to know a client personally. "We host our potential clients in Calgary so they understand who we really are and how we will respond to their needs," explains Smed. "But a long flight with a passport check can be daunting. By having a Client Center in Savannah we'll make it an easier trip for them."

DIRTT is looking forward to hiring employees in a region where manufacturing is a typical industry. Already there are 226 manufacturing plants in the Savannah area and a labor force of over 161,000 in the county. Due to the design nature of their products, DIRTT is also enthusiastic about the city's culture and nearby Savannah College of Art & Design.

"SEDA (Savannah Economic Development Authority) and The Creative Coast Alliance would like to be the first to welcome DIRTT as Savannah's newest innovative and environmentally conscious member of our community," says SEDA President Rick Winger. "DIRTT represents the future - in terms of their industry and the direction Savannah's economy is headed."

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Rolls-Royce Marks 50 Year Partnership with Gulfstream with New Scholarship Program

(BUSINESS WIRE)--Rolls-Royce, the world leader in engines for the business jet market, today marked 50 years of partnership with Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation - the longest partnership in business aviation - by establishing a 50th Anniversary Partnership Scholarship Program for eligible children of Gulfstream’s employees.

Under the terms of this new Scholarship Program, Rolls-Royce will provide an annual stipend of $1,500 for each of the winners’ four years of college.

This Scholarship Program is offered through the National Merit Scholarship Program, an annual academic competition open to all US high school students who meet published participation requirements. The National Merit Scholarship Program is conducted by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC). Candidates for the 50th Anniversary Scholarship Program must meet all eligibility requirements as defined by NMSC and have a parent employed by Gulfstream. Winners are determined by NMSC and are judged to have the strongest combination of academic skills and achievements, extracurricular accomplishments and potential for success in rigorous college studies.

The new Scholarship Program was announced at a ceremony in Savannah, GA, celebrating the two companies’ long-standing success in the corporate aircraft market.

Over the past five decades, Rolls-Royce has been relied upon to deliver power and services for thirteen high-performance Gulfstream business jets and has delivered more than 3,500 Dart, Spey, Tay and BR710 engines. No other civil aerospace customer has received more engines from Rolls-Royce, which is a testament to the strength of the partnership.

Gulfstream’s first business aircraft, the GI, made its maiden flight powered by Rolls-Royce Dart engines more than fifty years ago. This twin-engine turboprop was the first aircraft specifically designed for business travel. This year, the two companies continued the legacy of establishing new milestones in style with the unveiling of the latest, all-new business jet, the Rolls-Royce BR725-powered Gulfstream G650.

Speaking at the celebration ceremony, James M. Guyette, President & CEO, Rolls-Royce North America said: “We are honored to have this successful partnership with Gulfstream – at 50 years, the longest in business aviation. The scholarship program we’re announcing today honors our shared history and looks to a shared future, through the next generation. Rolls-Royce was there from the very beginning with Gulfstream and we’ll be here for the future as we continue this historical partnership.”

Joe Lombardo, President, Gulfstream said: “We are delighted to celebrate this milestone with Rolls-Royce and appreciate the scholarship in its honor. Our partnership has combined expertise and technology to achieve numerous milestones and world records, which will extend to the next generation of Gulfstream business aircraft.”

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Cruise Industry Spending Tops $676 Million, Generates 9,147 Jobs in Georgia in 2007

PRNewswire/ -- The North American cruise industry contributed $676 million in direct spending to the state of Georgia's economy in 2007, a 1.4 percent increase over the previous year according to a recently released study commissioned for Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA).

This spending, in turn, generated 9,147 jobs paying $437 million in wage income. This represents 3.6 percent of the industry's total U.S. direct expenditures, ranking the state seventh in the nation in terms of cruise industry spending. State business sectors most impacted by the industry's direct spending included: business services and government, $327 million; manufacturing, $177 million; and information services, $63 million.

With no direct cruise operations, Georgia is a major source market for cruise passengers. Resident cruise passengers totaled 337,000, 3.7 percent of U.S. resident passengers. The state also supports the cruise industry with a wide range of goods and services.

"The cruise industry continues to make an impressive contribution to the economic well-being of the country and Georgia plays a significant role as one of the leading beneficiaries of industry spending and job creation," said Terry L. Dale, president and CEO of CLIA.

The Contribution of the North American Cruise Industry to the U.S. Economy in 2007 study was conducted by Business Research & Economic Advisors (BREA) in Exton, Pa., and analyzes the economic benefits to the U.S. economy from five principal sources: spending by cruise passengers and crew; shoreside staffing by cruise lines in U.S. cities; expenditures by cruise lines for goods and services; U.S. port services; and vessel maintenance and repair.

Among other key Georgia findings:
-- Tourism-related businesses such as tour operators, airlines, hotels,
restaurants and providers of ground transportation were the
beneficiaries of 20 percent of the cruise industry spending, receiving
$134 million.
-- Another $166 million was spent with businesses in the following
sectors: food processors, computer and electronic equipment
manufacturers, advertising agencies, insurance companies and
management and technical consultants in the non-manufacturing sector.
-- Direct expenditures in Georgia also impacted such industries as
telecommunications, financial services, software publishers and
textile and apparel manufacturers.


Nationwide, the North American cruise industry continued to have a significant and growing impact on the U.S. economy in 2007, positively affecting every state in the country. Cruise line and passenger spending generated a total of $38 billion in gross economic output, a 6.4 percent increase over 2006, and generated 354,700 American jobs paying $15.4 billion in wages and salaries. Direct spending by cruise lines, their employees and passengers totaled $18.7 billion.

The full economic study and summary can be downloaded from CLIA's Web site, www.cruising.org .

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Gulfstream Introduces the New Gulfstream G250

PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Gulfstream Aerospace, a wholly owned subsidiary of General Dynamics (NYSE:GD) , today (October 5, 2008) announced the introduction of its newest super mid-size business jet: the Gulfstream G250.

The G250 offers the largest cabin and the longest range at the fastest speed in its class. The G250 is capable of traveling 3,400 nautical miles at 0.80 Mach and has a maximum operating speed of 0.85 Mach. With an initial cruise altitude of 41,000 feet, the G250 can climb to a maximum altitude of 45,000 feet, where it can avoid air-traffic congestion and adverse weather.

"I'm delighted to announce the newest aircraft in the Gulfstream line," said Joe Lombardo, president, Gulfstream. "Our customers played a definitive role in designing this business jet by participating in our Advanced Technology Customer Advisory Team. As a result, we are confident they'll appreciate the G250's state-of-the-art technology, superior performance and enhanced styling."

Gulfstream projects the G250 will be certified in 2011 and expects to begin customer deliveries of the new aircraft the same year. The first flight of the aircraft is scheduled for the second half of 2009.

"I am very proud of the advanced technology our team has incorporated into the G250. It gives this new member of the Gulfstream family increased speed and range. The all-new, advanced Gulfstream wing, the best-in-class Honeywell engines, and the PlaneView 250 cockpit from Rockwell Collins make the G250 the best-in-class aircraft," said Pres Henne, senior vice president, Programs, Engineering and Test, Gulfstream . "I do want to give credit to Dan Nale, vice president, Mid-Cabin Programs, and Mark Kohler, G250 program manager at Gulfstream, for all their efforts in bringing this program forward on schedule. Their team's work has resulted in the G250 leading the super mid- size category. I am equally proud of our partner G250 team at Israel Aerospace Industries for the detailed design and manufacturing of this new aircraft."

Performance

The G250 is powered by twin Honeywell HTF7250G engines, each of which provides 7,445 pounds of thrust. These fuel-efficient engines feature reduced emissions, longer maintenance intervals and decreased noise levels. They also offer excellent climb performance, propelling the G250 to FL410 in less than 20 minutes.

The G250 also has an all-new, advanced transonic wing design that has been optimized for high-speed cruise and improved takeoff performance. At maximum takeoff weight, the G250 can take off from a 5,000-foot runway. Its 3,400- nautical-mile range means the G250 can fly nonstop from New York to London or from London to Dubai.

Improved Cabin Comfort

Convenience and comfort are the hallmarks of the G250 cabin. The aircraft has the largest cabin in its class, with 17 percent to 35 percent more floor area than any other super mid-size business jet. This additional space provides for a larger lavatory, an improved galley and increased storage.

The lavatory features two large windows, a contemporary sink with a raised ledge, and a vacuum toilet system. The G250 is the only super mid-size business jet with this system, a standard feature on larger business aircraft. This system is easier to access, service and maintain.

The ergonomically designed G250 galley features an extra-large ice drawer with gasper-cooled storage, a sink with a slide-out work surface, and increased storage capabilities. In addition to the galley, the G250 offers storage in a forward cabin closet, the lavatory closet and the divan end cabinets. The aircraft also provides in-flight access to 120 cubic feet of usable volume in the baggage compartment.

Nineteen windows allow natural light to illuminate the cabin's interior. This reduces jet lag and enhances cabin ambiance. The cabin environment is further improved by 100 percent fresh air and a cabin altitude of 7,000 feet at FL450. Industry-leading sound levels mean the G250 cabin provides a more comfortable environment for conversation or relaxing.

The G250 adheres to Gulfstream's Cabin-Essential(R) design philosophy, which means all of its major cabin systems have been designed with redundancy so a single-point failure will not result in the loss of cabin functionality. That means cabin lighting always illuminates; water is always available; and an entertainment source always works.

The PlaneView(R) 250 Cockpit

The G250 is equipped with the most advanced flight deck in its class: the PlaneView 250 featuring Rockwell Collins Pro Line Fusion avionics. This flight deck features three high-resolution, 15-inch diagonal Liquid Crystal Displays (LCDs) that are capable of showing multiple formats, including a navigation map with terrain; approach and airport charts; graphical flight planning, and optional synthetic and enhanced vision.

The cockpit also includes two new Standby Multi-function Controllers (SMCs). Installed in the glare shield, these first-of-their-kind SMCs incorporate a variety of features, including Standby Instrument, Electronic Flight Information System (EFIS) Display Control, and Remote Information Display on a 5.3-inch LCD.

Working in concert, these elements provide flight crews with enhanced situational awareness and improved safety.

The cockpit also offers dual Flight Management Systems (FMSs), dual Gulfstream signature Cursor Control Devices (CCDs), universal worldwide graphical weather, automatic Emergency Descent Mode, MultiScan(TM) weather radar and a dual auto-throttle system.

Optional features further enhance the capabilities of PlaneView 250. These include the Rockwell Collins HGS-6250 Head-Up Display (HUD II), Gulfstream Enhanced Vision (EVS II) and Gulfstream Synthetic Vision - Primary Flight Display (SV-PFD). A Head-up Guidance System (HGS) designed by Rockwell Collins, HUD II features an all-digital LCD that combines critical flight guidance information with the infrared image from EVS II and presents it in the pilot's forward field of view. This combination of HUD II and EVS II improves touchdown precision, thereby allowing G250 pilots to proceed from Decision Height to a 100-foot altitude when using EVS for low-visibility approaches.

Gulfstream SV-PFD improves situational awareness and safety by generating a synthesized, three-dimensional image of the world outside the cockpit. It integrates data from the Rockwell Collins onboard terrain database with the aircraft's position, altitude and heading to create a synthesized picture that is projected in a perspective view on the Primary Flight Displays. This optional PlaneView 250 feature allows pilots to view major landmarks throughout the world and the aircraft's position relative to them, thereby improving terrain and obstacle awareness.

Additional options for the PlaneView 250 cockpit include predictive wind shear for weather radar, XM graphical weather, paperless cockpit, en route charts and an intercontinental package with enhanced capability and redundancy for oceanic and remote-area operations.

Reliable Systems

The G250 is the only aircraft in its class with auto braking, which provides improved safety while reducing pilot workload. Additionally, the G250 brake-by-wire system features individual antiskid, completely independent mechanical backup and a brake temperature monitoring system.

The G250's advanced flight control system consists of a fly-by-wire multifunction spoiler system, fly-by-wire rudder control, hydro-mechanical elevator control and manually operated ailerons.

The G250 Auxiliary Power Unit (APU) minimizes surge-control valve operation, making the APU quieter to use. A new starter generator improves reliability on the ground or in-flight, where it can be used at altitudes up to 40,000 feet.

The G250 fuel system stores 14,600 pounds of fuel and has an improved refueling sequence that requires less than 20 minutes for fill-ups.

Manufacturing

Initial phase manufacturing for the G250 will be at Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) near the Ben Gurion International Airport in Israel. IAI currently builds two other Gulfstream aircraft: the G150 and the G200. Final phase manufacturing for the G250 will take place at the Gulfstream Center of Excellence completion facility for mid-cabin aircraft in Dallas. Gulfstream maintains a fully staffed office at IAI to oversee initial manufacturing. The G250 Program office is located in Savannah, Ga.

"The G250 offers an unrivaled combination of characteristics that will ensure its success in the business-aviation industry," Lombardo said. "We've made a proven product even better by boosting its range, reducing its runway requirements, bolstering its cabin size, increasing its storage and equipping it with state-of-the-art technology.

"I am excited Gulfstream is able to offer this new aircraft to our customers. And, as with all Gulfstream aircraft, the G250 is backed by Gulfstream's award-winning product-support network," he concluded.

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Imperial Sugar Defends Safety Record, Challenges OSHA Citations, Allegations

BUSINESS WIRE --With the Senate poised to address the issue of combustible dust standards this coming week, Imperial Sugar today challenged public statements made by OSHA in their release of citations and allegations against the company late last week. Imperial has already filed a “notice of contest” of the citations, but also wanted the public record to reflect Imperial’s ongoing and steadfast commitment to workplace safety.

“Imperial shares a mission with OSHA: the safety of our employees in the workplace,” said CEO and President John Sheptor. “Imperial has and will continue to prioritize improving safety at our facilities.”

OSHA released its citations and held a press conference just two days before the Senate hearing on combustible dust standards. During the media event, Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health Edwin G. Foulke Jr. and others made a number of accusations about Imperial Sugar and its commitment to safety in the workplace. Sheptor responded as follows: “We do not believe the facts support OSHA’s allegations. We are extremely disappointed in the remarks made by OSHA as they failed to appreciate the measures taken by the Company prior to the February 7 tragedy to address hazards, including combustible dust. OSHA’s comments also do not reflect the commitment the Company has made to create the safest workplace possible.”

Sheptor specifically took issue with OSHA’s remarks about the Company’s Gramercy facility. Although OSHA suggested Imperial Sugar had done nothing to improve safety at the Gramercy facility after the event in Port Wentworth, in fact, Imperial quickly worked to address concerns, including preemptively shutting down the powdered sugar operations, which remains closed while the Company ensures that it has taken all appropriate measures to ensure safe operation.

Sheptor noted that OSHA’s National Emphasis Program on combustible dust was first published in October of 2007, and that Imperial Sugar implemented an action plan at Port Wentworth in response to the program, much of which was completed prior to the February 7 explosion. “While we believe that the Company did respond appropriately to the National Emphasis Program, we also think a clear and comprehensive OSHA standard that specifically addresses combustible dust would further workplace safety by placing employers and employees on appropriate notice of what the hazards are and the means to prevent them.”

“Imperial Sugar has spent millions of dollars in capital investment to enhance safety programs and to reduce the threat of combustible dust. We will commit millions more to further enhance safety. We disagree strongly with OSHA’s claims and we look forward to presenting the facts that show our commitment to safety – both before the February 7 accident and afterwards. At the same time, we also welcome the opportunity to work with OSHA to improve safety at our facilities and other employers, including assisting OSHA in promulgating a combustible dust standard,” said Sheptor.