Cross-utilization to Address Pilot Shortage, New Airline Launches in Crowded Gulf Market and More
Aviation news brief today
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Here are the exciting aviation industry updates for today. Let’s get started.
Air India's innovative approach to address pilot shortage: cross-utilization of pilots for Boeing 777 and 787
India's DGCA has granted Air India approval for cross utilization of pilots for its Boeing 777 and 787 fleets to address the shortage of skilled crew.
The airline will train eight designated and experienced examiners to fly both widebody aircraft types eventually, and they will need at least 150 hours of flying experience on the new aircraft, with at least 10 landings.
Air India recently announced it would hire 900 pilots this year and will eventually require thousands more as new planes join its fleet over the next decade. Read more
Amazon's ambitious drone delivery plans face turbulence from regulations and weak demand
Amazon's drone delivery business, Prime Air, is facing challenges with low demand and regulatory hurdles.
The division has recently undergone layoffs due to weak demand, despite Amazon's claim that long-term plans for deliveries remain unaffected.
The company spokesperson cited that the highly regulated industry and changes in the macro environment have slowed the progress.
Sources familiar with the situation have reported that Prime Air's small customer base has forced the employees to remind eligible households to place orders and offer gift cards as incentives, raising questions about the feasibility of the business model. Read more
Boeing boosts presence in expanding cargo market demand with new conversion facility
Boeing India has teamed up with GMR Aero Technic to convert Boeing 737 passenger planes to freighters in Hyderabad, India.
The move follows the US firm's 75-year partnership with India and will boost its presence in the expanding cargo market demand.
The partnership coincides with Boeing's $24m investment to build a logistics hub for aviation parts in India, where the company predicts an annual 6.3% growth in air cargo.
During the next 20 years, Boeing predicts a need for more than 1,700 passenger planes to be converted into freighters, with 600 requests coming from Asia. Read more
AirAsia's recovery hinges on China market, aims to expand narrowbody fleet
AirAsia aims to fully recover its network in 2023 and expects much of the capacity gains from the Chinese market.
The airline's international capacity has been increasing in recent months but remains lower than pre-pandemic levels.
Rebuilding capacity in China is a critical objective for AirAsia's recovery since it had a significant presence in the market before the pandemic. The airline needs to increase its narrowbody fleet and get more aircraft in the air to achieve this. Read more
Unusual move: Two Boeing 787 Dreamliners to be scrapped despite not even being 10 years old
The two Boeing 787 Dreamliners, both ex-Norwegian Air Shuttle aircraft, are set to be scrapped for spare parts after being in storage since May 2019.
The planes were grounded due to engine fan blade corrosion, and Norwegian's decision to end its long haul flights means they never returned to service.
Irish-based company EirTrade will manage the scrapping process, which could take up to four months, with the aim of recycling about 95% of the aircraft.
Other ex-Norwegian Dreamliners are also likely to be scrapped due to being in storage for too long in unsuitable conditions. Read more
Riyadh Air takes off: Saudi Arabia launches new state-owned airline in already crowded Gulf market
Saudi Arabia is joining the crowded field of state-owned airlines in the Persian Gulf by launching Riyadh Air, which aims to fly to 100 destinations by 2030. The airline will be owned entirely by the government’s Public Investment Fund.
The new airline will face strong competition from the likes of Saudia, Emirates, Etihad Airways, and Qatar Airways.
The move comes as Saudi Arabia and other oil-rich Gulf states seek to diversify their economies and reduce their dependence on oil revenue by turning to travel and tourism. Read more
Flair Airlines' 737 MAXs seized over missed lease payments
Four Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft belonging to Flair Airlines, Canada’s third-largest airline, and an ultra-low-cost carrier, have been seized by its leasing company, Airborne Capital, over missed lease payments.
Flair Airlines’ communication on the issue has done little to reassure consumers, only stating that it has experienced “service disruptions” at three airports.
However, the airline claims it is activating three spare aircraft to cover most of the flights that were supposed to be operated by the seized planes.
Some disruptions are expected during the busy March holiday travel period. The incident may damage Flair Airlines’ reputation among consumers and business partners. Read more
DARPA challenges designers to reimagine fast, runway-independent planes
The US Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) is seeking proposals for a new kind of fast aircraft that can take off and land without runways.
The SPRINT (SPeed and Runway INdependent Technologies) X-Plane Demonstrator program is looking for designs that can cruise at 400 knots (460 mph), capable of hovering in austere environments such as deserts or fields.
DARPA has not committed to traditional Vertical Takeoff or Landing approaches. However, two concepts presented suggest a silver-glossy image of a plane with jet-like ducts and folded blades, while the other shows a rendering of a flying wing with space for ducted fans or rotors. Read more
Drive or fly? Pegasus International unveils hybrid car/helicopter
Australian-based company Pegasus International has designed and produced a hybrid car/helicopter, the Pegasus E, which can be driven on roads like a car and flown in the air as a VTOL (vertical take-off and landing) flying car.
With a top speed of 120km/h on roads and a ceiling of 5900ft in the air, the E can travel up to three hours at a comfortable cruising speed of 130km/h using 20 liters of Unleaded 95 fuel per hour.
The E can be stored in a standard parking space or garage with no runway required. The end of 2023 will see the production of a four-seat air taxi prototype. Read more
Offshore wind energy can make Ireland a major player in sustainable aviation fuel
A report by Aircraft Leasing Ireland has suggested that Ireland has the potential to become a key global player in the development of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) using its offshore wind energy.
The report, prepared by KPMG for the industry group, stated that government engagement and a suitable policy framework were critical in creating the necessary conditions for SAF production.
It has been suggested that 65% of the aviation sector’s contribution to net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 could come from SAF, but that this would require 449 billion liters of SAF by that date, compared to the 300 million liters produced in 2022. Read more
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