Air Canada’s worsening relationship with its unionized workers has prompted yet more scheduled strikes—this time by the carrier's mechanics, baggage handlers and cargo agents—but the federal government has again indicated it will intervene to stop any service disruptions.

Sabena Technics’ maintenance facility in Bordeaux, France, is in the process of performing substantial heavy check and repair work on two of Afriqiyah Airways’ Airbus A330 aircraft, which arrived at the MRO last week. Several aircraft in the Libyan operator’s fleet suffered damage during recent conflicts. Philippe Rochet, Sabena Technics’ EVP-airframe services, says the MRO sent a maintenance task force of 10 engineers to Libya to prepare the aircraft for ferry flights to Bordeaux.

Pemco World Air Service, one of the largest independent airframe MRO providers in the U.S. and a long-time specialist in passenger-to-freighter conversions, Monday filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. The company says that it has secured debtor-in-possession (DIP) financing and that it plans to restructure and emerge from Chapter 11 within 90 days.

The consortium trying to revive the Fokker 100 has decided to make a change in its engine choice, opting for the Pratt & Whitney PW1000 geared turbofan. The engine will effectively have the same 56-inch-diameter-fan configuration Pratt & Whitney is providing in the PW1200G for the Mitsubishi Regional Jet. The engine replaces the Rolls-Royce BR725 that Rekkof Aircraft, the company behind the Fokker 70/100NG, last year identified as its preferred engine offering.

Inflight entertainment on board aircraft has become more much reliable in the past few years because the chips, memory and processing capabilities have vastly improved. Despite this leap, airlines are not rushing to install it. “The million-dollar question is, do we put IFE throughout the aircraft or do we expect people to bring their own devices, like iPad, on board,” says Scott Gunnufson, Rockwell Collins’ VP and general manager-service solutions. “This is a big decision point that the industry has to work through.”

Anderson Leveille grew up in Stowe, Vt., and got his first high-school job in the circa-1820 sawmill his dad owned. There were no blueprints or tolerance gauges, so maintaining the wooden teeth on the mill's bevel gears, which were lubricated with sheep tallow, taught Leveille the value of creative engineering.

Passengers stranded due to Spanair's decision to stop operating at the end of January are home, and ticket holders who never made their trips have until April 15 to try to get reimbursed. The airline, which ceased operations due to “exceptional circumstances,” according to its website, has been under financial duress for years.

ST Aerospace San Antonio’s new VIP interiors and modifications business is setting its sights on customers outside its U.S. market. “I think the exchange rate between the U.S. and euro makes it attractive to have the work done in the U.S.,” says Ron Soret, general manager of completions at ST Aerospace San Antonio, which recently rebranded its VIP interiors and modifications business, Aeria Luxury Interiors.