To survive the pandemic, “Europe needs a resilient aviation sector that is socially and environmentally sustainable and provides high-quality connectivity for its citizens and regions,” according to a position paper, “Out of the Covid Crisis,” issued by the European Cockpit Association.
Gulf Aviation Academy has received dual Type Certification from the EASA for its new A320 Full Flight Simulator for the joint different A320ceo and A320neo engines types as well as UPRT training capabilities.
When the global lockdown started in March, more than half of the world airline fleet was parked in all kinds of remote locations. Somewhere around 17,000 airliners waiting for better times. And while the planes were parked, many flight simulators were also empty. Jacques Drappier analyses their symbiotic future.
With the gradual opening of national borders, airlines are slowly restarting operations and resuming routes. We have now reached the point that the operational fleet outnumbers the parked fleet, according to consultancy firm Cirium – around 39% parked versus 61% operational.
We will, however, never see all recently operational aircraft back in the sky. A shared view among leading experts is that 3500 to 5000 planes will never leave the desert. For some types, it is a retirement that was already announced but has now advanced a few years because of the reduced demand. For others, such as the A380, it is a shocking retirement after less than 10 years of activity.
For the airlines, it is a balancing act: the reduced demand for years to come, the commitment for new planes they have ordered, fuel prices, heavy maintenance checks due in the next months or years – all variables that can influence the decision to keep or discard a plane, or a whole fleet.
In accordance with the recommendations of the ICAO Council Aviation Recovery Taskforce, together ICAO Global Aviation Training and CAA International, the aviation training arm of the UK Civil Aviation Authority, have launched new training to enable the safe and secure restart of air operations.
Editor’s Note:CAT magazine presents Guest Commentary on important issues facing the community. The opinions expressed are the author’s own.
This commentary is offered by Naveed Kapadia, whose career expertise includes research and development of flight crew training to enhance safety for a major European airline group, business development for Airways Aviation, and easyJet Flight Officer. He earned a master’s degree in air transport management from City University of London and an MSc bursary winner from Royal Academy of Engineering. He is also an ambulance crew volunteer during the current UK health crisis.
He poses the challenge: do we need a global refresh on how we train crews for decision-making?
We are used to scrutinising accidents and serious incidents, but we almost never investigate with the same tenacity and vigor when things go right. Why do we deprive ourselves of equally important learning opportunities when the flight crew makes the right call? We need to encourage stakeholders to proactively look at what went well and celebrate success with similar importance. Enhancing insights and experience is key to minimise errors.
While new technology and training aids have vastly improved ab initio pilot training, the full benefit of that investment can only be realised if applied by excellent instructors. CAT Europe Editor Chris Long, FRAeS, solicited views on the process from three key individuals at an innovative ATO.
Build a passion in aviation into the process, and the result is teaching which yields the best quality of a new generation of pilots (who are more than quick enough to identify genuine quality and buy into it.) That is the drive for the whole team of passionate individuals at Norwegian-based Pilot Flight Academy (PFA), who have deep aviation experience and are wholeheartedly engaged in the enterprise.
Now equipped with modern Diamond aircraft, PFA has plans to convert to all-electric powered aircraft to achieve the goal of a complete “green” training solution.
ICAO has introduced a new series of implementation packages or ‘iPACKs’ to support States’ aviation response, recovery, and resilience efforts during the pandemic.