Archive for November, 2006

Kitty Hawk Wins $29 million contract for holiday postal air network

DALLAS– Kitty Hawk, Inc. (AMEX: KHK) today announced that its wholly owned subsidiary, Kitty Hawk Cargo, Inc., has entered into a contract with the United States Postal Service (”USPS”) to manage a daytime air and ground cargo network (C-NET) for the holiday season mail from November 28 through December 24, 2006. Based on successful performance of the contract, the total revenue to Kitty Hawk is estimated to be $29.33 million. The contract value includes the previously reported USPS award of $10.5 million towards the C-NET network, but does not include separate contracts with the USPS to charter seven of Kitty Hawks own aircraft to operate in the C-NET network.

The daytime C-NET will operate through Kitty Hawk’s Fort Wayne, Indiana sort facility and will be in addition to Kitty Hawk’s own scheduled overnight air freight network. The C-NET is anticipated to include, in addition to seven (7) of Kitty Hawk’s own aircraft, approximately 130 trucks procured by Kitty Hawk, over 200 seasonal employees at Kitty Hawk’s Fort Wayne sort facility and approximately 29 aircraft contracted by the USPS. Kitty Hawk is also responsible for the ground handling at all cities that are part of the C-NET.

Kitty Hawk team members are honored the United States Postal Service has recognized the capabilities of our unique, seamless and independent overnight air and expedited ground freight transportation network. These capabilities include our 240,000 square foot Fort Wayne, Indiana air and ground hub as well as the teams ability to manage this significant coast-to-coast daytime network for holiday mail and priority freight shipments. We expect that successful performance of this contract will position Kitty Hawk for improved profitability during the fourth quarter, commented Robert W. Zoller, President and CEO.

Throughout the 1990s Kitty Hawks all cargo aircraft have worked on behalf of the USPS, added Steven Markhoff, Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Kitty Hawk Cargo. However, the 2006 C-NET is the single largest project our team has been awarded by the USPS in recent years and for the first time draws on all of the Companys experience managing and operating our extensive North American expedited air and ground freight network. We look forward to successfully executing this Network and possibly serving future USPS programs, Mr. Markhoff concluded.

The contract provides for minimum payments and agreed upon volumes from the USPS ranging from approximately 250,000 cubic feet of mail per day in weeks one and two to approximately 300,000 cubic feet of mail in weeks three and four. C-NET is scheduled to run six days per week for each of the four weeks. Kitty Hawk is responsible for the complete management of C-NET and is subject to performance penalties for inexcusable delays, as defined in the Contract, attributed to Kitty Hawk’s performance.

Postage Due 11/20

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Postage Due 11/19

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Emery settles USPS suit for $10 million

WASHINGTON, Nov. 14 — The U.S. Department of Justice’s U.S. Attorney’s office for District of Columbia issued the following press release:

The United States Government has reached a $10,000,000 settlement with former U.S. Postal Service (USPS) contractor Emery Worldwide Airlines (Emery) concerning its responsibility for the acts of Emery’s employees in allegedly submitting knowingly inflated billings to the USPS for the handling of Priority Mail at mail processing facilities during a multi-year contract, U.S. Attorney Jeffrey A. Taylor and Inspector General for the U.S. Postal Service David C. Williams announced today. Emery and the United States have agreed to settle this matter arising under the False Claims Act, 31 U.S.C. Sections 3729, et seq., after lengthy negotiations. The False Claims Act provides for civil penalties of up to $11,000 per claim and treble damages (i.e., three times the amount of the government’s loss).

The United States Government discovered evidence that indicated that Emery employees inflated billings to the Government for services by, among other things, mis-classifying the size of mail, double-weighing mail and inaccurately weighing mail. The investigation by the USPS-OIG covered the period November 1997 to January 2001, and involved facilities located throughout the United States. Emery denies that it engaged in any wrongdoing and denies that it violated the False Claims Act.

In announcing the settlement, U.S. Attorney Taylor and Inspector General Williams commended members of the U.S. Postal Service’s Office of Inspector General and the Postal Service Law Department. In particular, they praised the outstanding investigative efforts and assistance of OIG Special Agent Brian Cropper, who was assisted in the early investigation by field agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (Boston area), OIG auditor Sylvia Anderson, and Postal Service attorney Harold Durham. In addition, they commended Assistant U.S. Attorney Laurie Weinstein who coordinated the civil investigation and settlement discussions.

Photo: Most photographed PO?

As one commenter asked- “how do they measure that?”

Photo: here come the catalogs!

Welcome to fall mailing season, home edition

Postage Due 11/18

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Tornado causes heavy damage to Montgomery AL Post Office

According to the Montgomery Advertiser:

“It’s official - two tornadoes struck Montgomery County on Wednesday, leaving millions of dollars worth of property damage and hundreds of people homeless. … Montgomery’s main post office on Winton Blount Boulevard was damaged heavily, especially the main lobby. All letters and packages there were taken to processing centers in Birmingham and Mobile, a postal official said.”

“Customers who use the Wynton Blount Boulevard post office are asked to bring their first- class mail and packages to either the Lagoon Park Station, 560 George Todd Road, or the Shakespeare Station, 2500 East Blvd. Services at all other post offices will remain unchanged. It is unclear how long the Wynton Blount Boulevard location will be closed.”

It’s official - tornadoes caused Montgomery’s damage

Postage Due 11/17

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Video: ‘Inverted Jenny’ stamp on ballot not what it seems

From the Sarasota Herald Tribune