News In Brief For June July 2012

June 27, 2012

Calendar of Events

June 14-15

Overview of Aviation Safety Management Systems Workshop

Tampa, FL

http://atcvantage.com

10th 3PL Summit

June 18-20

Chicago, IL

http://events.eyefortransport.com/3pl

FAA National Small Business and IT Shared Services Partnership & Training Conference

July 16-19

Atlantic City, NJ

https://itissconference.faa.gov/index.cfm?method=conference.overview

EAA AirVenture

July 23-29

Oshkosh, WI

http://www.airventure.org

Business Buzz

Marketer Applies For Patent: Armed Forces Marketing Consultants, Inc. has filed a patent for its Impact Energy Absorption System™, a mechanical device that uses automotive-type steering to preclude damage to towed vehicles and tow bars.

Multibillion Dollar Contribution: Airlines for America and the International Air Transport Association joined forces on a study about the economic effect of the airline industry on the United States. U.S. airlines directly contribute $64.7 billion to GPD and indirectly contribute another $70.5 billion.

Southwest Gets OK For HOU: Southwest Airlines received approval from the Houston City Council for a proposed international terminal at William P. Hobby Airport. United Airlines, which opposed the plan, says $600 million in planned infrastructure investment at George Bush Intercontinental Airport is now in jeopardy.

Common Security Plan: The European Commission and the U.S. Transportation Security Administration formally recognize each other’s air cargo security programs. The agreement is the culmination of seven years of effort by regulators and industry stakeholders to achieve alignment of air cargo security measures.

TSA Sets Cargo Deadline: The Transportation Security Administration announced that beginning Dec. 3, all cargo shipments loaded on passenger aircraft must undergo screening for explosives.

PAX Traffic Up: The International Air Transport Association announced global traffic results for April showing that total passenger demand rose 6 percent while freight demand was 4 percent down compared with April 2011.

Jasper Earns Excellence Award: Jasper Engines & Transmissions was recently recognized for performance excellence as a secondary repair supplier within the Raytheon Technical Service Company for its remanufactured diesel engines and transmissions for military Humvees. 

United To Handle Handling: United Airlines announced that ground handling work currently performed by outside vendors at airports in Florida; New York; Michigan and California will be done by United employees.

ASIG Signs Exclusive Engine Wash Deal With GE Aviation

ASIG signed an exclusive agreement to become GE Aviation’s third-party service provider for ClearCore engine wash systems for commercial and military engines in the United States.

GE Aviation will provide its mobile ClearCore engine wash units to ASIG in support of ASIG’s service provider agreements with many U.S. airports. ASIG’s will launch the service at airports in California and Florida and then expand to airports in other major U.S. cities.

The mobile units enable operators to quickly and easily clean surface contaminants, like dust and other environmental deposits, from inner aircraft engine components to maximize operating efficiency.

Servisair Wins Grand Slam: Delta Airlines presented Servisair Dublin with its Grand Slam Award. The award recognizes safety and environmental marks, and is the first time a European station has won the award in two years.

Partnerships/Acquisitions/Contracts

Airline Picks ATS 4th Time: Airport Terminal Services announced Virgin America has appointed ATS as its full service provider for above and below wing handling at Portland International Airport. This is the fourth location that the two companies have worked together.

Swissport Buys Flightcare: Swissport acquired Flightcare Spain and Flightcare Belgium from FCC Versia, expanding Swissport’s network in Spain and allowing it to become a full-service provider at Brussels Airport by adding ground handling services to its portfolio.

Velcon Buys Warner Lewis: Velcon Filters, LLC, acquired Warner Lewis GmbH. Headquartered in Germany, Warner Lewis offers aircraft refueling solutions to customers in Europe, the Middle East and Africa.

Cavotec Deal With LED: Cavotec will manufacture and install 90 in-ground electrical power units and converter systems as part of a modernization program at Pulkovo International Airport, one of Russia’s fastest-growing airports.

ASIG Renews At SFB: TBI Airport Management, Inc. has renewed its agreement with ASIG for comprehensive airside support services at Orlando Sanford International Airport for an additional term. ASIG provides full ramp handling, cabin cleaning, passenger handling services, commissary services and aircraft refueling to all of the carriers operating at the airport’s domestic terminal.

Servisair Buys Handlex: Servisair Holding Canada Inc., bought Handlex, the ground handling unit of Transat A.T. Inc. Handlex serves 20 airlines at Canada’s three largest airports.

Lift-A-Loft Ships New Catering Trucks

Lift-A-Loft began delivering 20 new catering vehicles to airports in New York, Atlanta and Chicago. 

The FBCT Series will mostly be used for servicing RJs, but a front access lift is also available, allowing the unit to service aircraft with doorsills as high as 12 feet 6 inches.

Offering a very tight turning radius, the FBCT is built on a durable Lift-A-Loft chassis and has a cargo box that measures 12 inches long x 6 feet, 11 inches wide with 76 inches of interior height. The unit can carry 2,500 lbs. of cargo and is equipped with a translucent roof and LED lighting.

Other features include a cab-mounted monitor with back up camera and a remote backup system that is cable mounted and located at the rear of the vehicle. This system allows an operator full visibility while backing away from the aircraft.

People In The News

Mark Edwards has been appointed CEO of dnata’s Singapore operation. Edwards succeeds Georgie Ong, who is retiring after more than 30 years with the ground handling firm. Edwards has more than 30 years of experience in the air services industry at some of the world’s busiest airports including London Heathrow, Munich, Bangkok and London Gatwick.  Prior to the appointment, Edwards was the senior vice president of ASIG and responsible for the worldwide business development of the company.

Signature Flight Support named (PIC) Steve Gulvin, regional vice president of sales for the EMEA (Europe, the Middle East and Africa) region and announced the creation of a dedicated EMEA sales team to offer customized fuel, ground handling, concierge and aircraft storage services. Gulvin was appointed regional vice president of sales for the EMEA region in 2011 having previously held the position of regional vice president of European operations since joining the company in 2005. Joining Gulvin, will be Andrea Hopkins, sales manager for mainland Europe; Karl Bowles, sales manager for the Middle East; and Julian Moller, sales manager for the United Kingdom and Ireland.

Edward Neyer was appointed director of dealer operations for Toyota Material Handling, U.S.A., Inc. Neyer will oversee the operations of dealerships owned wholly or in part by Toyota from the company’s overall base of more than 70 authorized Toyota industrial equipment dealers and more than 220 forklift dealership locations throughout North America.

(PIC) David Kuhns joined PrimeFlight Aviation Services as its director for field support throughout the company’s Southeast region. Kuhns comes to PrimeFlight from Eulen America, a supplier of labor and management solutions for the airline industry.

Howard May was appointed president of Schwarze Industries Inc. Joining May is Greg Heyer who was appointed vice president of sale and marketing. Also, Joe Hendrickson, international business manager will now also lead the dealer and contractor sales force. Finally, Brenda Bell was promoted to customer service manager.

(PIC) Bobby Asbill was promoted to station manager at Matheson Flight Extenders’ Las Vegas operation. He will be taking over for Luis Cartagena who announced his retirement after 36 years at United Airlines and five years at Matheson.

Bosserman Aviation Equipment Inc. added several new employees to its staff. Robert Linthicum joined the company as quality assurance manager after serving in the military in Iraq and Afghanistan. John Horton is director of business development and will focus on government and military contracts among other new markets. Seth Beekman is an engineer who is credited to introducing Bosserman to 3D assemblies. Nicole Perkins is customer service manager.

(PIC) Martin Sodergard was appointed senior vice president of cargo operations for Swissport International. Sodergard takes over for Guy Ghysels who will take the position of vice president of cargo operation for Europe. Alan Wright was also named vice president of integrator handling and hub outsourcing.