AMR Corp. is shedding 13,000 jobs under a restructuring plan that is seeking some $2 billion in annual cost savings and a further $1 billion in improved sales. The cost cutting includes more than $1.25 billion from labor, while the remaining $750 million or so will come from debt restructuring, grounding of older aircraft and revised supplier contracts, according to AMR CEO Tom Horton.

Safe Fuel Systems and its sister company Safe Accessories have merged under one roof in a newly renovated 22,000 sq. ft. facility. The companies will now operate as Safe Fuel Systems to streamline its processes and customer base. The Miami based FAA/EASA approved repair station will offer test and MRO services for fuel systems, hydraulic components and accessories. IT

Swiss Aviation Consulting welcomes Andreas Knoepfel to its group to head Swiss AeroRisk Management as managing director. He is also a board member of Swiss AeroHoldings. Knoepfel will support customers in analyzing international legal, contractual and insurance matters and he will manage Swiss AeroRisk Management's Fleet Insurance Program. Airframes

Aviation Partners announced that its blended winglets have saved airlines and business aircraft operators an estimated three billion gallons of jet fuel. The winglets are flying on more than 5,000 aircraft and more than 20 aircraft types worldwide.

Dublin Aerospace has signed a two-year contract with Air Via for airframe maintenance services. The agreement covers nine C checks for the airline.

U.S.-based leisure carriers Allegiant Air and Spirit Airlines are exceptionally profitable but couldn't be more different in their aircraft acquisition policy and operating philosophy, including route selection, flight frequencies and aircraft utilization. Those factors affect their maintenance modus operandi, although both outsource heavy maintenance.

For maintenance, repair and overhaul tasks, low lighting levels are more than just an annoyance—they could lead to a host of safety concerns. Workers straining to see intricate aircraft parts could hurt themselves if the lighting is inadequate, or a worker could mistakenly miss foreign object debris left in an engine. Despite this fact, industrial-grade lighting can be difficult to replace and some facilities may wait until bulbs are nearly dead or burned out to replace them, leading to long intervals of very low light.

Apple Aviation Group has signed a line maintenance support contract with Strategic Airlines for three A320 aircraft based at Manchester Airport in the U.K. Apple Aviation's line maintenance capability at Manchester encompasses maintenance up to and including A checks on Boeing 737NG and classic aircraft, Boeing 747, 757 and 767 aircraft and the Airbus A320, A330 and A340 types. The MRO will be adding capabilities for the Airbus A300 and A380 as well as the Boeing 777 soon.