Washington February 20, 2007 - AirTran Airways, Alaska Airlines, ATA Airlines, Frontier Airlines, Midwest Airlines, Southwest Airlines and US Airways Group have filed a joint complaint with the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) in opposition to new terminal charges at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) that dramatically increase the airlines' costs and could lead to higher airfares and reduced options for Los Angeles air travelers.

The massive fee hike, imposed Feb. 1 on carriers operating out of Terminals 1 and 3, forces the airlines to pay as much as 12 times more per square foot than their competitors at other terminals. The airlines estimate the collective financial impact of this differential over the next 15 to 20 years at more than $1 billion, with a near tripling of charges from $20 million to $56 million in the first year alone. The differential could be significantly greater should Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA), the operator of LAX, impose further increases during this period.

The carriers argue that LAWA's huge rent increase violates federal law because it unjustly discriminates against airlines with expired leases, while competing airlines with leases expiring in 15 to 20 years are charged dramatically less for comparable terminal space.

"LAWA is not a private commercial landlord," the filing notes. "Rather, LAWA is a public utility with monopoly power over the airlines wishing to serve LAX. And, in order for airlines to serve the Los Angeles area effectively, access to LAX on fair and non-discriminatory terms is essential."

An airport that receives federal funds is required to remain open to all airlines wishing to serve that airport on reasonable terms and without unjust discrimination.

The filing points out serious consequences for Los Angeles residents should the discriminatory charges be allowed to stand: "They would create significant barriers to new-entrant airlines wishing to serve Los Angeles, and force the predominantly smaller and low-fare Terminal 1 and 3 carriers to raise prices and/or curtail service to offset the dramatically higher terminal costs. As a result, the citizens of Los Angeles and other air travelers to the region will ultimately be penalized by LAWA's new charges in the form of higher airfares and reduced travel options." In the end, LAWA's massive rent increases are likely to hurt the Los Angeles economy by driving up fares at LAX and dampening air travel to the region.

The carriers attempted to negotiate with LAWA for more than a year before the new charges were imposed and are not opposed to reasonable, non-discriminatory and necessary cost-based increases in terminal rates.

LAWA is required to respond within 14 days to the carriers' complaint. The DOT is expected to assign the matter to an administrative law judge for a hearing, and the Secretary of Transportation is required to issue a final decision in 120 days.

East Hartford CT February 20, 2007 - Pratt & Whitney, a United Technologies Corp. company, will purchase the majority of Volvo Aero Engine Services' (VAES), assets. VAES is located in Bromma, Sweden. Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

Assets to be purchased include the spare parts inventory and engine overhaul tooling and machinery for the JT8D, JT9D and PW4000 engines made by Pratt & Whitney.

The tooling and machinery will be moved to Pratt & Whitney Global Service Partners (GSP) locations worldwide to support maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) activities. The spare parts inventory will be distributed among the six GSP engine overhaul centers and the company's spare parts hub in Dallas, Texas.

The Volvo Aero Engine Services facility in Bromma currently overhauls PW4000 94-inch, JT8D-200 and JT9D engines. On Nov. 7, 2006, VAES announced a strategic decision to close the Bromma facility.

Pratt & Whitney Global Service Partners is a total service provider for CFM56(R), V2500 and Pratt & Whitney engines. In addition to engine overhaul and repair services, GSP provides customers improved engine performance and increased asset value through a broad portfolio of services including line maintenance services, engine monitoring and diagnostics, environmentally friendly on-wing water washes, leased engines, custom engine service programs and new and repaired parts.

Montreal PQ February 20, 2007 - Air Deccan, India's fastest growing airline, obtained dual certification for a Full Flight Trainer(TM) (FFT(TM)) manufactured by Mechtronix Systems, the fastest growing global provider of flight training equipment. The unit was originally acquired by ATR Training Center of Toulouse, France and placed in India for the training of Air Deccan's pilots. The FFT(TM) is re-configurable between ATR 42-500 and 72-500 models and features GNSS, Weather Radar, TCAS, EGPWS, and a SimAuthor debrief station. It is also equipped with a CAE Tropos Visual System.

The certification process was performed by the DGAC, the civil aviation authority of France, who already approved one similar unit for Toulouse-based ATR Training Center. The dual certification obtained is for FNPT II MCC and FTD Level 2 under JAR-STD 3A and JAR-STD 2A respectively.

Mechtronix' FTT(TM) fixed-based simulator supports ATR's new training platform called Advanced Aviation Training. This concept concentrates on intensive use of non-motion training devices and equipment in initial and recurrent training, prior to training in a full motion environment. The unit is a cost effective simulator that meets key standards and allows the execution of pilot training exercises to be conducted at home rather than incurring the cost of sending pilots to far away training hubs which utilize more expensive full flight simulators.

Mechtronix together with ATR Training Center recently launched an upgraded version of this simulator named Ascent(R) FFT X(TM), featuring collimated visual system, JAR STD 1A level D data package associated with motion cueing.

"With the deployment of this innovative and cost effective training device at our local facilities, we will enjoy many cost savings and efficiencies that will help us meet the immense increase in demand for pilot training," said Capt. G.R. Gopinath, Managing Director of Air Deccan.

"The FFT(TM) allows some pilot training exercises traditionally performed on a FFS to be executed on a more cost-effective training device," said Capt. Jean-Michel Bigarre, Vice-President Training and Flight Operations at ATR Training Center. "Air Deccan will benefit from a very efficient training tool increasing safety, while simultaneously avoiding additional expenditures."

"Our company is a proud partner with ATR Training Center in the deployment of its new Advanced Aviation Training platform in India," said Xavier Herve, President of Mechtronix Systems Inc. "We like firsts and take pride in establishing the first use of an FFT(TM) in India with a world class user like Air Deccan that will save millions and enjoy even higher pilot yield."

Orlando February 20, 2007 - AirTran Holdings, Inc., parent company of AirTran Airways ("AirTran"), today commented on the ruling by Justice Helen E. Freedman in AirTran New York LLC v. Midwest Air Group, Inc., in the Supreme Court for the State of New York, New York County.

"While we are certainly disappointed that the court did not rule in AirTran's favor due to a technicality, we are deeply concerned with the lengths that Midwest's management group is willing to go to ensure that their shareholders are denied full access to the details of our merger offer," said Joe Leonard, AirTran's chairman and chief executive officer. "We find it extraordinary that in today's business world -- where full-disclosure is paramount -- that a public corporation would take pride in denying information to its shareholders. It is disconcerting that the Midwest board and management would want to withhold information from their shareholders and not allow them to evaluate the AirTran offer on their own.

"AirTran will appeal the ruling in New York, and we will continue to disseminate accurate information about our offer and the benefits the combination of these two great airlines will bring to the greater Milwaukee community in terms of job growth, an expanded flight schedule and economic development."

Memphis February 20, 2007 - Inventory Locator Service(R), LLC (ILS) today announced that Aviation Quality Group has selected ILS Optimizer software as its inventory and MRO process management solution.

Aviation Quality Group will use ILS Optimizer to help with teardown and lot costing, inventory control, repair orders, and customer supplier management. With its full integration with ILSmart.com, ILS Optimizer allows Aviation Quality Group to synchronize its inventory with their ILSmart listings automatically and without user intervention.

"AGQ is looking forward to using the full integration capabilities of ILS Optimizer," said Chris Yeazel, President of Aviation Quality Group. "Synchronizing our inventory with ILS will streamline our processes, making them the most efficient possible."

Vancouver February 20, 2007 - Avcorp Industries Inc. wishes to announce that it has entered into an agreement to retain Mark van Rooij as its new Chief Executive Officer effective April 1, 2007, to work closely together as one team with President, Paul Kalil.

Mr. van Rooij is currently Executive Vice President of Stork Fokker based in the Netherlands. Marcus van Rooij has been with Stork for over 20 years. Mr. van Rooij is a mechanical engineer and a member of the Board of Management of Stork Fokker, an aerostructures and special products company with over $400 million CDN in revenue and 1900 employees.

"We are confident that we have the right leadership team to move the company to the next level," stated Michael Scholz, Chairman. "The addition of Mr. van Rooij will provide us with valuable operational and international aerospace experience to assist us during our next stage of growth."

• Flip the Dolphin, who believes he qualifies as Denver's favorite because of last year's successful effort to send him to Mexico.
• Grizwald the Bear, who promises free airfare, free back rubs and a free all-you-can-eat buffet on every flight.
• Hector the Otter, who says (in Spanish) that he doesn't need a political platform and prefers to go to the beach, and enjoy the sunshine and a margarita or two.
• Jack the Rabbit, campaigning based on his humble upbringing as one of 36 children, who worked nights in a coal mine, graduated with honors from CU, and who today volunteers at the local hospice and mentors underprivileged children in his spare time, according to his campaign biography.
• Larry the Lynx, who believes the campaign is nothing more than an egotistical popularity contest and asks Frontier fans not to vote for him and in fact, to not vote, period.
• The Penguins -- Joe, Jim, Jay and Gary -- who boast of the popularity of their species, tout their singing talents and seek gigs at "your next wedding, anniversary or Bar Mitzvah."
• Sal the Cougar, who proposes that Frontier fly only to the three most exciting cities in the world -- Las Vegas, Hollywood and New York -- with departures every 20 minutes.
  

"It's been a tight race and we're looking forward to tallying the results and sharing them with fans during the Oscars," said Diane Willmann, Frontier Airlines director of advertising. "We hope Frontier fans everywhere, especially here in Colorado, have enjoyed seeing the animals duke it out to earn the distinct honor of being chosen as 'Denver's Favorite Animal.'"

Halifax February 20, 2007 - Air Canada Jazz is the second airline in Canada to be registered under the IATA Operational Safety Audit (IOSA) program. Air Canada was the first Canadian carrier to achieve IOSA Registration in April 2005. This achievement demonstrates Jazz's commitment to the highest safety standards in aviation.

IOSA is one of the most stringent safety and quality audit programs in the airline industry. The audit is designed to assess operational management and control systems of an airline, using over 900 internationally harmonized standards and recommended practices. These IOSA standards were developed by over 100 highly experienced airline professionals with assistance from Transport Canada, the Civil Aviation Safety Authority of Australia and the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration, all under the guidance and direction of the International Air Transport Association (IATA). Airlines that have been audited to full conformity with IOSA standards make a clear, positive statement about the integrity of their operations and their ability to manage the associated risks.

"IOSA Registration is especially meaningful to Jazz and its employees," said Joe Randell, President and Chief Executive Officer, Air Canada Jazz. "Safety has always been and will continue to be our top priority. Compliance with IOSA standards and recommended practices builds on our existing system of rigorous safety policies, procedures and processes. As a carrier operating under a capacity purchase agreement business model, IOSA Registration significantly affirms and strengthens Jazz's position in the marketplace as we seek new business opportunities."

Air Canada Jazz received the official IOSA Registration following an intensive audit conducted by Aviation Compliance Solutions from Melbourne, Australia. The airline is now listed on the IOSA Registry - a publicly available international listing of all operators in conformity with all IOSA standards (www.iata.org/registry).