Conflict of interest, FAA leadership, and more

• Transportation Secretary nominee Ray LaHood has already weighed in on a matter under DOT review: whether to grant antitrust immunity to an American Airlines-British Airways-& co. transatlantic alliance. He’s in favor, but will likely have to recuse himself from any involvement. [WSJ Middle Seat Terminal, Things with Wings]
• Acting FAA administrator Robert Sturgell will step down on January 16, replaced by new deputy administrator Lynne Osmus, who will also remain on board as acting administrator until Obama’s next appointment. [Things with Wings] Editorial comment: you can now see the congressional Democrats’ savvy in stonewalling the Sturgell nomination for the past year. The FAA administrator has a five-year term, so the Dems knew that if they delayed long enough, they could get their own person nominated in due course. Never mind the effect of a leadership vacuum. . . .
• On that note, Rob Mark has some thoughts on the caliber of leadership needed at the FAA. [Jetwhine]
• The TSA now wants to include private aircraft over 12,500 pounds in security screening procedures. [New York Times]
• U.S. airlines have not (yet) partaken in the bailout-o-rama, but Chinese airlines have been lining up for aid. [ATW Daily News]
• There are a few new papers worth a look on liberalizing international aviation services agreements. [Macilree’s Weblog]
• Dan Webb takes issue with the airline lobby’s claim that its Stop Oil Speculation Now campaign helped bring down the price of oil last fall. [Things in the Sky]