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APRIL 2022
AEROSPACE
THE NEW AGE OF
ASTRONAUTS
UKRAINE AIR WAR
ANALYSIS
DRONE DELIVERIES
www.aerosociety.com
April 2022
Volume 49 Number 4
LIVE RI ES
WITH BITE
Royal Aeronautical Society
HOW TO MAKE YOUR AIRLINER
STAND OUT FROM THE CROWD
April 2022 AEROSPACE COVER Shark FINAL.indd 1 21/03/2022 14:37
Volume 49 Number 4
April 2022
EDITORIAL Contents
Globalisation breaks down Regulars
4 Radome 12 Transmission
As the world reels from the Russian invasion of Ukraine and its old The latest aviation and Your letters, emails, tweets
geopolitical and economic order unravels before our eyes, the conflict aeronautical intelligence, and social media feedback.
analysis and comment.
is potentially reversing, in some key areas, what was the seemingly 58 The Last Word
unstoppable juggernaut of globalisation. What does this mean for 11 Pushing the Envelope Keith Hayward considers
aerospace, aviation and space? First, by the time this is read, Russia’s civil Rob Coppinger examines the longer-term economic
the increase in space debris effects of the Russian war in
aviation industry may have collapsed after Airbus, Boeing and others pulled in orbit around the Earth and Ukraine on the international
support from over 900 airliners, training is halted and lessors scramble what can be done about it. aerospace industry.
to repossess aircraft. With airspace closed, joint ventures shut down and
inward investment ceases, this will be ‘ground zero’ for its airlines. The Features
speed in which Russia’s economic fate has been sealed will give pause to
Copernicus
companies with partnerships in countries, like China, which have hitherto 14 28
walked a narrow tightrope between co-operation and competition. On the
Martyn Cartledge
defence side – with a full-scale state-on-state war, expect increases in
defence spending across the West to be fast-tracked – already seen in
Germany’s strategic reversal to its approach to more muscular geopolitics.
Saving the planet from
Finally, the invasion has also thrown in to doubt, international co-operation Pimp my flight
space
betweeb Russia and the West in spaceflight – with OneWeb and ExoMars now How special one-off paint
Recent advances in Earth
schemes can get an airline’s
in limbo. observation satellite technology.
message across.
30 The new age of
astronauts
Deputy Editor Bill Read retires 20 Air war Ukraine – the The past and future of human
first month spaceflight.
An initial analysis on the air
After 22 years on the staff of AEROSPACE magazine, friend, colleague and
34
ideaForge
power aspects of the conflict
award-winning aviation journalist Bill Read FRAeS is leaving the RAeS for a in Ukraine.
well-deserved retirement. On behalf of myself and the Editorial team here, I
would like to wish him a very happy and enjoyable retirement.
24
JR NG
Tim Robinson FRAeS, Editor-in-Chief
tim.robinson@aerosociety.com @RAeSTimR Is India’s military drone
industry ready to go?
Correspondence on all aerospace matters is welcome at: publications@aerosociety.com How India’s geopolitics is
shaping the growth of its
Editor-in-Chief Editorial Office 2022 AEROSPACE subscription indigenous drone market.
Tim Robinson FRAeS Royal Aeronautical Society rates: Non-members, £195
+44 (0)20 7670 4353 No.4 Hamilton Place To place your order, contact:
tim.robinson@aerosociety.com London W1J 7BQ, UK Wayne J Davis Taking flight from difficult 38 Drone and deliver
Deputy Editor
+44 (0)20 7670 4300 +44 (0)20 7670 4354 times in Singapore Can the use of drones for
publications@aerosociety.com
Bill Read FRAeS aerosubs@aerosociety.com A report from the 2022 aerial consumer deliveries be
www.aerosociety.com
+44 (0)20 7670 4351 Any member not requiring a print Singapore Airshow. financially successful?
bill.read@aerosociety.com AEROSPACE is published by the Royal version of this magazine should
Aeronautical Society (RAeS). contact: membership@aerosociety.com
Production Manager
Wayne J Davis FRAeS
+44 (0)20 7670 4354
Chief Executive
David Edwards FRAeS
USA: Periodical postage paid at
Champlain New York and additional Afterburner
wayne.davis@aerosociety.com Advertising offices.
44 Message from our President
+44 (0)20 7670 4346 Postmaster: Send address changes
Publications Executive 45 Message from our Chief Executive
partners@aerosociety.com to IMS of New York, PO Box 1518,
Chris Male FRAeS
+44 (0)20 7670 4352 Champlain NY 12919-1518, USA. 46 Book reviews
Unless specifically attributed, no
chris.male@aerosociety.com material in AEROSPACE shall be taken
to represent the opinion of the RAeS.
ISSN 2052-451X 49 Library Additions
Production Executive
Annabel Hallam Reproduction of material used in this 50 2021 RAeS AGM minutes
+44 (0)20 7670 4361 publication is not permitted without the
written consent of the Editor-in-Chief.
52 RAeS AGM calling notice
annabel.hallam@aerosociety.com
Book Review Editors Printed by Buxton Press Limited, 54 New Member Spotlight
Palace Road, Buxton, Derbyshire
Tony Pilmer and Katrina Sudell
SK17 6AE, UK
55 RAeS Diary
book.reviews@aerosociety.com
Distributed by Royal Mail
56 Elections
Cover: Embraer’s striking E2 Profit Hunter ‘Tech Shark’ livery made its debut at the Singapore Air Show in February.
Additional content is available to view online at: aerosociety.com/aerospaceinsight
Including: Ukraine – implications for international spaceflight, Proving ground for electric flight,
Read AEROSPACE and the Insight blog on your
The Ghost of Kyiv – myth or reality?, New Member spotlight, Air War over Ukraine – the first days, smartphone or tablet with the AEROSPACE app
Countdown to UK launch, Viability of consumer delivery drones. APP available from iTunes and Google Play.
@aerosociety i Find us on LinkedIn f Find us on Facebook www.aerosociety.com APRIL 2022 13
Blueprint
INTELLIGENCE / ANALYSIS / COMMENT
Flight deck
changes
As well as flight
test engineering
stations, the A380
ZEROe flight deck
will be modified
with an extra
throttle lever for
the pylon-mounted
engine.
Passport to ZEROe
A GE Passport turbofan will be
mounted on a rear pylon and
modified to run on hydrogen, with
CFM International converting the
combuster, fuel system and controls
to use this fuel – with the liquid
hydrogen being converted to gas
before being burned cleanly by
the combustor. Meanwhile, four
cryogenic liquid hydrogen tanks with
400kg of fuel will be mounted in the
main cabin. Airbus has yet to decide
on whether these tanks will be
metallic or composite construction.
Contrail measurement
As well as testing the liquid hydrogen
fuel tanks, cryogenic feeds and engine
itself, flight testing will also include
measurement and analysis of the water-
contrails produced by H2-powered
aircraft.
Airbus
4 AEROSPACE
April 2022News_converted 2 21/03/2022 14:57:06King-size testing
The A380 was chosen for
the safety redundancy of
having four conventional
engines, as well as a
voluminous interior giving
ample room for liquid H2
tanks and cryogenic fuel
systems to be installed.
AEROSPACE
A380 reborn as H2 test bed
Airbus has announced that it is to convert the first A380 prototype, MSN001, into a demonstrator for
its ZEROe hydrogen airliner project. Working in partnership with engine makers CFM, the airliner will
be converted with a pylon which will carry a GE Passport bizjet engine, adapted to run on hydrogen.
Meanwhile, four liquid-hydrogen fuel tanks will be installed in the main cabin, along with associated
cryogenic feeds. The company expects the A380 demonstrator to fly by the end of 2026, with the aim
that it will inform the development of the ZEROe zero-carbon airliner.
APRIL 2022 5
April 2022News_converted 3 21/03/2022 14:57:08Radome
UKRAINE CONFLICT
DEFENCE
Ukrainian air force fights on after Russian invasion
On 24 February, Russia launched a massive invasion of Ukraine, with cruise and
tactical missile strikes against key command and control targets and air defence
sites opening the conflict. However, as AEROSPACE goes to press in mid-March,
some three weeks after the invasion, Ukraine’s air force is still combat effective and
flying daily sorties, with 56 operational jet fighters, along with helicopters and UAVs.
Meanwhile, the Russian air force (VKS) has been unable to secure air superiority,
despite 3 to 1 odds, with the CinC of the Ukrainian AF stating on 15 March that it
had shot down 19 aircraft, 20 helicopters and five UAVs. These include latest types,
such as the Su-34 strike fighter and Ka-52 attack helicopters. Ukraine is believed
to have lost around 11 aircraft and a single helicopter, along with the civil Antonov
An225 destroyed in its hangar during a Russian airborne assault on Hostomel
Airport, outside Kyiv, on the first day. In other developments, a three-way plan to
supply Ukraine with ex-Polish MiG-29 fighters was left in limbo after the US axed
the transfer over fears this would escalate the war with Russia. However, Poland
Ukrainian MoD
surprised the US by saying it was ready to supply the MiGs by handing them over to
the US first at Ramstein Air Base in Germany. This led to the Pentagon backing away
from the deal, assessing that the transfer would be ‘high-risk’ but ‘low-utility’.
AIR TRANSPORT SPACEFLIGHT
Russian civil aviation isolated International space
co-operation unravels
Airbus
The conflict has OneWeb and guarantee
also spilled over into that the satellites would
international co-operation not be used for military
and partnerships in purposes. Meanwhile,
space. A OneWeb launch, Arianespace has
Unprecedented international economic sanctions against Russia in the wake of the originally scheduled for cancelled its partnership
invasion of Ukraine have left the Russian civil aviation sector facing isolation and mass lift-off using a Soyuz with Roscosmos to
grounding of aircraft. As AEROSPACE goes to press, Russian airlines, with many rocket from Baikonur launch Soyuz rockets
aircraft leased and registered overseas, have ceased flying to international destinations Cosmodrome with 36 from French Guiana. The
for fear of aircraft being repossessed. Russian aircraft operators are also banned from satellites on 4 March, joint ESA/Roscosmos
many countries’ airspace, with Western airlines cancelling services to Russia and was axed after Moscow ExoMars mission with the
overflights. Finally, manufacturers and suppliers, such as Airbus, Boeing, Embraer, issued demands that the Rosalind Franklin rover is
CAE and Sabre, have also axed support, training and spares for Russian customers. UK remove its stake in also in doubt.
NEWS IN BRIEF
a new national carrier until Spirit is already partnered to explore opportunities
As AEROSPACE goes 2023. The new airline, Iran launched a Qased with Airbus, providing the to obtain spare parts
to press in March, Nigeria Air, was initially set rocket carrying a Noor composite wings for its via India, Turkey or other
Chinese state media has to launch in April this year 2 military satellite on 8 A220 single-aisle airliner. countries.
confirmed initial reports to replace the country’s March. The three-stage
of the crash of a China previous national carrier, rocket is believed to The Chinese government US-based freight
Eastern Airlines Boeing Nigeria Airways, which have taken off from the has reportedly made it lessor Air Transport
737 with 132 people on ceased flying in 2003. Shahroud missile range in clear that it will not break Services Group
board on 21 March. The north-eastern Iran. US and EU sanctions (ATSG) has ordered
airliner impacted into the In a surprise move, the and supply spare parts 29 Airbus A330P2F
mountains of southern United Arab Emirates has Airbus Helicopters has to Russian airlines converted freighters.
China, while on a flight announced that it intends announced it is partnering attempting to keep The conversion will be
between Kunming and to procure up to 48 (12 with Belfast’s Spirit Western-built airliners carried out by EFW (Elbe
Guangzhou. firm and 36 options) AeroSystems to develop flying. Interfax reports Flugzeugwerke) at its
Chinese Hongdu L-15 and manufacture the that the Russian Federal facilities in Dresden and
Nigeria has announced advanced jet trainers to wings of its CityAirbus Air Transport Agency has ST Engineering’s facility
that it will now not launch replace its BAE Hawks. NextGen eVTOL air taxi. said that the country plans in China.
6 AEROSPACE
April 2022News_converted 4 21/03/2022 14:57:09AEROSPACE GENERAL AVIATION
Joby eVTOL prototype
crashes in uncrewed test
A prototype aircraft accident. A preliminary
operated by US eVTOL air report from the NTSB
taxi developer Joby was described the prototype as
involved in an accident ‘substantially damaged’ in
during high-speed flight the crash and that it had
testing on 16 February experienced a ‘component
Embraer
in California. The aircraft, failure’.
which is one of two Meanwhile, Canadian
Embraer to launch P2F conversions prototypes, was being
piloted remotely and there
training and simulation
specialists CAE is to
Brazilian aerospace company Embraer has launched Passenger to Freight Conversions were no injuries. Flight develop and qualify flight
(P2F) of its E190 and E195 regional jets. The freighter conversion is available for all tracking service data simulation training devices
pre-owned E190s and E195s, with the first entry into service expected in early 2024. reportedly showed that the for Joby Aviation’s eVTOL
The conversions will include a new front cargo door, cargo handling system, floor aircraft was being flown aircraft ahead of the first
reinforcement, rigid cargo barrier, smoke detection and extinguishing system. at 270mph before the air taxi service in 2024.
AIR TRANSPORT
UK axes all remaining Covid Germany to rearm in historic shift
travel restrictions
On 14 March UK and Virgin Atlantic, along
Transport Secretary with Heathrow Airport,
Grant Shapps MP have announced that
announced that Britain they will be dropping the
would be scrapping all mandatory requirement
Luftwaffe
remaining Covid-19 travel for passengers to
restrictions, including wear Covid-19 masks.
the Passenger Locator However, Heathrow The Russian invasion of Ukraine has prompted an historic reversal in German politics, with
Form and tests for all says it will still ‘strongly Berlin now pledging to increase defence spending and strengthen its military. The country will
arrivals, from 18 March. encourage’ travellers to now raise its defence spending from 1.53% of GDP to 2% or above, meeting NATO’s target.
Testing for vaccinated continue to wear masks. Germany will also boost its military with a €100bn defence fund from its 2022 budget. Finally,
arrivals was already The news was welcomed on 14 March, the country announced it would be buying up to 35 Lockheed Martin F-35s to
dropped in February. In by the UK aviation and replace its ageing Tornado fleet, with the Luftwaffe also to get 15 Eurofighters modified for
parallel, British Airways travel sector. the electronic warfare role.
and dishes for the Starlink Manufacturers Association by Middle East carrier (EAS) programme which
The Israeli Air Force has satellite mega-constellation (GAMA) says that aircraft Qatar Airways until subsidises airlines to fly
revealed that its F-35Is to Ukraine. The move was deliveries rose in 2021 April. The move is the to smaller destinations
have scored the first aimed at keeping internet to 2,630 aicraft and 826 latest development in an which cannot support
air-to-air kills for the and communication helicopters, compared ongoing dispute between commercial flights on their
type, shooting down two services running, as to 2,408 and 659, Airbus and Qatar Airways own.
Iranian-built UAVs last the country reels from respectively in 2020. over paint issues related
year. In March 2021, a Russian invasion and Piston aircraft deliveries to its A350s. General Atomics
F-35Is shot down two telecoms could be cut. rose 5.5 % to 1,393, Aeronautical Systems
Iranian Shahed 197 However, he urged users bizjets by 10.2% to 710 US regional carrier has revealed a new
drones that were being to observe caution, as and turboprops by 19% SkyWest is to stop flying ‘loyal wingman’ style air
used to supply Hamas Russian EW systems could to 527. to 29 small cities due to a dominance drone, the
in the Gaza Strip with track and locate the ground shortage of pilots. Gambit. The jet-powered
weapons. stations. A judge in London has SkyWest operates the UCAV would fly ahead of
ordered Airbus to delay routes on behalf of crewed combat aircraft to
SpaceX’s Elon Musk has A report from the its cancellation of 50 United Airlines under see and sense threats and
delivered ground terminals US General Aviation A321neos ordered the Essential Air Service identify weaknesses.
APRIL 2022 7
April 2022News_converted 5 21/03/2022 14:57:12Radome
AIR TRANSPORT SPACEFLIGHT
Ethiopian signs up for 777X cargo Lockheed Martin mulls NE
England space hub
Boeing
Lockheed Martin UK is conduct Northern Europe’s
considering establishing first vertical satellite launch.
a satellite manufacturing On the choice of location,
and space R&D hub in the Nik Smith, Lockheed
North East of England, to Martin’s UK and Europe
tap into the fast-expanding regional director for Space
British space sector. The said: “With its strong
potential new £50m facility, manufacturing heritage,
which is in the fact-finding highly-skilled workforce
Ethiopian Airlines has signed an MoU with Boeing to purchase five 777-8F freighters, the and feasibility phase, could and reputation for quality,
new cargo variant of the 777X passenger widebody currently in development – to meet create up to 2,300 jobs in we’ve identified North
demand at Addis Ababa – Africa’s largest air cargo hub. Launched in January, Boeing has the NE, says the company, East England as a strong
already secured 34 firm orders for the 777-8F from Qatar Airways which is expected to which is already partnered contender for our future
enter service in 2027. with SaxaVord Spaceport to operation.”
AEROSPACE DEFENCE
UK HAPS company Pakistan receives J-10CEs
claims world-first 5G test
The UK’s Cambridge-based The trial was conducted
Stratospheric Platforms has in partnership with the
announced a milestone with Saudi Communications
the world’s first transmission and Information Technology
of a 5G signal to a retail Commission (CITC) in the
smartphone from 45,000ft. airspace above the Red
The test over Saudi Arabia Sea Project. Stratospheric
used a piloted Grob 520 Platform’s vision is a
AVIC
as a surrogate UAV, with network of hydrogen-
a 5G signal maintained powered UAVs flying On 11 March, the Pakistan air force took delivery of the first six Chinese-built Chengdu
for 5hrs with a download at 60,000ft to provide J-10CE multirole fighters in a ceremony at Minhas Airbase, Pakistan. The procurement
speed of 90Mbps, allowing low-cost, high-speed of an unnamed number of the fighters, believed to be around 25, was signed last June.
three-way video calls and connectivity over large The J-10CE is an export version of the J-10C, with divertless intake, AESA radar and
4K video to be streamed. areas. WS-10B engine.
NEWS IN BRIEF
ordered 150 Lilium the ongoing conflict earlier order from DHL Xichang on 5 March
South Korea is to develop eVTOLs to use as charter in Ukraine. Global in December for nine carrying six Chinese-made
hybrid rocket engines, aircraft. The eVTOLs aircraft and aeroengine converted Boeing 767- Yinhe 2 demonstration
combining solid and will be based in Florida companies rely on a 300 freighters. satellites for a future
liquid propellants to be where Lilium will work significant amount of broadband internet
used to launch defence with NetJets to build an titanium from Russia’s BAE Systems has constellation of up
satellites. The project eVTOL network to link VSMPO-Avisma, which announced plans to 13,000 satellites.
will be jointly conducted larger cities with ‘vertiport’ produces at least half to collaborate with Made by Galaxy Space,
by the Korean Ministry facilities. of the world’s structural Slovenian light aircraft the satellites are also
of National Defense titanium for aerospace manufacturer Pipistrel equipped with cameras to
(MND) with South Korea’s France’s aerospace – providing 30-40% of Aircraft to explore take photos and videos of
Ministry of Science industry body GIFAS Boeing’s and at least the development of Earth’s surface.
and ICT (information is to form a ‘crisis cell’ 50% of Airbus’ needs. lightweight electric
and communication to discuss and co- aircraft for military Bankrupt US helicopter
technology). ordinate a response Logistics company aviation roles. manufacturer Enstrom
to the likelihood of a DHL is to purchase Helicopter may return to
Fractional ownership shortage of titanium six 777 freighters from China launched a Long business after its assets
specialists NetJets has from Russia, due to Boeing. This follows an March 2C rocket from were purchased by MidTex
8 AEROSPACE
April 2022News_converted 6 21/03/2022 14:57:12AEROSPACE GENERAL AVIATION
P&W to develop SkyCourier receives type certification
hydrogen engine
US aero-engine develop a hydrogen
powerplant steam-injected,
manufacturer Pratt & intercooled turbine
Whitney has won a $4m engine (HySIITE),
contract from the United burning hydrogen in a
States Department of Brayton thermodynamic
Textron Aviation
Energy to develop new engine cycle,
high-efficiency hydrogen incorporating steam
propulsion systems. injection to achieve zero
Part of the DoE’s in-flight CO2 emissions
Advanced Research and reducing nitrogen- Textron Aviation has announced that its Cessna SkyCourier19-seat passenger/utility aircraft
Projects Agency-Energy oxide (NOx) emissions has received its type certification from the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The
(ARPA-E), the contract by up to 80% for single- approval follows a 2,100hr flight test campaign using three SkyCourier prototypes. First
will require P&W to aisle airliners. delivery to launch customer FedEx Express, which has ordered 50, is ‘soon’.
SPACEFLIGHT AIR TRANSPORT
NASA’s oversight and
watchdog body, the Inspector
Artemis Gender inbalance in
General, has found that the
cost of the US agency’s budget examiners, finds RAeS
Artemis return to the Moon
programme could cost $4.1bn rockets, A joint report from the
Royal Aeronautical
the reasons why only
0.9% of Type Rating
per mission – a price that it
says is ‘unsustainable’. When
Moon Society and the University
of the West of England
Examiners in airlines in
the UK were women. (In
the giant SLS rocket (rolled out landing (UWE) has found a comparison women make
on 17 March, right) programme
was launched in 2012, the slips continued lack of female
type instructors and
up 5.26% of the global
pilot workforce). The
cost of each Moon mission was examiners in the airline study found continued
estimated at $500m. With the industry. The study, sexism and a shortfall
increased cost, the IG’s office which heard from 700 in diversity, along with a
now predicts that the landing, airline pilots worldwide, lack of transparency in
originally scheduled for 2024 750 testimonials with recruitment and a refusal
by the Trump administration, will eight hours of focus to allow part-time working
NASA
now slip to 2026 at the earliest. groups, looked into for examiners.
Aviation. MidTex, which According to outgoing in Singapore. Airlines at
acquired Enstrom’s pre- FAA Administrator Steve Changi airport can now ON THE MOVE
owned aircraft, tooling, Dickson, Boeing has order blends of SAF with
materials, drawings, to fix a series of quality up to 50% conventional Former Turkish
intellectual property control problems which jet fuel. Pioneering female aviator Airlines’ Chairman
and factory equipment, halted deliveries and FAA and astronaut Wally Mehmet Ìlker Aycıhas has
has announced plans inspectors will check The UK government has Funk has been awarded been appointed as the
to reopen the factory each aircraft. Deliveries announced it plans to the 2021 Katherine and new CEO of Air India after
under the name Enstrom of the 787 were paused supply the Ukrainian armed Marjorie Stinson Trophy by it was taken over by the
Aerospace. last May after flaws were forces with the Starstreak the National Aeronautical Tata Group.
discovered with titanium air defence system. Association (NAA).
The US Federal Aviation fasteners used to hold the The MANPADs system, Joe Bryant is to become
Administration (FAA) is aircraft together. produced by Thales Air Chief Executive of Rolls- the Fleet Director of
to inspect each individual Defence, fires three dart- Royce, Warren East, is to 2Excel Aviation while Peter
Boeing 787 coming Shell has announced that submunitions at Mach 4 step down at the end of Senior will replace him as
off the production line it has begun supplying and has a range of 7km. 2022. Continuing Airworthiness
due to concerns over sustainable aviation fuel Laser-guided, the missile Manager.
production quality. (SAF) to its local facility cannot be decoyed.
APRIL 2022 9
April 2022News_converted 7 21/03/2022 14:57:15By the Numbers
Understanding the world of Aerospace through data
NATO bolsters Eastern Flank defences
NATO
10 AEROSPACE
APRIL 2022 By the Numbers.indd 2 21/03/2022 11:56:12Pushing the Envelope
Exploring advances on the leading edge of aerospace
Robert Coppinger
Has Kessler already begun?
I
n February, strong solar winds caused a E-Space’s. E-Space’s plans to launch 100,000 satellites
geomagnetic storm in orbit rendering 40 SpaceX over the next decade The mega-constellations are all
Starlink satellites inoperative on the very day of in LEO because it requires less power to transmit and
their launch, causing them to immediately become a smaller sensor array to receive the signals from the
space debris. As of January, the amount of ground.
material orbiting the Earth exceeded 9,000t, according
to NASA. Of this, more than 3,000t is in low Earth orbit Scooping up dead sats
(LEO).
The 40 dead Starlink satellites added about Removing dead satellites, LEO or polar orbits have a
another 10t to LEO, the most congested orbit. Across major advantage – in that the atmosphere is still barely
all the orbits, low, medium and geostationary, NASA present creating a slight drag on the spacecraft. This
states that there are more than 25,000 objects larger will eventually slow the satellite to the point where
than 10cm which are known to exist. The estimated gravity will drag it to a fiery end. The largest force
population of particles between one and 10cm in acting on a LEO spacecraft below 800km is air drag
diameter is about 500,000 – Estimated because and satellites at this sort of altitude will orbit for seven
it cannot all be tracked. Meanwhile, the number of to 10 years. E-space’s constellation will be in LEO.
particles larger than one millimetre meanwhile, exceeds Addressing this congestion, E-Space does not only
100m. This is not a new problem and 40-50 years ago state that its LEO orbits mean assured end-of-life with
the challenge of space debris was already well known. re-entry but also claims its constellation will be the
In 1978, then NASA scientist Donald Kessler proposed only one ‘resilient enough to withstand a collisional
that an uncontrolled sustained cascade of debris could cascading event.’
annihilate all the satellites in LEO. That hypothesis has Research carried out by the University of
since become known as the Kessler Syndrome. British Columbia and published last year shows that
collision resilience will be important. That University
Filling space of British Columbia research found that using
‘simple models’ that untracked debris will collide with
Since the start of the space age, about 12,740 mega-constellations. It also found that the plethora
satellites have been launched and there have been of satellites above the Earth makes constellations
more than 630 events that have ultimately led to susceptible to collisions with micrometeoroids. A study
spacecraft fragmentation creating more debris. High at Concordia Station in the Antarctic, also published
ACROSS ALL THE
profile events, such as the Chinese and Russian anti- last year, concluded that every year more than 4,700t
satellite tests of 2007 and 2021, respectively, have of cosmic micrometeoroid debris fall into the Earth’s ORBITS, LOW,
only highlighted the problem of debris and its danger gravity well. Whether it is micrometeoroids or paint MEDIUM AND
to satellites and crewed spacecraft. The number of chips from 1980s rocket upper stages, a 2019 paper GEOSTATIONARY,
satellites in Earth orbit today is about 7,840, according produced by the Institute of Defense Analyses (IDA) NASA STATES
to the European Space Agency’s (ESA) May 2021 staff estimated that SpaceX’s Starlink, once it has THAT THERE
Annual Space Environment report. Of those, about 4,425 satellites on orbit, would suffer 2,496 impacts
ARE MORE THAN
5,100 are still functioning. from debris larger than 1mm a year. By late February,
The next few years will see all those numbers SpaceX had orbited more than 2,000 Starlink satellites. 25,000 OBJECTS
eclipsed completely by the mega-constellations OneWeb, the IDA paper estimated, will suffer hundreds LARGER THAN
that have been proposed by private industry. Elon of impacts a year also. 10CM WHICH ARE
Musk’s Starlink will have 12,000 satellites, Amazon’s The Kessler Syndrome is typically viewed as a KNOWN TO EXIST.
Kuiper was 3,236 but its November 2021 Federal possible, but extremely unlikely scenario that could THE ESTIMATED
Communications Commission (FCC) filing asks occur in the future. However, in 2012, Kessler told POPULATION
for 7,774. Meanwhile, the UK government’s mega- the International Association for the Advancement of
constellation OneWeb is a smaller mega-constellation Space Safety’s magazine: “The cascade process can
OF PARTICLES
at 648, while newcomer, Astra Space Platform be more accurately thought of as continuous and has BETWEEN ONE
Services filed an FCC application last November for already started, where each collision or explosion in AND 10 CM IN
13,620 satellites. But even these huge constellations orbit slowly results in an increase in the frequency of DIAMETER IS
pale in comparison with Franco-American firm future collisions. ABOUT 500,000
APRIL 2022 11
Pushing the Env Has Kessler Begun.indd 1 21/03/2022 15:50Transmission
LETTERS AND ONLINE @aerosociety i Find us on LinkedIn f Find us on Facebook www.aerosociety.com
f i
‘Grey’ charters are black and white
I would like to raise an
Alec Wilson/Wikipedia
inaccuracy in one of the ‘mini
articles’ in the December
2021 edition of AEROSPACE,
relating to the organiser of the
Emiliano Sala ill-fated flight(1).
Firstly, it says that the
aircraft went down off the
coast of Guernsey, which it Research lost due to Inspirational books
didn’t. It crashed off the coast war in Ukraine
of Alderney. While it seems The Piper Malibu involved in the fatal crash seen here in 2017 at
Robert Hennecke Had not
a rather small detail, it is not Coventry Airport.
this useless war occurred,
the first time this accident I would urge a hybrid
has been written about of this charter. There was charters (in the Channel human-powered and electric
inaccurately – seemingly using nothing grey about it; it was Islands specifically) have low-altitude/low-weight
a ‘better known’ island for completely illegal in every been going on long enough, recreational aircraft that
ease of reporting? way and these tragic deaths and more needs to be done could spawn an industry.
The biggest issue for me, should be a hard lesson to to stop it. Max ceiling 50ft, primarily
however, is the inference learn for those considering intended over water or
that there was something the same dangerous and Ed Courtley agricultural land to minimise Dr Adam E White [On
‘grey’ about the organisation irresponsible behaviour. Illegal MRAeS damage and or injury and Careers in Aerospace and
liability. World Book Day(3)] Thanks
Royal Aeronautical Society.
I have been reading Mae
From the RAeS photo archives Lynch Tim Another proxy Jemison to my four-year old
war over natural gas rather who loves it!
than oil. Same sparring
RAeS/NAL
partners as they seek to 21st Century air aces
control small nations and
debt enslave them. Ceasefire Ali Hammad [On The Ghost
and stop the war criminal of Kyiv(4)] Well articulated
slime turning Ukraine into paper dwelled upon the
another Yemen or Libya. ongoing escalation. Great
endeavour, Fahad.
Drones vs scooters
Ukrainian display team
Pete Savage [On Drone pilot shot down
and deliver(2)] I think the
fact that this concept has Geoffrey Wardle [On Air
been around for at least war over Ukraine(5)] I would
ten years and it is still not a add that apparently the
reality and many divisions Grey Wolf of the Ukrainian
of the big companies, like Airforce Su-27 display team
Google and Amazon, have has been lost to a Triumph
apparently disbanded their S400 SAM system; our
drone delivery sectors in the prayers are with him. There
UK is a good indication it are also 70 ex-Soviet era
won’t happen. After all, flying fast jets being gifted to
is the least efficient way of Ukraine by former Eastern
travelling short distances Bloc nations. We should
over land and, apart from really move to get Russia
frivolous wealthy people, no removed from the UN
one would be prepared to Security Council and then a
The Airspeed AS57 Ambassador was developed in response to a requirement identified by the peacekeeping force could
pay the extra cost for it, over
Brabazon Committee for a twin-engined short-to-medium-haul airliner as a replacement for the be sent, as in the case of the
a minimum wage person on
ubiquitous Douglas DC-3. The first prototype had its maiden flight on 10 July 1947 and the Korean War.
a scooter.
type entered service with BEA in 1951. However, the type was quickly outperformed by the
turboprop-powered Vickers Viscount, with BEA opting to withdraw its Ambassadors in 1958.
Second-hand aircraft continued to operate until the early 1970s with airlines, such as Dan-Air.
12 AEROSPACEShould the West impose a no-fly zone over Ukraine?
@TrentTelenko It is a hugely @RaoulDukeIRL One thing
Tech Sgt Rachel Maxwell/USAF
bad idea in the midst of the I haven’t seen mentioned is
current war fever sweeping the CSAR issue. NATO would
the West. A no-fly zone is be obliged to put boots on the
militarily impractical if tried, ground in that scenario.
and will be the first step on
the road to a nuclear hell if
implemented. @gregbagwell There are
two paradoxes at work here:
Russian helicopter losses
1. The West has been quick
@fg_domperry [On @CameronJJJ It’s not on the to throw up an NFZ (even
Russian helicopter losses in table. I haven’t heard a single when it wasn’t one) in every
NATO policymaker voice USAF F-35A Lightnings on a training exercise. other crisis, so why not this
Ukraine] A whole bunch of
unidentified helicopters were support for this idea. one? Many of us know the
@Doulgas48353912 @Stephen87165188 The
also destroyed on the ground reason but the majority can’t
Close down Russian comms no-fly zone is an inferior way
at Kherson recently. I would grasp the wider context or
with EW and cyber – covert to deny air supremacy to the
assume there are Ka-52s @john_jawspt I don’t consequences. So the debate
methods. Putin is gaming on Russians. Better to supply lots
among them. understand how NATO becomes binary. 2. It’s now on
NATO predictability and strict of the world’s best anti-aircraft
believes in Putin’s bluff. Putin the table precisely because
rules. to the Ukrainians with covert
Engineering reflections will not start a nuclear war it was taken off the table
instructors if needed. Witness
because of a no-fly zone. explicitly. And, therefore, in
Vietnam. Give lots of stealth
@DTPrice91 [On Sir Julian Russia is not being attacked. some minds it has become
@dukat291 As an Alliance drones to Ukraine, so they
Young lecture] Fascinating This is not Russian territory, THE option, rather than AN
we’re going to have to put our do not need air supremacy
@AeroSociety talk by Air it’s Ukraine. In Putin’s words, option.
foot down for real eventually. If themselves.
Marshal (retd) Sir Julian Young this is just a special military
not now in Ukraine, when?
on Reflections of a Chief operation on the Donbass.
Engineer. Thanks to
@MoogSDG Wolverhampton
for the hospitality. Zero-carbon aircraft Lack of female flight instructors
@vl_byran [On RAeS study
Aer Lingus
@TeglerWrites [On Zero-
carbon regional airlines(6)] And finds lack of female instructors
Ghost of Kyiv has the Royal Aero Society and type rating examiners(7)]
done a study on the negative For #IWD2022 an important
@meturach [On Is the Ghost study from @AeroSociety and
of Kyiv real?(4)] I believe most environmental impact of
these ‘zero-carbon’ passenger UWE on why there are so few
of the kills are scored by female pilot trainers. Some
SAMs. aircraft?
shocking findings on sexism
and the old boys’ club too.
@6THVFW It is a target rich @daylyt100 Sounds sensible
environment... as a ‘commuter/feeder’.
@UWEBristol Gender @kreedy @AeroSociety: @pilotjude A lot more work
discrimination and lack of URGENT need to address needs doing. The presentation
@eraaorg Great to see gender diversity among pilots sexism and sexual harrassment yesterday was eye-opening
@agenmossad How many is a significant problem within in aviation. Why not moving the and hopefully in the future I
air-to-air kills so far? so many of our members’
projects being covered in this the airline industry – according needle on increasing women can push the glass ceiling too.
interesting @AeroSociety to a new report we released pilots? 42% reported being
today alongside ‘treated differently’ than males, @yocova_ UWE and
@LittleRichC Let’s call it article about zero-emissions
initiatives in regional aviation. @AeroSociety. 30% experienced gender @AeroSociety study makes
what it is: propaganda. discrimination. for uncomfortable reading.
1. AEROSPACE, December 2021, p 7, Radome news item
2. https://www.aerosociety.com/news/drone-and-deliver/
3. https://www.careersinaerospace.com/news/world-book-day-2022-inspiring-books-with-an-aeronautic-theme/
4. https://www.aerosociety.com/news/the-ghost-of-kyiv-myth-or-reality/,
5. https://www.aerosociety.com/news/air-war-over-ukraine-the-first-days/
6. https://www.aerosociety.com/news/proving-ground-for-electric-flight/
7. https://www.aerosociety.com/media/17924/pilot_training_report_march_2022-final-pdf.pdf
@aerosociety i linkedin.com/raes f facebook.com/raes www.aerosociety.com APRIL 2022 13AIR TRANSPORT
Special airline liveries
Pimp my flight
Custom airline liveries are not just a great catch for aviation enthusiasts but are
now a regular airborne marketing, sponsorship and advertising tool. But how
does an airline decide on a special paint scheme? MARTYN CARTLEDGE goes
planespotting.
W
hat is your first thought when keeping it cool on the ground in hot climates. The
you see an aircraft in a special airlines’ engineering departments might like it too
livery? Is it a photo opportunity because it would be easier to see damage or other
or a waste of paint? Perhaps it issues. Additionally, being above cloud cover most of
does not even register. the time, aircraft are hit directly by UV radiation from
The airline involved clearly doesn’t want the latter the sun and, with this having the potential to cause
but what function does it serve and why do they do damage, having a white fuselage would help mitigate
it? The answer to the final part is long and varied and the effects.
depends on many factors. Leasing companies might love white aircraft
However, we could ask another question before because it makes them easier to turn around for
all of these and that is: why do airlines have any form the next user simply by changing titles and logo. An
of complex coloured livery in the first place? Why airline selling its aircraft would also benefit in the
not just paint the aircraft all or mostly white? This same way. In addition, white does not really fade in
would be far more cost effective and beneficial for a the same way as other colours, meaning it could go
number of reasons. For instance, white paint reflects longer between repaints, which are a costly business.
heat, so enabling an aircraft to use fewer resources, With one colour it would actually weigh less, asthere would be fewer layers building up, although by airline’s fleet (notwithstanding the use of airline
negligible amounts. alliances, of course, where the latter might not be the
There would also be no design fees and also case and which sometimes causes confusion with
no complicated painting processes (such as Virgin passengers).
Atlantic’s unique Andaro method which uses both However, many operators will often modify or
paint and tinted lacquer to produce the red on its even change the livery completely on one or more of
aircraft tails). their aircraft to send out some form of message to
all that can see it. These of course are the aviation
Real world influences photographer’s friend – the special livery.
However, here in the real world there are other Definition of a special livery
factors. Branding is so very important and even more
so nowadays when every moment of a passenger’s So what constitutes a special livery? What topics are
journey is often recorded with photos and videos to covered and what are the reasons for doing it at all?
one or more of the many social media sites. Brand There are probably more types of special livery
awareness, of course, has been around for ages and than you immediately can think of. In fact, during
doesn’t just revolve around an aircraft livery, which research for this feature I came across a website
is just one part of the carrier’s overall identity. Who claiming to be the internet’s most comprehensive
doesn’t remember ‘Singapore Girl’? database of airliners in special liveries. This database
There is, thus, a need for differentiation, a need holds over 1,300 separate entries and is just those
to create loyalty to a brand and what it represents that are current. An historical one would, no doubt,
via whatever means the marketing executives be many times that.
choose – although some ‘marketing speak’ about Special liveries can be in many different forms
what an airline’s livery is said to represent or be from a simple logo and phrase on a small part of the
based on is often difficult to work out. That said, if fuselage right through to a complete covering of the
you see a ‘widget’ you immediately know it’s Delta fuselage and tail fin.
(despite the many changes) and the same goes for It is generally considered that it was the Calder
BA’s ‘Speedbird’, so ingrained is this as part of an designs of the early 1970s on Braniff aircraft that
airline’s history. Plus, if you have chosen an airline were the first ‘real’ full aircraft special liveries. Then,
for specific reasons, then you want to know that the in 1984, Southwest introduced the famous ‘Shamu
aircraft you are getting onto is one of that particular One’ design advertising SeaWorld and with it starting
15AIR TRANSPORT
Special airline liveries
a long standing use of special liveries. Indeed, Sport in itself is quite a massive topic with
Shamu exists on Southwest aircraft today, along with airlines advertising all sorts of different teams and
many other different designs and themes. events involving many countries around the world –
The themes or topics that are or have been the most obvious being football, cricket and rugby
used on aircraft are just as wide and these types World Cups. Qatar currently has at least two aircraft
of use have waxed and waned over the years. For in liveries advertising the World Cup in Qatar this
instance, one topic that used to be more prevalent in coming winter. In addition, as mentioned earlier, this
the past, is simple pure advertising of products with could be part of larger sponsorship agreements
a great proponent of its use being Ryanair in the which could include travel to international games as
days of its 737-200s. The reasons for this type of part of this deal.
use are seemingly quite clear; it is a straightforward Many airlines have sporting club liveries painted
advert paid for by the likes of, in Ryanair’s case, onto their aircraft. However, sometimes these can
such diverse products as Jaguar cars, mobile phone just be aiming at saying to the travelling public – ‘we
companies, beer and British newspapers to name are your hometown airline’ and strengthening local
but a few. Some airlines will have limitations as community links. JetBlue is especially known for
to what they might advertise because of shared this with bases in New York and Boston. Its aircraft
beliefs, or not as the case may be and, as time have been painted in special sports team liveries
has gone on, this type of use has reduced. Airlines advertising the Boston Bruins, Boston Red Sox
now advertise companies/products which have a and Boston Celtics. New York has the Jets but is
link in some way to the carrier or have a greater included in a less subtle way, having an aircraft in a
overall link to the airline or its services. Disney has livery based around the well established New York
a number of airliners with its films and parks being branding and even one which draws inspiration from
advertised. Taiwanese carrier EVA has gone a stage NYC street art, architecture and hip hop.
even further down these lines with its link up with This takes us into yet another topic, that of
the ‘Hello Kitty’ brand. Not only are aircraft painted thanking an organisation’s personnel, be they
in Hello Kitty special liveries, the check- local, national or even its own employees. JetBlue
in areas and on-board branding is included, there has aircraft in liveries thanking New York’s Fire
are special Hello Kitty flights and the airline actively Department, with another honouring armed services,
advertises where these aircraft will fly, as it has a either current or veterans.
strong demand from their customer base to fly these Some airlines have included liveries with some
aircraft regardless of the destination, making for an form of visual thank you to their employees – going
obvious benefit of such a livery. way back to Canadian Airlines which painted
Money talks
This type of livery has a definite overlap into the next
category, that of sponsorship. This is a more difficult
area to determine just where the specific benefit to KAG I
iro TA
the airline in painting an aircraft actually lies, as it may Masah
just be a part of a much larger sponsorship package
and difficult to quantify just what part of the package
has contributed to the success of any advertising
campaign. Emirates is a good proponent of this, as it
has liveries for a number of football clubs but this also
might come with shirt sponsorship or even stadium
branding. As with all sorts of sponsorship deals the
reasons are quite varied, from brand awareness to
cross-promotion with another sector.
16 AEROSPACEin the US, of airlines once loved by the travelling
public but now absorbed into others. Reasons for
this type of livery seem to revolve around reminding
the public just how long the airline has been around
and therefore how stable it is, or perhaps to attract
users of the long gone airlines, particularly if that
airline was iconic or well-loved.
Good causes are also something to be found
painted onto airliners with charity partnerships and
non-profit tie-ins. This has a number of beneficial
signatures of staff members onto a DC10 in the late points. The cause in question gets fantastic
1990s. exposure and the airline, (if you wanted to look at it
in a cynical fashion), will be seen as ethical, caring
The need to say where we belong and concernered about the social good.
Another topic which in recent years has gained,
National pride can be another reason for special quite rightly so, a much greater awareness is that of
liveries and this again can have variations. There the environment. With airlines perceived as a large
can be anniversaries of a country’s existence or contributor of greenhouse gasses, it is not surprising
independence, the love of a ruler, the sights to see that many are quick to shout about their green
there or the affirmation of just which country this credentials. Although the likes of VLM and flyBe
airline belongs too, over and above whatever the had ‘green’ liveried aircraft in the past, much bigger
standard livery might have. and, dare I say, more important airlines are now
Aircraft are often now used to advertise routes being overt in this field. For example, at the moment
or bases for that airline, with the reasons for this Etihad has a Boeing 787-9 painted in what it calls
seemingly obvious in advertising where you can travel the ‘Greenliner’ livery. British Airways has an A320
to and from with the airline in question. More often in what is termed by the company a ‘BA Better
than not this is for new routes but, of course, the World sustainability livery’ with Emirates having
livery can often remain on an aircraft for some time, sustainability as one of the sub-themes for the
so careful thought needs to go into such a decision. Dubai Expo 2020 liveries. In general these special
Another recurring trend is for airlines to paint
aircraft in retro liveries. These can be either liveries
the airline used to have on its aircraft or, most often
APRIL 2022 17AIR TRANSPORT
Special airline liveries
liveries are part of a broader campaign to highlight
an airline’s effort to become more sustainable and
reduce the carrier’s carbon footprint with the use of
more efficient engines, more sustainable
biofuels and carbon offsets. Many
go further with reducing single use
plastics etc. In the case of Etihad,
its programme is also looking to use
software to reduce contrails which is a major
factor in an airline’s total effect on climate change.
Airline alliances have also spawned special
liveries of their own. Each of these liveries are
standard in their basic design but will have sections
to allow for the member airline’s logo or titles. These
liveries are all about belonging. They advertise that
these airlines are part of an exclusive grouping and of any milestone delivery (unless specific to the
if passengers book through the alliance they can be airline) and would then have a conversation with the
sure of certain levels of service – a ‘kite-mark’ if you airline the airframe in question was due. One quite
like of a standard of product quality. notable instance of this was the 10,000th Airbus
There are also some other smaller themes which turned out to be an A350-900 to Singapore
for custom liveries, for instance, one airline might Airlines.
have used them as a very public dig at a rival. One
example of this was easyJet with ‘Stop BA Stop GO’ Designing the livery
on the side of early 737s. Close competitor Ryanair
also got in on the act with both ‘Bye Bye Baby’ aimed Once a theme for a custome livery is decided, what
at bmi Baby and ‘Arrivederci Alitalia!’ on its own 737s happens next? Who decides this and who else is
in 2007, the latter prompting Italy to accuse Ryanair involved? While many airlines are coy about the
of being ‘vulgar and offensive’ towards the rival reasoning, the basic process can be no different to
airline. any other business decision. Firstly, there is a need,
The current Covid-19 pandemic has also perceived or real, for the change, be it internally
produced some special liveries with a few aircraft or via an approach from a third party, to advertise.
sporting masks on their noses. Christmas and Then, a budget will be set, a design process is
other holidays also tend to produce some special undertaken and, finally, the application onto the
schemes, as does the odd competition aimed at aircraft.
the public designing a new or special livery for the The design process could either be undertaken
carrier, although the benefits to the airline in these by in-house design, if it is a large airline, or more
cases is somewhat less obvious, most probably likely, by a design house, such as Aerobrand,
down the lines of brand awareness. McDiarmid Design, Priestman Goode or AES
Global.
It is not just airlines The painting may happen at either the
manufacturing stage or later, should it be changed
Manufacturers can also get in on the act with from a previous livery. Design time can be variable
notable aircraft deliveries marked with special titles, and will need to include consultation from all the
mostly in conjunction with the airline, of course. parties involved depending on the topic of the
Also the manufacturer’s livery is often changed to design. Even then, the lead time between final
advertise the benefits of the particular aircraft’s definition and paint start can be around eight
performance. However, Embraer has to take the months. For example, before the painting can start,
award for the one of the most striking with its ‘Profit the initial design ideas need to be adapted, since
Hunter’ liveries on its new E2 range of aircraft. It is they may not actually be technically feasible or are
generally the manufacturer that brings up the topic too complex to be accomplished in the price range
18 AEROSPACEthat the customer is willing to accept. stencils. Dot-graduation is based on the use of a
Kevin Prince, Operations Director at Airbourne stencil with dots transitioning in size and distance.
Colours, an aircraft painter and refinisher with sites First, one colour is applied. When that has dried,
at EMA and Bournemouth, gave some insight into the stencil is applied, and the second colour is
the process of applying a special livery to an aircraft. sprayed on. After drying, the stencil is removed and
While he understatedly explained that “basically the different density of dots creates an impression
it’s painting by numbers”, the process is strictly of blending from one colour to another. From a
controlled and applies to any livery design. Once distance, the individual dots themselves are hardly
the design has been signed off by a Part 21 distinguishable.
company, official drawings are made and sent to It is also possible to use decals but these tend
the aircraft painting company. In fact, the hardest to be on smaller areas (although they can be used
part about getting a livery off a page and onto on surfaces as large as a tail fin) but, as they need
an aircraft, something that is exacerbated with a regular checks to ensure they are still ok it really
special livery, is that a drawing is 2D and an aircraft depends on how the aircraft is to be used. For
fuselage clearly is not. So there can be quite a bit instance the ex-Virgin A340s now operated by
of managing of expectations sometimes when it European Aviation Group to carry PPE were to have
comes to a special livery. the NHS titling added by decals but such was the
However, Kevin is enthusiastic about custom usage of these aircraft that there was no time for
designs: ”We like doing special liveries” despite regular inspections, therefore it was painted instead.
the fact that airlines very often want: “the mad and Airbourne Colours produced the Brussels
crazy”. Even so, the process to paint an aircraft in a Airlines ‘Tomorrowland’ livery, utilising a team of
special livery is, at the core, the same as a standard eight artists which initially had the outline drawn
livery in that you build up a livery colour-by-colour, on the aircraft before it was hand-sprayed. As you
layer-by-layer, masking sections to ensure the might imagine, here is where the major differences
paint is positioned correctly. That said, there are of applying a special, as opposed to a standard livery
some sections or liveries that simply must be done will be seen. On average a standard livery will take
freehand, just like an artist painting, only with a about seven days to complete, whereas a special
spray gun. Furthermore, there are some jobs that can take another nine or ten on top. This, of course,
require that little bit extra to produce the end result has an impact on cost and, when other factors,
and that is when outside specialist aircraft painting such as outside artists needing to be employed etc,
artists are brought in – like the renowned, and the cost of applying a special livery can easily be
somewhat eccentric, Polish-based Andre Eisele who triple that of a standard repaint. This is on top of the
has done many iconic designs like the Tiger nose on design companies’ fee and the extra costs in lost
a Rossiya 747, Westjets Disney Frozen themed jet revenue with the aircraft being out of action for over
and many of the Brussels Airlines specials. twice the time of a standard repaint. This is often
one of the challenges when it comes to customer
It is not just spraying paint! expectations, as they often do not realise that the
variations in paint application for special liveries can
An alternative way to achieve the effect if a impact on the lead time for the job.
graduation is requested from one colour to another So, the next time you see an unveiling of a
with the advantage of it being reproducible is special livery, there is a lot more than meets the eye.
APRIL 2022 19You can also read
