As TAP prepares for privatization, Jorge Sobral, a member of the executive board for TAP Maintenance & Engineering, says spinning off the division could be an option. “The future of M&E depends a lot on who the possible future owner might be [such as a European airline, non-European airline or investment fund]. Without the answers to these fundamental questions, there is no possible way to figure out the near/medium-term future.” The Portuguese government has retained two investment banks to evaluate the airline.
Dixie Aerospace acquired AAR Corp’s line of PMA (parts manufacturer approval) parts to complement its own landing gear, engine and interior systems replacement parts. AAR says the PMA parts line was a non-core element of its business and represents less than 0.5% of its annual sales, which in 2010 were $1.35 billion. Selling this piece enables AAR to “sharpen our focus on our core business,” which includes MRO, supply chain, aerostructures, and government and defense services, says a company spokesman.
You can now register online for Aviation Week events. Go to www.aviationweek.com/conferences or contact: Lydia Janow, 212-904-3225 or 800-240-7645 ext. 5 (U.S. and Canada only) Sept. 12—A&D Finance Europe, London Sept. 14-15—MRO for Aircraft & Engine Leasing, Dublin Sept. 26—Aircraft Composite Repair Management Forum, Zurich Sept. 27-29—MRO Europe 2011, Madrid Sept. 28—MRO Military Europe, Madrid Oct. 20-21—MRO IT, Chicago Oct. 24-26—A&D Programs, Phoenix
The FAA is considering revisions to airline cabin air quality standards. The FAA says it is prepared to charge its Aviation Rulemaking Advisory Committee with reviewing the existing regulations pending receipt of an FAA and industry-sponsored air quality survey that it expects to be completed this year.
Avianca on July 12 is scheduled to launch nonstop service between its hub at Bogota’s Aeropuerto Internacional El Dorado and Orlando International Airport in Florida. The city-pair will be served on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays with an Airbus A319 seating 12 passengers in business class and 108 in coach. With the addition of Orlando, AviancaTaca’s Colombian division will operate 53 weekly frequencies from Colombia to Florida.
Transportation Security Administration Assistant Administrator for Security Operations Lee Kair has been named regional director-Europe for the Office of Global Strategies of the Executive Resources Council, based in Frankfurt, Germany.
Avic Commercial Aircraft Engine Co. (ACAE) appears to be pursuing advanced compressor design as it prepares to build a turbofan to power the Comac C919.
Boeing is finally getting some love from Wall Street. CEO James McNerney and his management team received a positive response from analysts following an annual investor day on May 24 in Seattle. “We agree with McNerney’s view that Boeing has the best growth profile in the industry,” says Credit Suisse’s Robert Spingarn. He is hardly alone: Analysts have twice as many “buy” ratings on the U.S. airframer’s stock (18) as “holds” (9), with only a single “sell.”
House Homeland Security transportation subcommittee Chairman Mike Rogers (R-Ala.) wants to hear what TSA Administrator John Pistole’s “priorities are for addressing vulnerabilities in all modes of transportation.” Expect questions on security credentialing and screening technology at a June 2 subcommittee hearing. The House Homeland Security Appropriations Act for fiscal 2012, not yet passed, cuts $3 billion from the administration’s request for DHS.
Emery Air named Steve Bates CEO, with the mission of expanding the carrier's FBO, maintenance, repair and overhaul business at Chicago/Rockford International Airport.
Air France Flight 447 entered a long, low-speed stall in the minutes before its June 1, 2009, crash off the Brazilian coast, according to data released by the French accident investigation bureau BEA. BEA disclosed the rough chain of events May 27 after a preliminary analysis of the flight data and cockpit voice recorders, which were retrieved from the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean earlier this month.
Japan Airlines (JAL) is launching a Tokyo Narita-Boston Logan service early next year using Boeing 787-8s. This is the first 787 route that JAL has unveiled, says the Oneworld carrier, adding that the service will start April 22. “JAL will become the only carrier to directly link Asia and Boston, one of the largest U.S. metropolitan cities, with a nonstop service,” says JAL, adding that it “will be available four times a week initially and later increase to once daily from June 1, 2012.”
Bombardier Commercial Aircraft President Gary Scott does not seem worried about the lack of recent orders for the company's CSeries program. “More orders will come this year,” Scott told Aviation Daily, but he would not commit to whether those orders would be announced at this year’s Paris air show. “We are having a lot of high-level discussions, and some order announcements could come at Paris, or before Paris, or after Paris,” he said.
After several delays, Caribbean Airlines’ takeover of Air Jamaica was formally completed May 26. The deal, initiated early last year (Aviation Daily, Feb. 16, 2010), gives the Jamaican government a 16% stake in the Trinidad & Tobago-based airline and a board seat in return for Air Jamaica’s assets. Caribbean Airlines, also state-owned, has pledged an investment package. Caribbean’s takeover has been revised since the initial negotiations, and the airline now intends to keep both brands rather than fold them into one Caribbean Airlines.
Greek airline Aegean managed to reduce its losses in the first quarter by implementing sharp capacity cuts. The airline’s pre-tax loss came in at €18 million ($25.4 million), compared with €32.8 million a year earlier. Aegean carried 15% fewer passengers in its system and 18% fewer on domestic routes. Revenues decreased by 8% to €105.7 million, and load factor dropped from 62% to 59.7%.
The Columbus Regional Airport Authority has approved $45 million in funding to cover a phase of replacing the south runway (10R/28L) at Port Columbus International Airport. The replacement will be located 702 ft. farther south. The $143 million project is scheduled to open in June 2013. Once the replacement is completed, the runway layout will qualify Port Columbus for simultaneous landings and takeoffs on both the north and new south runways, contingent on meeting equipment needs and securing FAA approval.
