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Aviation History
1981
1981 - 3325.PDF
SIA to train Airbus crews AIRBUS INDUSTRIE'S training organisation Aerof ormation has reached an agreement with Singapore Airlines to set up an aircrew training school in Singapore. The training centre, yet to be named, is scheduled to become operational in July 1982 when Singapore Airlines takes de livery of its Airbus A300 simulator. The flight training centre will train Singapore Airlines' aircrew, and pilots and engineers from the Asia-Pacific region who would otherwise have to travel to Toulouse for their initial or refresher Airbus training. To help set up the centre, Aero- formation will initially provide train ing in Toulouse for four pilot simula tor instructors, four flight engineer simulator instructors and for up to 10 technical or ground staff from SIA. Aeroformation will have its own teaching staff based in Singapore until the new school is fully opera tional. Thereafter, technical assist ance from Toulouse will be provided on a call basis. Singapore Airlines will use its A3O0 This is the Airbus A300 two-man crew cock pit which first flew two weeks ago (Flight last week) "• " -A I_"^^^ .•im \j\. 1 simulator and will also buy a S$6-23 million (£L5 million) cockpit systems trainer. The airline will provide the necessary classrooms and equipment for theory instruction. The agreement between SIA and Aeroformation is initially for a ten- year period, with provision for re newal. SIA says it intends to expand the training centre to provide aircrew training for other aircraft types such as the 747 and 727. SIA may eventually offer basic training to commercial pilots' licence standard. • Singapore Airlines is considering becoming a member of the Inter national Air Transport Association (lata), according to SIA's managing director Lim Chin Beng. SIA is the world's largest non-Iata airline. "The two main obstacles to our joining lata have disappeared," said Lim. "We could continue to be free to do what we want in the cabin, and with the new rules of lata, we would be free to abstain from lata tariff- setting procedures." Singapore Air lines has always placed emphasis in the past on maintaining cabin service standards above Iata-approved levels. There is some local feeling, how ever, that SIA would like to see other Far Eastern carriers like Cathay Paci fic, Malaysia Airlines System, or Korean Air Lines prepared to join lata before it makes such a move it self. Lim expressed reservations about membership costs; "Membership is ex pensive, and we must carefully evaluate costs and benefits. We must also decide if we can afford to dedi cate time and people to association matters. If we joined we would want to be active, and this would mean opening a new department in the com pany." Flight estimates that simple trade association membership dues payable by SIA to lata would be around $800,000-$850,000. In order to attract new members lata has granted substantial "dis counts" on membership dues during the last two years, although this prac tice, little publicised, has met the animosity of some older-established members. Given that non-Iata airlines like SIA pay higher clearing house fees than lata members, it is thought that with discounts some carriers actually save money joining the association. People... People... • M. Jean Costet is the new director- general for Aeroport de Paris re placing M. Gilbert Dreyfus, who has served 10 years on the Board. -J~l Air Florida has named Thomas M. Reddam staff v-p and general mana ger of the airline's charter depart ment. FLIGHT International, 24 October 198/ • Keith Josolyne, former commercial manager for Brymon Airways, is now project manager for the airline's North Sea oil Dash 7 programme. Based at Aberdeen, Josolyne will be responsible for Brymon's recently awarded contract with Chevron Petro leum. American "AAirpass" scheme draws slow response REACTION to American Airlines' new "AAirpass" travel scheme has pleased the carrier. Purchase of one of a range of AAirpasses allows the buyer to travel on any American Airlines flights for a five, 10 or 15-year period (or even for a lifetime). The fare plan, to be offered for a limited time, comprises five options: • Five, 10 and 15-year AAirpass tickets entitle the holder to 25,000 tourist class miles a year at a cost of $19,000, $39,500 and $58,900 respec tively. • Lifetime AAirpass tickets for those aged 52 and above, allow 25,000 miles a year at $66,000. • Leisure Lifetime AAirpass for the over 62 age group allows 12,500 miles a year at $51,000. • A five-year Leisure AAirpass for over 65s provides 12,500 miles a year at $8,000. • An unlimited Lifetime AAirpass valid for unlimited miles in any class of service at $250,000. The airline had received 1,500 en quiries from people interested in the fixed-rate, long-term flight plan with in a week of its announcement. American has sold two AAirpasses, one for a five-year period and one of the 10-year tickets. The carrier says it did not expect an instant rush for the passes, because it is the "sort of thing people need to think about." American's major competitors, Trans World and United, said they had been aware that American was planning to launch a major new mar keting project, but were unaware of the details. A TWA spokesman said that the airline was "preparing a com petitive response very soon." But it looks now as if TWA will do nothing unless AAirpass shows better results than it has so far. Short hauls ... • British Airways has signed a con tract which it claims will save over £15 million over the next five years on domestic and European catering. The airline intends to hand over all in flight catering for these operations to Anthony Hillier, whose company already handles Heathrow catering services for several international air lines. • Singapore Airlines has reported a Sin$94-8 million (£24 million) profit for the 1980-81 financial year com pared with a £17-5 million profit for 1979-80. • Vietnamese airline Hang Khong Vietnam plans to introduce its first I1-62M aircraft on services from Hanoi and Phnom Penh to Bangkok and Singapore. Additional Yak-40s are to be ordered for the airline for domes tic flights within Vietnam. 1233
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