I news I
Ex-Im Bank Approves $45.5 Million for Brazilian Airline Maintenance by Delta Airlines
The Export-Import Bank of the United States (Ex-Im Bank) recently approved a Final Commitment for a $45.5 million loan guarantee to VRG Linhas Aereas S.A. (GOL), the Brazilian airline. The Ex-Im Bank supported financing will support the export of engine maintenance services by Delta TechOps (Delta), a subsidiary of Delta Airlines. This transaction will support approximately 400 jobs.
GOL engines will be shipped from Sao Paulo, Brazil to Atlanta for heavy maintenance to be performed by Delta Air Lines’ maintenance, repair, and overhaul unit. Last April, Ex-Im Bank also approved an $84.8 million loan guarantee to GOL to support the export of maintenance services by Delta. More than 50 percent of GOL’s engine maintenance is currently provided by Delta.
“Supporting American service exports is a critical component of what we do here at Ex-Im Bank, and I am pleased that our financing will help support high-quality jobs for Delta employees in Atlanta,” said Ex-Im Bank Chairman Fred P. Hochberg. “American companies provide the best products and services in the world, and this financing demonstrates how Ex-Im Bank helps level the playing field for American companies like Delta.” Ex-Im Bank approved a second final commitment for GOL to support the export of a Boeing 737-800 aircraft with attached CFM56 engines. It is estimated that this transaction will support approximately 200 jobs at Boeing and its suppliers throughout the United States.
DOT OIG Report Highlights Opportunities to Improve FAA Maintenance Oversight
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has been too slow in shifting to risk-based oversight of the aviation maintenance industry, a report released today by the Department of Transportation’s Office of Inspector General (OIG) found. The OIG prepared the report titled “FAA Continues to Face Challenges in Implementing a Risk-Based Approach for Repair Station Oversight” at the request of the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Transportation & Infrastructure’s Subcommittee on Aviation. The OIG investigation focused on “(1) determining whether the FAA’s oversight includes accurate and timely risk assessment of repair station, and (2) evaluating the effectiveness of the FAA’s oversight of foreign and domestic repair stations.” The OIG’s most important finding was the FAA has been
more focused on mandatory inspections than shifting limited oversight resources to high- risk areas. The Aeronautical Repair Station Association (ARSA), which represents aviation maintenance and manufacturing companies, has long echoed concerns expressed in the report and worked with regulators and lawmakers to improve the quality of oversight. To improve regulation of the aviation maintenance industry, ARSA believes the OIG should ensure the FAA issues regulations in strict accordance with statutes; provides clear, concise guidance material to its workforce and the public; and enforces the regulations uniformly and consistently. While the report highlights the need to improve the way the FAA does its job, air travelers
should rest easy. “Shortcomings at the FAA don’t translate into safety deficiencies in the industry,” said Christian A. Klein, ARSA executive vice president. “Regardless of whether or not regulators are looking over their shoulders, our members have an overwhelming business incentive to achieve the highest levels of safety possible.” Although the report never questioned the quality of repair stations’ work or raised safety concerns, the OIG cited examples of technical violations of the FAA’s policies, suggesting enhanced agency oversight would improve compliance. ARSA is concerned that an investigation intended to examine problems with regulators focuses, though fleetingly, on repair station conduct. “The OIG’s explicit role is to audit for the efficient and effective use of agency resources and investigate waste, fraud and abuse,” ARSA Executive Director Sarah MacLeod said. “In its auditing role, the OIG should be reviewing the FAA’s ability to make, interpret and enforce its rules.” “It’s ironic that the OIG questions the methodology of the findings of past FAA inspections yet assumes the validity of its own audits without giving the repair station community a chance to rebut,” MacLeod said. For more commentary on the OIG report see Legal Spin column by MARPA’s Jason Dickstein on page 38.
about people Bird-B-Gone Adds Kashani
Bird-B-Gone has announced the addition of Jasmine Kashani to their expanding corporate office. Kashani brings nearly a decade of marketing and public relations knowledge to the business. Focusing on the company’s social media presence and copywriting, Kashani now serves as a member of the growing marketing team for Bird-B-Gone. Her responsibilities will include corporate and social communication material development, marketing project management, marketing analytics, and business expansion.
AAR Names Fortson as New CFO AAR announced that John Fortson will join the Company on July 1, 2013, as vice president of Finance. Fortson will then become vice president, CFO and Treasurer on July 19, 2013, or as soon as possible following the filing of
the Company’s Form 10-K for its
fiscal year ending May 31, 2013. Mr. Fortson, 45, joins the Company from Bank of America Merrill Lynch, where he held the position of managing director, Investment Banking. He is a graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point and received an MBA from Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business. “We are very pleased to welcome John to AAR’s senior leadership team,” said David P. Storch, chairman and CEO, AAR. “John brings extensive financial expertise to the company, with more than 14 years of experience in international capital markets. His leadership and insights will be invaluable as we execute AAR’s plans for continued growth.”
BLR Aerospace Expands Rotorcraft Sales Keith Ray and Mike Sela have joined the rotorcraft
sales and support team at BLR
Aerospace. Ray, a 30-year aviation industry veteran, has been named commercial helicopter segment champion. He is responsible for sales of the company’s rotorcraft products, most notably the FastFin Tail Rotor Enhancement and Stability System, to the commercial marketplace. Additionally, Mike Sela has a new role at BLR and is now responsible for all aspects of commercial rotorcraft customer service and support.
Jalil Jatip Joins Superior Jatip
Superior Air Parts announced that Jalil Jatip has joined the company as the Director of Quality Assurance. “Jalil brings a great deal of experience and a proven track record for successful quality management program implementation to the Superior team,” states Timothy T. Archer, Superior Air Parts’ CEO and president. “His expertise will play an invaluable role in ensuring
Aviation Maintenance |
avm-mag.com | May 2013 9
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40