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Press Release – FAA Proposes $168,000 Civil Penalty Against Radiology Corp.

For Immediate Release

WASHINGTON – The Federal Aviation Administration is proposing a $168,000 civil penalty against Radiology Corporation of America, Inc., of Delray Beach, Fla., for allegedly violating Department of Transportation hazardous materials regulations.

The FAA alleges Radiology Corp. offered a fiberboard box to Delta Airlines in Atlanta as checked baggage, Feb. 6, 2010. The box housed a soldering iron containing liquid butane fuel, a flammable gas, which is a hazardous material. The shipment was not declared to contain hazardous materials.

Radiology Corp. allegedly offered the checked baggage for transportation by air when it was not packaged, marked, classed, described, labeled or in condition for shipment as required by regulations. Delta employees at the Atlanta airport discovered the shipment before it was loaded on an aircraft.

Radiology Corporation of America Inc., has 30 days from receipt of the FAA’s civil penalty letter to respond to the agency.

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    Boeing Statement on Proposed Agreement Regarding Santa Susana Cleanup

    SIMI VALLEY, CALIF., Sept. 3, 2010 – In response to today’s announcement of an agreement in principle between the California Department of Toxic Substances Control, the U.S. Department of Energy and NASA regarding the potential cleanup of Santa Susana Field Laboratory in California, Boeing issued the following statement:
    “We are reviewing the framework of the proposed agreement between the U.S. Department of Energy, NASA and the State of California. While we don’t have specific details about the proposed agreement, we are hopeful that it moves the cleanup forward while preserving the biological, historical and cultural resources at Santa Susana.

    “Boeing remains committed to a cleanup that fully protects human health and the environment and preserves Santa Susana as open space for future generations. We remain open to continued dialogue with the State and will continue our environmental investigations, interim soil and groundwater cleanups and storm water quality improvements.”

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    Massive flight cancellations into and out of Frankfurt – German domestic flights and connections to European destinations equally affected – Long-haul flights still being flown

    The winter weather over the past few days has severely disrupted flight operations and kept passengers stranded on the ground, especially at Lufthansa’s home airport in Frankfurt. Since the weather is expected to get even worse, Lufthansa has been forced to operate to a special timetable, in which numerous flights on German and European routes into and out of Frankfurt will have to be cancelled. This measure is necessary in order to reinstate flight operations on their customary stable basis. Lufthansa long-haul flights are not affected.

    All Lufthansa passengers are urged to check the status of their flight before beginning their journey at Arrival & Departure. Passengers on intraGerman flights are advised anyway to utilise an alternative means of travel. In view of the extraordinary situation, Lufthansa flight tickets can be used for journeys by train without any problem. Electronic tickets can be exchanged for travel vouchers at the customer-operated check-in terminals.

    Should there not be enough time to convert the ticket at a Lufthansa Quick-Check-in machine, Lufthansa recommends the purchase of a train ticket. The refund of the ticket can be obtained by presenting the train ticket and the flight ticket to the office that has issued the flight ticket after having completed the journey.

    Passengers affected by flight cancellations should contact the dedicated Lufthansa Call Center set up specially for the purpose. The free phone number to call from Germany is: 0800 850 60 70. Callers from outside Germany should phone their local Lufthansa phone number .

    Lufthansa deeply regrets the inconvenience caused to many of its passengers in these days and will do its utmost to lessen the impact as much as possible.

    Deutsche Lufthansa AG
    Corporate Communications

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    Strengthening the Foundations of Brazilian Aviation

    IATA Press Release
    20 August 2009

    Sao Paulo – The International Air Transport Association (IATA) set out an agenda for the Brazilian civil aviation sector, leveraging positive actions by the Government of Brazil to improve competitiveness and deliver broad economic benefits.

    “The new Civil Aviation National Policy is a great opportunity. Air transport supports 2.6% of Brazil’s economy. Thousands of jobs and billions of dollars of business depend on its success. Brazil must use the national policy to build a more competitive industry by overcoming major fiscal and infrastructure handicaps,” said Giovanni Bisignani, IATA’s Director General and CEO. Bisignani made his comments in a speech to industry and government leaders at the British Chamber of Commerce in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

    Bisignani held positive meetings with ANAC, the Ministry of Defense and the Minister of Institutional Relations and noted many recent encouraging developments in Brazilian aviation. These include the elimination of the PIS/COFINS tax on jet fuel which collected US$100 million annually, the adoption of the IATA Operational Safety Audit (IOSA) by the Brazilian government, and the staged liberalization of air fares. “As Brazil prepares to host the 2014 FIFA World Cup, we look forward to working even more closely with the government to further improve the competitiveness of Brazilian aviation and achieve cost-efficient infrastructure improvements,” said Bisignani.

    Bisignani offered to work with the Brazilian government in two key areas:

    Airport Concessions: Brazil is contemplating airport concessions to help speed infrastructure improvements. “Private investment with the right conditions can help improve infrastructure but concessionaires must be governed by robust economic regulation. Our common goal is to ensure that the airport is run efficiently, serves and consults with its customers and drives economic development. This is a natural role for ANAC. IATA is happy to bring its global expertise to ensure that ANAC has the independence to carry its mission effectively,” said Bisignani.
    Congestion at Sao Paulo’s Guarulhos Airport: Bisignani offered support for early implementation of IATA’s Worldwide Scheduling Guidelines at Sao Paulo’s Guarulhos airport. “Congestion pricing is not a solution. IATA’s Worldwide Scheduling Guidelines are helping airports around the world manage congestion. As we evaluate longer term solutions, we look forward to working with INFRAERO to make the most of existing terminals and infrastructure and to a robust consultation process on future developments,” said Bisignani.
    Bisignani also noted the need to improve the competitiveness of the Brazilian aviation sector by working together to addressing two specific issues:

    Petrobras’ import parity pricing policy: “This adds 30 cents to every gallon of jet fuel sold in Brazil. This US$450 million annual competitive disadvantage makes no sense for a country that supplies 80% of its fuel needs domestically. The result is that 32% of the cost structure of Brazil’s airlines goes to fuel, compared to a global average of 23%. We must find a policy that brings prices in line with market realities,” said Bisignani.
    ATAERO Tax: Airport charges paid to INFRAERO, Brazil’s airport operator, do not equally recover costs for each individual airport. Airlines pay a 50% surcharge (US$370 million annually) known as ATAERO to cover the gaps. “INFRAERO must be funded on a cost recovery basis, with charges that are transparent, agreed with users and in line with international standards,” said Bisignani.
    Finally, Bisignani urged Brazil’s government to be a strong voice driving aviation forward on two key priorities: environment and liberalization.

    Environment: IATA is leading industry efforts on aviation and the environment with three sequential targets: a 1.5% average annual improvement in fuel efficiency to 2020, carbon neutral growth by 2020 and a 50% absolute cut in emissions by 2050 (compared to 2005). “Brazil is critical to these goals. As a leader in biofuels, I hope that the Brazilian government will provide the fiscal and legal framework to encourage investments in sustainable biofuels which can significantly reduce aviation’s carbon footprint. Brazil is a major player in the UNFCCC process and at ICAO which is tasked with handling aviation’s international emissions. It has a leadership responsibility to ensure that ICAO can bring to the UNFCCC a position that supports a global sectoral approach to aviation emissions and reflects the industry’s globally harmonized approach to controlling emissions,” said Bisignani.

    Liberalization: Brazil was one of 15 governments participating in IATA’s Agenda for Freedom. An IATA study showed that market and ownership liberalization in Brazil had the potential to generate up to 400,000 new jobs and up to 24 billion Reais. “CONAC’s proposal to increase foreign ownership possibilities to 49% and a recent liberal bilateral agreement with Chile are steps in the right direction. As the region’s largest economy, I hope that Brazil can take leadership to promote liberalization in Latin America and globally,” said Bisignani.

    View Giovanni Bisignani’s full speech

    Notes for Editors:

    IATA (International Air Transport Association) represents some 230 airlines comprising 93% of scheduled international air traffic.
    For more information, please contact:

    Anthony Concil
    Director Corporate Communications
    Tel: +41 22 770 2967

    PORTUGUESE

    Reforçando os Fundamentos da Aviação Brasileira

    20 de agosto de 2009 (São Paulo) A Associação Internacional de Transporte Aéreo (IATA)
    definiu uma agenda para o setor da aviação civil brasileira, destacando ações positivas do
    governo brasileiro para melhorar a competitividade e proporcionar amplos benefícios
    econômicos.

    “A nova Política Nacional de Aviação Civil é uma grande oportunidade. O transporte aéreo
    sustenta 2,6% da economia brasileira. Milhares de empregos e bilhões de dólares em negócios
    dependem de seu sucesso. O Brasil deve usar a política nacional para construir uma indústria
    mais competitiva, abordando importantes descompassos fiscais e de infraestrutura “, disse
    Giovanni Bisignani, Diretor Geral e CEO da IATA. Bisignani fez seus comentários em um
    discurso para líderes da indústria e do governo na Câmara Britânica de Comércio em São Paulo,
    Brasil.

    Bisignani teve positivas reuniões com a ANAC, o Ministério da Defesa e com o Ministro das
    Relações Institucionais e constatou recentes desenvolvimentos encorajadores para a aviação
    brasileira. Estes incluem a eliminação do PIS/COFINS sobre a querosene de aviação, que
    representam US$100 milhões anualmente, a adoção do IATA Operational Safety Audit (IOSA)
    pelo governo brasileiro e a progressiva liberalização das tarifas aéreas. “Com a preparação do
    Brasil para sediar a Copa do Mundo 2014, estamos dispostos a trabalhar ainda mais
    estreitamente com o governo para aprimorar a competitividade da aviação brasileira e alcançar
    maiores eficiências de custo de infraestrutura”, disse Bisignani.

    Bisignani se ofereceu para trabalhar com o governo brasileiro em duas áreas fundamentais:
    • Concessões de Aeroportos: O Brasil está considerando a concessões de aeroportos
    para acelerar melhorias na infraestrutura. “O investimento privado, nas condições
    adequadas, pode ajudar a melhorar a infraestrutura, mas os concessionários devem ser
    objeto de uma regulação econômica robusta. O nosso objetivo comum é assegurar que
    o aeroporto funcione de forma eficiente, sirva e interaja com seus clientes e impulsione o
    desenvolvimento econômico. Esta é uma função da ANAC. A IATA tem prazer em dividir
    sua experiência global para possibilitar que a ANAC tenha a independência para
    desempenhar sua missão de maneira eficaz”, disse Bisignani.
    • Congestionamento no Aeroporto de Guarulhos/São Paulo: Bisignani ofereceu apoio
    para a pronta implementação dos Worldwide Scheduling Guidelines no aeroporto de
    Guarulhos, em São Paulo. “A tarifa de congestionamento não é uma solução. Os
    Worldwide Scheduling Guidelines estão ajudando aeroportos ao redor do mundo a
    gerenciar congestionamentos. Enquanto avaliamos soluções de longo prazo,
    trabalharemos com a INFRAERO para tirar máximo proveito da infraestrutura e dos
    terminais existentes, além de um processo consistente de planejamento conjunto sobre
    futuros projetos “, disse Bisignani.

    Bisignani observou também a necessidade de melhorar a competitividade do setor de aviação
    brasileiro, trabalhando em conjunto para abordar duas questões específicas:
    Política da paridade de preços de importação da Petrobras: “Isto adiciona 30
    centavos para cada galão de querosene de aviação vendido no Brasil. Essa
    desvantagem competitiva de US$450 milhões anuais não faz sentido para um país que
    produz internamente 80% de seu consumo de combustível. O resultado disto é que a
    participação dos combustíveis nos custos das empresas brasileiras representa 32% do
    total, contra 23% da média global. Precisamos encontrar uma política de preços alinhada
    com as realidades do mercado”, disse Bisignani.

    ATAERO: As tarifas de aeroporto pagas para a INFRAERO, a operadora brasileira de
    aeroportos, não cobrem por completo os custos para cada aeroporto individualmente. As
    empresas aéreas pagam uma sobretaxa de 50% (US$ 370 milhões ao ano) conhecida
    como ATAERO para cobrir necessidades. “A INFRAERO deve ser remunerada em base
    de recuperação de custos, com tarifas que sejam transparentes, acordadas com os
    usuários e alinhadas com padrões internacionais”, disse Bisignani.
    Por fim Bisignani instigou o governo brasileiro a ser um líder no setor de aviação com relação à
    dois temas prioritários: meio ambiente e liberalização.

    Meio ambiente: a IATA está liderando os esforços da aviação civil com relação ao meio
    ambiente, com três metas sequenciais: 1,5% de melhoria anual na eficiência de combustível até
    2020, crescimento neutro de carbono até 2020 e redução absoluta de 50% nas emissões até
    2050 (em comparação à 2005). “O Brasil é chave para estas metas. Com um líder em
    biocombustíveis, espero que o governo brasileiro desenvolva um modelo fiscal e legal para
    encorajar investimentos em biocombustíveis sustentáveis, que podem reduzir significativamente
    nossa pegada de carbono. O Brasil é um ator importante no UNFCCC e na ICAO, que foi
    incumbida de gerenciar as emissões da aviação internacional. O Brasil possui uma
    responsabilidade de liderança para garantir que a ICAO consiga levar para o UNFCCC uma
    posição que represente a abordagem da indústria da aviação e reflita o objetivo de
    harmonização global para o controle das emissões”, disse Bisignani.

    Liberalização: O Brasil foi um dos 15 governos que participou da reunião Agenda for Freedom,
    da IATA. Um estudo da IATA indicou que a liberalização do acesso ao mercado e à propriedade
    tem o potencial de gerar até 400.000 novos empregos e até R$ 24 bilhões de incremento no PIB
    do país. “A proposta do CONAC de aumentar as possibilidades de propriedade estrangeira para
    49% e um recente acordo bilateral liberal com o Chile são passos na direção correta. Como a
    maior economia da região, espero que o Brasil assuma a liderança para promover a liberalização
    na América Latina e globalmente”, disse Bisignani.

    O texto complete do discurso de Bisignani está disponível em www.iata.org

    Contato:
    Anthony Concil
    Diretor de Comunicação Corporativa
    + 41 22 770 2967
    Email: corpcomms@iata.org

    Nota para os editores:

    • IATA (International Air Transport Association) representa 230 empresas aéreas,
    compreendendo 93% do tráfego aéreo internacional regular.

    Spanish
    Se refuerzan los cimientos de la aviación brasileña

    20 de agosto de 2009 (Sao Paulo) – La International Air Transport Association (IATA) ha
    dibujado una agenda para el sector brasileño de aviación civil, aprovechando las acciones
    positivas del Gobierno brasileño para mejorar la competitividad y obtener beneficios económicos
    más amplios.

    “La nueva Política Nacional de Aviación Civil es una gran oportunidad. El transporte aéreo
    supone el 2,6% de la economía brasileña. Miles de puestos de trabajo y miles de millones de
    dólares de penden de su éxito. Brasil debe usar la política nacional para construir una industria
    más competitiva dando respuesta a los principales retos en materia fiscal y de infraestructura”,
    dijo Giovanni Bisignani, Director General y CEO de IATA. Bisignani hizo estos comentarios en un
    discurso ante líderes de la industria y el gobierno en la Cámara de Comercio Británica en Sao
    Paulo, Brasil.

    Bisignani sostuvo encuentros positivos con el ANAC, el Ministerio de Defensa y el Ministerio de
    Relaciones institucionales, y se hizo eco de varios desarrollos positivos recientes en la aviación
    brasileña. Estos incluyen la eliminación del impuesto PIS/COFINS sobre el combustible de
    aviación, que obtenía 100 millones de dólares anualmente, la adopción de la Auditoría de
    Seguridad Operacional de IATA (IOSA), por parte del Gobierno brasileño, y la liberalización
    escalonada de las tarifas aéreas. “A medida que Brasil se prepara para ser la anfitriona de la
    Copa del Mundo de la FIFA en 2014, esperamos trabajar cada vez más estrechamente con el
    Gobierno para mejorar aun más la competitividad de la aviación brasileña y lograr mejoras en la
    eficiencia de los costes de las infraestructuras”, dijo Bisignani.

    Bisignani ofreció trabajar con el Gobierno brasileño en dos áreas clave:

    • Concesiones aeroportuarias: Brasil está estudiando concesiones aeroportuarias para
    ayudar a agilizar las mejoras en infraestructura. “Las inversiones privadas con las
    condiciones adecuadas pueden ayudar a mejorar la infraestructura, pero los
    concesionarios deben ser gobernados por regulaciones económicas sólidas. Nuestro
    objetivo común es asegurar que los aeropuertos funcionan de forma eficiente, dan
    servicio y se comunican con sus clientes y ayudan al desarrollo económico. Esta es una
    tarea natural para ANAC. IATA está muy satisfecha en aportar su experiencia global
    para asegurar que ANAC tiene la independencia para llevar a cabo su misión de forma
    eficiente”, dijo Bisignani.

    • Congestión en el Aeropuerto Guarulhos de Sao Paulo: Bisignani ofreció el apoyo
    para la implementación de la Guía de Programación Mundial de IATA en el Aeropuerto
    Guarulhos de Sao Paulo. “Cobrar para evitar la congestión no es la solución. La Guía de
    Programación Mundial de IATA está ayudando a los aeropuertos de todo el mundo a
    gestionar la congestión. Mientras evaluamos soluciones a largo plazo, esperamos
    trabajar con INFRAERO para conseguir lo máximo de las terminales e infraestructuras
    existentes y llegar a un sólido proceso de consultas sobre los desarrollos futuros”, dijo
    Bisignani.

    Bisignani también hizo notar la necesidad de mejorar la competitividad del sector brasileño de
    aviación trabajando juntos para dar respuesta a dos problemas específicos:

    • La política de paridad de importación en los precios de Petrobras: “Esto añade 30
    centavos a cada galón de combustible de aviación vendido en Brasil. Esta desventaja
    competitiva de 450 millones de dólares anuales, no tiene sentido para un país que
    suministra domésticamente el 80% de sus necesidad de combustible. El resultado es
    que el 32% de la estructura de costes de las líneas aéreas brasileñas es el combustible,
    en comparación con la media mundial del 23 %. Debemos encontrar una política que
    coloque a los precios en línea con la realidad del mercado”, dijo Bisignani.

    • El impuesto ATAERO: Las tasas aeroportuarias que se pagan a INFRAERO, el
    operador brasileño de aeropuertos, no recuperan costes de forma similar en cada
    aeropuerto individual. Las líneas aéreas pagan una sobretasa del 50% (370 millones de
    dólares anuales), conocida como ATAERO para cubrir los agujeros. “ATAERO debe
    financiarse sobre una base de recuperación de costes, con tasas transparentes, de
    acuerdo con los utilizadores, y en línea con las normas internacionales”, dijo Bisignani.
    Finalmente, Bisignani urgió al Gobierno brasileño para que apoyase el futuro de la aviación
    basándose en dos prioridades clave: medio ambiente y liberalización.
    Medio Ambiente: IATA está liderando los esfuerzos de la industria sobre el medio ambiente con
    tres objetivos esenciales: Una media del 1,5% anual de mejora en la eficiencia del consumo de
    combustible hasta 2020, crecimiento neutral en carbono para 2020 y una reducción absoluta del
    50% en las emisiones en 2050 (en comparación con 2005). “Brasil es crítico para lograr estos
    objetivos. Como líder en biocombustibles, espero que el Gobierno brasileño ofrezca el marco
    fiscal y legal para ayudar a las inversiones en biocombustibles sostenibles que pueden reducir de
    forma significativa la huella de carbono de la aviación. Brasil es uno de los principales actores en
    el proceso de UNFCCC y en OACI, que tiene la responsabilidad de gestionar las emisiones
    internacionales de la aviación. Tiene la responsabilidad de líder para asegurar que OACI pueda
    dar a UNFCCC una propuesta que apoye una filosofía sectorial global y refleje la filosofía
    armonizada globalmente del sector para controlar sus emisiones”, dijo Bisignani.

    Liberalización: Brasil fue uno de los 15 países cuyo Gobierno participó en la “Agenda for
    Freedom” de IATA. Un estudio de IATA mostro que la liberalización de mercado y de la
    propiedad en Brasil tenía el potencial de generar hasta 400.000 nuevos empleos y 24.000
    millones de Reais. “La propuesta de CONAC de incrementar la propiedad extranjera hasta el
    49% y un reciente acuerdo bilateral liberal con Chile son pasos en la dirección correcta. Como la
    mayor economía de la región, espero que Brasil tenga el liderazgo para promover la
    liberalización en América Latina y globalmente”, dijo Bisignani.

    El texto complete del discurso de Bsisgnani está disponible en www.iata.org.

    – IATA –
    Contacto:
    Anthony Concil
    Director Corporate Communications
    + 41 22 770 2967
    Email: corpcomms@iata.org
    Nota para los editors:
    • IATA (International Air Transport Association) representa a unas 230 líneas aéreas, que
    suponen el 93% del tráfico aéreo internacional regular.

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  • |

    FAA Finalized Fatigue Damage Rule

    George’s Point of View

    Design approval holders must now set a time- or cycle-based limit after which structural damage inspections must take place. The rule specifically addresses widespread fatigue damage (WFD) with the intent of “providing for the establishment of safe operational limits and the maintenance actions necessary to preclude WFD prior to reaching those limits.

    The FAA Statement is below:

    Press Release – FAA Adopts “Comprehensive Solution” to Widespread Fatigue on Aging Aircraft

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – In a continuing effort to address aging aircraft issues, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has finalized a rule designed to protect most of today’s commercial planes and those designed in the future from structural damage as they age.

    The new rule seeks to prevent “widespread fatigue damage” (WFD) by requiring aircraft manufacturers and certification applicants to establish a number of flight cycles or hours a plane can operate and be free from WFD without additional inspections for fatigue. Manufacturers have between 18 and 60 months to comply depending on the particular aircraft type.

    Once manufacturers establish these limits, operators of affected aircraft must incorporate them into their maintenance programs within 30 to 72 months, depending on the model of aircraft. After the limit is in the maintenance program, operators cannot fly the aircraft beyond that point unless the FAA approves an extension of the limit.

    “Safety is our highest priority. This rule provides a comprehensive approach to the problem of widespread fatigue in aging aircraft,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. “Requiring carriers to regularly inspect their aircraft for possible fatigue is essential to ensuring the highest levels of safety.”

    “We’ve addressed the problem of aging aircraft with numerous targeted regulations and 100 airworthiness directives over the years,” said FAA Administrator Randy Babbitt. “This rule is a comprehensive solution to ensure the structural safety of today’s airliners and the airplanes of tomorrow.”

    An airplane’s metallic structures are stressed and can develop cracks when they experience repeated loads such as the pressurization and depressurization that happens on every flight. While airlines regularly inspect aircraft for cracks exceeding a certain size, WFD involves aircraft developing numerous tiny cracks, none of which would have raised concerns individually but which together run the risk of joining up and impairing the structural integrity of the plane.

    The new regulation applies to airliners with a takeoff weight of 75,000 lbs. and heavier. It also applies to all transport designs certificated in the future.

    The affected models, totaling 4,198 U.S.-registered airplanes, are listed in the rule.
    The FAA is working closely with the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and other national authorities to harmonize this rule with their regulations as much as possible. EASA is now developing rulemaking to address WFD, and the FAA participates in that process.

    Download the Rule in PDF format here:
    Widespread Fatigue Damage Final Rule.pdf

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    Boeing Press Release: Changes needed in training methodologies to engage next generation

    SINGAPORE, Sept. 15 — The commercial aviation industry will require 466,650 pilots and 596,500 maintenance personnel over the next 20 years to accommodate the strong demand for new and replacement aircraft, according to a crew assessment forecast from Boeing. Airlines will need an average of 23,300 new pilots and 30,000 new maintenance personnel per year from 2010 to 2029.

    The crew assessment forecast is based on Boeing’s Current Market Outlook, widely regarded as the most comprehensive and respected analysis of the commercial aviation market. “When you add up all the numbers, you quickly understand the issues facing this industry,” said Roei Ganzarski, chief customer officer, Boeing Training & Flight Services. “Our challenge is adapting our training to engage the future generation of people who will fly and maintain the more than 30,000 airplanes that will be delivered by 2029.”

    The largest growth in both pilots and maintenance workers will be in the Asia-Pacific region with a requirement for 180,600 and 220,000 respectively. Within Asia, China will experience the greatest need for pilots and maintenance personnel — 70,600 and 96,400 respectively.

    North America will need 97,350 pilots and 137,000 maintenance workers; Europe will need 94,800 pilots and 122,000 maintenance personnel; Africa will need 13,200 pilots and 15,000 maintenance personnel; the Middle East will need 32,700 pilots and 44,500 maintenance personnel; Latin America will need 37,000 pilots and 44,000 maintenance personnel; and the CIS will need 11,000 pilots and 14,000 maintenance personnel.

    “To accommodate this growing demand, it will be vital to match training with the learning styles of students to come,” Ganzarski said. During the recent Asia Pacific Aviation Training Symposium in Kuala Lumpur, Ganzarski called for changes to current training methodologies. “As an industry, we need to adapt to the learning styles of tomorrow’s technologically savvy pilots and mechanics, and ensuring that training is globally accessible, adaptable to individual needs and competency-based.”

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    AvStar Aviation Group, Inc. Announces Chief Pilot Appointment

    HOUSTON, Jan. 6, 2011
    — AvStar Aviation Group, Inc. today announced that its wholly owned subsidiary, Twin Air Calypso Limited, Inc., appointed Arthur Stevenson to the position of Chief Pilot.

    Arthur Stevenson is an Airline Transport Pilot having flown over 142 different types of aircraft while accumulating over 11,000 flight hours. Arthur’s experience includes more than 11 years as point of contact with the FAA in the development and continuing operations of Part 135 Air Carriers. Positions previously held by Arthur include Line Pilot, Chief Pilot, Company Instructor, Company Check Airman, and Director of Operations with air carriers operating aircraft up to 19 passenger seats. Arthur also developed the “Operations”, “Maintenance”, “Training” and “First Responders” manuals for the Monroe County Florida Sheriff’s EMS helicopter operation based in the Florida Keys.

    “I am pleased to have someone with Art’s credentials join Twin Air Calypso Limited, Inc. His experience with larger aircraft and commuter operations will make our transition into these areas quicker and more efficient. We will be able to develop the required manuals and procedures ‘in-house’ thereby making their implementation easier and more cost effective,” said Clayton Gamber, CEO of AvStar Aviation Group, Inc.

    In December 2010 AvStar announced a Letter of Intent (see http://www.prweb.com/releases/2010/12/prweb4920324.htm for the full announcement) had been signed to purchase 35% of Aircraft Charters, LLC. Aircraft Charters, LLC is the owner of the aircraft currently leased to and operated by AvStar’s wholly owned subsidiary Twin Air Calypso Limited, Inc. The purchase is expected to close in January of 2011.

    “The purchase of Aircraft Charters, LLC will improve the balance sheet of AvStar while the addition of Art will improve the Income Statement. With Art’s experience we will be able to expedite the transition to the ‘Commuter’ operator designation as given by the FAA. With the ‘Commuter’ designation Twin Air Calypso Limited, Inc. will gain worldwide exposure through the airline industry’s established marketing services available only to ‘Commuter’ operators,” said Clayton Gamber, CEO of AvStar Aviation Group, Inc.

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