Women In Aviation INDUSTRY NEEDS TO 'GIVE IT THE BIG PUSH' - ATM-ATC
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VOL 19, NO. 04 MAY-JUNE 2021
ATM-ATC
SouthPAN could
extend thoughout Asia
NARROWBODIES
Smaller planes,
upgraded amenities
TRAINING
Bumps ahead
as pilots return
Women In Aviation
INDUSTRY NEEDS TO 'GIVE IT THE BIG PUSH'
WHAT’S YOUR EXCUSE FOR CHOOSING COMPLEX? WHEELS AND BRAKES. IT’S THAT SIMPLE. TPAEROSPACE.COM
CONTENTS
VOL 19, NO. 04 MAY-JUNE 2021
ATM-ATC
SouthPAN could
extend thoughout Asia
NARROWBODIES
Smaller planes,
20 23 28
upgraded amenities
TRAINING
Bumps ahead
as pilots return
FEATURES 25
SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE
SET FOR SOUTHPAN
Women In Aviation 16
WOMEN IN AVIATION Australia and New Zealand are about to procure
INDUSTRY NEEDS TO 'GIVE IT THE BIG PUSH'
Asian Aviation Editor Matt Driskill recently sat down a satellite-based augmentation system that will
virtually with Marie-Louise Philippe, the newly benefit not just operators in their own countries,
On the cover: Marie-Louise Philippe of Airbus installed president of the Singapore chapter of
is the new president of Women in Aviation in but could be extended to Asia-Pacific neighbours
Singapore. (Photo: Airbus) Women in Aviation International to discuss how to as well.
get more women involved in the industry.
4 VIEWPOINT 28
AVIATION CAN DO MORE
Bubble, bubble, toil and trouble 20 GETTING BACK IN THE AIR WITH SUSTAINABLE FUELS
Among the tens of thousands of jobs lost in the Never let a crisis go to waste is the mantra of
past year and a half of the COVID-19 pandemic, politicians, but it seems like the aviation industry
NEWS thousands of those were pilots who found has adopted it in the industry’s calls to improve its
themselves grounded as borders closed. With environmental credentials.
6 BUSINESS AVIATION domestic traffic staging a comeback in some
NEWS countries, pilot training or re-training is in focus.
7 ROTOR/UAV NEWS
23
NARROWBODY PLANE,
8 MRO NEWS EXPANDED SERVICE CABINS
With international borders at risk of sudden closure
9 INTERIORS NEWS
and most widebody aircraft parked, stored or
10 PEOPLE ON THE MOVE retired, the age of the narrowbody has arrived,
becoming the platform for airlines to optimise one
12 INDUSTRY NEWS aircraft for both short and long-haul routes.
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VIEWPOINT
Bubble, bubble, toil and trouble
AS WE FIND OURSELVES in the middle of the second year of the age Other organisations have been working hard to restart the flying
of COVID-19, the line spoken by Shakespeare’s witches in Macbeth world, but all these efforts will be for naught if people don’t come
comes to mind, if you’ll pardon the slight liberty taken with it. Shake- up with one set of standards to cover things like testing protocols
speare actually wrote “Double, double” in the play, but given all the accepted by all border agents around the world. The lack of a com-
travel bubbles announced, then cancelled, then re-announced, bub- mon standard will be the one single thing that will kill the aviation
ble, bubble seemed more appropriate. There’s also been Herculean industry. And that’s not just my opinion. “Two key components for an
amounts of toil undertaken by the aviation industry to restart interna- efficient restart of travel need to be urgently progressed. The first is
tional flights, including the work done to develop testing regimes and the development of global standards for digital COVID-19 test and/
the infrastructure required to provide those tests. Unfortunately, we’ve or vaccination certificates. The second is government agreement to
also run into trouble with various entities rising up in opposition to accept certificates digitally,” said IATA’s Walsh recently.
countries requiring any kind of so-called “vaccine passport”, although
the world had just such a passport years ago for Yellow Fever that Trouble
was developed by the World Health Organisation (WHO). Walsh’s two points are key here. Standards need to be agreed upon
— urgently — and in the 21st century any kind of testing or vaccine
Bubble, bubble passport needs to be digital. The problem is many people, organisa-
Travel bubbles, in which two locales agree to abide by certain rules tions and countries are coming out against such digital vaccine or
in order to allow travellers between the two to testing passports. And a second problem is that
forego quarantine measures, have been open- no one single entity like IATA, ICAO, or WHO is
ing and closing in fits and starts since last year. The lack of a common leading the way to developing such standards.
Hong Kong and Singapore announced plans to Privacy ‘Nervous Nellies’ also cry foul and say
open one at the end of 2020, but were forced to
standard will be the one personal data will be at risk. But the only data
cancel plans for it when Hong Kong COVID-19 single thing that will kill available in things like IATA’s own Travel Pass
cases started to spike. The two powerhouses the aviation industry. or similar apps, is a traveller’s name, passport
of Asian commerce announced in April they number, the kind of test/vaccine one received,
would try again starting on 26 May, but it was the clinic/doctor’s name, etc. The apps will not
cancelled in mid-May as cases rose in Singa- have access to a person’s bank account infor-
pore. Australia and New Zealand also started, stopped and have now mation or a traveller’s Spotify favourites.
restarted a travel bubble, although it remains in a fragile state of affairs The trouble as well is that for all the hue and cry against a testing
and in early May was almost closed when three people in Perth test- or vaccine passport, we’ve used them before. When I got my first
ed positive for COVID-19. And in late May the bubble between New passport (a long time ago) and started travelling internationally, I
Zealand and Victoria was paused after another COVID-19 outbreak. had to get vaccinated against Yellow Fever and other nasty bugs and
carry the so-called “Carte Jaune” or “Yellow Card” with me whenever
Toil I crossed an international border. No one thought twice about it. It
When it comes to working to restart international travel, no one was a condition of travel and we can do the same thing now.
organisation has done more than the International Air Transport But time and tide wait for no man and if the aviation industry is
Association (IATA), first under the leadership of Alexandre de Juni- not bold and resolute — now — then international aviation at least,
ac and now with Willie Walsh at the helm. The International Civil will end up like Macbeth.
Aviation Organisation (ICAO) has also worked hard, but as part of
the United Nations (UN) it is often hobbled by the politics that afflict
that august organ of international statesmanship. The WHO has also Matt Driskill EDITOR
pitched in, but again, as part of the UN, it too is held back by politics. matt.driskill@asianaviation.com
PASSENGER EXEPERIENCE AIRPORTS & ENVIRONMENT AIRPORT DEVELOPMENT
Navigating the world's airports will The world's airports, large and small, Has the COVID-19 pandemic put a
likely be changed for years to come. are leading the way in going green. stop to mega-airport development?
4 AsianAviation | May-June 2021
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Business Aviation News
CAREFLIGHT UNVEILS NEW
GULFSTREAM G150
Sino Jet Partners with Sichuan Province CareFlight recently unveiled a new Gulf-
Airport Group and Chengdu’s Shuangliu stream G150 jet, representing a new gener-
ation of aeromedical retrieval for Australia
government on FBO management and its regional neighbours. The jet was
Sino Jet announced it has signed an agreement with Sichuan Province Airport Aviation selected to deliver CareFlight’s inter-hos-
Ground Service and Chengdu’s Shuangliu government to provide a streamlined and has- pital aeromedical jet evacuation service
sle-free experience to business jet passengers at the FBO (fixed-base operator) located based in Darwin on behalf of the Northern
at Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport. The companies are eager to build Chengdu Territory government. It is Australia’s first
Shuangliu International Airport into the best business aviation hub within the western and dedicated medical jet with the capability to
central regions of China. The partnership will combine Sino Jet’s business expertise as the transport critically ill patients directly across
world’s leading business jet company providing the highest standard of safety and services the continent and from South East Asia. The
with Sichuan Province Airport Aviation Ground Service’s comprehensive ground handling cutting-edge medical jet’s higher speed and
services. The Shuangliu district government’s support will accelerate FBO development at customised interior represent a significant
Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport. — MATT DRISKILL advance for patient care. From its base in
Darwin, the jet will be able to fly to Sydney
and Melbourne in 3.7 hours and Adelaide
EXECUJET MRO SERVICES APPROVED IN NEW ZEALAND and Perth in 3.2 hours. Internationally, it
The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) of New maintenance. Heavier inspections can be can reach Hong Kong in 4.2 hours, Bali in
Zealand has approved ExecuJet MRO Ser- performed at one of ExecuJet’s Australian 1.7 hours and Dili in 1 hour. — MATT DRISKILL
vices to maintain aircraft in New Zealand, east coast facilities at Sydney Airport or
a business aviation market that ExecuJet Melbourne Essendon Airport. The CAA of ACTSI COMPLETES
sees has growth potential. New Zealand approval has been granted G650ER 6C INSPECTION
ExecuJet MRO Services New Zealand to initially cover Dassault Falcon 2000EX
has achieved a CAA of New Zealand Part series aircraft, Embraer Phenom 100 and Aviation Concepts Technical Services, Inc, a
145 approval covering facilities in Auck- Bombardier Challenger 604, but will be ex- business aviation MRO and parking service
land, Wellington and Christchurch. The ap- tended to other aircraft models as customer provider based in Subic Bay, Philippines,
proval will support line and limited base needs arise. — MATT DRISKILL said it has recently supported a 6C inspec-
tion on a Gulfstream G650ER. ACTSI’s
METROJET WELCOMES 10TH GULFSTREAM G650ER Technical Team was able to complete the
check on time and defect free. Inspections
Hong Kong-based Metrojet has welcomed quarantine requirements,” said Denzil White, included 2A/2C, 3C,4C,6C along with re-
its 10th Gulfstream G650ER to the fleet. The managing director, Aircraft Management and moval and installation of Main Landing Gear
new aircraft marks Metrojet as the Hong- Charter. Metrojet’s Hong Kong Maintenance, Detailed Inspections, CB 259 and ASC 090A
Kong operator with the most G650ERs within Repair and Overhaul (MRO) station is a Gulf- Hydraulic Filter Monitoring System Activa-
a single fleet. “We are optimistic that the Asia stream Authorised Service Centre which has tion, CB 262 / ASC 083 & 131 Flap Track Rub
business jet environment will start to recover the capability to maintain the Gulfstream Strip Mod and Roller Fitting Replacement.
later this year, in line with the reduction of series up to 8C inspection. — MATT DRISKILL — MATT DRISKILL
6 AsianAviation | May-June 2021
Rotor/UAV News
AUSTRALIA DRONE TRIAL
TO CUT RED TAPE
A trial of a streamlined approval process for
commercial drone flights near three capital
city aerodromes will start in May 2021. The
six-month trial will run at Canberra, Perth
and Adelaide aerodromes. It means remote-
ly piloted aircraft operator certificate (ReOC)
holders will be able to apply through a CA-
SA-verified drone safety app for approval to
fly in designated areas within three nautical Chip Mong Group buys first Bell 429
miles of the aerodromes. This digital and
automated process will reduce application
helicopter in Cambodia
processing times from weeks to minutes. Bell Textron announced the sale of one Bell 429 helicopter to Cambodia’s Chip Mong Group.
The designated areas have been identified It is the first Bell 429 sale in Cambodia. Chip Mong, a leading real estate, hospitality, bever-
as safe for drone operations and will not ages, retail and banking conglomerate, intends to use the Bell 429 for corporate transport
place normal manned aircraft operations at and chartering purposes. “Our acquisition of the state-of-the-art Bell 429 demonstrates
risk. The trial does not include recreational Chip Mong’s confidence in the Bell aircraft to serve our growing businesses. This Bell 429
drone flyers or people who operate in the combined with the other two Bell 505s in our fleet will allow us to serve our customers in
excluded category, which includes some the hospitality and real estate industry. It will also substantially contribute to Cambodia’s
commercial drones under two kilograms. — economic growth in line with the development efforts and guidance of the Cambodian gov-
MATT DRISKILL ernment,” said Neak Oknha Leang Meng, group president for Chip Mong. — MATT DRISKILL
DERAZONA TO BE ASIA’S FIRST H160 OPERATOR FOR OIL AND GAS
pansion plans of the Indonesian operator for With 68 patents, the innovative H160 is the
oil and gas, off-shore, utility and commercial world’s most technologically advanced hel-
passenger transportation. “This new order icopter designed with passenger’s safety
is a timely welcome as our company em- and comfort in mind. The design features an
barks on a transformation journey to grow unprecedented suite of pilot aids delivered
our business. We are very impressed by through its Helionix avionics which substan-
Airbus Helicopters has secured an H160 or- the performance of the H160, and excited tially reduces crew workload and decreases
der from Derazona Helicopters in Indonesia, at the opportunities that this state-of-the- the risk of pilot error. — MATT DRISKILL
launching this new rotorcraft in the coun- art helicopter will bring to our operations,”
try’s oil and gas sector. The multi-mission said Ramadi Widyardiono, business devel-
opment manager of Derazona Helicopters. FIRST FIVE-BLADE AIRBUS
H160 will play an important role in the ex-
ACH145 HELICOPTER
DELIVERED TO NZ
AIRBUS TO TEST ADVANCED AUTONOMOUS FEATURES New Zealand VIP and charter operator Ad-
ON HELICOPTER FLIGHTLAB vanced Flight, launch customer for the new
Airbus is introducing autonomous features tion; fly-by-wire for enhanced auto-pilot; and Airbus ACH145 with five rotor-blades, has
to its helicopter Flightlab through a project an advanced human-machine-interface — in taken delivery of its helicopter.
code-named Vertex. These technologies aim the form of a touchscreen and head-worn The aircraft is the latest version of the
to simplify mission preparation and man- display for inflight monitoring and control. best-selling H145 light twin-engine helicop-
agement, reduce helicopter pilot workload, The combination of these technologies will ter and provides a 150kg increase in useful
and further increase safety. The autonomous enable a system that can manage navigation load while delivering new levels of comfort
technology bricks set to integrate the Flight- and route preparation, automatic take-off and and operational simplicity. Its reduced rotor
lab are: vision based sensors and algorithms landing, as well as following a predefined diameter allows operation in more confined
for situational awareness and obstacle detec- flight path. — MATT DRISKILL areas. — MATT DRISKILL
AsianAviation | May-June 2021 7
MRO News
AIRBUS AND MALAYSIA
AIRLINES EXTEND
WIDEBODY FHS CONTRACT
Airbus and Malaysia Airlines have signed
an extension of their Flight Hour Services
Components (FHS-C) contract for the car-
rier’s A330 and A350 fleets, as an outcome
from Malaysia Airlines recently completed
restructuring exercise. The multi-year ex-
tension covers technical support by Air-
bus for the airline’s existing widebody fleet
of A350s, A330s, as well as A330-200Fs
operated by MASKargo. FHS-C provides
component services including spare pool
access, on-site-stock at the main base as
well as components engineering and re-
pairs. — MATT DRISKILL
ATR
AIRASIA MRO UNIT
ATR broadens deal with Skyways Technics GETS CAAM APPROVAL
in Malaysia AirAsia Group unit, Asia Digital Engineering,
has received base maintenance approval
Turboprop manufacturer ATR is strengthening its partnership with Skyways Technics’ Ma- from the Civil Aviation Authority of Malay-
laysian branch, to further support aftermarket needs in the Asia Pacific region. The synergy sia (CAAM). The approval allows ADE to
will offer support and facilitate the management of sensitive structural component repairs perform regular line maintenance and base
such as Leading-Edge repairs, Flight Controls and Flaps. This deeper relationship will offer maintenance (hangar or C-checks) for the
operators a repair solution at a more attractive price, with greater technical support. AirAsia Group’s airlines. The company said
Benjamin Nielsen, Chief Executive Officer and Owner of Skyways Technics A/S comment- it will also support third-party airlines for
ed: “We are proud to partner with ATR, whose leadership of the regional aviation market aircraft maintenance repairs and overhaul
shows both the quality and importance of their aircraft. With the industry facing its worst (MRO). ADE chief executive officer Mahesh
ever crisis, it is now vital to offer airlines innovative and creative solutions to keep their Kumar said the company has made great
aircraft and passengers flying. Partnerships such as this one will play an important role in progress since it was launched in Septem-
supporting the recovery of operators, who are continuing to supply essential connectivity to ber last year. “We are thrilled to expand our
the communities that they serve throughout the Asia Pacific region.” David Brigante, senior services now to support AirAsia Group and
vice president of Programmes and Customer Support at ATR remarked: “As a manufacturer other airlines in the region. AirAsia Group
we are always looking for opportunities to improve our offer to our airlines and customers. have been sending aircraft to other MRO
This partnership allows us to consolidate and improve our GMA offer. Operators can benefit operators for scheduled base maintenance,
from the best of both worlds; a specialised repair partner and the manufacturer’s expertise. which will now be able to be serviced locally
Skyways Technics’ strong local presence in Asia Pacific also guarantees our operators in in Malaysia delivering significant efficiencies
the region the best quality Leading Edge, Flap, and Flight Control repairs, managed in a including reduced maintenance costs,” he
timely and cost-effective manner.” — MATT DRISKILL said in a statement. — MATT DRISKILL
SATAIR, CHINA AIRLINES SIGNED MULTI-YEAR DEAL FOR A320 FAMILY MATERIALS
Satair and China Airlines of Taiwan have subsidiary, TigerAir Taiwan, A320ceo and Airlines and Satair signed in 2017, covering
signed a multi-year agreement for Satair’s A320neo fleet, with the first A320neo to the airline’s Airbus fleet of A330-300s and
Integrated Material Services (IMS), a com- be delivered by Airbus beginning of April A350-900s. TigerAir Taiwan is China Air-
prehensive material solution that will sup- 2021. The contract follows an extension of lines’ first subsidiary to be included in the
port China Airlines’ and its wholly-owned the existing IMS agreement between China IMS programme. — MATT DRISKILL
8 AsianAviation | May-June 2021
Interiors News
AIX AND WTCE 2021
TRANSITION TO VIRTUAL
Aircraft Interiors Expo (AIX), World Travel
Catering & Onboard Services Expo (WTCE)
and Passenger Experience Conference
(PEC) will transition to a virtual event in
2021, taking place 14-16 September. Speak-
ing about the announcement, Polly Magraw,
event director at Reed Exhibitions, said: “We
know how much people want to get back
to meeting face-to-face. But the situation
around the world remains unpredictable
due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the
ongoing challenges and global restrictions
on international travel faced by the global
JetBlue takes delivery of A321LR with first
aviation sector. We have therefore made the Airspace interior
difficult decision to postpone our physical
US-based JetBlue Airways has taken delivery of its first of 13 A321LR aircraft featuring
events to June 2022.” — MATT DRISKILL
Airbus’ new Airspace interior. These new A321LRs support JetBlue’s plan to open its highly
anticipated transatlantic services, starting with direct flights to London later this year. In
addition to these 13 new A321LRs, the airline also has on order another 57 Airbus aircraft
comprising other A321neo variants — which will also feature Airspace cabins. By bringing
Airspace to the Single-Aisle Family, JetBlue’s A321 cabins will be the very first to feature
Airbus’ new award-winning cabin design-language and passenger-pleasing cabin features
-- which are consistent with Airbus’ A330neo and A350 widebody aircraft. — MATT DRISKILL
AIRBUS, LUFTHANSA
TECHNIK PARTNER ON JET MS BECOMES DEALER OF
ARCA GALLEY SYSTEM CARGO IN THE CABIN ALTO AVIATION’S PREMIUM
ADDRESSES NEW INDUSTRY CABIN SOLUTIONS
Airbus and Lufthansa Technik (LHT) have
DEMANDS Jet MS has gained a dealership agreement
signed a cooperation agreement to co-de-
with ALTO Aviation, a premium cabin in-
AIM Altitude is addressing many of the velop temporary “Cargo in the Cabin” solu-
flight audio/entertainment system design,
industry demands to build back greener tions for A330s. This new Supplemental
manufacture, and distribution company.
following the global pandemic. ARCA is an Type Certificate (STC) solution will enable
efficient galley system that offers enhanced operators to load cargo into the cabins
RECARO AIRCRAFT SEATING
hygiene while giving back space to airlines of their A330-200 and A330-300 aircraft.
and increasing sustainability. ARCA rede- Under the agreement LHT owns the STC
SL3710 SEAT MAKES NORTH
fines the future of aircraft service with a new and will provide the modification kits for AMERICAN DEBUT
boxed meal system. Rather than crew hav- customers, while Airbus’ role as the OEM Recaro Aircraft Seating’s (Recaro) lightweight
ing to handle open meal trays packed with includes providing technical data, engineer- SL3710 seat made its North America debut
loose components, ARCA consists simply ing validations and operational calculations. on Frontier Airlines’ (Frontier) A320 aircraft.
of a hot meal-pack and an accompanying The procedure consists of first removing the Weighing in at 8 kilograms, the seat is the
boxed cold meal-pack, which nest secure- seats and then installing industry standard lightest member in the economy class market.
ly together. The majority of the contents “PKC” pallets and nets on the main deck.
are safely sealed away in the box. This has This new solution offers a volumetric cargo CASL AND HK EXPRESS
significant benefits for hygiene, passenger capacity of around 78 square metres on the SIGN CABIN DEAL
confidence and minimising the risk of trans- main deck of an A330-200 with 12 PKC pal- China Aircraft Services Limited (CASL)
mitting infection. — MATT DRISKILL let positions and 18 nets. — MATT DRISKILL announced that it has signed a new cabin
cleaning contract for the entire fleet of HK
Express at Hong Kong International Airport.
CASL will provide cabin cleaning service to the
AsianAviation | May-June 2021 9
airline’s Airbus 320 family fleet.
Aviation People on the Move
AAR has appointed Ellen the CEO, Brainch will be responsible for NACO, an airport
Lord to its board of directors. Inmarsat’s evolving commercial and consultancy and engineering
Lord is a former product strategy. firm, has named Esther
Undersecretary of Defense Kromhout as director.
for Acquisition and Sustainment for the KLEOS SPACE has
United States Department of Defense. appointed experienced ICHCA has named Richard
satellite software and Steele as the new head of
AIRBUS has named Chris systems engineer Vincent ICHCA International. He will
Drewer as senior vice (Vinny) Furia as technical director, take over the role with effect
president Southeast Asia for responsible for development and from 1 July 2021 on the retirement of
Airbus Commercial Aircraft. deployment of the Kleos space-based Richard Brough.
systems, ground support, analytics and
AIR CHARTER SERVICE has data delivery. TOPCAST
appointed the experienced announced
Ben Dinsdale as the Perwien Meriwani has Steve Chua has
company’s global director for been appointed managing joined the
humanitarian and government services. director of KLM UK STEVE CHUA TONY LAMERI
group as
Engineering. managing director, Global MRO. TOPCAST
ATR has appointed also announced Tony Lameri has joined
Alessandro Luzi as LUFTHANSA the group as managing director, Oceania.
managing director of the CONSULTING
company’s Eastern Support has named UNIVERSAL AVIONICS
(AES) subsidiary, based in Singapore. Christine (UA) has named Don Milum
CHRISTINE RONALD Weigner as as director of sales. He is
WEIGNER SCHULZ
GEODIS has named Yigit head of Market based out of Kansas City,
Saricinar as regional air Lufthansa Group and has named Ronald Missouri, and will lead UA’s team of
freight director, Asia Pacific Schulz appointed as head of Market Global. regional sales managers in North America.
(APAC). He will join GEODIS’
regional management board. LUFTHANSA VALLAIR has
TECHNIK AG named
IBA, the aviation data and reorganized its Armando Filho
advisory company, has global as director of
appointed David Jiang as its KAI-STEFAN FRANK
corporate ARMANDO MAXIME material
ROEPKE BERWEGER FILHO GORSSE
general sales manager for sales management.
Greater China. management Filho will be responsible for Vallair’s
team. Kai- component support division
INFORM has named Uschi Stefan Roepke complementing the activities of the
Schulte-Sasse as the sole has taken over
THOMAS SOEREN teardown team. Maxime Gorsse has been
senior vice president of the BOETTGER STARK
responsibility named as director of investor relations
INFORM Aviation division. for EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Africa) and project financing.
and Thomas Boettger for the Asia-Pacific
INMARSAT
region. Frank Berweger remains vice
has named
president corporate sales for the
Barry French
Americas. The company also said it has
as CMCO. The
re-appointed Soeren Stark as chief
JAT BRAINCH
BARRY FRENCH company also
operations officer.
named Jat Brainch as CCPO. Reporting to
10 AsianAviation | May-June 2021Experience the Progress.
Liebherr-Aerospace in Singapore
Liebherr-Aerospace supplies complete integrated system and component solutions for
air management, flight control, landing gears, gears as well as gearboxes and electronics.
Liebherr-Singapore is Liebherr’s dedicated service centre in APAC and offers maintenance,
repairs and overhaul services, test capabilities and a wide range of customer services to
these systems and components:
Air-Conditioning (ATA 21) Hydraulic Equipment (ATA 29, 52)
Cabin Pressure Control (ATA 21) Landing Gear Accessories (ATA 32)
System Controllers (ATA 21) Bleed (ATA 36)
Flight Control Actuators (ATA 27)
Liebherr-Aerospace & Transportation SAS
408 avenue des Etats-Unis
31016 Toulouse Cedex 2, France
Tel.: +33 5 61 35 28 28
E-Mail: info.aer@liebherr.com
www.liebherr.comIndustry News
SPIRIT AEROSYSTEMS
SIGNS JV WITH EVERGREEN
AVIATION TECHNOLOGY
Spirit AeroSystems announced a planned
expansion of its aftermarket presence in the
Asia-Pacific region by signing a joint venture
agreement with Evergreen Aviation Technol-
ogies (EGAT). The new agreement is expect-
ed to complement Spirit’s recent acquisition
of Applied Aerodynamics and last year’s ac-
quisition of select Bombardier assets, and
further strengthen its global maintenance,
repair and overhaul (MRO) capabilities. Un-
der the joint venture agreement, Spirit and
EGAT will form a new company, Spirit Ever-
green Aftermarket Solutions (SEAS), and will
transfer repair capabilities to SEAS, increas-
IATA: Accepting vaccinated passengers should ing manufacturing expertise and services to
meet growing fleet demands in the region.
be best practice to reopen borders Previously, Spirit entered into a multi-year
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) applauded the growing number of agreement with EGAT in September 2020 in
countries making data and evidence-driven decisions to open their borders to vaccinated which Spirit provided maintenance services
travelers. The latest data collected by IATA, including its Timatic service, shows that more in the Taiwan facility on products the aero-
than 20 countries have wholly or partially lifted restrictions for vaccinated travellers. IATA structures company manufactures, including
supports unrestricted access to travel for vaccinated travellers. In cases where vaccination the 777 GE90/Trent800 nacelle, 737 CFM56-
is not possible, access to quarantine-free travel should be provided through COVID-19 7B thrust reverser, and flight control surfaces
testing strategies based on widely available, free-of-charge tests. “A safe opening of borders along with broader nacelle MRO services
to international travel is the goal. And scientific evidence and data…should be the basis for on the CF6 powered aircraft and A320. By
the decision-making needed to achieve that. There is increasing scientific evidence that enhancing this existing commercial agree-
vaccination is not only protecting people but also dramatically reducing the risk of COVID-19 ment with a joint venture agreement, Spirit
transmission. This is bringing us closer to a world where vaccination and testing enables and EGAT will continue working to expand
the freedom to travel without quarantine…These are the best practice examples for others capabilities to better service customers in the
to quickly follow,” said Willie Walsh, IATA’s director general. — MATT DRISKILL region. — MATT DRISKILL
DNATA SIGNS MOU TO CUT FOOD WASTE
dnata, a leading global air services pro- makes the insect protein a sustainable and
vider, has signed a memorandum of un- efficient alternative to traditional fishmeal.
derstanding (MoU) with Blue Aqua Food Compared to traditional protein, insect
Tech to boost food security in Singapore. protein is a sustainable solution with low
The partnership will see Blue Aqua upcy- land, water, and carbon footprint, offering a
cle organic waste from dnata’s catering very high yield. The partnership will supply
and ground handling operations into al- Singapore’s farmers with sustainable ac-
ternative insect protein for aquafeeds. Blue cess to domestically produced animal feed,
Aqua’s innovative bioconversion solution which is traditionally imported. The MoU is
processes underutilised nutrients from the starting point to a deeper partnership services provider will also add Blue Aqua
the leftovers that can be transformed into between Blue Aqua and dnata, which will to its list of suppliers to purchase locally
quality insect proteins for aquacultural use. look into the development and implemen- farmed seafood for its catering operations.
The bioconversion is a virtuous circle that tation of a ‘Zero Waste’ master plan. The air — MATT DRISKILL
12 AsianAviation | May-June 2021THAI AIRASIA PARENT POSTS Q1 NET LOSS AS COVID-19 CONTINUES TO DEPRESS TOURISM
Asia Aviation (AAV), the major shareholder quarter the airline recorded a load factor of the operations and have taken appropri-
of Thai AirAsia (TAA), said it posted a net 66 percent. AAV said it planned to raise at ate courses of action, including strict cost
loss in the first quarter of 2021 of 1.86 bil- least 6.8 billion baht as part of a restruc- management, cooperation between exec-
lion baht (US$59 million) on total revenue turing plan to keep the airline going until utives and employees to voluntarily take
of 1.35 billion baht compared to a net loss the COVID-19 situation has recovered. CEO leave without pay and furlough schemes,
of 671 million baht in the same period last of Asia Aviation and Thai AirAsia, Santisuk flight management processes and have
year (absorbing the COVID-19 impact for Klongchaiya, said the first quarter of 2021 also sought out new business opportuni-
the full quarter this year, which was dif- was impacted by a second wave of the ties, leveraging the group’s digital transfor-
ferent from last year when the impact hit COVID-19 pandemic and said the airline mation where it makes commercial viable
only at the end of the quarter). During the and AAV “have reviewed every aspect of sense”. — MATT DRISKILL
EMBRAER E175 FAMILY PLANES PROVE POPULAR WITH CUSTOMERS
Embraer announced multiple sales recently fly exclusively with Alaska Airlines under a and its subsidiary Horizon Air. The E175 air-
of its E175 model to Skywest Airlines and Capacity Purchase Agreement (CPA). The craft will fly exclusively with Alaska Airlines
Alaska Airlines. Embraer has agreed to the value of the contract, which will be includ- also under a Capacity Purchase Agreement
sale of eight new E175 jets to SkyWest, ed in Embraer’s second-quarter backlog, (CPA). The value of the contract, which will
which will be operated by Alaska Airlines, is US$399.2 million, based on list prices. be included in Embraer’s second-quarter
adding to the 32 SkyWest E175 jets SkyWest Embraer said it also has agreed the sale backlog, is US$449.1 million, based on cur-
already flies for Alaska. The E175 aircraft will of nine new E175 jets to Alaska Air Group rent list prices. — MATT DRISKILL
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13 MOREIndustry News
QANTAS FORECASTS HUGE
DROP IN REVENUE AND
SAYS MORE JOBS TO BE CUT
Australian flag carrier Qantas said it expects
to lose at least A$2 billion (US$1.54 billion)
this financial year and its total revenue loss
will top out at A$16 billion, despite an up-
tick in domestic aviation. The losses come
as Qantas, and other international airlines,
try to navigate the carnage wrought by the
COVID-19 pandemic on the aviation industry
worldwide. The airline also said it expects to
cut ‘hundreds’ of cabin crew in addition to
the thousands of workers already let go, but
added that 16,000 of its former 22,000-strong
Aerion Supersonic shuts down workforce were back at work. “Assuming no
further lockdowns or significant domestic
Aerion Supersonic, the Florida-based supersonic business jet developer, has called it quits
travel restrictions, the group expects to be
and is shutting down. The would-be maker of quiet supersonic business aircraft said it had
underlying EBITDA positive in the range of
trouble securing funding in the “current financial environment” and was going through the
A$400-450 million for FY21,” the airline said.
“appropriate steps”. The company had planned to build what it called the AS2 supersonic
“At a statutory level before tax, the group is
business jet meant to cruise at speeds over 1,000mph without the sonic booms and cabin
still expecting a loss in excess of A$2 billion,
noise that plagued aircraft like the Concorde. It was supposed to fly by 2024 and enter service
which includes the significant costs associat-
by 2026. Aerion had a number of high-profile partners, including Boeing and GE. Aerion
ed with previously announced redundancies,
didn’t say what would happen to the company’s assets following the shutdown. The company
aircraft write downs and non-cash deprecia-
had been touting new developments as recently as late April. Avion Pacific was set to be
tion charges.” — MATT DRISKILL
the launch customer for the AS2 in Asia-Pacific, having placed an order for three aircraft in
December 2019. This isn’t the end to private supersonic air travel. Boom Supersonic is still
developing its Overture airliner with hopes of passenger flights by 2029. — MATT DRISKILL QINGDAO AIRLINES
COMMITTED TO INFLIGHT
SINGAPORE AIRLINES POSTS S$4.27 BILLION NET LOSS INTERNET
Flag carrier Singapore Airlines (SIA) posted a year before and that group revenue fell by Qingdao Airlines announced that it is ful-
a net loss of S$4.27 billion (US$3.19 billion) S$12 billion or 76.1 percent year-on-year to ly committed to expand and accelerate the
for the financial year ended March 2021 due S$3.816 billion due to the plunge in passen- deployment of high-speed in-flight satellite
to the COVID-19 pandemic and its effects on ger flown revenue across Singapore Airlines, internet on its aircraft fleet. This follows the
international aviation. The airline said group SilkAir and Scoot. This was partially offset by successful evaluation of the first commercial
passenger traffic (measured in revenue pas- higher cargo flown revenue, which rose by high-speed internet flight trial in China that
senger-kilometres) shrank 97.9 percent in S$758 million or 38.8 percent year-on-year was launched by Qingdao Airlines in July
the financial year ended 31 March 2021 from to S$2.709 billion. — MATT DRISKILL 2020. — MATT DRISKILL
ST ENGINEERING SIGNS LOI TO LEASE A321 CONVERSIONS TO GLOBALX
Singapore’s ST Engineering announced the provide maintenance services to these air- and non-recourse debt. These aircraft will
signing of a Letter of Intent by its Aviation craft for GlobalX over the period of the lease. be converted and maintained at ST Engi-
Asset Management unit to lease up to five Subject to the signing of definitive agree- neering’s global facilities, with the first A321
Airbus A321 Passenger-to-Freighter (P2F) ments, ST Engineering will acquire the five aircraft to be converted in April 2022 and
aircraft to Global Crossing Airlines (GlobalX). Airbus A321 passenger aircraft on its own placed on lease in 4Q2022. The remaining
As part of end-to-end Aviation Asset Man- or through its joint venture companies, and four P2F aircraft will be converted and leased
agement solutions, ST Engineering will also finance these aircraft through a mix of equity to GlobalX progressively. — MATT DRISKILL
14 AsianAviation | May-June 2021Make TAE Aerospace
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www.taeaerospace.comAIRBUS Women in aviation AAV Editor Matt Driskill recently sat down virtually with Marie-Louise Philippe, the newly installed president of the Singapore chapter of Women in Aviation International to discuss how to get more women involved in the industry. 16 AsianAviation | May-June 2021
IN CONVERSATION
AAV: First things first, tell us about Women in Aviation International. In only a few weeks we have grown
MLP: It’s an international organisation and we have launched our
Singapore chapter in March…So we are now around 35 member or-
from literally a handful of people into
ganisations with endorsements from senior leaders in the Singapore now almost 40 members, and we see
aviation aerospace ecosystem. During our launch event, we had very this growth going far beyond these
senior representation, not only from the government, but also from
the main bodies of the aviation industry. And we are aiming high with numbers by the end of the year.
our chapter here in Singapore. Women in Aviation gives women, or
anyone who becomes a member, access to 14,000 members world- AAV: If you look at governing bodies like IATA, it’s very much a male
wide so it’s a very powerful network that you can link into wherever dominated board there. I think they’ve got maybe one or two women
you are in the world. And out of this strong network, we said we that are actually on the board at that level. So it needs to start at
want to create a strong network here in Singapore, responding to the top
the needs of this environment in Singapore and starting by creating MLP: I think there are great examples today of women in our in-
our chapter with the aim to create a very strong network between dustry. So why are these voices not heard enough? Maybe that’s
the stakeholders. How do we do that? We need to, of course, build something we can ask ourselves collectively as an industry. I do see
up our membership base. In only a few weeks we have grown from that IATA is taking the initiative. Though they have set themselves
literally a handful of people into now almost 40 members, and we a 25 to 25 ambition, meaning that by 2025 they want to achieve 25
see this growth going far beyond these numbers by the end of the percent of senior leaders in the industry being female. And that’s
year. We also have set ourselves an agenda of recurrent events that going across the airline community. In March this year Malaysia
sponsors can benefit from. And at the same time our network is as Airlines has subscribed to that ambition so things are coming along.
strong as its commitment to change. And so we will work with the But again, I insist that we need to do it as an ecosystem. We need
ecosystem to set ourselves ambitious targets in how do we actually to do it collectively. And this is where our chapter will have a great
achieve that change by promoting more women to grow in this
ecosystem and at the same time industry STEM activities attract
female students and girls into the industry.
AAV: Before you came on the show we talked about education
being an important part of getting more women in the industry.
It’s been a struggle, I think, to actually highlight the problem. It’s
not just a problem for flight attendants or something like that, but
it’s on the shop floors at MROs and in the C-suite as well. Is the
industry doing enough to get more women involved?
MLP: First, I wouldn’t call it a struggle. I would just say that
collectively as an industry, we need to give it the big push.
We have certainly seen changes in the past decade or so. I
have seen within the 18 years of my career many changes. But
when you look across the industry, two key indicators always
come up fairly quickly. When you look at the pilot community,
we’re still less than 10 percent across all countries in the pilot
community. When you look at the C-suite, it’s also less than 10 unequivocal precision
percent of CEOs that are women, and there is no obvious rea- assured engine performance
son for this. So we know that diversity will unleash potential for
us. Numerous studies have shown that. As an industry, we just Aero Norway is an independent engine MRO delivering globally
recognised flexible workscopes for CFM56-3C/5B/7B series engines.
need to now take it to the next step. Set ourselves ambitions to
say, if diversity and inclusiveness as are important, how do we Skilled and experienced technicians combine a fresh Norwegian
spirit, with a long and proud international heritage to provide fast
actually get there? And this is where I see that the awareness is turnaround, quick slot inductions and a range of highly competitive
now raising across the board and that’s the first step to actually and reliable engine services that are multi-release FAA, EASA, CAAC
make the change. amongst many others.
It’s precisely why operators choose Aero Norway.
◀ Marie-Louis Philippe, president of the Singapore chapter of
Women in Aviation International. aeronorway.no
AsianAviation | May-June 2021 17IN CONVERSATION
▶ Famous female aviators
like Amelia Earhart and
Bessie Coleman led the way
for women in the industry
but there was a long gap
between their ground-
breaking work and women
working in the field today.
role in how do we get to this collective effort? And what I see is the
timing has never been better here in Singapore, because the Singa-
pore government has also put it on its own agenda. Women at the
core of diversity around society and the gender balance as a core
initiative going forward. And we will be very pleased to support that
initiative for our industry here in Singapore. I think with this support
SHUTTERSTOCK
we will be able to create what has been done in the UK and also is
starting in the US, which is building up the charter where we clearly
define with all the stakeholders what are the ambitions and where
do we move and bring the change.
AAV: You touched on this a little bit ago, but So we need to talk to the new generation and let them
I think it’s interesting and probably not in a know that passion for flying doesn’t know gender.
good way. If you ask most people about wom-
en in aviation, they think of flight attendants pilot’s license. Katherine Chung, who actually, I think was American,
and cabin crew. And they always seem to think that the pilots are but China kind of adopted her as the Amelia Earhart of China. And
middle-aged white men with grey hair most of the time. It’s changing then a lady named Harriet Quimby who got her pilot’s license 10
somewhat, we’re seeing that here in Asia. I think a year or two ago, years before Amelia Earhart and Quimby had a quote. She said, “In
there was an entire crew on an air India flight if I’m not mistaken, that my opinion, there’s no reason why the airplane should not open a
was entirely made up of women. And we are seeing more women in fruitful occupation for women”. Now, this is back in the early 1900s,
the cockpit. I think you mentioned a figure there not too long ago, the 1920s, the 1930s…what happened between that time when you
10 percent or something like that. Are we seeing more women in the had all of these famous women in aviation and then today?
captain seat and the first officer’s seat these days? MLP: Those women were courageous pioneers. And obviously as
MLP: Step-by-step. But the pipeline for pilots is long. To become a an industry we need to display again that we are pioneers. This
first officer or even a captain, it takes a very long time. And what we is what our industry is about. And, of course in the overall set-up,
see is unless you change the perception and you’ll come in and do especially in Singapore, young women have a lot of choice in how
something for girls to see that, oh, no, it doesn’t have to be a male to direct their careers. And unless you really give them the visibility
pilot. It will not change. So we need to talk to the new generation and that such a career is for them and how exciting it can be, and that
let them know that passion for flying doesn’t know gender. And what there is a real chance to have a long-term and very rich and colourful
we do here in Singapore is we have a very ambitious goal to have a career. Unless you get that into the mind of young girls, then we
Girls in Aviation event in September this year where we will open up won’t change it. So the STEM activities are extremely important.
to the young generation and let them know it’s fun. It’s a great career And when you ask me what my personal view is on why have we not
and we hope to spark the idea in their mind to say yes, this is for me. changed enough? I think sometimes if you don’t feel the necessity
to change, it will not change. I think now we know with the studies
AAV: There was an older generation, a long time ago, way before every two years from McKinsey. The latest study came out in 2020
my time and your time as well. There are a lot of famous women in about the importance of diversity and how much diverse industries
aviation. Amelia Earhart of course comes to mind first on everybody’s and companies are doing better. And if you compare aviation with
list. But then I did a little research and there’s a woman named Bessie the tech industry, I think yes, there should be no reason why an avia-
Coleman who was the first African-American to get an international tion industry cannot increase its share for women. And my personal
18 AsianAviation | May-June 2021IN CONVERSATION
back in second world war definitely, but even today, we are moving
into a more and more digital environment, more and more robotised
environment. So again, I’m making my link to the tech industry. The
tech industry has successfully attracted a lot of women, especially
here in Asia, like in Singapore, for example. If we can tap into that
potential and bring them and connect them into our industry, there are
only gains for us and for these ladies to thrive within this ecosystem.
AAV: Well, you actually stole my thunder with my next point, because
today, instead of ‘grease monkeys’ which is an affectionate term I use
for mechanics and the like, we really need what I call ‘code monkeys’
SHUTTERSTOCK
or computer programmers because your typical Rolls-Royce engine
when it’s in flight, is sending thousands of data points down…you
don’t need a grease monkey to figure that out, to go and look at the
engine. You need to look at the computer screen and say, okay, we’ve
got a pressure problem here. You still are going to need someone to
change the oil, of course. But I would say 90 percent of the MRO work
today is doing data analysis. And as you also pointed out, there’s lots
of women in the analytical fields.
MLP: Yeah, exactly. And this is where I think our aim especially here
being in Asia where we have this great potential for the Singapore
chapter of Women in Aviation…I think today there are two major
domains that will influence our industry. That’s the translation of data
and, of course, sustainability. So we have all interests to attract also
mid-career women that are in a more data science field to come in
and support our industry.
AAV: Women in Aviation it’s an international phenomenon. Are there
regional differences that you see?
MLP: For me, first and foremost, its a question of adjusting to the
cultural and labour market and the education system. Typically, in
Asia there are a lot of engineers that are female. So it’s a great base
to attract these engineers into our industry. Typically, in Europe our
SHUTTERSTOCK
biggest challenge was always to attract a female in the first class to
do engineering. I think there are best practices in all regions of the
world, in different areas and we need to tap into them. And I think,
again, if we look into what we want to achieve here in Singapore
it is really to ensure that the stakeholders analso the universities,
view is we have just not stated enough the necessity to move and potentially schools, the regulators, or the government, all pull the
to unleash that potential further than we have done so far. strings together to ensure that women have the best environment
to grow, thrive through the ranks and lead the sector as well as see
AAV: There were famous women in aviation, not just in the cockpit, this as a great career…If you want to change something, my per-
but also on the shop floor if you look at history. Talking about World sonal conviction is, unleash the potential and show people where
War II specifically, Rosie the Riveter, these women built thousands of the benefits are and the studies all demonstrate there are benefits.
planes that helped win the war. Are we seeing more women on the I think we don’t have to hide as women in this industry to show our
shop floor at MROs and manufacturers? value. Instead of saying things are not going the right way. I think
MLP: Do we see enough? I think there can never be enough. I’m truly we should say it’s there. Just unleash it.
convinced that we can do better. And as I said previously, we need to
engage the young generation because it’s highly skilled labour. It’s a Note: This is an edited and condensed version of the Q&A. To see the full
professional choice you should take early. And in my view, we will also video, go to: https://asianaviation.com/aav-in-conversation-with-ma-
see that these jobs are in transformation. The way we build the aircraft rie-louise-philippe-president-of-women-in-aviation-singapore/
AsianAviation | May-June 2021 19CAE Getting back in the air Among the tens of thousands of jobs lost in the past year and a half of the COVID-19 pandemic, thousands of those were pilots who found themselves grounded as borders closed. With domestic traffic staging a comeback in some countries, pilot training or re-training is in focus. Matt Driskill looks at what it takes to get back in the air, safely. THE INTERNATIONAL AIR TRANSPORT ASSOCIATION (IATA) without flying, they undergo extensive ground school followed by a said in 2020, global air passenger traffic saw the largest year-on-year multiday transition course of simulator flights and a check-ride and decline in aviation history, falling by 65.9 percent compared to 2019. in-flight training. If they haven’t flown for more than 180 days or if Traffic is making a return, especially in countries with large domestic they are moving to a different airplane, they go through initial training. markets like China, South Korea, Japan, Australia and New Zealand. Finally, they undergo a check-ride in an actual plane, known as a line Following a year on the ground though, pilots have to hit the books check. Testing is to the initial qualification standards for competency. and the simulators again to sharpen their flying skills that might have Although some pilots have reported feeling rusty in the cockpit, it is been dulled by being grounded for so long. important to remember that these are professional pilots who have John Cox, a retired airline captain who operates the safety con- years of experience flying. They recover their skills quickly,” he said. sulting company, Safety Operating Systems, said recently that “pilots Some airlines are gradually bringing their furloughed pilots back who have been out for more than 90 days return to the simulator for training. If they have gone more than 90 days but less than 180 days ▲ Hong Kong cadets being trained by CAE. 20 AsianAviation | May-June 2021
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