Lufthansa Technik (LHT) is now the sole owner of AirLiance Materials after buying its partners’ shares of the Chicago-based spare parts services provider. United Airlines, Air Canada and Lufthansa Technik formed the joint venture company in 1998, with LHT holding the majority of shares. The companies did not disclose the acquisition price or closing date. LHT intends to expand AirLiance Materials’ service portfolio and provide resources to enable the company to expand its international airline customer base and reach.

Malaysia Airlines (MAS) is increasing services on some routes to Asian and U.S. destinations, a move that comes after it sharply scaled back its services to Europe and the Middle East. MAS says it is increasing services from Kuala Lumpur to Manila, Philippines; Phnom Penh, Cambodia; Bangkok; Medan and Jakarta, Indonesia; Beijing; Taipei, Taiwan; and Los Angeles. Most of the increases in frequency go into effect March 25.

American Airlines is canceling its daily flight to New Delhi, ending service to Burbank and closing a ground services equipment refurbishment facility in St. Louis as part of an operational plan that was formed prior to the carrier’s Chapter 11 filing in late November. The plan also calls for a staff reduction in San Juan, P.R., where the airline has withdrawn capacity under the “cornerstone” strategy that focuses on operations in Chicago, Dallas/Fort Worth, Los Angeles, Miami and New York.

The past year has seen a lot of turbulence in the stock market, but there have been a few bright spots for investors in aerospace and defense companies. Shares in suppliers of aerospace components fared particularly well in 2011 as Airbus and Boeing ramped up output, and soaring order numbers added to the airframers' already bulging backlogs. Notable performers among suppliers include Hexcel (up 34%), TransDigm Group (33%), Triumph Group (31%), Sifco Industries (23%), Rolls-Royce (20%), Precision Castparts (18%), Safran (12%) and Moog (10%).

Eliminating duplicated maintenance required by different regulatory agencies could take billions of dollars out of maintenance and engineering work for leased aircraft when they transfer across borders. That's not a typo—it's billions. Given that leased aircraft comprise about 40% of the world's total commercial fleet, and that figure continues to climb, these costs if not corrected will grow with the leased fleet.

Boeing's decision to lower costs and increase efficiency in its defense operations by shifting work at its huge Wichita facility to elsewhere in its network may well be the first of many plant closures this year as U.S. military spending dries up.

AERONAUTICS/PROPULSION •The AeroVironment Nano Air Vehicle Team developed and unveiled a tiny remotely piloted air vehicle, the Nano Hummingbird. Looking and flying like a tiny bird, it is designed to record video with an onboard camera and send color video to a hand-held controller.

The Aeronautical Repair Station Association (ARSA) is pushing FAA to set new standards on maintenance information to better define what is essential to the continued airworthiness of an aircraft or part and who is affected by the standards. In comments on FAA’s proposed draft policy on instructions for continued airworthiness (ICA), the repair station organization says FAA must first address fundamental problems with the definition of ICA before it tackles availability.