By Dennise Williams, Staff reporter
Dr. Vin Lawrence
WEDNESDAY BUSINESS understands that Air Jamaica has asked existing managers to take on additional responsibilities and is in negotiations to recruit a top United States airline maintenance executive as part of the overall revamping of its senior management team.
A source said, "Air Jamaica is seeking to ensure that its maintenance and other operations continue to be of the highest standard. Remember that we have an unblemished 35-year safety record."
Other sources tell Wednesday Business that the executive in question is a forty-four-year veteran of airline maintenance operations and is expected to get the airline out of its current public relations quandary.
CANCELLED FLIGHTS
As recently as last month, the airline found itself facing the public's wrath over delayed and cancelled flights. However, the problems the airline faced could be directly traced to the grounding of several planes due to maintenance issues.
The United States' Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) completed an audit of the airline and, according to statements made by Air Jamaica executive chairman, Dr. Vincent Lawrence, at a February press conference, "In December, the FAA questioned the airline's maintenance schedule and insisted that the 18-month maintenance cycle be reduced immediately to 15 months. This is despite the fact that the FAA allows an 18-month cycle to some airlines in the United States for similar type aircrafts."
And since Air Jamaica normally carries out airplane inspections during their slow period of April to June, the imposition by the FAA meant that the airline was immediately in breach of the new maintenance schedule.
This then led to the recent delays and flight cancellations as the airline's fleet was cut from 20 to 10.
In a memo to staff dated March 3, 2005, Dr. Lawrence states, "As you are aware, our focus in the last month and a half has been on the very critical issue of maintenance. We have committed additional resources to ensure that we continue to observe the highest standards of practice in the industry."
REVIEWING CONTRACT
And so, the recruit in question, who is currently reviewing the contract with his attorneys in North America, is being asked to head the Air Jamaica maintenance and engineering function. Wednesday Business understands that the person in question worked for American Airlines for 28 years and moved up the ranks from supervisor, aircraft maintenance to managing director of the aircraft maintenance division.
The executive was responsible for the maintenance operation in Miami, the Caribbean, Mexico and Latin America. Prior to that, he worked for the defunct Pan American Airlines for 12 years as a mechanic.
Also outlined in the March memo to staff is the rearrangement of existing staff responsibilities.
Dr. Lawrence said: "Some members of the executive team will be given additional responsibilities. We must have a smaller but strong management team which is focused on making the changes necessary to run an efficient and productive airline."
SALARY CUTS
In January, the executive team accepted salary cuts of between 18 and 30 per cent which was calculated to save the airline $62 million.
According to the memo, the following additional responsibilities were added:
Captain Lloyd Tai, senior vice-president of technical resources will have responsibility for flight operations.
William Rodgers, senior vice-president of industry affairs will oversee the marketing and sales department as well as Air Jamaica Vacations.
Tom Hill, director of market and network planning will assume full responsibility for market, network development and planning.
Additionally, the following departments will be transferred to the corporate office and report directly to Dr. Lawrence:
Human resources
Communications
Security
Safety and compliance
General legal counsel
Company secretary.
