Appointing American Trans Air (ATA) chief-executive George Mikelsons chairman of Allison Engine is a sure sign that new owner Rolls-Royce intends to continue the US power plant manufacturer's drive into the commercial arena.
Indianapolis-based ATA is the USA's biggest charter carrier and the nation's tenth-largest airline. It is also a valued R-R customer, operating 15 RB.211-powered Lockheed L-1011s and a growing fleet of RB.211 Boeing 757s.
Mikelsons founded ATA in 1973 and still owns 74% of parent company Amtran, the subsidiaries of which include the airline, an air-travel club, a travel agency, a tour operator, a training centre and executive-charter and air-cargo-services companies.
R-R points out that ATA is one of only two major US airlines, which were profitable in 1994 and says that Mikelsons "...will play a key role in the continued success of Allison".
Mikelsons was born in Riga, Latvia, in 1937 and fled with his family to Germany following the Russian occupation of the Baltic State in 1944. He arrived in the USA in 1960 and became a pilot for Indianapolis based charter operator Voyager 1000. In 1965, he became chief pilot and director of operations for Voyager. Eight years later he left to start ATA. Mikelsons remains qualified on several of ATA's aircraft and occasionally flies as captain.
Source: Flight International
