Lebanon Suspends Three Operators While Differences with Ethiopian Airlines Continues

Tuesday, 13 September 2011

On Monday the 12th of Sept, during a meeting with the executive committee of the Arab Air Carriers Organization (AACO), the Arab League airlines body. The Lebanese Minister of Public Works and Transport in the Syrian backed Government, Ghazi Aridi announced he would approve a request by the AACO to acquire land in the vicinity of the Training Centre, Rafik Hariri International Airport to establish the head office of the committee.

Aridi also renewed the pledge to maintain substantial government support for flag carrier MEA, which he described as “the mother of national and regional institutions.”

Earlier, the Lebanese Civil Aviation Authority suspended the Air Operators Certificates (AOC) of three local airlines. While the issues with the Ethiopian Airlines escalated.

In a press release, Ethiopian Airlines stated the Lebanese government failed to deliver documents, evidence, and data critical to the investigation.

“Moreover, several documents, evidences, and data, which were requested to be submitted by the Lebanese authorities since the beginning of the investigation, were once again not availed for review,” the airlines said.

The Ethiopian Airlines (Boeing 737-8AS, registration: ET-ANB, Construction Number: 29935/1061, Aircraft Engines: 2 CFMI CFM56-7B24) crashed into the Mediterranean less than four minutes after takeoff on Jan. 25, 2010, after performing two manoeuvres requested by Beirut’s Air Traffic Control. All 90 (crew and passengers) aboard were fatalities.

A joint Lebanese - Ethiopian investigation committee headed by Lebanon’s Civil Aviation Authority was formed to investigate the crash together with representatives of Boeing Aircraft Company, the manufacturer.

AOC holders as of July 2011:

Company	Owner/ Representative	Activity	AOC Expiry
AeroClub FTO	Mr. Michel Abboud 03-370928	Flight Training FTOC # 001	31 Dec. 2011
Beirut Wings FTO	Mr.Imad Khodari 03-757909	FlightTraining FTOC # 003	Open
CorporateJet s.a.l 704	Capt. A. Cherkawi 03-526688	Commuter AOC # CTJ-C028	23-Jun-12
Echo Holdings 604	Capt.Michael Peiffer 01-628260	PrivateOperator AOC # P019	24-Jun-12
EmeraldJets 704	Mr. Talal Wahhab 01-629966	Commuter AOC # EFB-C027	06 Sept. 2012
Executive Aircraft Services s.a.l 704	Capt.N. Meszaros 03-244100	Commuter AOC# ESM-C014	9-May-12
KassarCompany 604	Mr. Adnan Kassar 01-368400	Private Operator AOC # P011	Open
KEVORK 604	Mr.K. Choujounian 03-898211	PrivateOperator AOC # P013	Suspended
MEA 705	Capt. Mohamad Hassoun 03-288805	Scheduled Airline Pax + Cargo AOC# MEA-A001	30-Jun-12
MED Airways 704	Mr.Mazen Bissat 03-656550	Commuter AOC# MED-C003	Suspended
OpenSky Aviation 704	Mr. Haytham Azhari 03-362277	Commuter AOC # OSA-C029	16-Jun-12
Platinum JET 604	Mr.Edward Saadeh 03-135226	PrivateOperator AOC # PO21	Open
IBEXAir Charter 704	Mr. Ahmad El Hage 03-293438	Commuter AOC # KWI-C025	09 Nov. 2012
TMA 705	Mr.Mazen Bissat 03-656550	ScheduledAirline Cargo AOC# TMA-A002	19-Apr-12
Skylounge Services 704	Mr. Imad Sayegh 03-444888	Commuter AOC# TSM-C030	09 Nov. 2012
Wings of Lebanon 705	Dr.Youssef El Hajj 01-749180	NonScheduled Airline – Pax. AOC# WLB-A024	27-Jun-12

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