The board of American Airlines' parent AMR has approved the spin-off of its 83% stake in Sabre Holdings to AMR shareholders on 1 March, making the computer reservations system specialist fully independent. The European Commission has approved Saab's acquisition of fellow Swedish company Celsius, while Saab has sold its Combitech Traffic Systems road tolling subsidiary to Austria's Kapsch, sharpening its aerospace focus. RDM, Dutch parent of Arizona-based MD Helicopters, has confirmed its purchase of UK-based Specialist Aviation Services and subsidiaries Police Aviation Services and Medical Aviation Services from Bombardier, as revealed in Flight International, 1-7 December. Simula of the USA has completed the sale of subsidiary Airline Interiors to Weber Aircraft, a subsidiary of Zodiac, for $11.4 million cash, plus $9.4 million of debt. Heico subsidiary Trilectron Industries has acquired the name and certain assets of aircraft ground air-conditioning specialist Air-A-Plane of Virginia. What remains of the company will continue as Shepheard Trading. BFGoodrich (BFG) has bought Connecticut-based Barnes Engineering from EDO of New York for $10 million. Barnes, a supplier of spacecraft positioning sensors, becomes part of BFG's Data Systems division. EDO is to focus on aerospace and defence. Tubetronics of California has acquired Silicon Valley's HTB. Both specialise in aerospace tubing. Los Angeles-based LinCom, a communications supplier to NASA, has been bought by San Diego's Titan. French-based Rayan, Starec and Chelton France, subsidiaries of the UK's Chelton group, have been merged as Chelton Antennas, specialising in airborne, space and ground antennas. Czech tour operator Cedok has bought a 34% stake in charter carrier Travel Service Airline from another Czech travel agency, Canaria Travel. Canaria remains the majority owner.
Source: Flight International
