May 25, 2020 - No. 037 In This Issue Which Airlines Have Retired Aircraft Since The Pandemic Started?. Southwest Airlines CEO: Boeing 737 Max 'Hopefully' Flying Again in Late 2020 Tallahassee weather radar to undergo maintenance starting May 27 GE9X engine nears final certification tests Could Boeing save Antonov from a possible closure?. Predictive maintenance potential outlined in 3-D printing study FAA Proposes $5.89 Million Civil Penalty Against Ga Company for Illegal Charter Flights Fiji Airways Cuts Workforce by Over 50%; Reduces Salaries and Working Hours U.K. Arrivals Face Fines for Breaking 14-Day Quarantine It's official: SpaceX is 'go' to launch NASA astronauts on Crew Dragon spaceship Which Airlines Have Retired Aircraft Since The Pandemic Started? When COVID-19 was finally recognized as a pandemic, most airlines may not have fully realized what it might mean for their fleets. However, as the weeks went by and the seriousness and long-term ramifications of the virus became clear, carriers all over the world have continued to re-evaluate their fleet structures and hasten the retirement timelines of their older and less efficient jets. So which airlines have retired aircraft since the pandemic started? A moving target Trying to write a comprehensive list of airlines retiring aircraft is akin to aiming at a moving target. Surely, some airlines are mulling aircraft retirements but have yet to officially make their announcements. Others may start to consider aircraft retirement months from now if the situation doesn't improve. As a result, we'll try to make this list as accurate as possible at the time of writing but we may need to write a follow-up piece later this season! The list Without further delay, here is what we know so far of aircraft retirements: Air Canada is sending 79 planes into early retirement. This includes Boeing 767s, Airbus A319s, and Embraer 190s. Air France will retire all nine of its remaining Airbus A380s. American Airlines is saying goodbye to 17 767-300ERs this month. It is also retiring its 757s, a number of Boeing 737s, Embraer 190s, and Airbus A330-300s. The airline has decided to keep its fleet of 15 Airbus A330-200 aircraft in long-term storage into 2022. It remains to be seen if these will return at that time. Finally, the carrier has yet to announce the retirement of its Boeing 777s but it may be something to monitor closely. Austrian Airlines is to retire half of its Boeing 767 fleet. As the airline operates six such aircraft, this would see three remain. Corsair, a TUI subsidiary, is retiring its three Boeing 747-400s one year earlier than planned. Delta Air Lines will say goodbye to its MD-88 and MD-90 jets next month. The airline will also retire all 18 of its Boeing 777s by the end of this year. KLM said goodbye to its aging Boeing 747s in March - although some were brought out of retirement for cargo-only operations. Lufthansa has already announced the retirement of seven Airbus A380s. The carrier has made no mention of its aging A340s. Again, this is something to keep an eye on. Singapore Airlines has opted to retire its 777-200ERs earlier than expected. Virgin Atlantic will say goodbye to its seven Boeing 747-400s. The airline also finally retired the last of its Airbus A340 aircraft at the end of March. Airlines to watch The airlines below have yet to formally announce any retirement of their older aircraft. However, given the trend and the current state of aviation, these carriers are definitely worth keeping an eye on: British Airways has an aging fleet of 747s which will eventually be replaced by the 777X and A350. However, no announcements have been made yet. Emirates may speed up the retirement of 46 of the airline's 115-strong fleet of A380s. No concrete timeline has been provided yet. Qantas has constantly faced rumors that it will retire its A380 fleet at some point. Qatar Airways may also speed up the retirement of its A380s. United Airlines may follow American's lead and retire its 767s and 757s. Conclusion While its sad to see some iconic aircraft leave some iconic airlines, the costs of maintenance and upkeep for long-term aircraft parking and storage would add up fast - especially for larger airlines. Thus, in a prudent move to reduce cash burn, and prepare for the multi-year recovery process, airlines must 'bite the bullet' and say goodbye to their oldest aircraft. https://simpleflying.com/airline-pandemic-retirements/ Back to Top Southwest Airlines CEO: Boeing 737 Max 'Hopefully' Flying Again in Late 2020 Southwest Airlines leaders think Boeing's grounded 737 Max airplane will be approved to fly again in the third quarter and the carrier will have it back in its fleet by the end of 2020. Boeing's 737 Max jets have been grounded since March 2019 and the Federal Aviation Administration still hasn't given its approval to the faulty anti-stall software system that caused plane crashes in Ethiopia and Indonesia resulting in 346 deaths. Dallas-based Southwest is the largest owner of 737 Max jets with 34 and the grounding caused major shortages last year when it desperately needed more planes to meet growing travel demand. But airlines haven't been complaining about the plane recently because COVID-19 has decimated the air travel industry and most airlines are parking planes. "We're still wanting to get the Max back into service," Southwest CEO Gary Kelly said Thursday during the company's annual shareholder meeting held virtually due to the pandemic. "The Max airplane is superior to the Next Generation 737 that we're currently operating." Once the FAA recertifies the plane, Kelly said it would take about three months to get the aircraft out of storage and into the fleet. "It burns less fuel," Kelly said. "It's an excellent airplane and certainly in this environment. We would love to retire some of our older aircraft, avoid some expensive maintenance and substitute with the newer airplanes." Boeing has more than 400 of the 737 Max jets parked in Washington state as it awaits regulators' approval to deliver them to airlines. Fort Worth-based American Airlines owns 24 of the 737 Max planes. Southwest would need time after the FAA gives its approval to take planes out of maintenance and train pilots on new procedures relating to the revamped MCAS anti-stall system. Southwest is also negotiating another deal with Boeing on top of an undisclosed settlement in December that compensated the carrier for losses from the grounding, said chief operating officer Mike Van de Ven. During the COVID-19 crisis, Southwest has grounded about 400 of its 750 planes. That's made the shortage of 737 Max jets less pressing, but company leaders still think it would save money by flying the Max because it is more fuel-efficient, quieter and requires less maintenance than older jets. Southwest was supposed to get another 41 of the 737 Max planes last year, 62 this year and 55 in 2021. It has cut a deal with Boeing to delay some orders and convert others into options. Now Southwest will take no more than 48 planes by the end of 2021. "So we're very committed to the Max," Kelly said. https://www.aviationpros.com/airlines/news/21139383/southwest-airlines-ceo-boeing-737-max-hopefully-flying-again-in-late-2020 Back to Top Tallahassee weather radar to undergo maintenance starting May 27 Beginning May 27th, the KTLH WSR-88D radar operated by the NOAA National Weather Service in Tallahassee, Florida will be down for approximately eight days for the replacement of the generator, fuel tanks, and accompanying components. This activity is important to support the radar's operation during periods of commercial power outages, specifically when hazardous weather is present. This generator update is the fifth major project of the NEXRAD Service Life Extension Program, a series of upgrades and replacements that will keep our nation's radars viable into the 2030's. NOAA National Weather Service, the United States Air Force, and the Federal Aviation Administration are investing $150 million in the seven year program. The first project was the installation of the new signal processor and the second project was the transmitter refurbishment. The two remaining projects are the refurbishment of the pedestal and equipment shelters. The Service Life Extension Program will complete in 2023. During the downtime, adjacent radars include: Valdosta, GA (KVAX), Ft. Rucker, AL (KEOX) and Panama City, FL (KEVX) For direct access to any of these surrounding radar sites, go to the following web page: https://radar.weather.gov/index.htm. The KTLH WSR-88D is part of a network of 159 operational radars. The Radar Operations Center in Norman, Oklahoma, provides lifecycle management and support for all WSR-88Ds. https://wfxl.com/news/local/tallahassee-weather-radar-to-undergo-maintenance-starting-may-27 Back to Top GE9X engine nears final certification tests Engineers at GE Aviation are preparing for final certification tests of the GE9X, the most powerful jet engine in the world. According to GE Aviation, the final engine certification test, which is called the Initial Maintenance Inspection (IMI), will begin "soon". The IMI test proves the engine can operate properly within its defined maintenance intervals, the maximum time an engine should be operated for before maintenance is conducted. GE also needs to complete 3,000 cycles of the Extended Operations (ETOPS) test before entry into service. The outcome will provide eligibility for the GE9X engines to be installed on an ETOPS aircraft. ETOPS aircraft are permitted to fly remote routes that contain points more than 60 minutes away from the nearest airport, as flown at its one-engine inoperative cruise speed. The GE9X needs to be ETOPS approved so it can be used on the Boeing 777X for its entry into service, which is expected to happen next year. GE has also recently shared the results of the Endurance (Block) Test with regulatory agencies, Boeing and 777X airline customers. The Block Test comprised of a progression of 11 different cycle types to mirror what an engine experiences in the field. This endurance test is seen as more representative of both creep and related failure modes. During testing the engine was subjected to 35% more time at redline temperatures and speeds than FAA requirements to provide proof of the engine's durability. After the test a piece part inspection was carried out and showed that all the hardware conformed to the certification and manual requirements. An independent vibration endurance test, which used vibration levels of 33% more than was required, has also recently been successfully completed. GE Aviation added that 99% of all GE9X engine certification documentation has been submitted with 93% approved by aviation authorities. A video of the Block Testing can be viewed here. https://www.aerospacetestinginternational.com/news/engine-testing/ge9x-engine-nears-final-certification-tests.html Back to Top Could Boeing save Antonov from a possible closure? Created in 1946, the Antonov design office has always enjoyed immense prestige in the days of the Soviet Union thanks to its founder, Oleg Antonov who shortly after the Second World War created the An-2, the single-engine biplane that became one of the most produced aircraft from history. Oleg's bureau then began to specialize in increasingly large cargo aircraft and in 1959 opened a new plant in the city of Kiev, Ukraine. It was from this location that some of the most important Soviet planes such as the An-22, An-124 and Mriya, the largest aircraft in the world, emerged. After the end of the Soviet Union, Antonov maintained its connection with Russia, despite having its headquarters in Ukraine. Although without the same resources as the communist period, the manufacturer continued to develop and produce some models, but in 2014 the conflicts between Russians and Ukrainians closed the door on its biggest customer, the Russian Air Force. Without Russian orders, Antonov no longer exhibits the same vigor as its past - Muscovite Oleg Antonov had already died 30 years before the conflict. Although it has diversified its activities, including aircraft maintenance and the cargo company Antonov Airlines, the Ukrainian company survives on producing some planes while waiting for a saving plan. And it can come from where it is least expected, the United States. According to rumors circulating in Ukraine, Antonov is negotiating a partnership with Boeing. The two companies had already signed a logistical cooperation agreement in 2018, but this time the joint venture may be more comprehensive. According to the Ukrainian ambassador to the US, Volodymyr Yelchenko, "recently, we have submitted project proposals on behalf of Antonov to Boeing." The politician recognizes that this possibility is crucial in several ways: "I believe that the future of Antonov and the entire Ukrainian aviation industry greatly depends on the cooperation with Boeing, consented and politically supported by Washington," said Mr. Yelchenko to the Riafan website. One of the possibilities would be in the joint production of large capacity cargo aircraft, a segment where Boeing currently offers the models 747-8F and 777F, adapted from passenger aircraft. Antonov, on the other hand, has experience in large military projects, but does not have a mature after-sales business. Annoyance for Putin Antonov currently offers two military and two civilian aircraft on the market. One of them is the turboprop An-132, a modernized variant of the popular An-24/26/32 aircraft, widely used in socialist countries. With a capacity to carry almost 10 tons of paid cargo, the aircraft operates on unprepared runways and uses engines supplied by Pratt & Whitney. The plane, however, would only have attracted Saudi Arabian interest, but plans would have been suspended last year. The other Antonov aircraft are derived from the same project, which emerged in the 1990s, the An-148, a twin-engine high-wing jet with a capacity for up to 85 passengers. The aircraft flew for the first time in 2004, but only entered service in 2009. A longer variant, the 100-seat An-158, made its maiden flight in 2010. Since 2004, Antonov has produced only 37 units of the two models that are used by the Russian government and only a few companies, including North Korean Air Koryo and Cubana de AviaciĆ³n. In 2010, Antonov announced the launch of the An-178, a military variant of the An-158 that flew for the first time in 2015. Since then the new jet is under development and the manufacturer revealed this week that it is assembling the first unit of series production and that will be delivered to the government of Peru. For this reason, the collaboration with Boeing can change this discouraging outlook and also cause great discomfort to its neighbor, Russia. Vladimir Putin, President of Russia, has already made it clear that he wants the country's manufacturers to develop aircraft to replace Antonov's now unwanted planes. What to think then if they have the US seal? https://www.airway1.com/could-boeing-save-antonov-from-a-possible-closure/ Back to Top Predictive maintenance potential outlined in 3-D printing study ABERDEEN PROVING GROUND, Md. A new study published in the International Journal of Advanced Manufacturing Technology showed that the U.S. Army could detect and monitor the wear and tear of 3-D printed maraging steel through sensor measurement. This study was led by a team of researchers from the laboratory, the National Institute of Standards and Technology, CCDC Aviation and Missile Center and Johns Hopkins University, who likened cues from the material's performance to a vehicle odometer reading that signals a need for an oil change. Officials want to develop a tool for measuring the unique performance of each 3-D printed part acknowledging that each is different via sensor measurement. Researchers claim the imperfections in 3-D printed parts are typically attributed to voids and geometric variance between the computer model and the print. Sensor technology in development offers a way to track individual parts, predict failure points, and replace them a few cycles before they break. Army researchers are applying these findings to new studies on 3-D-printing of stainless-steel parts and using machine-learning techniques, instead of sensors, to characterize the life of parts, according to officials. http://mil-embedded.com/news/predictive-maintenance-potential-outlined-in-3-d-printing-study/ Back to Top FAA Proposes $5.89 Million Civil Penalty Against Ga Company for Illegal Charter Flights The U.S. Department of Transportation's Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has proposed a $5.89 million civil penalty against Humes McCoy Aviation of Atlanta, Ga., for conducting hundreds of allegedly illegal charter flights. The FAA alleges Humes McCoy operated a Cessna Caravan, Beechcraft Super King Air and CASA 212-200 on a total of 270 illegal cargo flights in 2017, 2018 and 2019. The flights were illegal because the company did not have a commercial operating certificate, advertised and offered to perform operations that required such a certificate, received compensation for the flights, and used pilots who had not passed required tests and flight-competency checks, the FAA alleges. Additionally, the company did not have an approved pilot training program and hazardous materials training program, and failed to provide initial and recurrent hazardous materials training to all its crew members, which are required for those types of operations. The 270 flights occurred between Raleigh-Durham Airport, Albert J. Ellis Airport, Coastal Carolina Regional Airport, Dare Country Regional Airport in North Carolina; Columbia Metropolitan Airport and Beaufort County Airport in South Carolina; and Eastern Iowa Airport and Spencer Municipal Airport in Iowa. The FAA alleges these flights were careless or reckless so as to endanger lives or property. At the time of publishing, the Humes McCoy website was down and listed as 'under maintenance.' According to the Georgia Secretary of State's corporation search, the company's licensing was first filed in 2002, was last registered in 2010, and the company was administratively dissolved in 2012. Humes McCoy has 30 days after receiving the FAA's enforcement letter to respond to the agency. https://allongeorgia.com/georgia-business/faa-proposes-5-89-million-civil-penalty-against-ga-company-for-illegal-charter-flights/ Back to Top Fiji Airways Cuts Workforce by Over 50%; Reduces Salaries and Working Hours Fiji Airways has reduced its workforce by over 50%, as the COVID19 pandemic continues to inflict unimaginable damage on economies around the world. - 51% (758) of employees from across the airline group who do not have work today or in the foreseeable future have had their employment terminated. They will be paid a minimum notice period of 1 month (despite most employees having a two-week notice period), plus any accumulated leave and other entitlements. - All 79 expatriate pilots have had their contracts terminated. - Eight expatriate executives have had their employment terminated, with five expatriate staff remaining, including the CEO. The airline has six local executives, who will all retain their jobs and now constitute the majority of the leadership team. The responsibilities of the remaining executives and management have been expanded to absorb the work of those terminated. Mr. Andre Viljoen, Fiji Airways Managing Director & CEO, said, "These employee terminations are based on work available today and for the foreseeable future. These decisions have been carefully considered, and we have retained staff in operational areas who have critical skills, training and experience, including those who are required to carry out ongoing aircraft maintenance programmes, as well as all regulatory and safety-related post-holder positions as per Civil Aviation Authority requirements. There is, of course, a minimal level of staff required in non-operational areas of the business in order to keep it functioning. In all areas, we have retained staff based on objective and fair criteria such as performance, disciplinary record, and aptitude for the role." Fiji Airways recently extended the suspension of international flights through to the end of June, and is in the process of reducing scheduled flights for July and August. The airline is also negotiating with its lenders and aircraft lessors for loan and lease payment deferrals, and arranging debt finance from a number of financial institutions. "This is a very difficult announcement, and one we are only making after exhausting all other options. The sad reality of prolonged flight suspensions means that we simply do not have work for a large segment of our workforce now, and for the foreseeable future. We have no other option but to terminate the employment of staff to whom we cannot provide work, which is an unfortunate but vital step we must take in order to protect our cash position and to preserve as many jobs as possible for those staff who the business needs in order to function today," added Mr. Viljoen. In an attempt to ensure the airline's survival, the following workforce measures have also been implemented: - A 20% permanent salary reduction has been implemented for all retained employees effective 1 June 2020. In the short term, retained staff will work between 2-5 days per week, and will only be paid for actual days or hours worked. Employees will be permitted to utilise annual leave days on days not worked, in order to 'top up' their weekly pay. "Many of our dear colleagues affected by these reductions have contributed enormously to our airline over many years, and we owe them a huge debt of gratitude. The measures we have announced today are painful and difficult, but ultimately necessary for our airline's survival. Tourism is the backbone of the Fijian economy, and it is dependent on a strong and sustainable national carrier. Fiji Airways will be vital in leading Fiji's economic recovery post COVID19, and we take that obligation to the Fijian people very seriously. We have taken these difficult actions now, in order to safeguard our airline's future. Many large and respected airlines around the world are collapsing as a consequence of this unprecedented crisis. However, we will do everything within our power to ensure that Fiji Airways does not suffer the same fate," Mr. Viljoen concluded. http://www.asiatraveltips.com/news20/255-FijiAirways.shtml Back to Top U.K. Arrivals Face Fines for Breaking 14-Day Quarantine Passengers arriving in the U.K. will be forced into quarantine for two weeks and face fines of 1,000 pounds ($1,200) if they break the rules. The plan, which will take effect from June 8, is designed to stop travelers bringing coronavirus into the country after becoming infected overseas, and is likely to have a major impact on the aviation industry's attempts to recover after the lockdown. Home Secretary Priti Patel set out the details of the new quarantine system at the daily government press conference on Friday. The measures will be reviewed every three weeks, along with the rest of the U.K.'s coronavirus response. "As we are taking this action, we're taking it at a time when it will be most effective," Patel said. "Now we are past the peak of this virus, we must take steps to guard against imported cases." Spot checks will be carried out to ensure people are complying with the rules, she said. Anyone who doesn't have a suitable place to quarantine will be put into a hotel at their own expense. Patel said there would be a small list of exceptions. They include freight drivers, health staff and foreign officials such as the French police, according to Paul Lincoln, director general of Border Force. The quarantine won't apply to people coming from Ireland. Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said on Monday that ministers are considering "air bridges" to allow quarantine-free travel to and from countries where virus infection rates are low. Patel said it was "not for today" -- though said she wouldn't rule it out for the future. Business groups criticized the quarantine policy, saying it would hamper Britain's economic recovery. "This sort of thing does not create or sustain a global reputation, nor the impression of re-opening for business," said Richard Burge, chief executive of the London Chamber of Commerce and Industry. The government should take a risk-based approach and allow entry from countries with low incidence of the virus, he said. "Businesses in many sectors that depend upon aviation will this evening be baffled." Britain's largest manufacturing lobby also expressed disappointment at the policy, calling it an "isolationist" measure. The quarantine "will prevent many essential daily cross border journeys to provide service and maintenance," said Stephen Phipson, chief executive of Make U.K. https://news.bloomberglaw.com/health-law-and-business/u-k-arrivals-to-face-1-200-fines-for-breaking-virus-quarantine Back to Top It's official: SpaceX is 'go' to launch NASA astronauts on Crew Dragon spaceship SpaceX is ready to make space history with its first astronaut launch for NASA next week. No showstoppers were found during a crucial flight readiness review (FRR) for SpaceX's Demo-2 mission, keeping the company's first-ever crewed flight on track for a May 27 liftoff, NASA officials announced today (May 22). "The Flight Readiness Review has concluded, and NASA's SpaceX Demo-2 mission is cleared to proceed toward liftoff on the first crewed flight of the agency's Commercial Crew Program," NASA officials wrote in an update today. Demo-2 will send NASA astronauts Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley to the International Space Station (ISS) aboard SpaceX's Crew Dragon capsule, which will launch atop a Falcon 9 rocket from Kennedy Space Center (KSC) in Florida. The mission will be the first orbital human spaceflight to depart from American soil since NASA retired its space shuttle fleet in July 2011. Ever since then, the space agency has relied completely on Russian Soyuz rockets and spacecraft to get its astronauts to and from the orbiting lab. NASA is counting on SpaceX and Boeing to end that dependence. In 2014, the agency awarded SpaceX $2.6 billion to finish development of the Crew Dragon-Falcon 9 system and fly six operational crewed missions to the ISS. Boeing got a similar, $4.2 billion deal at the same time, which the aerospace company will fulfill using a capsule called CST-100 Starliner. Demo-2 is the last big hurdle SpaceX needs to clear before it can start flying those contracted missions. Crew Dragon visited the ISS on an uncrewed flight in March 2019 called Demo-1, and Demo-2 will fully validate the capsule for operational flight, if all goes according to plan. But Demo-2 must clear some hurdles of its own before lifting off. And one of the big ones, the FRR, is now in the books. The FRR began yesterday (May 21) at KSC and stretched into this afternoon. During the meeting, NASA, ISS and SpaceX managers discussed in detail "the readiness of the Crew Dragon and systems for the Demo-2 mission; the readiness of the International Space Station Program and its international partners to support the flight; and the certification of flight readiness," NASA officials wrote in an update yesterday. And everything went very well, NASA officials said. "It was an excellent review," NASA associate administrator Steve Jurczyk said during a teleconference with reporters today. "There are no significant open issues, I am happy to report." But there are still some boxes to tick before Demo-2 can get off the ground. For example, this afternoon, SpaceX will conduct a "static fire" of the Falcon 9 that will launch the mission, testing out its first-stage engines while the rocket remains tethered to the ground. And tomorrow (May 23), the teams will hold a "dry dress" exercise, during which Behnken and Hurley will suit up and the teams will run through many of the procedures that will occur on launch day. Data from these two tests, as well as other information, will then be analyzed in detail on Monday (May 25) during a final launch readiness review. "We're going to stay vigilant over the next few days," Kathy Lueders, NASA's Commercial Crew Program manager, said during today's telecon. "We're going to take it one step at a time, and we're going to still fly when we're ready." https://www.space.com/spacex-crew-dragon-demo-2-go-for-launch.html Curt Lewis