British Airways' "virtual airline" arm Airline Management (AML) has been advised by the UK Civil Aviation Authority to make its management structure more accountable. If it cannot do this it will fail to meet European Joint Aviation Requirements-Operations (JARs) Rules when they take effect on 1 April, 1999.
The JARs are much more specific than CAA rules on what constitutes a minimum acceptable management structure for the holder of an air operator's certificate. They are designed to ensure accountability and oversight for safety-critical functions.
AML was set up by BA with Gatwick-based Flying Colours to operate low-yield, long-haul scheduled services from London Gatwick, primarily to the Caribbean. Its ownership structure is not defined, but BA and Flying Colours have seconded managers, with a few management pilots overseeing the operations functions.
The company operates only a single BA-owned McDonnell Douglas DC-10-30, flown by BA pilots with Flying Colours cabin crew. Expansion is planned for next year, when the DC-10 will be replaced by three Boeing 777-200s and services are added.
BA general manager franchises and alliances Lewis Scard tells Flight International partner on-line news service Air Transport Intelligence that more managers will be named to meet the JAR demands.
Source: Flight International
