Page 9 - AAA MAY-JUNE 2012 Online Magazine

NEWS

NEWS SHORTS

Training specialists CAE are to
begin Asian training for pilots and
maintenance technicians. “This
is CAE’s first business aviation
and civil helicopter training
deployment in Asia,” said Jeff
Roberts, CAE Group President,
Training and Services.

Singapore Changi Airport
registered 4.28 million passenger
movements in March 2012, the
highest passenger number ever
during March. Passenger traffic
increased 15.3% year-on-year, and
aircraft movements grew 10.6%
to 27,000. Airfreight movements
decreased 1.8% to 163,000 tonnes.
AirAsia discontinued its Premium
Line services in Malaysia and
Support Hotline in Singapore
in March. AirAsia says it will
“present guests with options that
are simple to manage and cost-
effective, and will benefit both
guests and AirAsia”.
Singapore Technologies
Big three agree Engineering Ltd has taken a
50.1% stake in EcoServices
LLC (EcoServices) for US$33.3
Airbus, Boeing and Embraer are reduction targets.” The three major million. With a current staff of 50,
to cease hostilities for a while to manufacturers aim to use research EcoServices is the largest provider
collaborate on research towards and advanced technology to help the of advanced engine wash services
making aircraft run greener, and EU towards its target of 4% aviation to both commercial and military.
using biofuel as an alternative to jet biofuel content by 2020. Embraer and May’s IATA airline traffic statistics
fuel. “We’ve achieved a lot in the last Boeing are already collaborating on reflected “positive distortion” to
ten years in reducing our industry’s how to establish a sustainable aviation show a rise of 7.6% in passengers
CO2 footprint – a 45% traffic growth biofuels industry in Brazil, and all three compared to March last year,
with only 3% more fuel consumption,” are affiliate members of the Sustainable and freight up 0.3%. “Given the
said Tom Enders, Airbus CEO. “The Aviation Fuel Users Group (www.safug. prevailing economic conditions,
passenger demand is holding up
production and use of sustainable org), which includes 23 leading airlines well,” said IATA director general
quantities of aviation biofuels is key to responsible for approximately 25% of and CEO Tony Tyler. “But yields are
meeting our industry’s ambitious CO2 annual aviation fuel use. not keeping up with the oil price.”

PROFILE

Rudy Setyopurnomo has been given the challenging job of top man at Indonesia’s Merpati Nusantara Airlines.
The airline suffered a net loss of Rp 147 billion (US$15 million) last year, but is aiming for a US$7 million
profit next year with the help of eight new 737s. Setyopurnomo, who replaces Sardjono Jhony Tjitrokusumo,
was former president of Indonesia Airlines, and also worked for RGM group managing its four-strong fleet.
He wasn’t complimentary about the previous management regime, and noted that “ ... bad management has
caused the company to post losses.” Let’s hope the airline does better from now.

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