Flight International Review 2020 17

14-20 July 2020 I FlightGlobal.
com
RETIREMENTS
Out with
the old
Could state scrappage
plan salvage sales?
£3.90 Regional power Keep connected

2 8
Domestic ARJ21 soars We preview Farnborough’s
for Chinese carriers 12 online alternative 24
9 770015 371310
CONTENTS
Volume 197 Number 5744
14-20 JULY 2020
New Zealand Defence Force

Wellington goes in search of
757-200 combi successor P20
NEWS COVER STORY

BEHIND THE HEADLINES
25 Positive stimulus
14-20 July 2020 I FlightGlobal.com
Alfred Chua assesses the RETIREMENTS
Out with
significance of China’s big THIS WEEK Could an adapted the old
three airlines simultane- 8 Projects progress in supersonic race version of car Could state scrappage
plan salvage sales?
ously introducing the 9 Rolls-Royce clears parked 787 backlog scrappage schemes
work in the aviation
ARJ21 to domestic service 10 Hi Fly thinks bigger with A380 freighter.
sector – or are there
(P12). Greg Waldron Avolon axes more Max in fresh blow for Boeing
more effective methods
interviews the chief of the 11 AirAsia Group reels from coronavirus
AirTeamImages
to combat the severe
Royal New Zealand Air demand downturn?
AIR TRANSPORT £3.90 Regional power Keep connected
Force (P20). And our

2 8
Domestic ARJ21 soars We preview Farnborough’s
for Chinese carriers 12 online alternative 24
9 770015 371310
12 Why ARJ21’s value is hard to measure

reporting team looks
13 Trent-engined 787 operators must check for
ahead to Farnborough’s
disc fin cracks. FEATURES
online FIA Connect Lufthansa halves short-term fleet modernisation
gathering (P24) 14 ‘Slip-up’ behind 787’s Oslo wing strike. 24 Network solution
Wet runway warning follows A330 near-overrun
With Farnborough 2020 falling victim to the
VIEW FROM THE COCKPIT pandemic, its replacement is FIA Connect, a series of
17 Why resilience is key for aspiring pilots virtual events with FlightGlobal as official media
Markus Mainka/Shutterstock
partner. To set the scene, we take a look at three hot

DEFENCE topics as the industry slowly climbs out of lockdown
18 French navy nears launch of Advanced
Hawkeye addition.
Belgrade gains armed Chinese UAVs
19 Seoul set to produce surveillance UAV.
Indonesian swoop for Osprey gets US approval
REGULARS NEWS FOCUS

20 Wide remit drives a versatile approach
7 Comment
34 Straight & Level BUSINESS AVIATION
Sydney Seaplanes
37 Classified 22 Exhaust poisoning clue in DHC-2 crash.

38 Jobs Stratos 716X into test campaign with first flight
39 Working Week 23 Administrator trims bidders for Piaggio.
Pro-Avia utility win keeps Red’s flag flying high Crash probe finds carbon monoxide evidence P22
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FlightGlobal.com 14-20 July 2020 | Flight International | 3

CONTENTS
Image of
the week
A Qantas Airbus A380
(VH-OQE) is pictured
arriving at Victorville airport
in California on 6 July: one
of two superjumbos to be
placed in long-term storage
at the site by the carrier.
The coronavirus downturn
earlier this year has
prompted Qantas to
mothball its 12-strong
A380 fleet for at least a
three-year period
Gene Blevins/Zuma Wire/Shutterstock

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4 | Flight International | 14-20 July 2020 FlightGlobal.com

COMMENT
Learning curve
rom a certain standpoint it is easy to
F dismiss the Comac ARJ21. Cynics scoff
that it is nothing more than a warmed-
over McDonnell Douglas MD-80, offering
airlines yesterday’s technology today.
A development cycle that stretched
across decades and early production ex-
amples that appeared to lack sophistica-
tion – Wikipedia describes the regional jet
as “structurally conservative” – have done
nothing to dispel the impression of a
Lukassek/Shutterstock
deeply underwhelming programme.
Until nearly $4 billion-worth of orders
arrived from China’s big three carriers last
year, the ARJ21 appeared destined solely
Early warning system for the country’s second-tier operators.
Of course, with Beijing holding a stake
Miner improvement in all the businesses involved, there will

always be doubts about the motivation for
the orders in the first place, but the suc-
cess of the programme should not be
Some safety issues are only solvable with sophisticated solutions, but the judged on those deals in isolation.
dangers of carbon monoxide poisoning in general aviation are easily abated It is the simultaneous delivery of the first
examples to those blue chip carriers – Air
China, China Eastern Airlines and China
lose to half a century ago, a 1974 edition and coal dust, was part of the job, a risk dur- Southern Airlines – and the increasing ma-
C of the Australian government’s Aviation
Safety Digest – a publication freely distribut-
ing every descent.
Not so in general aviation, where the com-
turity of the twinjet and Comac’s manufac-
turing and support processes that are the
ed to the country’s pilots – wryly remarked plexities of flight push the relative improba- key measures.
that keeping a canary in the cockpit to warn bility of carbon monoxide contamination Yes, the ARJ21 can be viewed as a mod-
of the presence of carbon monoxide was down the priority list. est success in its own right, but its value
probably an impractical measure. “Pilots often overlook or dismiss the onset will be seen further down the line as the
“Most pilots would agree that this method of symptoms and don’t connect them with airframer’s future programmes progress.
of detection is hardly appropriate for use in the possibility of exposure,” says the US Compared with its Western rivals
aircraft,” it said, recommending that pilots National Transportation Safety Board. Comac is an aerospace fledgling.
suspecting a problem should arrange a cabin That is the point of the ARJ21 – to allow
air sample test with the government. the manufacturer to hone its design, inte-
The lethal nature of carbon monoxide – a
Pilots often overlook or dismiss gration, manufacturing and support capa-
colourless, odourless, molecular gas capable symptoms and don’t connect bilities before the arrival of more sophisti-
of hijacking the transport by haemoglobin of cated jets such as the C919 and CR929.
oxygen through the bloodstream – is a quirk them with the possibility of Whether Comac has learned these
of chemistry, whereby elements ordinarily lessons remains to be seen, but to assess
harmless, or even essential to life, become exposure to carbon monoxide the regional jet against purely financial
toxic through simple atomic combinations. benchmarks is to misread the pro-
Using caged canaries as a rudimentary gramme’s true purpose. ■
warning system – an idea credited to the Scot- Safety regulators have urged aviators to See Air Transport P12
tish physiologist John Scott Haldane – had become familiar with engine exhaust systems
long been a feature of the mining industry. and the hazard posed by leaks from cracked
The birds were sensitive to concentrations or fractured pipes. But their simplest advice
of carbon monoxide, and reacted to the gas to pilots is to take a “canary” into the cockpit,
far sooner than workers in the pits. Some a modern sensor-detector which will sing an
cages were fitted with small oxygen cylinders electronic warning before dizziness, nausea
– not for the miners’ benefit, but to revive the and disorientation set in.
BBA Photography/Shutterstock
birds if they were overcome. If pilots cocooned in a cabin at altitude are

Canaries were still a part of mining more as vulnerable to poisoning as miners working
than a decade after the Aviation Safety Digest the tunnels beneath the earth’s surface, the
comment, before tradition was inevitably wisdom of a modern take on a decades-old
overtaken by technology. idea is surely beyond question.
Miners carry alarms underground because As below, so above. One step at a time
the carbon monoxide threat, like firedamp See Business Aviation P22

THIS WEEK
BRIEFING
NOLINOR’S NEW CARRIER READY TO GO
AIRLINE Canadian passenger and freight charter carrier Nolinor
Aviation will launch a new airline later this year, despite the
coronavirus-driven downturn. The Montreal-based company says
it acquired several Boeing 737-400s fitted with 158 seats earlier
Boom Supersonic
this year for OWG (which stands for “off we go”) and on 6 July
received permission from Ottawa to launch international services.
LITHUANIA CLEARED FOR BLACK HAWK BUY XB-1 demonstrator will test aerodynamics, construction and engines
ACQUISITIONS Lithuania has gained approval from the US
Department of State to acquire six Sikorsky UH-60M Black PROPULSION JON HEMMERDINGER BOSTON
Projects progress
Hawk transport helicopters for an estimated $380 million. The
NATO nation last October selected the type to replace its Mil
Mi-8s, with deliveries due from 2024. Washington has also
in supersonic race
cleared a potential $23 million deal to supply the Royal
Jordanian Air Force with one UH-60M for VIP transport duties.
AEROMEXICO SEEKS LEASE DEAL EXITS

FINANCIAL Grupo Aeromexico, parent of Mexico’s flag carrier, US start-ups advance rival designs, with Boom preparing
has petitioned to be released from aircraft and engine leases as flying testbed while Aerion concentrates on synthetic fuel
it seeks to shrink its fleet to reduce costs. Aeromexico, which
filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in a US court on 30 wo US developers are pro- 55-75 passengers and fly at Mach
June, says it is looking to be released from leases of 10 Boeing
737NGs and nine Embraer 170s. The carrier will continue to
T gressing their supersonic civil
aircraft projects, with Boom
2.2. First flight is planned in the
mid-2020s.
operate its fleet of 19 787 Dreamliners. Supersonic planning to roll out a Meanwhile, rival Aerion has
demonstrator aircraft this year signed an agreement with Cana-
ATR LAUNCHES CHINESE CERTIFICATION BID and Aerion Supersonic launch- dian company Carbon Engineer-
TRIAL ATR has embarked on flight testing to obtain Chinese cer- ing an effort to help develop ing (CE) to develop a clean-ener-
tification for its ATR 42-600 turboprop. An initial 3h sortie was clean synthetic fuel. gy synthetic fuel that would
conducted from Toulouse Francazal airport on 3 July, with Denver-based Boom plans on to power its in-development AS2.
personnel from the Civil Aviation Administration of China publicly unveil its XB-1 one-third- Aerion, Boom and third super-
co-operating with European Union Aviation Safety Agency pilots. scale demonstrator on 7 October. sonic contender Spike Aerospace
The company believes an ATR 42-600 configured with 30 seats The aircraft will precede the super- have all been vocal about their
offers an “ideal solution” for Chinese regional connectivity. sonic Overture commercial jet. commitment to clean engine
Boom has been advancing technology.
BELGIAN, DUTCH NAVIES WILL FLY SKELDAR XB-1 development during the Aerion intends for the AS2’s
SURVEILLANCE UMS Skeldar has been selected to supply its coronavirus pandemic. In recent triple GE Affinity powerplants to
Skeldar V-200 unmanned air vehicle in support of a mine months, workers have completed burn synthetic fuel manufactured
countermeasures programme for the navies of Belgium and the static wing-load tests, mated the through Carbon Engineering’s
Netherlands. From 2023, the company will supply an undis- XB-1’s wings to its primarily tita- “direct air capture” process.
closed number of V-200s as part of a so-called “toolbox” of nium fuselage, built the aircraft’s That involves extracting car-
unmanned systems employed by a combined 12 surface ships. vertical stabiliser and completed bon dioxide (CO2) from the at-
landing gear tests. mosphere using large fans to
SUPERJET TESTS DOMESTIC EQUIPMENT The XB-1 will be powered by pull air over a potassium hy-
TECHNOLOGY Irkut has begun testing of a Russian-built inertial three GE Aviation J85-15 engines droxide solution, which binds to
navigation system that will feature on a modified version of the and will help test aerodynamics, the CO2.
Sukhoi Superjet 100. The KRET-supplied BINS-2015 equipment carbonfibre construction technolo- The CO2 can then be com-
is intended to replace Honeywell-supplied technology currently gies and supersonic propulsion. bined with hydrogen to create
used on the regional jet. Involving a prototype aircraft, the work is Boom, which had $160 million synthetic fuel with “little or no
being carried out in connection with the “SSJ New” programme. in funding as of April, intends to carbon footprint”, it says.
conduct XB-1 ground and low- Under the agreement between
ATHENS ORDERS MEDEVAC KING AIR PAIR speed taxi tests at Centennial air- the pair, Aerion and Carbon Engi-
PURCHASE Textron Aviation has sold two Beechcraft King Air port near Denver. neering will “explore ways in
350C medical evacuation aircraft for use by Greece’s ministry of Flight tests, however, will be which CE’s synthetic fuel… will
health. Norwegian charter operator Sundt Air will acquire the carried out from Mojave Air & power Aerion’s AS2”.
350Cs and deliver them for service entry by mid-2021, the air- Space Port in California, with as- The companies will “also ex-
framer says. To be based in Athens, the twin-turboprops will be sistance from local company plore a potential collaborative
outfitted with cargo doors, patient oxygen systems and will be Flight Research. project” to construct a synthetic
capable of carrying two stretchers. Under Boom’s plans, the fuel production facility for the
Overture will have capacity for AS2 programme. ■

THIS WEEK
PROPULSION DAVID KAMINSKI-MORROW LONDON
Rolls-Royce clears parked 787 backlog

Engine manufacturer completes upgrade work to fleet grounded by succession of Trent 1000 blade durability issues
K-headquartered Rolls-Royce The initial problem centred on completed by the end of 2021, blade, through which cool air is
U has eliminated the backlog of
Boeing 787s that were grounded
sulphidation corrosion on the
intermediate-pressure turbine
while a redesigned blade for the
Package B engine will be available
blown to protect it from high tem-
peratures.
while awaiting maintenance in blades, spurring the manufactur- from the fourth quarter of this year. R-R has developed enhanced
relation to Trent 1000 blade-dura- er to develop a new blade with blades for Package B and C high-
bility issues. improved protective coating. “We deeply appreciate pressure turbines, improving the
The engine manufacturer had R-R says the new blade, for all efficiency of this “film cooling”
expected to reduce the number of package versions of the Trent the understanding of process, with over half the fleet
787s awaiting work to single dig- 1000, has been installed in more since modified.
its by the end of the second quar- than 99% of the operational fleet.
our customers who But a modification for blades
ter of this year. Resonance vibration originat- have been impacted on the TEN variant remains out-
R-R says the clearance of the ing from fan blades under certain standing. The company says this
backlog means it has “met and conditions led to the cracking of by this situation” modified design is undergoing
exceeded” its own commitment. intermediate-pressure compres- Chris Cholerton endurance testing – which is over
“It has been a difficult journey, sor blades, and prompted the Civil aerospace president, Rolls-Royce 75% complete – after a “rigorous
and one we could never have un- modification of the components, root-cause investigation” and it
dertaken without our customers’ initially for Package C engines, expects incorporation into the
patience and support,” it adds. with a similar subsequent rede- The third durability problem fleet within the first half of 2021.
Three specific blade issues – sign for the TEN version. relates to premature deterioration R-R says the emergence of the
which emerged in close succes- R-R expects the compressor of high-pressure turbine blades. three issues “at the same time”
sion – have affected Trent 1000s blade roll-over programme for This has been due to sub-opti- made the matter “more challeng-
over the past four years. these engine variants to be mal design of small holes in the ing to resolve”, forcing the com-
pany to expand its servicing ca-
pacity to deal with parked aircraft
FORECAST awaiting blade changes.
Long-haul market set to stay ‘subdued’ amid partial recovery Civil aerospace president Chris
Cholerton says the elimination of
Widebody engine flying hours are “We have seen early signs of “subdued” for this year and this 787 backlog is an “important
forecast to recover to around 70% recovery with a marginal improve- next, the company says. milestone” but that the company
of last year’s levels during 2021, ment in May and June, led by an R-R delivered 130 large civil will remain focused on assisting
while engine deliveries will remain increase in flights in China, Asia- aircraft engines over the first six customers with returning the
depressed, Rolls-Royce says. Pacific and the Middle East,” says months of 2020, and is continuing twinjets to post-crisis service,
It forecasts a 55% overall de- the engine manufacturer. to plan for 250 deliveries for the and completing upgrade work
cline in engine flying hours for R-R is expecting further full year, following production across the fleet.
widebody aircraft over the course gradual uptake of long-haul cuts from the major airframers. “We deeply appreciate the un-
of this year, after a 50% drop in routes during the fourth quarter, Some 8,000 jobs are being derstanding and co-operation of
the first half – including a 75% subject to easing of crisis travel shed from R-R’s civil aerospace our customers who have been
slump in the second quarter and restrictions. However, engine division, which is having to absorb impacted by this situation for a
a “low point” of 80% in April. deliveries are likely to remain the main impact of the crisis. ■ long time,” he adds. ■
Phuong D Nguyen/Shutterstock.
Three separate problems have

affected Dreamliner powerplant

THIS WEEK
LOGISTICS LEWIS HARPER LONDON
Hi Fly thinks bigger with A380 freighter

Lessor capitalises on higher cargo demand as coronavirus raises prospects of fresh interest in superjumbo conversion
ortuguese wet-lease operator the conversion as a permanent
P Hi Fly has brought into service
a freight-optimised Airbus A380,
solution.
The project marks the emer-
which has been temporarily gence of A380s for freighter work
converted from a passenger con- some 13 years after a dedicated
figuration in a project overseen by double-decker freighter pro-
Lufthansa Technik (LHT). gramme was halted by a with-
The MRO and modification drawal of customer interest.
specialist was responsible for With many operators of the
technical and engineering sup- A380 either removing the
port, Hi Fly says of the project, aircraft from their fleets or put-
while the work was executed by ting them into long-term storage,
line maintenance provider, Mesa, this year could see renewed
at its Lisbon facility. interest in a freighter configura-
Hi Fly
The economy-class seats have tion of the type.
been removed from the former LHT oversaw modification allowing pallets to be fitted to seat tracks Of the A380’s potential in that
Singapore Airlines widebody, regard, Henning Jochmann,
which means the superjumbo Covid-19 crisis”, the carrier says. Hi Fly notes that the modifica- LHT’s aircraft modification base
can carry “close to 60t of cargo”, LHT said in May that it had tion is temporary and complies maintenance senior director, told
Hi Fly says. With the seats been awarded the technical and with passenger-to-freight regula- FlightGlobal in early June: “At
removed, pallets can be fitted to engineering task to support the tory exemptions drawn up to the moment the oil price is very
the seat tracks. “operational change” for the dou- meet demand during the corona- good, and there are logistical lim-
The aim is to tap into the “high ble-deck type, but did not name virus crisis. itations, but I expect to see more
[air freight] demand during the the customer. LHT says that it will also offer A380s on the market.” ■
CANCELLATIONS JON HEMMERDINGER BOSTON

Korea Aerospace Industries
Avolon axes more Max

in fresh blow for Boeing
essor Avolon has cancelled pandemic, we continue to work
L orders for a further 27 Boeing
737 Max aircraft, striking a fur-
with our customers to balance
supply and demand with market
ther blow to the airframer’s back- realities, especially in the leas-
log, even as it works to get the ing sector,” Boeing says.
narrowbody back in the air. “We have come to an agree-
The 27 cancellations, dis- ment with Avolon to further re-
closed by Avolon in a 7 July sec- structure their orderbook. We ap-
PROGRAMME ond-quarter business update, preciate Avolon’s ongoing
add to the 75 of the type axed by commitment to the 737 family
KF-X prototype assembly on target the Dublin-based lessor in April. through their outstanding orders.”
Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) has issued a first image of a Avolon still holds direct orders Boeing has been hit by a string
KF-X fuselage undergoing assembly in its Sacheon factory. The for 37 737 Max jets, according to of recent Max cancellations. In
company says the first prototype of the twin-engined fighter will Boeing. That is 18 fewer than the late June, Norwegian cut orders
be rolled out by April 2021, with test flights to occur between 55 Max commitments the firm had for 92 examples, while in early
2022 and 2026. Five prototypes will be produced for South after the April cancellations. The July, lessor BOC Aviation erased
Korea, and another for 20% programme partner Indonesia, as figures suggest nine of the latest 30 aircraft from its orderbook.
part of a projected $7.2 billion programme. Series production of tranche were for aircraft Avolon So far this year, Boeing’s cus-
a first batch of jets is scheduled to start by 2028, KAI says. The had intended to purchase from tomers have scrubbed roughly 450
KF-X will be powered by two GE Aviation F414 engines – the third parties, likely through sale- Max orders, according to their dis-
first flight-test example of which has already been delivered – and-leaseback deals with airlines. closures and Boeing data.
with Hanwha Systems to supply an indigenous active Avolon did not respond to a Boeing has said it expects
electronically scanned array radar for the type. request for more information. Max deliveries will resume late
“In light of the Covid-19 in the third quarter. ■

THIS WEEK
Brostock/Shutterstock
Emergency finance measures
are also being investigated
RESULTS GREG WALDRON SINGAPORE
AirAsia Group reels from coronavirus

Auditor warns of ‘material uncertainty’ over continued ability to trade, but sees some future booking improvement
irAsia Group’s future has That situation was exacerbated “leaner and tighter ship”, reduc- Airbus data to end-June shows
A been called into question
after its auditor raised concerns
during the first quarter: AirAsia
Group was in the red to the tune
ing cash expenses by at least 50%.
He adds that the company has
AirAsia and AirAsia X have a
combined 489 narrow- and wide-
about the business’s ability to of MYR953 million, compared received proposals from banks body jets on order. Fernandes has
continue as a going concern due with a MYR102 million profit for and investors in regard to shoring previously said the group will
to deteriorating finances amid the same period a year earlier. up its capital and liquidity. take no new aircraft this year. ■
the coronavirus pandemic. However, the auditors note
However, accountancy firm that easing restrictions on inter-
Ernst & Young (E&Y) says there state travel and domestic tourism
are signs of hope with an im- in Southeast Asia have provided
provement in forward bookings some relief, with improved seat Ensuring
and higher load factors in geogra- booking and frequencies. Load
phies where domestic flights factors are ranging between Safety and Performance
have resumed. Talks with govern- 45-65% in countries where do-
ments and finance houses over mestic flights have resumed.
for Today and Tomorrow
support are also ongoing, it says.
E&Y’s statement came as the INVESTMENT TALKS
group released its first-quarter Nonetheless, E&Y stresses that the
results for the period ended 31 fate of the AirAsia Group depends
March. “In early 2020, the glob- upon recovery from the pandem-
al economy, in particular the ic, in addition to the successful
commercial airline industry, conclusion of talks with financial
faces uncertainty as a result of institutions and investors.
the unprecedented Covid-19 AirAsia Philippines is expect-
pandemic,” says E&Y’s “material ed to obtain a government-
uncertainty” disclosure. backed loan as part of a local
“The travel and border restric- stimulus package. The company
tions implemented by countries is also deferring payment of oper-
With light weight, small volume, outstanding en-
around the world have led to a ating leases, restructuring fuel
significant fall in demand for air hedges, and reducing pay. vironmental robustness and unmatched perfor-
travel which impacted the “The group is currently in the mance LITEF’s certified Inertial Systems deliver
group’s financial performance process of negotiating further value to the operators of all types of civil and
and cash flows. These events or waivers or deferrals of lease rent- military aircraft.
conditions indicate existence of als, and restructuring the remain-
material uncertainties that may ing fuel hedge exposures with
cast significant doubt on the supportive lessors and counter- Inertial Systems
group’s and the company’s ability parties,” says the report.
to continue as a going concern.” Chief executive Tony Fer- made by
In 2019, the group suffered a nandes describes the coronavirus
full-year net loss of MYR283 crisis as the “toughest challenge”
million ($66 million) and had the airline has faced since it began For more information on our products, please contact [email protected]
Northrop Grumman LITEF GmbH, Loerracher Strasse 18, 79115 Freiburg, Germany
liabilities exceeding its assets by operations in 2001. He says the
MYR1.8 billion. group has been restructured into a

AIR TRANSPORT
ANALYSIS ALFRED CHUA SINGAPORE
Why ARJ21’s value is hard to measure

Regional jet is now delivered to China’s three biggest carriers, but programme’s true worth may only be realised later
hen the “big three” Chinese
W carriers – Air China, China
Eastern Airlines and China South-
Lead customer Chengdu Airlines
operates 21 examples
ern Airlines – each took delivery
of their first ARJ21s on 28 June,
Comac did not miss the opportu-
nity to emphasise the significance
of the moment.
“The simultaneous delivery of
the three aircraft marks the offi-
cial entry of the ARJ21… into the
fleets of international mainstream
airlines,” the Shanghai-based
airframer said.
Indeed, the deliveries repre-
Markus Mainka/Shutterstock
sent a significant milestone in the
development of the Chinese aero-
space industry and for the serial-
ly delayed ARJ21, which has the
distinction of being China’s first
indigenously designed and built
commercial jet. But he observes that the West’s appears low, at less than 5h, it is dollars earned or the number of
For many years the regional big two airframers have also been hard to tell how much is due to aircraft sold.
aircraft had seemed destined to beneficiaries of a political leg-up the coronavirus crisis and how Comac, he says, has faced a
find a market solely with the themselves. much due to conservative “steep learning curve” just to
smaller Chinese airlines. Howev- “In this regard it is actually no scheduling “in the face of low reach 32 deliveries, and he
er, that changed in August 2019 different to European or US confidence in dispatch reliabili- stresses that the experience
when the big three each placed markets from the early days of ty to date”. gained in “design, integration,
orders for 35 examples in deals Airbus and its competitors, “It is likely a mix of both, but series manufacturing and opera-
worth a combined $4 billion. where pressure was often evident as experience builds, so will con- tional support” will be vital for
Explaining the commitments, upon airlines to select domestic fidence, and the aircraft should future programmes.
the carriers said the ARJ21s would technologies,” he says. be able to meet typical levels of “At present, 27 of the aircraft
fill a shortage of feeder capacity regional jet utilisation with delivered to airline customers are
and also strengthen trunk routes. “The delivery of the time,” he says. in service, and will generate some
Of course, little happens in Production appears to have 1,800 flights next month accord-
China without official govern- three aircraft marks overcome early issues, which ing to the schedules,” he says.
ment sanction, and all three carri- saw early-build examples re- “As more aircraft are delivered
ers – as well as Comac – are ma- the official entry of the turned to the manufacturer for to more operators, Comac will
jority-owned by Beijing. upgrades, and Comac is now gain more experience of support-
But is the arrival of the ARJ21 at
ARJ21 into the fleets assembling the jet at facilities in ing the aircraft in service which it
the big three a sign of a proof international Pudong and Shanghai at a com- can apply to its C919, CR929 and
gramme that has matured – shrug- bined rate of around four aircraft other future programmes.”
ging off years of delay and initial mainstream airlines” per month.
difficulties – or political window Comac “As the fleet in service begins PRACTICE RUN
dressing combined with a compli- to increase, Comac can begin to Although it seems dismissive to
ant or captive domestic market? demonstrate a track record of characterise the ARJ21 as merely
The answer is likely to be a Chengdu Airlines is the lead programme delivery, including a practice run for more complex
mixture of the two. operator for the GE Aviation product support, which will programmes, the lessons learned
Rob Morris, global head of con- CF34-powered ARJ21 by some allow the airlines to become in- by Comac – essentially an aero-
sultancy at Ascend by Cirium, margin: it has 21 examples in its creasingly confident in operation space start-up – will be key.
thinks it probable that pressure fleet, plus a further 10 on order. It of the aircraft,” Morris says. And while the service entry
would have been brought to bear is followed by Inner Mongolia- But it is worth bearing in date for the C919 narrowbody
on the airlines to order domesti- based Genghis Khan Airlines, mind that for Comac, the ARJ21 has slipped, so far there are no
cally-built aircraft – but that may with five ARJ21s delivered and programme is not happening in signs that the long hiatus be-
have been accompanied by fa- another 20 on order. isolation. Morris argues that suc- tween the ARJ21’s first flight in
vourable pricing or finance rates Morris points out that al- cess for the regional jet should 2008 and its 2016 service entry
to sweeten the deal. though average daily utilisation not be measured simply in will be replicated. ■

AIR TRANSPORT
SAFETY DAVID KAMINSKI-MORROW LONDON RESTRUCTURING

LEWIS HARPER LONDON
Trent-engined 787 operators Lufthansa halves

short-term fleet
must check for disc fin cracks modernisation
EASA set to mandate one-off inspections after assessment of low-pressure turbine parts ufthansa will halve the num-
perators of Rolls-Royce- discs – with specific part numbers covers the issue. EASA has
L ber of new aircraft it takes
through to end-2023 and cut
O powered Boeing 787s are set
to be instructed to conduct in-
– in the low-pressure turbine. The
one-time ultra-high-sensitivity
opened the directive for consul-
tation until 3 August.
1,000 jobs as part of a second set
of restructuring measures an-
spections of certain Trent 1000 fluorescent penetrant inspections Separately, EASA has also nounced on 7 July.
low-pressure turbine discs, over a should take place at the next en- warned over unanticipated fuel- Among resolutions approved
possible cracking risk. gine refurbishment shop visit, ac- pump deterioration, particularly by the company’s board, a maxi-
Assessment of certain discs in cording to the proposed directive. on high-life Trent 1000 engines. mum of 80 new aircraft will be
service has revealed that rubbing If any cracking is indicated on While the issue had originally added to the group’s fleet through
contact with interstage static the seal fins, the disc parts must been thought to affect certain to 2023 – around half the number
seals can lead to cracks in the be replaced. pumps with a specific part planned pre-coronavirus.
front seal fins – which, in turn, EASA warns that the condi- number, R-R has developed a The targeted aircraft have not
could lead to cracks in the disc. tion could lead to propagation of service bulletin that extends to been specified, but Cirium fleets
As an interim measure, the Eu- cracking, possible low-pressure additional pumps. data shows Lufthansa Group has
ropean Union Aviation Safety turbine disc failure, and expul- As a result EASA has broad- almost 200 jets on order.
Agency (EASA) is preparing to sion of high-energy debris. ened the applicability of a pro- Lufthansa mainline’s outstand-
mandate inspections of seal fins R-R has drawn up a service posed directive from three to 19 ing orders comprise 96 Airbus
on the third- and fourth-stage bulletin, dated 29 June, which variants of the engine. A320neo-family jets, 27 A350-
EASA says an “unexpected 900s, 20 Boeing 777-9s and 20
reduction” in fuel-pump perfor- 787-9s. Swiss’s orderbook in-
mance has been recorded during cludes 23 A320neo-family air-
testing of high-life units – the re- craft, and a single A220-300.
sult of internal components Further measures include cut-
wearing out. ting 1,000 administrative jobs
This loss of fuel-pump effi- from the group’s German mainline
ciency is “more pronounced” on operation, while leadership posi-
higher-rated engines, EASA tions will be reduced by 20%.
says, and could result in reduced The group’s first set of meas-
engine thrust. ures, announced in April, includ-
As a result, the life limit of the ed the reduction of its fleet by 100
pumps has been reduced and aircraft, and an end to operations
EASA is ordering operators to re- by its Germanwings unit.
Rolls-Royce
place them before this revised The group’s carriers had around
limit – depending on the engine 750 aircraft in service when the
Rolls-Royce has prepared a service bulletin addressing engine issue model – is exceeded. ■ coronavirus crisis began. ■
for Stowage Bins
Shorten Aircraft Turns

Passenger Convenience
www.komy.com

AIR TRANSPORT
INQUIRY DAVID KAMINSKI-MORROW LONDON
Wet runway warning follows A330 near-overrun

aiwanese regulators are advis- were activated, says the Taiwan ation. “Maximum manual braking system or apply manual braking.
T ing Airbus A330 operators to
consider the effects of wet run-
Civil Aeronautics Administration,
the crew “noticed the loss” of all
was applied, and the aircraft was
stopped right before the end of the
The administration’s bulletin
does not identify the airline in-
ways on aircraft deceleration three primary flight computers. runway safely,” says the adminis- volved in the incident – beyond
after a near-overrun incident at The aircraft’s thrust-reversers, tration in a 24 June safety bulletin. stating that the jet was Taiwan-
Taipei’s Songshan airport. automatic braking system, and The crew then requested towing. ese-registered – or the location.
As the aircraft landed on the wet spoilers were also unavailable, The administration states that But Taiwanese newspaper
runway and the thrust reversers which affected the A330’s deceler- the root cause of the failure is United Daily News has reported
“still under investigation”. that a China Airlines A330-300
But the bulletin recommends arriving at Songshan from Shang-
that A330 operators consider hai on 14 June experienced the
“possible deceleration deficien- flight computer malfunction and
cy” if such conditions occur other systems failures.
while conducting an approach to It reports that the crew initiat-
a wet runway. ed manual braking but the
Leung Cho Pan/Shutterstock
“If the landing distance availa- aircraft stopped just over 9m
ble is a concern, consider divert- (30ft) from the end of the
ing to an alternate airport,” it says. runway. The newspaper indi-
It adds that, if automatic braking cates that the twinjet – identified
is unavailable, the crew should as B-18302 – was only lightly
Local media reports say China Airlines jet was involved in incident “promptly” switch to an alternate loaded, with 80 occupants. ■
SAFETY DAVID KAMINSKI-MORROW LONDON
‘Slip-up’ behind 787’s Oslo wing strike

Widebody hit de-icing station lighting mast when staff sent it to wrong position while reorganising aircraft queue
orwegian investigators have first officer had a limited view.

N revealed that a de-icing vehi-
cle driver vainly attempted to stop
As the 787 edged forward, the
driver of an SAS Ground Han-
an Ethiopian Airlines Boeing dling de-icing vehicle parked at
787-9 from taxiing onto the wrong the front edge of stand 991 real-
de-icing stand, before the jet’s ised the aircraft was too large.
right wing struck and felled a But the vehicle was an older
lighting mast at Oslo Gardermoen. model and did not have a VHF
The aircraft (ET-AUP), which radio to warn the 787 crew direct-
was preparing for departure to ly, so the driver had to resort to
Stockholm and Addis Ababa on 18 calling the de-icing co-ordinators
E Q Roy/Shutterstock
December 2018, had been given over an internal radio.

the wrong stand number, despite One of the co-ordinators, about
two de-icing co-ordinators agree- 8s before the collision, tried re-
ing on the correct stand allocation. Investigators recommend that larger types have anti-collision aids laying a message to stop the 787
Investigators state that the but the jet struck the mast, badly
Ethiopian 787 was part of a taxi respectively to stands 992 cation (AIP) or notices to airmen damaging its right wing and caus-
queue for de-icing. It was fol- and 995, ahead of the A320. about which aircraft types could ing the mast to collapse.
lowed by a Lufthansa Airbus This meant reorganising the use which de-icing stands, and Accident Investigation Board
A320 an Atlas Air 747. queue. The inquiry believes this no signage to warn aircraft crews. Norway recommends the AIP is
Gardermoen’s B-North de-icing became the “main focus” of one of Although the 787 captain saw reviewed to state aircraft limita-
platform has nine parking stands, the operatives and “may have con- the lighting mast as the jet taxied tions for de-icing stands, and that
in three groups of three, of which tributed” to his subsequent “slip- slowly onto the stand, and technical solutions are found for
only the centre stand of each group up” when he instructed the 787 to thought the clearance was mar- Gardermoen to stop aircraft being
– numbered 992, 995 and 998 – use stand 991 instead of 992. ginal, he was confident about the directed to the wrong stand. It is
was suitable for large aircraft. Stand 991 was too narrow for instructions he had been given. also recommending that Europe-
The two co-ordinators thought the 787’s wingspan. But there He asked the first officer if he an regulators consider require-
the most practical option was to was no information in Norway’s could see the distance between ments to fit large aircraft with
allow the larger 787 and 747 to aeronautical information publi- the wing-tip and the mast but the anti-collision aids for taxiing. ■

VIEW FROM THE COCKPIT
Why resilience is key for aspiring pilots

Covid-19 may have put careers on hold, not least for those still training, but cadets must be prepared to stay the course
DANIEL
LAMBETH
FIRST OFFICER,
SOUTHEAST
ASIAN LEGACY
CARRIER
f you are a commercial pilot at

I the moment, there is a good
chance that you’ve been made re-
dundant, furloughed, or at the
very least signed off on a sizeable
pay cut, as airlines around the
world try to navigate the econom-
ic fallout of coronavirus.
Mario Hagen/Shutterstock
That career that you’ve worked
so hard and for so long to achieve
is approaching a deep stall, and if
you have a family or any finan-
cial commitments, you may well Those that use the current hiatus to learn a new skill or gain flying experience will be at an advantage
be asking yourself: “Now what do
I do?” based on the information at hand. a commercial jet airliner was left would be folly to suggest that this
Even those still flying regularly Others, like scientists, have the with two alternatives: work in a demand has now vanished.
will be concerned about their fu- luxury of time, and that allows low-paid general aviation job If there is one characteristic
tures, given that many interna- them to collect all the evidence waiting for demand to rebound, or that serves airline pilots well
tional and domestic borders re- before committing to a position. give up on their aviation dream. throughout their careers, it is re-
main closed and no clear Although as pilots it is tempt- But after each crisis the indus- silience in the face of adversity.
recovery is in sight; a global pilot ing to act based only on what we try recovered, and as demand for Your career plans may be on hi-
shortage has, in the space of a few can see before us in the moment, flying surged again, airline flight atus, but those that take the oppor-
months, turned into a massive this is a situation that requires a departments were given licence tunity to complete or extend their
oversupply. step back to look at the bigger pic- to resume hiring. studies, learn a new aviation-relat-
ture and gain better situational Those that stayed the course ed skill, get some, any, flying ex-
TALES OF WOE awareness. That’s the advice I’d reaped the rewards, and not a sin- perience, and build resilience,
With every day, more individual give to anyone questioning their gle one of those pilots would ever will not be disappointed. History
stories of hardship come to light career path at a time when we are talk about their pre-airline expe- is on your side. There will be a re-
and a satisfying career to date is all susceptible to getting caught riences in disparaging terms. covery from the economic fallout
little consolation as this dreadful up in the moment. In a world more reliant than of this pandemic, and you will be
narrative develops. ever on the connectivity that avi- well placed to capitalise on it.
But there is another group of This is a situation that ation provides, we can be confi- So, let’s turn to the question:
people for whom the adversity is dent that history will repeat. “Now what do we do?” My
just as real, even while their avia- requires a step back to response is this: if you ever want-
tion aspirations remain unful- SLOW GOING ed to be an airline pilot, then be
filled. The next generation of pro- look at the bigger But that is not to suggest that rean airline pilot. Your training in
fessional pilots, those who have picture and gain coveries are quick or painless: it resilience starts now. ■
invested heavily in their training took six or seven years before hir-
in the hope of gaining airline em- better situational ing by major airlines in the US If you are a commercial pilot
ployment, are questioning their returned to levels seen before the and fancy writing for Flight
futures and wondering whether awareness financial crash and three years International, we would love to
they should stay the course or after 9/11 for passenger numbers hear from you. Just send us a
bail out now. And as a collective, to surpass pre-attack levels. brief outline of what you would
they are wondering: “Now what The industry has been through Remember, too, that not 12 like to cover and we will get
do we do?” this before. In the immediate after- months ago there was an acknowl- back in touch. We will also be
As aviators, we tend to ap- math of the global financial crisis, edged airline pilot shortage and happy to feature your
proach things in a calculated the 9/11 terrorist attacks, and the industry was expecting that contributions anonymously
way, looking for and assessing al- other crises before that, major air- 800,000 new flightcrew would be where needed. Email dominic.
ternatives and quickly formulat- lines around the world ceased hir- needed over the next 20 years. perry@flightglobal.com
ing the best course of action ing, and anyone without a seat in With a wave of retirements due, it

DEFENCE
ACQUISITION PROCUREMENT ALFRED CHUA SINGAPORE

GREG WALDRON SINGAPORE
Further Russian French navy nears launch of

fighters will raise
Indian inventory Advanced Hawkeye addition
ndia’s Defence Acquisition Washington endorses potentially $2 billion order for three airborne early warning assets
I Council has approved the pur-
chase of 33 new Russian fighters, he US Department of State
comprising 21 RAC MiG-29s and
12 Sukhoi Su-30MKIs. The deals
T has given its approval to the
potential sale of three Northrop
will be valued at Rs74 billion Grumman E-2D Advanced
($964 million) and Rs107 billion Hawkeyes to France.
respectively, with the Su-30MKIs To be completed using Wash-
to be produced locally by Hindu- ington’s Foreign Military Sales
stan Aeronautics (HAL). funding mechanism, the deal for
Forming part of a Rs389 billion the airborne early warning and
package of spending approved control system aircraft will total
for India’s armed forces, the new around $2 billion.
purchases will be supplemented In addition to the carrier-
US Navy
by a programme to upgrade the based surveillance aircraft and
Indian air force’s 59 in-service their Lockheed Martin APY-9 Paris is seeking a replacement capability for carrier-based E-2C fleet
MiG-29s to an M-model standard. radars, the proposed sale will
The service will also receive an also include four spare Rolls- data shows that the fixed-wing to their current, legacy E-2C
unspecified number of the locally Royce T56 engines, self-protec- assets are aged between 16 and Hawkeye aircraft,” the US De-
developed Astra beyond-visual- tion equipment, and logistics 22 years. fense Security Cooperation Agen-
range air-to-air missile to en- and support services. “The proposed sale will im- cy notes.
hance its capabilities. The French navy currently op- prove France’s capability to meet Paris would follow the US
A follow-on MiG-29 acquisi- erates a trio of E-2Cs, including current and future threats by pro- Navy and Japan Air Self-Defence
tion received fresh impetus after from its lone aircraft carrier, the viding its naval air forces with a Force in fielding the next-
a recent border squabble with Charles de Gaulle. Cirium fleets sustainable follow-on capability generation E-2D. ■
China, in which several soldiers
from each nation were killed.
While the addition of new fight- UNMANNED SYSTEMS IGOR SALINGER BELGRADE
ers and upgrades to older types
will go some way to shoring up
New Delhi’s defensive capabili-
Belgrade gains armed Chinese UAVs
ties, the pace of India’s air power
development has lagged that of erbia has taken delivery of six which the defence ministry says for integration with Belgrade’s de-
China’s for the past two decades.
The Indian air force has several
S China Aerospace Science and
Technology-built Cai Hong
has an effective range of up to
3.7nm (6.8km).
velopmental Pegaz (“Pegasus”)
UAV is “much more significant
outstanding requirements for new (“Rainbow”) CH-92As, marking Serbian defence officials say than the purchase itself”.
aircraft, including a long-running the first acquisition of a Chinese the nation has acquired “two com- Two Pegaz prototypes are to be
need for 110 advanced fighters. armed unmanned air vehicle plete systems, including six redesigned in China by year-end,
Candidates include the Boeing (UAV) by a European military. drones”, along with an initial 12 and an order for 12 examples is
F/A-18E/F Super Hornet and Recently displayed to military FT-8C weapons. However, they expected.
F-15EX, Dassault Rafale, Eurofight- officials at Batajnica air base, the note that work with Chinese Serbian air force chief General
er Typhoon, Lockheed Martin tactical UAVs can be armed with counterparts to transfer technolo- Dusko Zarkovic says that an ac-
F-16V/F-21, and Saab Gripen E. the FT-8C laser-guided missile, gy including avionics equipment quisition of six more armed
However, New Delhi’s direction UAVs would be “optimal” for the
on this requirement is far from service. Using the type, it plans to
clear, with officials publicly flirting re-establish its 353rd reconnais-
with the idea of modernising the sance squadron, which previous-
air force fleet with locally-pro- ly operated versions of the Soko
duced types; namely the HAL- J-22 Orao and Mikoyan MiG-21.
Darimir Banda/Serbian defence ministry
built Tejas and developmental Ad- Meanwhile, Nenad Milora-

vanced Medium Combat Aircraft. dovic, assistant minister responsi-
The re-emergence of great ble for defence technologies and
power tensions could give these procurement, says the nation
and other Indian air force needs a plans to develop its own platform
renewed emphasis. ■ “larger than CH-92”, and a laser-
See Feature P32 Aircraft have been handed over with 12 FT-8C laser-guided missiles guided missile to arm the type. ■

DEFENCE
PROGRAMME GREG WALDRON SINGAPORE
Seoul set to produce surveillance UAV

Medium-altitude, long-endurance type readied for manufacture as Korean Air examines possible overseas partnerships
orean Air is preparing to is intended to provide surveil-
K begin mass production of its
Medium Altitude Unmanned
lance of South Korea’s challenging
geopolitical neighbourhood, par-
Aerial Vehicle (MUAV), but its ticularly North Korea.
500MD unmanned helicopter ef- Meanwhile, Korean Air says its
Greg Waldron/FlightGlobal
fort has been placed on hold. 500MD programme, which would
The company confirms devel- see elderly MD Helicopters
opment activities for the MUAV MD500s converted into armed un-
programme are nearly complete, manned rotorcraft, is “currently
with a production start imminent. on hold as military requirements
“We are looking into overseas and funding are still pending”. Full-scale mock-up of KUS-15 was displayed at ADEX show in 2019
partnerships and considering var- Discussions continue with the
ious options,” the company adds. South Korean government, but UCAVs [unmanned combat air surveillance, target acquisition
Citing customer sensitivity, until the 500MD programme re- vehicles], manned to unmanned and reconnaissance aircraft.
Korean Air declines to reveal the sumes, the company’s follow-on conversions of multi-purpose The pair signed an agreement
number of unmanned air vehi- ambitions to create unmanned helicopters, unmanned CAVs at the ADEX show last October to
cles to be built, or to disclose versions of Sikorsky UH-60 Black [cargo air vehicles], UAM [urban offer an adapted Bombardier
when the type will enter service. Hawk helicopters and Northrop air mobility] and 2h-endurance Global 6500 business jet using
A full-scale mock-up of the F-5 fighters are also in limbo. hybrid-powered drones,” it says. Raytheon’s “multiple intelli-
MUAV, designated the KUS-15, “While extending the capabili- Separately, Korean Air says it gence” technologies. Its South
was displayed at last year’s Seoul ties of its current [UAV] fleet, Ko- still holds periodic discussions Korean partner will perform air-
ADEX defence show. The medi- rean Air is also looking to extend with Raytheon in regard to Seoul’s craft modification work should
um-altitude, long-endurance type its programme to include stealth requirement for four intelligence, their bid be successful. ■
REQUIREMENT GREG WALDRON SINGAPORE
Indonesian swoop for Ospreys gets US approval

he US government has ap- government’s Foreign Military Jakarta would “enhance Indone- security objectives of the United
T proved a potentially $2 bil-
lion sale of eight Bell Boeing
Sales process.
Outlining the prospective
sia’s humanitarian and disaster
relief capabilities and support
States by improving the security of
an important regional partner that
MV-22 Osprey tiltrotor transports order on 6 July, the US Defense amphibious operations”. is a force for stability and economic
to Indonesia. If finalised, the deal Security Cooperation Agency “It is vital to US national inter- progress in the Asia-Pacific re-
would be conducted via the US (DSCA) said an Osprey sale to est to assist Indonesia in develop- gion,” the DSCA says.
ing and maintaining a strong and Cirium fleets data shows that
effective self-defence capability,” the Indonesian air force has 40 in-
the DSCA adds. service rotorcraft with an average
In addition to providing eight age of almost 25 years, with some
MV-22s produced in a Block C of its youngest assets being six
configuration, the deal would Airbus Helicopters H225Ms.
also include personnel training, The nation’s army operates
technical support and eight spare around 144 rotorcraft of multiple
US Marine Corps
Rolls-Royce AE 1107C engines. types, including 56 Bell 412 trans-

Potential sale would include
“This proposed sale will sup- ports and eight Boeing AH-64E
eight MV-22 tiltrotors
port the foreign policy and national Apache attack helicopters. ■
Download the 2020

in association with: Wo r l d A i r Fo r c e s R e p o r t
w w w. f l i g h t g l o b a l . c o m / w a f
BUSINESS AVIATION
INVESTIGATION DAVID KAMINSKI-MORROW LONDON
Exhaust poisoning clue in DHC-2 crash

Inquiry reports high levels of carbon monoxide found in pilot’s blood after fatal crash of Sydney Seaplanes piston-single
ustralian investigators have pilot and two passengers had ele-
A urged operators of piston-
engined aircraft to carry out in-
vated carbon monoxide levels.
After scrutinising the validity
spection and repair of exhaust of the findings, the bureau states
systems, after finding that the that the levels of carbon monox-
pilot of a crashed De Havilland ide were “likely to have adverse-
Canada DHC-2 floatplane had el- ly affected the pilot’s ability to
evated levels of carbon monoxide control the aircraft”.
in his blood. All three victims were proba-
Sydney Seaplanes
The Sydney Seaplanes aircraft, bly exposed within the aircraft
with six occupants, had departed cabin, it says, and a further
Cottage Point, initially heading examination of the aircraft has
northeast along Cowan Creek, but determined that a crack in the Aircraft had undergone scheduled engine change two months earlier
entered an inlet known as engine exhaust collector ring
Jerusalem Bay at altitude lower could have leaked exhaust into The aircraft (VH-NOO) had un- checks every 50h, and airframe
than surrounding terrain, where the engine bay. dergone a scheduled engine checks every 100h or six months.
it commenced a steep right turn This exhaust would not have change in early November, about While the inquiry has yet to
and dived into the water. been contained in the engine bay eight weeks before the crash. reach final conclusions, it is re-
None of those on board the air- because three of the eight bolts The engine was taken from minding aircraft maintenance or-
craft survived the 31 December used to secure magneto access Sydney Seaplanes’ other DHC-2 ganisations of the need to carry
2017 accident. panels beneath the instrument and had been disassembled and out regular and thorough inspec-
Medical specialists sought panel were missing. inspected, with no defects found, tion of exhaust systems and fire-
toxicology tests on blood sam- Cracks in the exhaust system, before being reassembled and fit- walls given the risk of potential
ples, says the Australian Trans- and a firewall breach, provided a ted to VH-NOO. carbon monoxide exposure.
port Safety Bureau, while the gas path to the cabin. Investigators state the aircraft’s It is also urging pilots and
draft investigation report was “Any breach in the firewall can logbook indicates it was serviced owners of piston-engined aircraft
being reviewed. allow gases to enter the cabin in accordance with the operator’s to carry or fit carbon monoxide
The results of the tests came from the engine bay,” the inquiry approved maintenance system, detectors with alarms to warn of
back in March, indicating that the points out. with daily inspections, engine the presence of the lethal gas. ■
PROGRAMME KATE SARSFIELD LONDON
Stratos 716X enters test campaign with first flight

tratos Aircraft has launched ed 22min starting with a full- will span the next several (12.9kN)-thrust Pratt & Whitney
S the flight-test campaign for its
716X, with the very light jet
power take-off and climb to
13,500ft. “A series of manoeu-
months”, it adds.
Launched in 2018, the carbon-
Canada JT15D-5 engine as the
714 and features a Garmin G3X
(N716X) performing its maiden vres were then conducted to fibre, single-engined 716 pro- flightdeck. The certificated vari-
sortie on 2 July from the airfram- evaluate handling characteris- gramme represents a longer and ant will use a 3,400lb-thrust
er’s base in Redmond, Oregon. tics,” says Stratos. wider version of the 714, which PW535E, and feature either
Flown by test pilot Sean Van- The sortie is the first of “an ex- it replaces. G3000 or G5000 avionics.
Hatten, the milestone sortie last- tensive flight-test programme that The 716X is the kit-built ver- “When we introduced the
sion of the six-seat aircraft, which proof-of-concept 714 three years
Very light jet’s maiden Stratos chose to bring to market ago, the marketplace interest was
sortie lasted 22min ahead of the US Federal Aviation tremendous,” says Stratos chief
Administration FAR Part technical officer Carsten Sundin.
23-certificated model. This is to “It was clear that the market is
allow the company to refine the looking for the performance and
product, lower development comfort we were offering, but in a
costs for the 716, and help attract true six-place aircraft.
investors who will assist in bring- “We have achieved this with
ing this version to market. the 716X. With a cabin width of
While structurally both aircraft 4ft [1.2m] and height of 4.8ft, there
Stratos Aircraft
are identical, the 716X is is plenty of room for passengers to

powered by the same 2,900lb relax on long flights.” ■

BUSINESS AVIATION
PROPULSION KATE SARSFIELD LONDON
Pro-Avia utility win helps keep Red’s flag flying high

ussian start-up Pro-Avia has lev Yak-52 and -152 trainers, and
R selected Red Aircraft’s A03
500hp (370kW) diesel engine to
Fletcher FU-24 agricultural air-
craft. “We are aiming to achieve
power its in-development multi- supplemental type certifications
purpose piston-twin. for the A03 soon on the De Havil-
Adenau, Germany-based Red land Canada DHC-2 Beaver and
Aviation describes its powerplant Air Tractor AT-301,” says Gluck.
as an “all-aluminium, 12-cylin- Pro-Avia’s as-yet unnamed air-
der, high-compression-ignition craft is now in its preliminary de-
engine” that can run on Jet A or sign phase. Targeted at the pas-
Pro-Avia
diesel fuel. senger, cargo and utility markets,
“The A03 is a game-changer as Start-up’s multi-purpose aircraft is now at preliminary design stage the model has a projected maxi-
there are currently no diesel en- mum take-off weight of 4,800kg
gines in the 500hp range,” says sions and better fuel efficiency The A03 secured European and (10,600lb), a maximum cruise
Red Aviation’s head of business than similar-sized engines run- US certifications in December speed of 185kt (340km/h), and a
development Sebastian Gluck. ning on leaded aviation fuel like 2014 and January 2015 respective- range of 1,190nm (2,200km). It
It was selected by Pro-Avia, he the Lycoming IO-580, TIO-720 ly, and the engine is now installed will be able to seat nine to 14 pas-
adds, as it can deliver lower emis- and Continental IO-550 pistons. on platforms including the Yakov- sengers. ■
SALE KATE SARSFIELD LONDON
Administrator trims bidders for Piaggio

Extraordinary commissioner invites 11 of the 19 companies seeking to acquire Italian airframer into due diligence phase
iaggio Aerospace’s administra- one of the two businesses – air-
P tor has invited 11 of the 19 bid-
ders for the company to enter due
craft manufacturing and develop-
ment, or engine support – have
diligence – and says he is confi- indicated that they are ready to
dent a suitable buyer can be se- reconsider the possibility of ac-
lected before year-end, with a deal quiring it in full, once due dili-
to close in the first half of 2021. gence is completed,” he says.
The Italian airframer – devel- This process is expected to end
oper of the P180 Avanti on 31 August, when parties will
twin-pusher and its unmanned be invited to submit binding of-
surveillance variant, the P1HH fers. ”Our aim is to select a buyer
Hammerhead – entered extraordi- before the end of the year, and
nary receivership in December complete the sale in the first half
2018 after Abu Dhabi wealth fund of 2021,” says Nicastro.
Piaggio Aerospace
Mubadala, its sole shareholder, He describes the ideal owner

pulled out of the company. for Piaggio as “a solid company”
Bidding for Piaggio ran from with a long-term strategy for the
26 February until 29 May. firm. “It must be ready to devel- P180 Avanti developer filed for bankruptcy protection in late 2018
Extraordinary commissioner op Piaggio’s existing portfolio,
Vincenzo Nicastro says offers invest in its future and its skilled est in the company,” he says. financing the completion of
“have arrived from all over the workforce and, of course, pay Piaggio’s appeal to a potential P1HH certification and will
world”, including companies in the right price.” buyer is sweetened by a lifeline acquire at least one system,
Canada, China, France, Germany, He does not expect the worsen- package of orders and commit- comprising two aircraft and one
Italy and the USA. He declines to ing global economic climate, trig- ments secured by Nicastro from ground station.
reveal their identities due to confi- gered by the coronavirus pandem- the Italian government, worth Hammerhead development
dentiality agreements. ic, to have “much of an impact” around €900 million ($980 mil- has been on hold since the
However, he says the “vast on the acquisition price or sale lion). This includes a deal for nine company entered receivership.
majority” of the bidders are inter- process. “Even if some interested new Avanti Evos, and the retrofit Piaggio says its long-term objec-
ested in acquiring the whole parties have been discouraged by of 19 earlier-generation examples tive is to maintain “company
company – which is Nicastro’s the pandemic, receiving 19 ex- of the twin-engined turboprop op- know-how” and participate in
preferred outcome. “Those par- pressions of interest in Piaggio erated by Italy’s armed forces. future Europe-wide unmanned
ties who are interested only in confirms that there is a huge inter- Rome has also committed to air vehicle programmes. ■

NEWS FOCUS
OPERATIONS GREG WALDRON SINGAPORE
Wide remit drives a versatile approach

As the Royal New Zealand Air Force modernises its fleet, sustainment is emerging as key challenge during coronavirus era
ith a broad array of mis-
W sions to perform across a
vast geography, ranging from
idyllic Pacific islands to Antarc-
tica, the Royal New Zealand Air
Force (RNZAF) is a highly versa-
tile organisation.
In any given week, the service
is likely to be engaged in mis-
sions close to home such as
search and rescue, economic
zone surveillance and disaster re-
lief, while also conducting more
traditional military duties. These
New Zealand Defence Force

can range from deploying Lock-
heed Martin C-130H tactical
transports to the Middle East, or
dispatching a Lockheed P-3C
Orion surveillance aircraft to sup- Combi-configured 757-200 is used for multiple duties – and service must find successor by around 2027
port UN sanctions enforcement
against North Korea. likely to begin in 2022. replacing five examples that had adding: “We’re very happy with
“It’s quite a wide spectrum of One thing Clark has in com- been in its service since the late the aircraft.” However, he notes:
operations we get involved in,” mon with airline chiefs is need- 1990s. It bought the rotorcraft – “I think, like a number of NH90
RNZAF chief Air Vice-Marshal ing a replacement for the Boeing plus two “spare attrition air- customers, that we would prefer
Andrew Clark – a former P-3C 757-200, with the air force’s two frames” and full-flight simulators to have a higher availability rate
pilot – tells FlightGlobal. examples due to retire around – for NZ$242 million ($156 mil- out of them”.
The air force is making some 2027. Operated in a passenger/ lion), drawing some criticism
major acquisitions to modernise cargo combi configuration, its from local media. MAINTAINING FOCUS
its fixed-wing fleet, including twinjets have been used for a “What we have to bear in mind One challenge in particular is the
replacing the venerable P-3C range of missions, including is what we were able to pick up long supply chain back to Europe,
with Boeing P-8A Poseidons, flights to Antarctica. for what we paid,” says Clark. but Clark says NHI partner Airbus
and its legacy Hercules with “For us, the Seasprites provide a Helicopters’ establishment of an
new-generation C-130Js. FEW ALTERNATIVES good mix of capabilities from that in-country rotor blade servicing
A deal for four P-8As was con- “[The 757] really sits in a niche warfighting side through to gen- capability has “significantly short-
firmed in July 2018, while Wel- almost of its own,” says Clark. eral utility. It’s a good size for our ened the logistics chain for us”.
lington last month formally com- “When you look out on the mar- ships and the purchase came at a Another future acquisition
mitted to buying five C-130Js. ket, there’s not much with that really good time for us.” listed in the country’s Defence
“They’ve filled a really impor- same combination of range, size, However, with only two dozen Capability 2019 plan calls for a
tant niche, performing that wide capacity and utility.” Seaprites in service globally, the layered enhanced maritime
distribution of duties that we Clark says the search for a suc- air force faces a challenge to keep awareness capability to comple-
have as a defence force,” Clark cessor has not “kicked off in anger them operational until replacement its P-8As. This would in-
says of the outgoing types. He yet”, with the service in the “early ments arrive some time in the late clude medium-sized surveillance
gives the example of a P-3C per- phases of scouting around”. 2020s, requiring it to work with aircraft, unmanned air vehicles
forming fisheries surveillance “What we will do in the early both local and US suppliers. and space-based assets.
one day and switching to its phases of that project is actually “We got into this knowing that But the coronavirus pandemic,
classic anti-submarine warfare just go back to basics… instead of obsolescence management was and particularly how this will af-
mission the next. just diving in and trying to find going to be a challenge, but we fect sustainment, is Clark’s more
The RNZAF’s first P-8A will another aircraft in the same niche also got a lot of capability for immediate concern.
arrive in 2023, with initial crew as the 757, we will confirm again what we paid,” he notes. “The key thing for most air
training under way at the US Na- what are the main things we want The RNZAF has already field- forces looking at the next 18
vy’s NAS Jacksonville site in out of this.” ed eight NH Industries (NHI) months to two years is the
Florida. Its personnel will also Illustrating the RNZAF’s flexi- NH90 transport helicopters, re- challenges around the global
have the opportunity to work on ble approach to obtaining capabil- placing Bell UH-1s. supply chain, logistics support
operational Poseidons with allies ity was its 2013 decision to obtain “[The NH90s] have demon- chain, the industrial support
such as Australia. eight Kaman Aerospace SH-2G strated their abilities a number of base, and making sure that we’re
C-130J deliveries will com- Super Seasprite maritime helicop- times, both domestically and on all able to keep our fleets of
mence in 2025, with training ters disposed of by Australia, deployed operations,” he says, aircraft going.” ■

FIA CONNECT
Special report
Boeing
What now for the 737 Max (above) as it faces a market with dramatically reduced demand? State programmes to support airframers
and embattled supply chains under scrutiny (bottom right). Recession puts strain on air power procurement and budgets (below left)
NETWORK
SOLUTION
With Farnborough 2020 falling victim to the pandemic, its CONTENTS
25 Stimulus Scrappage or bust?
replacement is FIA Connect, a series of virtual events with 28 Programme Boeing’s tribulations
FlightGlobal as official media partner. We will host three 30 Defence Spending restricted
webinars and cover breaking news and announcements 33 Event Keeping connected
throughout at FlightGlobal.com/Farnborough2020 – and
to set the scene for the event, we take a look at three hot
topics as the industry slowly climbs out of lockdown
Michael Linder/Airbus
BAE Systems

FIA CONNECT
Market recovery
Shutterstock
US ‘cash for clunkers’ initiative of 2009 encouraged consumers to replace older motor vehicles with more fuel-efficient new ones
Positive
– close to 10,400 aircraft – now appears to rep-
resent a mountain of uncertainty.
Airbus and Boeing managed to deliver a
total of just 220 aircraft over the first five
months of 2020 – barely 40% of the combined
figure they achieved in the same period last
stimulus
year. Boeing output had already been affected
by the 737 Max grounding and both airfram-
ers were continuing to feel the pressure of
slack demand in the long-haul aircraft market.
This initial delivery disruption has largely
been due to logistical problems. The longer-
term impact, given the predictions of a slow
recovery, with inevitable reluctance by finan-
Could an adapted version of scrappage schemes incentivising cially pressured airlines to take on unneces-
new car buying work in the aviation sector – or are there more sary extra capacity, is yet to become clear. But
Airbus has slashed A320neo production by
effective methods to combat the severe demand downturn? one-third, to 40 per month, while Boeing’s
737 Max line is operating at a trickle. As they
At the time, Airbus was planning to intro- say in Toulouse when desperate times call for
DAVID KAMINSKI-MORROW LONDON duce a new A321neo assembly line in Tou- desperate measures: “Aux grands maux les
louse to support efforts to increase production grands remedes.”
ust 35 days before air traffic levels in of single-aisle jets. The airframer had been ex- One such radical proposal for stimulating
J Europe halved under the coronavirus

onslaught, Airbus had declared that it
would deliver 880 aircraft this year –
ironically, a relatively conservative target,
after the airframer was forced to row back on
ploring the limits to which it could push the
supply chain as it sought to take A320neo-
family output beyond the level of 63 per
month that it had already planned for 2021.
But coronavirus has shredded the airline in-
the aerospace industry emerged in March,
when the idea was floated to adapt a contro-
versial US scrappage and incentivisation
scheme intended to jump-start the automo-
tive sector in the aftermath of the 2007-2008
its 2019 expectations, owing to difficulties in dustry’s forecasts and the five-figure combined economic crisis.
ramping up A321neo production. backlog of 737 Max and A320neo-family jets Derived through the Consumer Assistance ❯❯

FIA CONNECT
Cover story
❯❯ to Recycle and Save (CARS) initiative, government to purchase “high-polluting” to a quicker uptake of new aircraft and, conse-
the car allowance rebate scheme was dubbed aircraft from carriers in exchange for a com- quently, environmental benefits.
“cash for clunkers”, to reflect its basic prem- mitment from those operators to acquire fuel- Stepping in to pick up some of the slack in
ise – to allow consumers to surrender their efficient models. Like CARS, the initial au- Airbus production – perhaps as many as 500-
older, inefficient cars in return for partial thorised allocation amounted to $1 billion. 600 aircraft over the next three years – would
credit towards a newer model with better The proposal outlined tasks including the cost up to €34 billion ($38 billion). Such a fig-
fuel economy. Trade-in vehicles would sub- publication of lists comprising aircraft eligible ure would not be a heavy burden if shared
sequently be destroyed, preventing them for trade, as well as those that qualified as fuel among major governments, who would then
from being resold or otherwise reintroduced efficient, plus a determination of timing for own the assets and be able to redeem them
to the active market. the measure. It also indicated that aircraft once the air transport market rebounded. At
Set to run for four months – from 1 July to purchased by the government under the the time, Jefferies had been working on the as-
1 November 2009, assuming funds were not scheme could be salvaged for spares and com- sumption that Airbus deliveries would sink to
exhausted – CARS was overseen by the Na- ponents, which would then be sold to domes- around 650 aircraft this year, a fall with which
tional Highway Traffic Safety Administra- tic or foreign operators. the airframer would be able to cope.
tion and intended not only to stimulate the But government intervention is not neces-
automotive industry during an economic “How do you avoid a trade war sarily a welcome resort. Airbus and Boeing
downturn but also to address concerns over are already mired in a long-running transat-
the environment, by reducing the emissions when both sides are exporting lantic dispute over subsidies, which support
of the vehicle fleet. schemes could complicate.
Qualifying trade-in vehicles had to meet into other markets with heavy “If it is a globally co-ordinated effort, with
specific criteria on age, fuel economy, insur- government help?” the USA and Europe on the same page, it
ance and licensing and, in return, consumers might be a fantastic idea,” says Teal Group
Richard Aboulafia
were given a rebate of up to $4,500 that de- Vice-president of analysis, Teal Group vice-president of analysis Richard Aboulafia.
pended on the improvement in efficiency But he highlights many potential conflicts if
obtained through the trade-up. not, such as the reactions of European carriers
While the government originally ear- to European subsidies for US operators taking
marked $1 billion for CARS, the funds rapidly Financial services firm Jefferies Group Airbus aircraft – and the reverse situation for
ran out and the allocation was increased to $3 brought up a similar idea, but amended the European operators taking US-subsidised
billion. Even so, the scheme closed on 24 Au- principle by suggesting that governments take Boeing jets.
gust, just a month after the opening claim the initiative by directly acquiring new air- “In either case, how do you avoid a trade
date, with almost $2.9 billion in applications craft from the airframers in order to sustain war when both sides are exporting into other
submitted and almost 700,000 older vehicles aerospace production, and acting as the markets with heavy government help?”
eliminated, according to the Department of bridge to maintain delivery schedules. Global co-ordination, he adds, does not re-
Transportation. Jefferies analyst Sandy Morris describes the solve a sensitive issue relating to mainte-
“novel” proposal as an “inverse cash for clun- nance, as the artificially accelerated fleet mod-
FOLLOW-UP SCHEME kers”, intended to use government financial ernisation upsets the profitability balance for
Earlier this year a bill containing a similar- resources to calm the uncertainty over the air companies focused on aftermarkets.
sounding initiative – named Airline Assis- transport sector. “Modern aircraft have been The operating and financial leasing sector
tance to Recycle and Save – emerged in Con- good investments,” says Morris, claiming that also throws an additional ingredient into a
gress, laying out proposals for the US the “tough but effective” measure would lead complex mix. Close to half of the world’s com-
mercial aircraft fleet is leased and a number of
carriers have turned to sale-and-leaseback
transactions to shore up financial defences in
the face of lost revenues and cash bleed.
WIDER RAMIFICATIONS
While leasing firms might be keen to accept a
payment to shelve older aircraft in their fleets,
the downturn in the airline market means
there is no immediate incentive to use that
capital to invest in newer aircraft types with-
out a customer that would accept them on
long-term lease.
Bert van Leeuwen, head of aviation re-
search at financial firm MUFG, points out that
if lessors ended up being paid by govern-
ments for trading in older aircraft, the taxpay-
er would be subsidising financial investors.
“Sale-and-leasebacks are a good alternative
Michael Linder/Airbus
for airlines to manage the transition from old

to new-generation aircraft,” he says. “In a
way, this is an open-market alternative to the
‘clunkers for cash’ scheme.”
Airbus argues manufacturers will need financial support to fund green technology investment Scrapping older aircraft would reduce

FIA CONNECT
Market recovery
Shutterstock
Scrappage schemes might help manufacturers but are unlikely to boost airlines, which have been forced to park fleets during the pandemic
supply, potentially lifting residual values, but age caused by the current crisis, we will need of the participants would have bought a new
this effect could be offset by lower demand for support to allow us to continue to make the vehicle anyway during the course of the
older aircraft arising from the availability of huge investments necessary to develop green scheme, which meant that little more than
discounted new models. Van Leeuwen argues technologies,” the airframer adds. It stresses half the car trades amounted to additional
that airframers and the supply chain might that attention on sustainable fuels, updating new sales. Figures indicated that the stimu-
benefit from a scrappage scheme, but stresses: of Single European Sky initiatives, and the lation was largely negated over the following
“I don’t think this industry needs it. It won’t UN’s CORSIA carbon offset scheme must be 10 months by a depletion of sales in regions
kick-start the airlines as the sale-and-leaseback maintained in the meantime. with high numbers of older cars, and there
instrument is still available.” Boeing declines to comment about the ex- are arguments that the job-creation aspect
Although current low fuel costs somewhat tent to which a specific scrappage scheme was relatively expensive, compared with
diminish the operational advantage of newer might benefit its operation or otherwise. The alternative stimulus policies.
models and act as a counter-incentive to trade US airframer has previously backed a broad High jet fuel prices that followed the 2007-
up, several carriers have already outlined $60 billion support programme for the aero- 2008 downturn helped encourage take-up of
plans to operate modern types as part of the space manufacturing sector as a whole, stat- efficient re-engined aircraft, and, while a
post-crisis recovery. ing that it would amount to a crucially impor- number of 737 Max orders have been can-
Part of this planning is the result of pres- tant “bridge to recovery”. celled, there is no immediate evidence of a
sure from governments to ensure environ- “Much of any liquidity support to Boeing broader shying away from commitments,
mental concerns are not pushed aside by the will be used for payments to suppliers to even as traffic has evaporated.
desperation of airlines to ensure their surviv- maintain the health of the supply chain,” it This single-aisle market, Airbus believes,
al. One of the notable aspects to emerge from states, adding that the long-term outlook for will lead the recovery from the crisis. Around
the coronavirus fallout is the conditional link- the aviation industry remains strong. 80% of last year’s Airbus deliveries were nar-
ing of bailout funding to sustainability meas- rowbody types, and the impact of the down-
ures – in essence, a more-stick, less-carrot ver- LIMITED IMPACT turn on the long-haul sector could mean that a
sion of the scrappage strategy that In the decade since the US government at- higher proportion of this year’s overall deliv-
nevertheless amounts to government funds tempted to stimulate the automotive industry eries – potentially around 550 aircraft – will
being offered to reduce environmental harm. out of an economic dip, researchers and ana- be single-aisle models.
While there is no formal EU scrappage pro- lysts have scrutinised the scrappage scheme Teal Group is expecting the recovery to
gramme in play, Airbus believes that the prin- to evaluate its impact, and whether it follow an “L-shaped” trajectory, lasting
ciple of creating a “green stimulus” through achieved its intended aims. There is evidence about two or three years. It predicts that nar-
the “right conditions and financing support” from various academic papers that the rowbody deliveries will be protected, to an
to enable airlines to retire older, less-environ- scheme managed to improve the environmen- extent, by the situation with the 737 Max
mentally friendly aircraft early is “in the short tal balance, at least to a degree, and that the and by a shift in airline models through
term, the best way to reduce emissions”. government succeeded in incentivising the which certain routes will migrate away from
“Longer term, with the sector seriously sale of more fuel-efficient vehicles. being served with twin-aisle aircraft and
cash constrained due to the exceptional dam- But the effect was short lived. Some 45% towards single-aisle jets. ■

FIA CONNECT
Special report
Fighting an
uphill battle
Recertification of the 737 Max may be close, but clearing that hurdle is only the first step
towards recovery for Boeing as the type will return to service in a radically altered market
JON HEMMERDINGER BOSTON least looks to have averted any short-term will clear the Max only when it is safe.
W
crisis by raising some $25 billion in financing In a recent hearing he laid out the remain-
ith Boeing 737 Max jets flying earlier this year. But while the Chicago-heading steps before certification. In addition to
again this month on Federal quartered airframer may not face an imminent flight testing, a Joint Operations Evaluation
Aviation Administration (FAA) cash crunch, its underlying financial health Board composed of representatives from the
test flights – the first movements depends on revenue from Max deliveries. FAA, other countries’ regulators and pilots,
since a March 2019 crash which followed a “Their liquidity issues are basically entirely must complete a pilot training assessment.
similar tragedy in October 2018, leading to a based on the Max not flying, and piling up in- Then, a Flight Standardization Board must
combined 346 deaths and prompting regula- ventory,” says Sheila Kahyaoglu, aerospace develop pilot training requirements and a
tors to ground it globally – recertification of the equity analyst at investment bank Jefferies. “It Technical Advisory Board must evaluate final
troubled narrowbody may finally be in sight. puts a strain on the stock.” Max design documents.
Indeed, analysts consider a third-quarter 2020 Boeing also needs 737 Max production and The FAA will lastly issue an airworthiness
approval as a reasonable expectation. deliveries to flow to support a struggling supply directive laying out actions airlines must take
But restarting production and deliveries chain – companies Boeing will need to under- to resume Max flying, Dickson said.
will be just the start of a long process of recov- pin its eventual 737 replacement, says Michel
ering the financial and reputational damage Merluzeau, aerospace analyst at consultancy GAINING APPROVAL
done to Boeing by the long-running Max saga. AIR. “All the other associated suppliers [must] Although issues with the Max’s Maneuvering
Compounding the troubles heaped upon the get themselves back into a cash-flow positive Characteristics Augmentation System
airframer via the failings of its best-selling situation,” Merluzeau says. “Failure to do so by (MCAS) triggered the grounding, The Seattle
product is the onset of what looks to be a long the [autumn] introduces all sorts of issues.” Times recently reported that European and
and deep aerospace recession sparked by the While 737 Max recertification may be im- Canadian regulators are seeking other, non-
coronavirus lockdown of the airline industry. minent, the bar has been set high. FAA ad- MCAS-related changes to its flight-control
As far as liquidity is concerned, Boeing at ministrator Steve Dickson insists his agency system. However, regulators may allow those

FIA CONNECT
737 Max
says Teal Group vice-president of analysis possible. This year’s Max cancellations
Operation of larger -9 has also been Richard Aboulafia. Speaking during a recent include at least 19 aircraft that airlines
suspended, while validation efforts webcast hosted by the American Institute of converted to other types, Boeing says.
for further variants are ongoing Aeronautics and Astronautics, he noted that in Jefferies views orders from lessors and air-
a typical down year, airlines might ground lines from Latin America and the Middle East
12% of their aircraft, but this year, groundings as most “at risk” for deferrals. Those customers
hit an “all-time high” of 65%. However, some hold some 1,200 Max orders, or 30% of the
airlines, such as those that already secured fi- backlog. The Jefferies report cites particular un-
nancing, will surely want to take Max deliver- certainty about orders from Flydubai, Lion Air
ies once regulators clear the jet, he adds. and SpiceJet – carriers that have far more Max
Today’s aircraft market reminds Merluzeau orders than aircraft in their current fleets.
of the 1990s-2000s technology bubble and the
past decade’s real estate boom: “You have a WHAT NEXT?
surplus of capacity, of available assets, that The size of the Max backlog and the pro-
you need to process through before you get gramme’s financial recovery may also affect
back to an equilibrium of demand.” Boeing’s plan to develop a replacement narrow-
Between January and May, Boeing logged body. In Merluzeau’s view, “Boeing needs [the
313 Max cancellations and removed from its Max] for at least the next decade to just prepare
backlog another 320 aircraft ordered by cus- themselves financially for what’s coming after.”
tomers that Boeing suspects may be unable to Boeing’s current Max backlog would allow
take delivery. Those adjustments brought for about seven and a half years of production
Boeing’s May backlog to 3,776 Max aircraft. at a rate of 42 aircraft per month. And although
The world’s airlines may cancel more orders more cancellations could materialise, so too
for the Max and other types, including the could new orders, especially post recovery.
competing Airbus A320. But additional can- But the Max’s struggles, and risk that Airbus
cellations might be minimal because govern- might act first, could lead Boeing to launch its
ment aid packages have kept most airlines out own narrowbody replacement a bit earlier than
of bankruptcy, says Aboulafia. He also notes the ideal time. “Boeing will probably… do
that Boeing headed off some cancellations by something sooner to gain customer traction,”
renegotiating sales contract provisions that can Merluzeau says, suggesting a programme
otherwise allow customers to axe orders for launch could come between 2025 and 2028
aircraft grounded for more than a year. with service entry in the early 2030s.
“So far, backlogs are holding up,” Aboulafia But jumping too early has risks; the aircraft
says, noting airlines have cancelled less than could be unable to accommodate advanced
1% of commercial aircraft orders since the power-generation technologies, new compos-
Boeing
pandemic started. “Deferrals are another story. ite structures or improved production auto-
Deferral requests are coming thick and fast.” mation. “One wonders”, he adds, “how much
changes to be addressed after certification. Boeing has said it is working to accommo- can Boeing regain from a strategic initiative
In addition to the grounded Max 8 and Max date customers by deferring deliveries and standpoint? How much can Boeing prepare
9, Boeing is still seeking certification for its swapping Max orders for other jets when for what is coming from Airbus?” ■
Max 7, Max 10 and a high-capacity, 200-seat
Max 8 variant. It has disclosed few recent de-
tails about those certification efforts.
After the March 2019 grounding, Boeing
continued producing Max aircraft, resulting in
a stockpile of about 450 undelivered jets before
halting production in January this year. Then
in late May, it resumed work at a “low” but un-
specified rate. The airframer says it will ramp
up production at a “very gradual pace” that
will increase to 31 aircraft per month in 2021.
Jefferies expects Boeing to produce and de-
liver 45 Max aircraft in 2020, but it predicts
that deliveries will outpace production next
year as stockpiled examples are also deliv-
ered. It estimates the airframer will produce
198 and deliver 360 Max aircraft in 2021, then
produce 372 and deliver 480 in 2022.
At that rate, Jefferies reckons it will be mid-
2024 at the earliest before Boeing draws down
its 450-unit stockpile.
Shutterstock
But the Max will be returning to a market

that bears little resemblance to the ramp-up
days of 2019. Today, “nobody needs new jets”, Analysts predict the 450-unit stockpile of undelivered jets will take until 2024 to draw down

FIA CONNECT
Special report
Tough times,
hard choices
With recession looming large, even the mighty US defence
budget is not looking immune from cutbacks, as economic
realities force a rethink of programmes and capabilities
GARRETT REIM LOS ANGELES Northrop Grumman RQ-4 Global Hawk Block
20/30 unmanned air vehicles.
T
With the money saved, the service wants to
he US Department of Defense (DoD) develop its Joint All Domain Command and
budget looks vulnerable to cuts as Control network, Next Generation Air Domi-
the federal government budget nance fighter, Northrop B-21 Raider stealth
deficit is projected to surge to $3.7 bomber and hypersonic missiles, among other
trillion in 2020, a result of economic fallout modernisation priorities. Still, cutting the
from the coronavirus. USAF’s fleet to reinvest the savings in future construction funding, and operation and
The pain is likely to be delayed, however. technologies is not a proven strategy. maintenance funding, particularly things like
That is because planning for fiscal year 2021 “Can we shrink our way to new technolo- training and readiness.”
and FY2022 is already under way. gy? The answer is: it’s not easy. There are jobs The whims of Washington may ultimately
It is also because the US Congress would there,” says Richard Aboulafia, vice-president target programmes that get bad headlines.
hate to cut defence programmes and the of analysis at Teal Group, noting the work tied “It’s going to depend upon what’s perform-
people they employ in the midst of a deep to production and MRO activity on military ing well and poorly when the knives come
economic recession, say defence industry aircraft. Plus, a smaller air force does not sit out,” says Harshberger. He points out that
researchers. well with some. “Some people just really like hypersonic missiles, directed energy weapons
Instead, expect a shrinking Pentagon budg- force structure,” says Aboulafia. “They might and missile defence systems typically have
et in the mid-2020s. Although the USA might not be prepared to spend what’s necessary to been difficult to turn into operational
have tamed coronavirus and started to see its sustain it, but they like the idea of big forces in weapons and might stumble.
economy grow again by the middle of the dec- place. Bragging rights, diplomacy, whatever it “You’re definitely going to see an emphasis
ade, Washington will have to face up to the is, they like it.” on shovel-ready platforms,” says Aboulafia.
hard fiscal and economic realities of years of “That might disadvantage [the US Army’s]
lost revenue. VULNERABILITIES Future Vertical Lift.”
Even if the defence budget stayed at a con- Facing political pressures from Congress, the Instead, the service might be forced by Con-
stant 3.2% of US GDP, a coronavirus-shrunk- Pentagon may have to spread cuts across many gress to continue to buy Sikorsky UH-60
en economy, which could be $10-19 trillion programmes in a haphazard way. Black Hawk, Boeing AH-64 Apache and
smaller over the decade, would give the gov- “What you always see in downturns is some CH-47 Chinook helicopters, rather than
ernment less tax revenue, says Ted Harshberg- squeezing across the board,” says Mark Can- spending cash on futuristic rotorcraft that
er, vice-president and director of the RAND cian, senior adviser with the Center for Strate- would not produce substantial manufacturing
Corporation’s Project Air Force campaign. gic and International Studies (CSIS) Interna- jobs until 2030.
“You end up with about $350 billion to $600 tional Security Program. “You know, forces get Several defence industry researchers point
billion less to allocate to defence over that 10- a little smaller, retire some legacy platforms, out that the Future Vertical Lift programme,
year time frame than would have been the case maybe an acquisition programme would be re- which includes the army’s Future Long Range
if we didn’t have the pandemic,” he says. duced, but not necessarily terminated. [For ex- Assault Aircraft and Future Attack Recon-
Even before the coronavirus pandemic hit ample] instead of building 80-ish [Lockheed] naissance Aircraft, could be vulnerable to
the US treasury, the DoD was expecting a flat or F-35s a year, we would buy 50.” cuts, especially when compared against
slightly smaller budget and was adjusting its Sometimes budget cuts are not well China and Russia’s sophisticated anti-aircraft
plans. For example, the US Air Force (USAF) thought out, says Todd Harrison, director of defences. “It’s hard to imagine a lot of utility
laid out plans in its FY2021 budget proposal to defence budget analysis and director of the coming from rotary-wing aircraft that have a
retire dozens of older aircraft to save money on Aerospace Security Project at CSIS. “Histori- large radar signature,” says Harrison.
operational costs. Aircraft on the chopping cally, we tend to go into these things fairly un- Budget priorities might also depend on who
block included 16 Boeing KC-10 and 13 KC- prepared,” he says. “When you need to make wins the White House. “A [Joe] Biden adminis-
135 tankers, 24 Lockheed Martin C-130H tacti- last-minute cuts in defence spending, those tration would cut nuclear modernisation. You
cal transports, 17 Boeing B-1B bombers and 24 cuts tend to be focused on things like military don’t get a whole lot of money out of that, but

FIA CONNECT
Defence budgets
Other cuts are likely to target redundancies

between the five US military services. “The
army wants to invest in low Earth orbit satel-
lites to support its concept of providing future
multidomain operations. Well, why shouldn’t
that be the responsibility of the Space Force?”
says Mark Gunzinger, the Mitchell Institute’s
director of future aerospace concepts and ca-
pabilities assessments. “I think that’s where
the real savings are: across-service trade-offs.”
If so, the Pentagon may start to ask tough
questions about the equipment that each mili-
tary service wants. “You do start to have to
wonder, what is unique? What’s different
about Marine Corps aviation? Why does the
navy’s army need an air force?” says Harrison.
“That kind of roles and missions review
could lead to some significant structure
savings, as we look to combine and eliminate
redundancies across the services.”
RESHUFFLING ASSETS
That may mean moving aircraft from one ser-
Tightening finances increase likelihood vice to another. For example, the US Navy’s
US Air Force
of fewer F-35s being acquired Boeing P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol air-
craft could be transferred to the USAF, where
the type might also play a role in the service’s
that is one very clear difference between the tive, so they would be much less enthusiastic Joint All Domain Command and Control net-
Republicans and the Democrats,” says Can- about selling weapons to the Saudis, for exam- work. “We have four different air forces and
cian. “The Democrats tend to take more of a ple, or the Gulf states, whereas the Trump ad- they do overlap quite a bit,” says Harrison.
foreign policy with a human rights perspec- ministration has been quite happy to do that.” In some cases, aircraft might be able to ❯❯
EUROPE CRAIG HOYLE LONDON

Coronavirus fallout means defence sector will have to fight harder for investment
How a looming period of recession initiated by
UK’s Tempest commitment
the coronavirus crisis will impact European de-
awaits funding clarity
fence budgets remains to be seen, but it is
highly likely that a recent upward spending
trend will be slowed – if not halted altogether.
After facing years of criticism from the USA,
more European NATO members had been
making strides over the past couple of years
towards a target of spending at least 2% of their
GDP on defence. But with economies now de- BAE Systems
railed after coronavirus disruption and business

lockdowns, achieving such a metric could mean
a real-term reduction in investment.
Speaking at a Brussels Forum event on 23 and security. Its allocation via the Multiannual uled for completion earlier this year, is now likely
June, NATO secretary general Jens Stoltenberg Financial Framework will account for around to be delayed into 2021, leaving uncertainty
stressed the need for nations to continue raising 20% of NATO’s entire spending. around some long-term investment priorities.
spending, despite the impact of the pandemic. Airbus Defence & Space chief executive Dirk With an outline business case for the UK’s
“The reasons why we decided to invest in Hoke in mid-June also urged European nations ambitious Tempest future combat air system
our security: terrorist threats, cyber, the shifting to hold firm on defence and security investment. programme due for delivery before the end of
balance of power with the rise of China or a “I strongly believe that more than ever, we this year, funding clarity around its commitment
more assertive Russia – all of that is still there. have to secure the [European] defence, space to this and other major acquisitions will be ea-
So, we need to continue to invest in our secu- and security budgets in order to cope with the gerly awaited in the future Integrated Review.
rity,” he says, while pointing to the positive challenges that we are currently facing,” he says. The economic impact of the coronavirus will
contribution made by NATO militaries through- “Strong programmes can accelerate the recov- last for many years, so for defence ministries
out the pandemic in supporting civilian society. ery phase. By supporting defence projects, we across Europe, the need to fight for long-term
The EU, meanwhile, is working on the detail also can stabilise the whole aerospace industry.” investment represents a significant battle, as
of its long-term budget plan for 2021-2027, In the UK, a follow-on to its Strategic Defence other sectors such as health care and social wel-
including commitments to defence, aerospace and Security Review of 2015, originally sched- fare also call for increased backing. ■

FIA CONNECT
Special report
ASIA-PACIFIC GREG WALDRON SINGAPORE

Pandemic exposes gaps in regional spending capabilities as China flexes muscles
The coronavirus pandemic is hitting Asia-Pacific
economies at a time when the deterrent capa-
bilities of air power are more essential than ever.
Air power is a peculiar sub theme of the pan-
demic in the Asia-Pacific region. Globally, air
forces have used transport assets to ship urgent
supplies to allies. China’s Xian Y-20 and other
aircraft were instrumental in flying equipment
and personnel to the Chinese city of Wuhan, for
example, where the virus originated in 2019.
As China recovered from the pandemic,
however, its use of air power took a more men-
acing turn. It took the opportunity to mount
aggressive probing flights into the airspace of
Taiwan, a vibrant democracy that Beijing claims
Boeing
as a breakaway province. The US Air Force, for
its part, defied the challenges of coronavirus to Airpower Teaming System forms a key plank of Australia’s defence plans over next 10 years
conduct training sorties to the region with
long-range bombers, demonstrating its power Strategic Policy Institute, contends that the a decision about new combat aircraft.
projection capabilities. impact of coronavirus on defence budgets will On the other hand, Australia, citing great
Given Beijing’s rapid arms build-up of the be a mixed bag. power competition, has committed to a huge
past two decades, the need for improved re- “For Asia, the big uncertainties are states like A$270 billion ($187 billion) of defence spend-
gional air power is abundantly clear. What is Indonesia, India and the Philippines – states ing over the next decade, of which A$65 billion
less apparent is how the economic fallout of with poor health care and high population will go to air power, including more Lockheed
coronavirus will affect defence spending and densities,” he says. Martin F-35As and other new systems.
– by extension – air power acquisitions. “The potential for rapid spread in these states Japan has not disclosed its post-coronavirus
Beijing announced in May that it would is high. That would inevitably erode their eco- defence budget, but has plans to buy up to 147
boost its annual defence budget by 6.6% to nomic growth, and it’s likely that that would un- F-35s, as well as developing a new Future
CNY1.3 trillion ($178 billion). While most China dermine any ability to sustain defence Fighter programme.
observers believe the true figure is much high- acquisition.” “My guess is that poorer states will choose
er, what is certain is that the government will All three countries have ambitious plans for butter over guns, but larger states will prioritise
continue to invest in acquiring more Chengdu new fighters and other aircraft. India, which re- increased defence expenditure,” says Davis.
J-20 stealth fighters, advanced variants of the cently saw a border dispute flare up with China, “Air power is obviously important, but like
Chengdu J-10, and a broad array of other has long required well over 100 new fighters, any modern military technology, it takes time
types. Chatrooms dealing with Chinese air but was unable to close this deal even before to acquire new capabilities – and frankly, there
power suggest a new naval fighter, possibly the pandemic. Similarly, Jakarta was already may not be that much time. Australia’s prime
based on the AVIC FC-31, will appear in 2021. quibbling with Seoul about costs involved with minister suggested that today’s environment is
Malcolm Davis, senior analyst, defence the joint Korea Aerospace Industries KF-X fight- in some ways like the 1930s, and I think that’s
strategy and capability at the Australian er, while the Philippines may have to push back accurate.” ■
❯❯ replace ground- or sea-based weapons. In only intended to deliver nuclear weapons, the synthetic aperture radar satellites in low Earth
particular, aerospace technologies with speed, B-21 can carry nuclear and conventional weap- orbit could cover any place 24/7, regardless of
range and the ability to penetrate enemy de- ons, making it more versatile, says Aboulafia. weather, and see deep into an adversary’s ter-
fences are likely to be winners in future de- Long-range cruise missiles also appear to ritory, see moving targets on the ground, on
fence budgets. With likely conflict zones such be likely future winners. Last September, the the sea,” says Harrison.
as the Baltic states and Taiwan located thou- DoD increased potential long-term produc- But, notes, Aboulafia: “Space isn’t a pana-
sands of miles away, the USA needs a way to tion quantities of the Lockheed AGM-158 cea. Whether it’s ease of re-targeting and repri-
quickly respond. Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile from a oritisation or all-weather applicability, inner-
“Air forces are optimised versus ground possible maximum of 4,900 to a potential atmospheric platforms have their advantages.”
forces, which are going to take many weeks to 10,000 units. Ultimately, while the US defence budget is
deploy to the theatre, marry up with your “All of the visions about great power con- likely to shrink, the number of regions around
equipment and move to the battlespace – and flict include long-range precision munitions,” the world where the USA might be drawn
by that time the war is over,” says Gunzinger. says Cancian. “And long range [is important] into conflict continues to grow. That is also
That bodes well for the B-21 stealth bomber, because you don’t want to try to fight your likely to fuel demand for ISR technology.
which will fly long distances and penetrate way inside their defensive bubble.” “Whether you believe in a hard line or a more
enemy air defences. The USAF has said it A need to peer into an adversary’s territory diplomatic line, you can’t get enough infor-
wants to buy at least 100 examples of the air- could also be good news for space-based intel- mation,” says Aboulafia. “Distance and range,
craft. Moreover, while the service’s Ground ligence, surveillance and reconnaissance all those other things also argue for informa-
Based Strategic Deterrent ballistic missile is (ISR) technologies. “Large constellations of tion. It is a very big potential battlespace.” ■

FIA CONNECT
Show focus
Online opportunity
Farnborough International is ready to replace the biennial gathering with a virtual event,
and, despite the crisis, sales director Joe Muir is confident the industry will turn up in force
MURDO MORRISON LONDON
n around a week, much of the world’s
I industry should have been on course for a

Hampshire airfield for the biggest aerospace
gathering of the year. Among the hot topics
at the 2020 Farnborough air show would have
been the Boeing 737 Max’s return to service,
and progress on the UK-led Tempest combat
aircraft project, as well as the usual flurry of
surprise aircraft orders.
But the show, like every other face-to-face
event this side of October, is, of course, not
happening, after falling victim to the coronavi-
rus crisis in March. However, the sector will
still have a chance to meet this summer – albeit
virtually – with the launch of FIA Connect, tak-
BillyPix
ing place during what would have been the
20-24 July show week. And, while the pan- A lack of static displays – and face time – will be novel for participants in this year’s event
demic has changed every aspect of the indus-
try, many of the talking points will be the same as Farnborough International said in its an- International’s aerospace sales director, Joe
– even if aircraft orders are in short supply. nouncement at the time, “a major shock”. The Muir. “It will be a focal point for recovery.”
Preparations for the original air show were organiser has since been in delicate negotia- Muir admits that a “virtual” air show – with-
well under way as the coronavirus began to tions with many of its exhibitors over refunds out displays, chalets, exhibition halls, or social
wreak havoc beyond China. By early March, for deposits and says that, while most are “un- interaction – will be a new experience for
contractors were preparing the site for the ar- derstandably frustrated”, they have been sup- most. However, Farnborough is “such a staple
rival of hundreds of exhibitors and thousands portive of plans for a virtual replacement. of the aerospace calendar” that regular attend-
of trade visitors. Almost every hotel room In late May, Farnborough International con- ees, many of whom are home-working and
within a 6 mile (10km) radius would have firmed plans for FIA Connect, as a “platform to well used by now to the daily rhythm of online
been booked, and indications were that the connect the global aerospace industry”, hosted meetings, will be happy to tune in, he says.
show would be a success. on its own Farnborough International News Time differences will mean visitors con-
Network web site. Comprising a series of free necting from around the world, rather than
PULLING THE PLUG conferences, the five days also include a “meet meeting in one place. However, Muir says
However, as March went on, signs were grow- the buyer” opportunity and a virtual version of that because Farnborough’s own sessions are
ing that coronavirus was going to have a dev- Farnborough Friday, a day offering careers ad- pre-recorded and available for download, this
astating effect on the industry calendar. Coun- vice and inspiration to young people. will be less of a challenge.
tries were banning flights in and out of China, As official media partner, FlightGlobal is Although there will be an e-commerce “meet
and the Singapore air show in February be- staging three live webinars during the week, the buyer” element – a piece of “intelligent
came the first casualty of a domino effect of on disruptive propulsion from electrics to su- match-making” software that helps connect
event cancellations. Although the Southeast personic power, Europe’s future combat air- vendors with potential customers – Farnbor-
Asian event limped ahead, almost half of its craft requirements and next-generation airlin- ough International rejected a “virtual exhibi-
major exhibitors pulled out at short notice ers. Moderated by FlightGlobal editors, they tion” model, which Muir says would have en-
and visitor numbers were depleted. are free to attend, although delegate places are tailed exhibitors “sitting on their computers all
The news that Farnborough 2020 would limited. FlightGlobal will also be providing day. We didn’t think that was right for us.”
join a growing list of axed air shows and con- its own independent coverage of FIA Connect With support from the UK government and
ventions came days before the UK entered via a dedicated hub that goes live on 15 July. industry trade body ADS, involvement from
lockdown on 23 March. By then, hopes were FIA Connect – which will include updates, major industry players is “snowballing as the
vanishing fast that the impact of the outbreak announcements and sessions from several of event gets closer”, says Muir. “Content is key
could be short and contained. the show’s most prominent regular exhibitors – to this, both in terms of the topics and the sen-
When your business is largely based will help generate a “conversation among the iority of panellists,” he adds. “We have real
around delivering a biennial show, its cancel- industry that will point to how we can come thought leaders and this will be the driving
lation at short notice is inevitably going to be, back from the pandemic”, believes Farnborough force for audience engagement.” ■

STRAIGHT&LEVEL
From yuckspeak to tales of yore, send your offcuts to murdo.morrison@flightglobal.com
Max Kingsley-Jones/FlightGlobal
Firefighting Great escape
The first recorded case of
finger trouble escape by air from the law
With the onset of summer, a seems to be that
courageous band of aerial of a man who,
firefighters is again having to much wanted by
perform its daredevil routine of the authorities,
low-level suppressant drops. and knowing that all the
Some spectacular footage has other outlets from the
been captured of the McDonnell country were watched,
Douglas DC-10 firebomber doing hired a special machine at
its stuff over burning brush in Croydon to fly him to Paris.
Arizona in mid-June, with one
video showing the trijet emerging Pacific strategy
from over a ridge and passing A Tokyo Press report quoted
firefighters on the ground. by the Japanese News
“That’s as low as she gets, This year marks 25 years since the final flight of the Agency has said:
boys!” one of them exclaims. Hawker Siddeley Trident. But does anyone remember “The outcome of
Well, almost. A quick squint the uniquely-designed 24h cockpit clock? Did anyone the battle of
at the US Forest Service’s actually master it? And the little hand is on… Japan will be
aviation safety reporting system decided by aircraft.” It
reveals an interesting filing certainly applies to the
from 24 June 2018 involving instead of Iraq – among T-50 present operations of the
the DC-10. export customers. Americans in the Pacific.
During pre-flight set-up at The supersonic trainer was They are hitting hard with
California’s McClellan reloading designed with help from land-based and carrier-borne
base, it states, one of the pilots Lockheed Martin and uses the aircraft at Japanese air bases.
“accidentally bumped” the all-American GE Aviation F404
emergency dump button while engine as well as a US weapons Relief for Boeing?
the jet was parked: “It caused suite. We suspect Washington Award of the USAF contract
the tank doors to open and would not be too happy with for an Awacs version of the
jettison the load of retardant military chiefs in Tehran – Boeing 707 is
onto the ground.” rather than Baghdad – getting likely to provide
Any investigation into this their hands on it. some respite for
event was probably brief. The a beleaguered
filing lists the corrective action Seattle area, where the run-
taken. “During pre-flight African down at Boeing is causing
procedures,” it says, “ensure serious unemployment. By
that the button is not touched.” adventure May Boeing had made
The truth, they say, is Flying into the unknown redundant some
sometimes stranger than fiction. 17,900 workers in and
Spell check Well, in Michael Howard’s case Howard – a professional pilot – around Seattle.
It’s only one letter, but it means it was certainly more exciting – describes how what started as a
red faces for Korea Aerospace and more dangerous. straightforward mission to Safety statistics
Industries’ press team after they In Never Answer To A Whistle repossess an HS 125 Series 400 A survey by the UK Civil
issued a release listing Iran – (Griffin Publishing, 320 pages), business jet from Nigeria ended Aviation Authority’s General
up taking on the narrative of a Aviation Safety
Stephen Coonts thriller. Department
Following an unauthorised (GASD) reveals
take-off from Lagos, Howard that male
had to avoid being shot down general-aviation pilots in the
by the local air force before UK are more than four times
being arrested on his landing in as likely to have a fatal
Ivory Coast. accident as their female
A planned kidnapping of a counterparts. The GASD
Korea Aerospace Industries
diplomat in London, Mossad cautions, however, that the

agents, colleagues jailed in study is in its early stages,
Nigeria and illegal currency and female pilots constitute
dealing all add colour to this only 6% of UK general
fascinating and true account of an aviation pilots.
T-50: not Tehran-bound aviator’s adventures in the 1980s.

WORKING WEEK
WORK EXPERIENCE SPENCER HOGGARTH
The mechanics of how to fix aircraft

With a background in engineering, Spencer Hoggarth now oversees training at MRO firm Flying Colours.
Having just opened its largest hangar so far, the business sees developing new recruits as vital to growth
How did you get involved in stay on top of all the different
aviation? sector developments. Selecting
My father was an aircraft the right teaching methods for
mechanic, so you could say it each trainee is a challenge as
runs in my family. From a young some work better than others, but
age, there was always a fascina- the investment in teaching tools
tion with the aerospace industry. such as the online ones has defi-
I attended the Southern Alberta nitely made that process easier.
Institute of Technology in Cal- How is growing aircraft
gary and completed the aircraft complexity affecting your work?
maintenance engineering course. Every new type of aircraft has be-
After receiving my aircraft main- come better at “self-diagnosis”.
tenance engineer (AME) licence The large array of onboard sen-
and gaining the US Federal Avia- sors helps the aircraft “tell” the
tion Administration airframe and technician what might be wrong,
powerplant licence, I moved to which is great, but it in no way
Peterborough to accept a position replaces an experienced techni-
Flying Colours
as an AME with Flying Colours. cian. The technician must have a
What does an aircraft technical solid understanding of how the
trainer do? Keeping abreast of evolving procedures is a challenge, says Hoggarth system should operate before a
It is a new role, so to some extent diagnosis is made. There will
I’m still shaping it. Flying Colours streamline this as a means of different aircraft types. That varie- always be a practical side of
recently added online learning to training across our facilities in ty is now replicated, but the varie- maintenance, at least until robots
its training offering and I’m Peterborough, Ontario; St. Louis, ty is represented by the different exceed humans in dexterity. The
responsible for developing and Missouri; and Singapore. We’re divisions. I liaise with colleagues flip side of this is that the
establishing this as a viable growing rapidly. This helps to from avionics, cabin refurbish- advanced aircraft also give us
method of sharing skills and keep the team current without ments, completions, mainte- many new components to learn
knowledge across the company. having to waste time travelling. nance, modifications and paint about. With every advancement
How does your typical working It’s clear that this is where we divisions, so there is always in technology, technicians have
week look? need to move in order to keep something new to learn. to stay up to date, so the online
As administrator of the online training accessible to all employ- What is the most difficult part? learning is vital. Dealing with
Learning Management System, ees as the company evolves. Keeping up with the constant new aircraft is always interest-
there’s a multitude of weekly When are you happiest? changes of a growing business is ing, although you can’t underes-
tasks. Typically, this involves I enjoy seeing the progress made always challenging, but in a good timate the knowledge needed to
creating relevant online mod- by the technicians during way. For example, I’ll put togeth- deal with older machines. Q
ules, classroom teaching, distrib- training. Not only in terms of skill er a new lesson, then a week later Looking for a job in aerospace?
uting online course material and development, but also their that lesson needs to be updated Check out our listings online at
on-the-job training. The online dedication and patience. A well- because of a procedural change. FlightGlobal.com/jobs
courses are very effective in pro- structured, clear path really helps In addition, the industry is
viding maintenance training the training succeed. It makes the changing so quickly – a few years If you would like to feature in
using a variety of materials and educational journey much more ago, avionics and connectivity Working Week, or you know
visual aids. As a new project I’m enjoyable for everyone and were not at the forefront of avia- someone who would, email
also evaluating its effectiveness achieves their goals faster. Having tion, but now if the connectivity your pitch to kate.sarsfield@
to establish what works and a background in maintenance system isn’t working, the aircraft flightglobal.com
what doesn’t, as the plan is to allowed me to work on many won’t fly. This means I need to
%JGEMQWV(NKIJV+PVGTPCVKQPCNoU+OCIG5VQTG
Browse or customise a gift or memento from our %76#9#;#4%*+8'
of more than 1000 aircraft drawings
YYYƃKIJVINQDCNKOCIGUEQO

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14-20 July 2020 I FlightGlobal.

£3.90 Regional power Keep connected

New Zealand Defence Force

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