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Southern Air Appoints Industry Veteran Robert L. Crandall to Board of Directors

NORWALK, Conn., Jan. 31, 2011 — Southern Air Holdings, Inc. today announced that Robert L. Crandall, former Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of AMR Corporation and American Airlines, has been appointed to the company’s Board of Directors.

“Southern Air is one of the most experienced and fastest growing air cargo carriers in the world,” said Mr. Crandall. “The company has an exceptional record of performance and great potential in its markets. I look forward to working closely with CEO Dan McHugh, his management team and the Board to support Southern Air’s continued expansion and long-term success.”

“Bob is renowned in the industry and his decision to join our Board is an important endorsement of what we are accomplishing at Southern Air,” said Daniel J. McHugh, Chief Executive Officer of Southern Air. “His deep knowledge of the aviation industry and proven track record of leadership will be invaluable as we seek to position the company to be the world’s leading ACMI operator by continuing to expand our customer offerings while maintaining the highest standards of safety, reliability and customer service.”

“We are very excited to have Bob join the Southern Air team,” said Rowan Taylor, Chairman of the Board of Southern Air and a Partner at Oak Hill Capital Partners. “His profound industry and business experience will be a great asset to Southern Air as it continues to expand and upgrade its fleet and extend its global reach.”

Mr. Crandall joined American Airlines in 1973, becoming President in 1982, and Chairman and CEO in 1985. During his 25-year tenure, Mr. Crandall was instrumental in introducing several changes that revolutionized the travel industry. This includes launching an expansion program at American Airlines which more than tripled the company’s size and transformed it from a medium-sized domestic carrier to one of the world’s leading international airlines with revenues of more than $20 billion.

Mr. Crandall is currently Chairman of the Board of Directors of Celestica Inc. and a Director of Aircell.

He earned a B.S. from the University of Rhode Island and an M.B.A. from the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School.

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    The FAA said Atlas Air replaced one of the windows at the first officer’s position, but failed to use the methods, techniques and practices specified in the manufacturer’s maintenance manual or alternate procedures accepted by the FAA for the B-747F. The airline then approved the aircraft for return to service. As a result, the replacement window suffered pressurization leaks while in flight according to multiple reports made by crews operating or maintaining the aircraft. The FAA has proposed a penalty of $506,150 for those violations.

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    Atlas Air has 30 days from receipt of the FAA’s enforcement letters to respond to the agency.

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  • NTSB TRANSFERS CONTROL OF INVESTIGATION OF AUSTIN PLANE CRASH TO FBI

    NTSB Advisory : NTSB NTSB TRANSFERS CONTROL OF INVESTIGATION OF AUSTIN PLANE CRASH TO FBI

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    NASA NAMES WALEED ABDALATI AS AGENCY’S NEW CHIEF SCIENTIST

    WASHINGTON — NASA Administrator Charles Bolden has named Waleed Abdalati the agency’s chief scientist, effective Jan. 3. Abdalati will serve as the principal adviser to the NASA administrator on agency science programs, strategic planning and the evaluation of related investments.

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    Abdalati is a fellow of the Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences, a joint venture between the University of Colorado at Boulder and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. His research examines how and why the Earth’s ice cover is changing and what those changes mean for life on our planet.

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    Boeing Conducts Test Flight

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    Boeing Leaders to Address Bio-Fuels, Growth, Emerging Issues at Asian Aerospace 2011

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