Untapped Potential in Private Aviation Sector, FAA Considers 25 Hours of Black Box Recording, and More
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Here are the exciting aviation industry updates for today. Let’s get started.
Pandemic uncovered untapped potential in private aviation sector
The private aviation sector thrived during the pandemic, outpacing global economic growth.
VistaJet, a private jet charter company, experienced its best-ever subscription program sales in 2022, with a 74% YoY increase in gross hours sold. Its parent company, Vista Global Holdings, saw revenues rise over 50% against 2021.
The pandemic highlighted private aviation's safety, security, and convenience, with fewer touchpoints and more direct routes than commercial airlines.
VistaJet's Hong Kong flights grew 41% YoY in 2022, and the company expects continued strong growth in Asia, particularly in Hong Kong, as pandemic restrictions loosen. Read more
Boeing and Airbus turn to India for skilled, cost-effective workforce
Boeing and Airbus are tapping into India's vast talent pool to meet the surging demand for aircraft and expand their manufacturing presence in the world's fifth-largest economy.
Airbus aims to hire 1,000 engineers in India this year, while Boeing and its suppliers have added around 1,500 staff annually.
India's 1.5 million annual engineering graduates offer a cost-effective source of skilled labor, with engineers in Bengaluru costing just 7% of their counterparts in Seattle.
Both companies are also increasing production in India, bolstered by the revitalized Air India's recent order of 470 aircraft, divided between the two manufacturers. Read more
U.S. airlines demand level playing field as Russian airspace ban favors foreign rivals
U.S. airlines, unable to utilize Russian airspace due to the Ukraine conflict, are lobbying Capitol Hill and the White House to address a competitive disadvantage against foreign carriers offering faster and cheaper flights between the U.S. and Asia.
U.S. carriers have had to adjust trans-Pacific routes, limit passengers and cargo, and suspend new route plans, impacting their market share.
Airlines for America estimates U.S. carriers lose $2 billion annually as foreign airlines like Air India, Emirates, and China Eastern Airlines benefit from shorter, fuel-efficient routes.
U.S. airlines are pressing for foreign carriers to face the same restrictions they do. Read more
FAA considers extending black box recording time to 25 hours for enhanced aviation safety
The FAA is considering a requirement for cockpit voice recorders (CVRs), or black boxes, to capture 25 hours of data, up from the current two-hour requirement.
This follows six recent close calls between commercial airliners where CVR data was unavailable.
The FAA will also establish an Aviation Rulemaking Committee to explore better utilization of data from aircraft systems. The NTSB has been advocating for the 25-hour requirement since 2018.
Longer recording times can help officials better understand incidents and enhance safety measures.
Europe has already mandated 25-hour CVRs for over a year. Read more
Cockpit coffee break puts passengers at risk: SpiceJet grounds two pilots
Two pilots from Indian airline SpiceJet have been grounded following a photo revealing them consuming coffee and pastries in the cockpit, which raised significant safety concerns.
The image showed an uncovered cup placed precariously close to the control levers, potentially putting the aircraft and passengers at risk.
Consuming food and drink in the cockpit is against most company rules and aviation regulations. Spilling liquids on the central pedestal console could lead to technical malfunctions by damaging the vital electrical wiring underneath.
An inquiry has been initiated by the airline, and appropriate disciplinary action will follow its conclusion. Read more
Congress urged to support aerospace education: Addressing high training costs and workforce diversity
On March 16, the Senate Commerce Committee held a hearing to address challenges in the aviation workforce and discuss potential solutions.
As Congress prepares for FAA Reauthorization, stakeholders highlighted issues such as the high cost of aviation training and a lack of diversity in the industry.
Speakers from commercial airlines, labor unions, and higher education urged Congress to support increased funding for aerospace education to reduce entry barriers and promote diversity.
Senators discussed the industry's economic impact, with aviation contributing over 5% of the US GDP and supporting 11 million jobs.
Participants called for expanding workforce development grants to widen the talent pool and address systemic barriers without compromising safety standards. Read more
GE Aerospace's GEnx-1B engines to propel Saudi Arabia's $37 billion Boeing investment
Saudi Arabian airlines Saudia and Riyadh Air have placed a $37 billion order with Boeing for 78 Boeing 787 Dreamliners, marking the fifth-largest commercial order in history.
Evendale-based GE Aerospace will supply the GEnx-1B engines for the aircraft, with the potential to provide up to 242 engines if the airlines opt to purchase an additional 43 aircraft.
The specific value of the GE Aerospace engine deal has not been disclosed. Read more
Lufthansa Cargo considers more short- and mid-haul freighters to strengthen intra-European network
Lufthansa Cargo is considering further orders of short- and mid-haul freighters, with no plans for additional widebody all-cargo aircraft.
The airline has been modernizing its fleet, expanding capacity, and entering the intra-European e-commerce market.
It currently operates 11 B777Fs and has two A321Fs operated by CityLine. Two more B777Fs are expected this year, and seven B777-8Fs are scheduled for delivery between 2027 and 2030.
The company's intra-European freighter flights have been successful but have faced challenges due to limited capacity. Read more
Sikorsky and GE Aerospace join forces to develop long-range hybrid-electric VTOL demonstrator
Sikorsky and GE Aerospace have partnered to develop a hybrid eVTOL demonstrator, the Hybrid-Electric Demonstrator (HEX).
This autonomous, 7,000 lb+ aircraft will serve as a flying test-bed to assess large aircraft design, novel propulsion systems, and control architectures for sustained hover and ranges over 500nm.
GE Aerospace will provide a CT7 turboshaft engine, a 1MW-class generator, and power electronics, building on its hybrid electric propulsion work for NASA and the U.S. Army.
The HEX program, led by Sikorsky Innovations, may result in a family of eVTOL vehicles for military and commercial applications, depending on the insights gained and customer needs. Read more
NASA grants $50 million to boost sustainable aviation composite development
NASA has granted $50 million to 14 organizations within the Advanced Composites Consortium for the development of sustainable aviation composite technology.
The funding comes from NASA's Hi-Rate Composite Aircraft Manufacturing (HiCAM) project, aiming to reduce costs and increase production rates of US-made composite structures.
This will enable lighter airframes, leading to fuel savings and reduced emissions in commercial aviation.
HiCAM will focus on three manufacturing concepts: next-generation thermosets, resin-infused composites, and thermoplastic composites. Read more
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