Page 8 - AAA NOVEMBER - DECEMBER 2013 Online Magazine

NEWS

Embraer interns from Singapore
Brazilian manufacturer Embraer has flight entertainment system and seats. The
taken two Asian students from the internships, implemented in collaboration Oh no you don’t
Singapore University of Technology with Brazil’s top engineering school, A judge ruling on the American Airlines
and Design (SUTD) for internship at its Instituto Tecnológico de Aeronáutica bankruptcy wind-up has twice rejected
headquarters in Sao Jose dos Campos, (ITA), internship lasted from May to a proposed US$20 million golden
Brazil. “It was inspiring to work alongside mid-September and started with the handshake to the failed airline’s
the experienced Embraer design and students researching on their project CEO. U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Sean
engineering team who were open to our in Singapore. They then went on to work Lane said the financial sacrifices
suggestions in solving the challenges alongside specialists at Embraer’s interior made by union members led him to
they were working on,” said Hu Yuan, an design team. “This opportunity was a real cancel the massive payout to Thomas
internship student in his second year at eye-opener for me to see how we could Horton, CEO of AMR Corporation – the
SUTD. The students applied recently put what we’ve learnt into a realistic and holding company for the airline. “In
acquired theoretical skills by designing implementable design for Embraer’s considering the facts of this case, there
elements of an aircraft’s interior including future line of regional jets,” said Ken have been significant sacrifices by the
the baggage compartment, lighting, in- Chua, a second year student at SUTD. Debtors’ employees, most notably by
its union members, that allowed the
[bankruptcy] Plan to move forward,”
ATFM, CDM gathering speed Lane wrote. The judge rejected claims
In an increasingly crowded sky, the has been well-received at various ICAO by AMR and Horton that he was entitled
implementation of collaborative meetings. Although some national to the compensation because he was
decision-making (CDM) and air traffic ATFM projects and related initiatives instrumental in the seemingly positive
flow management (ATFM) is essential are being looked at by the Association outcome of the bankruptcy process.
to optimise airspace capacity, enhance of South East Asia Nations (ASEAN) and Horton was appointed CEO of AMR on
air safety and help balance capacity the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation the day the airline filed bankruptcy, but
and demand says ATM organisation (APEC) Forum, they as yet are mostly the judge ruled that the massive payout
CANSO. To years ago CANSO initiated uncoordinated at the regional level. The violates a section of the bankruptcy
a pilot CDM project for the Bangkok/ recent ICAO Asia Pacific ATFM Steering code that prevents excessive payouts to
Singapore city pair to help showcase Group in Hong Kong was convened executives that agree to stay during a
the power of collaboration not only to address this issue; and to highlight bankruptcy. The judge also noted that
among air navigation service providers the need for a distributed collaborative pilot, flight attendant and maintenance
(ANSPs) across the entire aviation ATFM framework. The meeting agreed employees at American Airlines all
value chain. The distributed ATFM that IATA would fund a project to study had their pensions frozen as part of
network concept involving the ANSPs current and planned ATFM initiatives the bankruptcy negotiation process, to
of Singapore, Thailand and Hong Kong and to recommend implementation reduce drain on assets and help make
is another working example, which strategies. the company more competitive.

8 ASIAN AIRLINES & AIRPORTS NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2013 WWW.ASIANAIRLINES-AIRPORTS.COM