Will Airline End Up Servicing Planes Flying Its Former Routes?

Some good news for beleagured regional carrier Comair... as the Delta subisidiary announced Thursday it has received certification from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to perform repair station maintenance under 14 CFR Part 145. The certification allows Comair's Northern Kentucky hangar and maintenance support facility to perform third-party work on 50- and 70-seat Bombardier Canadair Regional Jets (CRJs).

Comair has been a repair station for its own fleet since October 1980, and has extensive history with the CRJ as the launch carrier of the aircraft in North America. Today, Comair is one of nine CRJ heavy maintenance service providers, and the airline continues to maintain one of the largest fleets of CRJs in the United States.

"Our team of over 500 maintenance professionals have more experience than any other operator performing maintenance on regional jets and now we have the requisite authority to provide maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) services for other air carriers," said Allen Messick, Comair's vice president of Maintenance. "The FAA certification sets the regulatory foundation for our industry-recognized team to provide those services."

The expansion of Comair's maintenance capacity is part of the company's strategy to diversify its business. The airline is also seeking to expand its airport customer service operation to serve more air carriers... including, possibly, those which may end up flying routes currently served by Comair, under parent Delta's plan to cut what it pays out to regional carriers.

As Aero-News reported, Delta put several routes flown by regional operators up for bid in August, in an attempt to gain further concessions from its current regional carriers -- or their replacements. Comair had until October 2 to submit its bid to keep its routes... with CEO Don Bornhorst all-but conceding the airline couldn't cut enough of its costs to meet Delta's requirements.

"Since we have received this certification from the FAA, we will continue to focus on developing the processes and support infrastructure required to grow our business and support the customer's needs," Messick said. "We also have plans to achieve repair station certification for our Orlando maintenance base in the coming months."

Comair states its current maintenance capabilities exceed the FAA's 14 CFR Part 145 certification requirements that a repair station have facilities, equipment, materials and data to properly perform maintenance for the aircraft and engine ratings the carrier holds. FAA certification also requires verification of qualified personnel, quality control procedures, and sufficient management and oversight.

Comair is a Delta Connection carrier and wholly owned subsidiary of Delta Air Lines. Based at Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport, Comair currently operates three heavy maintenance lines to service its fleet and has the capability to expand this capacity to accommodate the needs of other carriers.

FMI: www.comair.com