In the first quarter of 2013, Delta Air Lines expected to pay $2 billion more for fuel than it did in the first quarter of 2000, the peak of what was then a steep upturn. That Delta is still likely to make a profit in the seasonally weakest period of the year—and in a still challenging economic environment—shows how much the carrier has changed.

If time is money, precision is capacity, and the Ground-Based Augmentation System (GBAS) can make the most of both. The 2013 Laurel for IT recognizes the multiple engineering challenges overcome by a team—including the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, Honeywell Aerospace and United Airlines—that spent years preparing to go live with GBAS hardware in 2010 only to have to go back to the drawing board because of radio-frequency interference. Because of their persistence, GBAS is already proving the benefits of higher precision at one of the most congested U.S.

Yann Barbaux (see photo) has been appointed chief innovation officer for Toulouse-based Airbus. He was head of EADS Innovation Works, which he created and developed.

Contract-tower program supporters are appealing to the FAA to limit the number of airport tower closures set to start April 7 due to across-the-board budget cuts. Senate leadership rejected the efforts of Sen. Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) to keep the FAA from closing up to 189 contract towers and restore funding for the program in a short-term spending bill that passed Congress last week.

With the help of all of the supply chain solutions available and the plethora of options for component asset management, airlines are gaining efficiencies and improving their bottom lines.

Each year, in addition to naming Laureates, Aviation Week honors outstanding cadets at U.S. military academies as Tomorrow's Leaders. The awards are sponsored by BAE Systems. This year, four cadets were named and recognized at the Laureates gala by Aviation Week President Greg Hamilton.

Al Peterson has become general manager of Houston-based Landmark Aviation's Los Angeles location. He was airport and FBO manager at Nantucket (Mass.) Memorial Airport.

The final chapter has apparently opened in the turf war among national security agencies over which should control the most prominent weapon system in use since the 9/11 terrorist attacks.