ValuJet Airlines hopes to begin flying again by next month with a better-trained and higher-paid staff, although it will cancel leases at three airports.

Maintenance and engineering supervision will shift from contracted workers to ValuJet's own full-time employees, under a plan filed with the Federal Aviation Administration on July 3.The proposal also boosts supervision of contracted maintenance workers and calls for ValuJet employees to receive more pay and training, the airline said Tuesday.

The airline also named Jim Jensen, a former Douglas Aircraft Co. executive, to the newly created position of senior vice president of maintenance and engineering.

"We are confident that ValuJet will meet and exceed all of the FAA's requirements by August 1, although we cannot predict what specific service resumption date the FAA will authorize," ValuJet President Lewis Jordan said.

The FAA grounded the airline June 17 after a May 11 crash in the Florida Everglades killed 110 people. An investigation found serious deficiencies in the airline's operations.

FAA spokeswoman Kathleen Bergen declined to comment on the feasibility of ValuJet's goal to restart low-fare service by August.

Also this week, ValuJet informed officials at Boston's Logan International Airport, Chicago's Midway Airport and Bradley International Airport in Windsor Locks, Conn., that it was terminating leases on terminals and gate space.

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