Aviation Maintenance & Technology Exchange November 16, 2020 - No. 86 In This Issue : Alliance Aviation acquires Toll Group MRO unit : ProSafeT - SMS, Quality & Audit Management Software : Air Canada Cargo embraces drone delivery as growth area : MBR Aerospace Hub completes 70% of infrastructure: CEO : Aer Lingus poised to award regional contract to McCarthy’s Emerald Airlines : McCarthy a potential bidder for Stobart Air : Kerala HC dismisses plea for CBI probe into Air India Express crash : Fuel System Blockage Forces Pobeda 737 To Divert To Moscow : Albany airport unveils digital incubator for safe, post-pandemic air travel : British Airways Stores Away its A380 Fleet in Madrid : Regaining passenger confidence and providing a safe environment : Liftoff! Astronauts Head To Space Station On SpaceX Rocket Alliance Aviation acquires Toll Group MRO unit Australia’s Alliance Aviation will acquire transportation and logistics giant Toll Group’s MRO unit, in what it calls a deal of “great strategic value”. Alliance on 13 November signed a share sale and purchase agreement to purchase Brisbane-based Toll Aviation Engineering. The carrier did not disclose the financial value of the transaction, but states that it will finalise details of the sale by the end of the month. The move to take over Toll Aviation Engineering is also in line with the carrier’s recent acquisition of 14 Embraer E190s, the first of which was delivered in September. Alliance says it will have a “material expansion” in engineering and maintenance facilities following the acquisition. Toll’s existing hangar in Brisbane Airport is “materially larger” than Alliance’s existing facility, and is “fit for purpose” for E190 MRO work. Once the sale is complete, Toll Aviation Engineering will have its name changed to United Aviation Maintenance, operating as a “distinct subsidiary” of Alliance Aviation. The new company will also retain its third-party MRO services, Alliance adds. “The purchase consideration is not a financially material transaction however is of great strategic value to Alliance,” it states, adding that it will be earnings neutral for the coming financial year. Alliance Aviation managing director Scott McMillan says the transaction will “allow for a much smoother integration” of the E-Jets in the short term, as well as “for a more efficient and financially sustainable line maintenance programme in future years”. Cirium fleets data indicates Alliance Aviation has a fleet of 43 in-service aircraft, including 25 Fokker 100s and 12 Fokker 70s. It also has two E190s in service. Toll Aviation Engineering is the MRO unit of Australia’s Toll Group, with bases in Brisbane and Adelaide. It also provided MRO services to Virgin Australia’s regional unit in Sydney and Canberra. https://www.flightglobal.com/airlines/alliance-aviation-acquires-toll-group-mro-unit/141135.article Air Canada Cargo embraces drone delivery as growth area Airlines could soon be operating unmanned drones in addition to aircraft flown by pilots, or serve as a logistics intermediary between shippers and third-party carriers. Air Canada (TSX: AC) is leveraging its knowledge moving cargo to support drone deliveries and expand business in the fertile e-commerce sector. Japan Airlines is also involved in a drone delivery project and Astral Aviation in Kenya has set up a drone division. Air Canada officials said during a Nov. 9 call with analysts to discuss third quarter earnings that the entry into e-commerce will take Air Canada Cargo “to the next level.” The statement, which didn’t come with any details, most likely referred to the airline’s partnership with Drone Delivery Canada (DDC) and several early-stage projects it has brokered. Air Canada is acting as a sales agent for DDC, a technology company that doesn’t have experience operating delivery networks or Air Canada’s extensive relationships with express delivery companies and logistics providers that purchase freight transportation. As a freight intermediary, Air Canada avoids the risk of investing in a complex technology itself while picking up revenue from the high-growth e-commerce market. Tim Strauss, then-vice president of cargo at Air Canada, said in an interview last year that the company has exclusive rights to 150,000 routes in Canada that it can share under its agreement with DDC. Some routes eventually will operate to and from airports. On Friday, DDC announced it has signed a letter of intent with CSC Drone Aviation to jointly explore market opportunities in India and finalize a deal for operating DDC’s Condor heavy-lift drone once aviation authorities establish safety rules for the industry. The Condor, DDC’s largest unmanned aerial vehicle, can handle payloads of 400 pounds and travel 124 miles at up to 75 mph. The multi package cargo deck is designed to carry about 20 cubic feet of cargo. The drone logistics company expects to complete Condor testing in the fourth quarter in preparation for commercial deployment next year, starting with vaccine distribution and deliveries in rural areas. CSC Group is a large air cargo handling company in India whose owners also founded Blue Dart Express Ltd. Drone Delivery Canada struck a similar preliminary agreement in September with Astral Aerial Solutions, a newly licensed drone operator owned by Kenya-based all-cargo airline Astral Aviation. The African company plans to use drones for aerial mapping, poaching reconnaissance, utility inspections, cargo transport and other services. Drones are being tested in a variety of delivery applications around the world to help ship goods that are time sensitive, deliver to remote locations and reduce last-mile delivery costs for so-called “milk runs.” Much attention is being devoted to their possible use delivering medical supplies, including COVID-19 vaccines, to people in need. During the pandemic, drones add an element of contactless delivery that some may find reassuring. DDC said the Condor has multiple use cases ranging from first-mile/last-mile cargo delivery to oil, gas and mining projects, shore-to-ship logistics and humanitarian aid. DDC began making its first revenue-generating flights in March, delivering small packages for global logistics provider DSV Panalpina in the Toronto area. The remotely piloted aircraft system is marketed as a managed service in Canada and its software is licensed internationally. DDC’s Flyte management software enables its operations control center to monitor and manage all deliveries globally With Air Canada’s help, DDC has also signed as customers Edmonton International Airport and two native Indian nations for which it is delivering COVID-19 related cargo, such as personal protection equipment, hygiene kits, test kits, test swabs with its small Sparrow drone. Under the deal with the Edmonton Regional Airport Authority, the parties plan to build out flight routes and market the airport as a drone delivery hub. Meanwhile, Japan Airlines has been involved in several drone logistics tests of medicines and food in Tokyo. It recently began partnering with drone platform developer Matternet to test drone deliveries of health care goods in different environments throughout Japan. Aircraft inspections Ukraine International Airlines is partnering with New Jersey-based startup Luftronix to inspect aircraft exteriors for potential damage prior to departure. The drones have precision scanning equipment that collect images from hard to access areas of the aircraft surface. The data is fed back to flight operations centers where it is quickly analyzed by software. The scans automatically measure the distance from the surface and bump or object so inspectors can immediately assess whether the imperfections are within allowable tolerances. Ukraine Airlines’ maintenance and repair division hopes to reduce the turnaround time for a typical aircraft structure inspection by up to 50%, depending on the type of inspection, and to also utilize the technology in heavy maintenance for various verification tasks, the company said last month. https://www.freightwaves.com/news/air-canada-cargo-embraces-drone-delivery-as-growth-area MBR Aerospace Hub completes 70% of infrastructure: CEO DUBAI, 16th November 2020 (WAM) -- The Mohammed Bin Rashid Aerospace Hub, MBRAH, the region’s first aerospace hub, has completed 70 percent of its infrastructure development, a top executive told Emirates News Agency, WAM. The industry partners have completed 30 percent of their projects in the Hub, Tahnoon Saif, CEO of MBRAH, revealed in an exclusive interview on Sunday. The MBRAH, based in Dubai South, is expecting more opportunities in MRO (maintenance, repair and operations) sector, as some companies want to focus on their core airline business and liquidate their engineering elements in the current challenging business environment, he added. Talking about the plan to complete the development of the MBRAH by 2030 and potential challenges in aerospace industry caused by the global pandemic, Saif said, "Responding to market changes is very important but the speed of our response and adapting with new realities is more important for us. We developed 70 percent of the infrastructure with flexibilities to accommodate new solutions that might evolve." The CEO added, "The airline industry will take a while to recover; however, we are enhancing our value proposition and leveraging our network and access to the world through cargo terminals and Jabel Ali sea port." New opportunities in MRO services Established in 2017 as Dubai’s Aviation District and rebranded as Mohammed Bin Rashid Aerospace Hub in 2019, it is home to an infrastructure that is dedicated to a diverse aviation ecosystem, accommodating commercial, freight, business jets, and aircraft maintenance operations as well as customer-centric, business-friendly solutions for companies, while also offering 100 percent free zone benefits and services. The Hub is hosting big players like Emirates Pilot Training Academy, Lufthansa Technik and General Electric, GE, as well as Dynamic Advanced Training for Cabin Crew Training. As airlines around the world look for cost-effective solutions across their businesses in the current economic climate, the CEO hopes that it will open new opportunities for the Hub’s services in MRO. "We are expecting a lot of mergers and acquisitions in the maintenance business over the next 12 months or so, especially given that some companies will want to focus on their core airline business and liquidate their engineering elements," he said. This is because the current climate has impacted the global aerospace industry and there will be consolidation in the industry, bringing tremendous opportunities, Saif explained. Suitable geographical location "We intend talking to acquirers of companies – the large-sized companies that typically acquire smaller ones to achieve scale and cost-efficiencies - this will enable us forge ahead with our strategy to increase market share. We will present our value proposition, leveraging our location, which is a great advantage that works in our favor compared with other regional hubs," he added. The benefits of the efficient structure of positioning aircraft for light or heavy maintenance within the "state-of-the-art facilities" at Al Maktoum International Airport in Dubai South far outweigh the high cost base of airports around the world, he pointed out, adding that the geographical location of Dubai at the crossroads of East and West is opportune for airlines worldwide for efficient aircraft maintenance services. With facilities across the MRO framework comprising engine overhaul and component warehouses to landing gears, the aerospace hub in Dubai South is a one-stop shop for all maintenance-related work. "So in terms of service offering, we have the infrastructure and remain relentless in targeting key players from around the world." Key projects About the key projects in the Hub, Saif said, "We are progressing well with our projects, having signed two important agreements, one is the heliport with Air Chateau for multiple operators. They are partnering with us to build the facilities for maintenance and VIP Terminal services. "We laid out the infrastructure, they built the facilities and would attract helicopter operators for maintenance and for commuting from the VIP terminal. "We will also see Execujet have new hangar and maintenance facilities within the next 18 months. Also we signed with an investor to set up a luxury vault to store and safeguard high valued items. Such facilities are well established in Europe and Asia but not in the Middle East." Towards a global aerospace hub "Till date, AED2.5 billion (US$680 million) was invested by the government and the private sector in the Hub, and we are expecting a higher growth rate when Al Maktoum International airport takes off with the commercial airline operations," he said, adding that the ultimate investment in MBR Aerospace Hub is expected to reach AED17 billion (US$4.63 billion) by 2030. About the initiatives and projects in the MBRAH that aims to the make the UAE, especially Dubai, a global aerospace hub, Saif pointed out that aerospace and logistics are at the centre of Dubai South’s operations, and they collectively make up 40 percent of Dubai’s GDP, making them key drivers of the emirate’s economy. Aviation represents over one-quarter of Dubai’s GDP, with the Mohammed Bin Rashid Aerospace Hub assisting the growth of the economy through its contributions to the sector, the chief executive said, adding that the free zone within the hub aims to be home to start-ups and small and medium enterprises, SMEs, from all over the world and across industries. http://wam.ae/en/details/1395302886910 Aer Lingus poised to award regional contract to McCarthy’s Emerald Airlines Businessman Conor McCarthy’s Emerald Airlines is poised to take over the Aer Lingus regional contract when it is renewed in two years’ time. Aer Lingus sought bids in recent weeks to operate a new contract when the current deal with Stobart Air runs out in December 2022. Emerald Airlines will enter exclusive talks with Aer Lingus to operate the regional service for 10 years after Stobart was ruled out of the race. Mr McCarthy confirmed that Emerald Airlines would enter exclusive talks with Aer Lingus on the new regional services contract, which will run from January 2023. “Emerald Airlines looks forward to these negotiations in the coming weeks with a view to concluding a binding contract and progressing with our ambitious plan to roll out a fleet of 15-plus ATR72 Aer Lingus-branded aircraft from Dublin, Belfast, Cork and Shannon,” he said. Stobart Air confirmed to staff at the weekend that it has not been selected as the preferred bidder, but pledged to continue operating the regional services until its contract ends in December 2022. “Our immediate aim is to maintain services in the short term, and to work hard to resuming normal operations in 2021 post the impact of Covid-19,” the airline told its workers. The loss of the Aer Lingus contract will hit efforts by the airline’s majority owner UK-based Stobart Group, to find a buyer for the Irish carrier. The transport and energy group put Stobart Air up for sale as it continued to lose cash in the face of the Republic’s tough Covid-19 travel restrictions. Aer Lingus’s regional services link the Republic’s airports with provincial centres in Britain. Part of their role is to feed passengers into Aer Lingus’s transatlantic flights at Dublin. Aer Lingus told Stobart management of its decision on Friday. Mr McCarthy is the biggest shareholder in aircraft maintenance group Dublin Aerospace. Previously he was head of Aer Lingus’s commuter division, before working for Ryanair for a period. He established Emerald Airlines earlier this year to bid for the Aer Lingus contract. https://www.irishtimes.com/business/transport-and-tourism/aer-lingus-poised-to-award-regional-contract-to-mccarthy-s-emerald-airlines-1.4409692 McCarthy a potential bidder for Stobart Air Stobart Group said it remains in talks to sell its Irish arm Stobart Air after losing out on a contract to operate the Aer Lingus Regional service. The UK group, which also operates Southend Airport, near London, also said it will not be on the hook for the bulk of $108m of guarantees the stock market-listed UK business has provided for. The Irish Independent exclusively revealed on Friday that Irish businessman Conor McCarthy had been selected by Aer Lingus to operate the Aer Lingus Regional contract, when Stobart’s current contract is up at the end of 2022. Stobart Air lost out in the tender process. The UK parent group has guaranteed up to $108m of Stobart Air’s debt, mainly linked to leases on eight planes owned by German investor Goal. However, Stobart Group said the contract with the aircraft owners includes a right to break the leases in April 2023 at a much lower cost of $21.2m if no new commercial agreement such as the Aer Lingus contract is in place. The company also said it had fully written down the value of Stobart Air in its most recent accounts. In a statement after news of the contract loss Warwick Brady, CEO of Stobart Group, said: “The Group remains in positive discussions with a number of interested parties and continues to target an exit from Stobart Air before the end of the current financial year.” The shake out on the contract award means Dublin Aerospace boss Conor McCarthy’s Emerald Airlines is now a potential buyer for the Dublin based Stobart Air unit. Emerald is a new company without planes or staff to operate the service. On Saturday McCarthy confirmed he is now in exclusive negotiations with Aer Lingus to operate the Aer Lingus Regional service from 2023. It’s thought likely he’ll run the rule over Dublin-based Stobart Air, which Stobart Group has confirmed it is seeking to exit. “Emerald Airlines looks forward to these negotiations in coming weeks with a view to concluding a binding contract and progressing our ambitious plan to roll out a fleet of 15-plus ATR-72 Aer Lingus-branded aircraft from Dublin, Belfast, Cork and Shannon,” said Mr McCarthy. However, Stobart Group chief executive Warwick Brady said it will “enter negotiations with the new Aer Lingus franchisee given the anticipated interest” in Stobart Air’s assets including its slot portfolio. “The decision to not make Stobart Air its preferred supplier for a new commercial agreement does not alter the group’s intention to exit Stobart Air and Propius as soon as is practicable,” said Stobart Group. Propius is a related aircraft leasing company. Meanwhile, Conor McCarthy’s new team has stressed its credentials in the sector. “We have a leadership team with 270-plus years of combined aviation experience,” said Emerald Airlines in a statement on Saturday. Emerald Airlines has also started the process to secure its own air operator’s certificate. Mr McCarthy, founder and executive chairman of aircraft maintenance firm Dublin Aerospace, was non-executive chairman of Stobart Air between 2018 and late 2019. https://www.independent.ie/business/irish/mccarthy-a-potential-bidder-for-stobart-air-39750472.html Kerala HC dismisses plea for CBI probe into Air India Express crash The Kerala High Court has dismissed a writ petition seeking a judicial probe and a Central Bureau of India investigation into the Air India Express crash which killed 19 passengers in August. Activist-lawyer Yeshwanth Shenoy had moved the high court demanding setting up of a court of inquiry to probe the incident. Shenoy had also sought a CBI investigation and closure of all operations at Kozhikode airport in view of safety issues. The bench of Chief Justice S Manikumar and Justice Shaji P Chaly however refused to a parallel investigation into the matter. "When there is a procedure prescribed under law and the investigation is going on, we do not think, it is right on the part of a writ court to interfere with the same and order a parallel investigation by appointing a former Judge of the Supreme Court or of any High Court," the bench observed in its judgment today. ly be identified by the investigating team appointed as per order of the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau," it added. The government had on August 13 ordered a five member team headed by former Boeing 737 examiner S S Chahar to probe the accident. Other members of the probe team also include operations expert Ved Prakash, senior aircraft maintenance engineer Mukul Bharadwaj, aviation medicine expert Group Captain (Dr) Y S Dahiya and AAIB deputy Jasbir Singh Largha. A Boeing 737 aircraft of Air India Express broke into two pieces after overshooting the runway at Kozhikode airport on August 7. The aircraft was returning from Dubai. https://www.business-standard.com/article/current-affairs/kerala-hc-dismisses-plea-for-cbi-probe-into-air-india-express-crash-120111600842_1.html Fuel System Blockage Forces Pobeda 737 To Divert To Moscow Over the weekend, a Pobeda Airlines Boeing 737-800 experienced an issue while flying from Saint Petersburg to the city of Cheboksary. During the November 14th flight, the crew decided to divert to Moscow Vnukovo Airport, reporting that it was experiencing a fuel system blockage. Incident details According to The Aviation Herald, the Pobeda Airlines Boeing 737-800, registered as VQ-BTC, was performing flight DP-525 from Saint Petersburg (LED) to Cheboksary (CSY) with 140 people on board. It left Saint Petersburg at 10:23 and was scheduled to arrive at its destination at 12:10 local time. The aircraft was en route at FL370, located about 90nm north of Moscow Vnukovo (VKO), when the crew made the decision to divert to the airport. It descended rapidly, reaching FL090 within just six minutes. The aircraft performed a safe landing on Vnukovo’s runway 06, approximately 18 minutes after descending from FL370. It was subsequently reported by the airport that the aircraft diverted due to a fuel system blockage. The reason for the diversion Sources note that the aircraft chose to divert to Vnukovo even though the technical problem did not affect the flight’s safety. From the sounds of it, the aircraft could have safely made it to Cheboksary. However, the problem would not have been an easy fix at the airport facilities in Cheboksary due to the lack of certified maintenance there. Conveniently, Pobeda’s main base is located at Moscow Vnukovo. As for the passengers, a replacement Boeing 737-800, registered as VP-BPX, departed Vnukovo about one hour after the incident aircraft touched down. The aircraft managed to reach Cheboksary with a total delay of just 70 minutes. The incident aircraft was able to return to service five hours after landing, flying three services later that same day. It conducted eight flights the following day (November 15th). About Pobeda A member of the Aeroflot group, Pobeda’s first flight took off on December 1st of 2014. The airline is proud to mention that during its startup, 7,000 tickets were sold within the first 12 hours. Since its early days, the airline has grown continuously, welcoming its one-millionth passenger after only seven months of operation. The airline then reached two million passengers after 10 months of operation. According to Planespotters.net, the airline is an all-Boeing 737-800 fleet. It has a fleet size of 34 aircraft, with an average age of 3.4 years. While Airfleets notes that 30 of its aircraft are active and four are parked, Planespotters.net data shows that 29 aircraft are active and five are parked. According to the Pobeda website, their 737-800 aircraft have 158 seats, including 20 seats containing extra legroom. The airline does not offer onboard refreshment services. In addition, Pobeda doesn’t allow passengers to take hot drinks onboard. https://simpleflying.com/pobeda-737-moscow-diversion/ Albany airport unveils digital incubator for safe, post-pandemic air travel ALBANY, N.Y. — Albany International Airport, in collaboration with General Electric, launched the first digitally-focused airport aimed at demonstrating new technologies to make air travel safer in a post-pandemic world. Highlighting the announcement was the Airport signing on as the launch customer for GE Aviation’s new Wellness Trace App, which the Airport has been using to track COVID-19 cleaning protocols. In the coming weeks, the Airport and GE will unveil other advanced artificial intelligence, machine learning and other digital technologies being deployed as part of this burgeoning Digital Incubator. “We’re proud to have GE partner with Albany International Airport, as we advance our new and forward-looking Master Plan that will establish a benchmark for the future design and operation of the nation’s airports. The use of GE’s cutting-edge Wellness Trace App is a major first step in our joint efforts to integrate new digital solutions to create safer travel in a post-pandemic world,” Philip Calderone, CEO of the Albany County Airport Authority stated. “It’s exciting that Albany International Airport is partnering with GE on cutting edge technology that may help travelers feel safer since COVID-19 has changed our world,” Albany County Executive Dan McCoy remarked. “Being able to scan a QR code and know the last time that surface at the airport was cleaned may alleviate some of the stress and uncertainty people are feeling as they venture out and bring back a sense of confidence. Any reassurance we can give people as they travel that they are doing so safely is important," McCoy explained. “We believe the digital vision Albany International Airport is advancing is exactly the kind of template airports and airlines will need to ensure safe, healthy travel through the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond,” Andrew Coleman, general manager of GE Aviation’s Digital Group noted. “We’re proud to have Albany International sign on as our launch customer. The App is helping them closely track COVID-19 cleaning protocols today, with the potential to track other health screening as the Industry and regulators navigate safe travel in a post-pandemic world," Coleman added. Wellness Trace App: GE Aviation officially launched its commercial Wellness Trace App offering in late June 2020, in partnership with TE FOOD and Eurofins. The App, secured by blockchain technology, provides a comprehensive platform for airports and airlines to track COVID-19 screening for both passengers and employees and set protocols for tracking the cleaning of objects in the airport or aboard aircraft to ensure they are regularly disinfected. Albany Airport is GE’s first customer. The app’s goal is to have the public light the way for safe travel. The vision for the Wellness Trace cleaning use case is to build a community similar to Waze, TripAdvisor, and Yelp. The app will offer the unique ability for the public to provide real time feedback into the cleanliness of their travel experience. For example, if a traveler needs to stop at a rest stop on their way to the airport, they can check Wellness Trace to find a clean one. If travelers need to grab a bite to eat near the airport, they can check Wellness Trace for the cleanest restaurants nearby. While in the airport, travelers can walk with confidence knowing the environment around them is now transparent and they can access cleaning information with just a quick scan from their mobile phone camera. The most exciting part is that travelers get a voice and can become part of a community where their voice will be heard, and the experience is free for the public. Albany Airport will be the first customer added to the Wellness Trace community, but GE Aviation is actively working to onboard many others right now. Albany International Airport initiated a three-month trial, during which its operations staff will use Wellness Trace to track cleaning and sanitation protocols for key areas and objects around the Airport. More than 45 QR barcode stickers have been placed in areas and on objects throughout the Airport. Using the Wellness Trace App from a mobile phone or tablet, operations staff will be able to validate the cleaning of objects by scanning each QR barcode. Passengers will be able to simply scan the QR barcode stickers with their mobile device and receive an instant status update for when a given object or area was last cleaned. Following the three-month trial, GE Aviation and Albany Airport officials will review the experience to discuss any updates or improvements that could be made to App. They also will discuss the feasibility of expanding use of the App for health screening. Wellness Trace is part of GE’s blockchain solutions portfolio that is expanding its definition of safety in the future by offering food traceability solutions, fuel assurance solutions, and maintenance solutions. For more information check out www.geaviation.com/wellnesstrace New Digital Incubator Technologies to be added by GE Research: In the following weeks, GE will introduce new digital technologies to test and trial from its Research Lab in Niskayuna. These advanced technologies involving the use of AI, machine learning and predictive analytics and modeling studies that will help the Airport stay ahead of changes it needs to make to ensure the safest possible footprint as air travel makes a gradual return to pre-pandemic levels. The Airport will provide a real-time environment for developing and advancing these technologies. https://www.saratogian.com/news/albany-airport-unveils-digital-incubator-for-safe-post-pandemic-air-travel/article_dd73c836-9c65-5bb5-a2d7-236bbf8cbfcd.html British Airways Stores Away its A380 Fleet in Madrid As cases rise in the UK, flag-carrier British Airways has decided to move part of its Airbus A380 fleet for storage in Madrid. With low demand for large-scale passenger travel since March, it will now be a while yet until the British Airways' A380s return to regular service. The International Air Transport Association also explains that global air traffic might not return to pre-pandemic levels until 2024. It is definitely a difficult time for the air travel industry, especially with the second wave now disrupting countries across the world. Many other carriers like the Qantas are also moving their planes to storage to cope with this change in passenger travel demand. According to [reports][1], most of British Airways A380 fleet has been hibernating at Chateauroux in France for the last few months, while only coming back to the UK for maintenance. It may also be possible that a number of A320s will be leaving the fleet - either to be scrapped or sold. The carrier has still not revealed how many of its A380s will move to the storage in Madrid. Although, the reason for this move remains undisclosed, it is possible that maintenance might be easier through IAG partner airline Iberia in Madrid, or the parking costs for storage might be more affordable. https://www.brecorder.com/news/40032631 Regaining passenger confidence and providing a safe environment An interview with Jose Antonio Canle, Head of SEMA Infrastructure and Escalator Business Hub, KONE. By Ross Falconer It goes without saying that we are living in unprecedented times, with uncertainty as to how long the world will be dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic. “With this picture in mind, we have to show passengers and airport users that being at the airport will be perfectly safe for them,” says Jose Antonio Canle, Head of SEMA Infrastructure and Escalator Business Hub, KONE. “We should see this situation as a call for all aviation industry stakeholders to change our way of understanding this business.” More important than ever is the need for all stakeholders to work together in what Canle describes as a “co-creation approach”. “We’ll need just one infected person at any airport to destroy passenger confidence and go back to the starting point. Our goal should be to create a ‘Health Safety Net’ around passengers and airport users, with each stakeholder contributing their best solutions and technology to ensure this is achieved.” KONE has launched its new “Health & Well-Being Solutions”, which are designed to ensure a ‘Health Safety Net’ around airport users and travellers. “We know that one of the riskiest places to be, when we are talking about the possibility of being infected by the virus, is any closed area – for example, inside elevators,” Canle explains. “To avoid that risk, we have the KONE Elevator AirPurifier to ensure a cleaner air quality inside our elevators.” Another risk factor is potentially-infected surfaces, and here too KONE has developed solutions. KONE Elevator Call reduces the need to touch elevator buttons, while KONE Handrail Sanitizer for escalators, autowalks and ramps uses a new ultra-violet, self-cleaning solution for thorough disinfection. “We are really proud to say that our KONE Health & Well-Being Solutions have been well accepted by our customers and we have a significant number of elevators and escalators already equipped with these solutions, with very positive customer feedback,” says Canle. “We can also add that some of them are using our solutions as part of their marketing campaigns to restore customer confidence.” Connectivity and digitalisation All companies are focused on developing new services and solutions based on the connectivity and digitalisation of their products. “Thanks to 5G implementation we’ll soon see a dramatic change in how we understand any business,” Canle comments. The KONE 24/7 Connected Services for airports were launched in 2018 and the company is in the process of connecting its elevators and escalators to the KONE Digital Platform. “This is giving us enormous visibility about the behaviour of our equipment, being able to predict any failure or misuse, and optimising the downtime of the elevators and escalators during maintenance,” says Canle. “Not only that, thanks to our KONE Digital Platform we have started to offer new services and solutions based on the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI). The opportunities that AI is giving us are unlimited. We are collaborating with our customers to define new solutions based on AI and are in the process of building our KONE Partner Ecosystem to collaborate with different accredited partners to meet new customer and end-user needs.” Canle adds that this year KONE DX – the first fully-connected elevator – has been launched, and KONE is in a position to be able to apply Application Programming Interface (API) to help its products interact with external software components and operating systems. “With these solutions, we can say that KONE is already in that ‘co-creative stage’ working together with our customers and partners to define new solutions and services to match their new expectations. Our aim is to deliver ‘digital experiences’ to all our customers.” http://www.airport-business.com/2020/11/regaining-passenger-confidence-providing-safe-environment/ Liftoff! Astronauts Head To Space Station On SpaceX Rocket Four astronauts lifted off Sunday night from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida aboard a SpaceX rocket bound for the International Space Station. Liftoff occurred right on schedule at 7:27 p.m., despite concerns about weather earlier in the day. NASA astronauts Mike Hopkins, Shannon Walker, Victor Glover, and Japanese astronaut Soichi Noguchi reached orbit after a 12-minute ride to space. The crewed flight is the second for SpaceX's Dragon capsule and the first since NASA officially certified the small spacecraft to carry people. The Dragon's first crewed flight took place in May, when Doug Hurley and Bob Behnken launched on a jaunt to the station. They stayed for roughly two months before returning to earth and splashing down in the Gulf of Mexico in early August. That flight was the first launch of American astronauts from American soil since the space shuttle program ended in 2011. Following the shuttle's retirement, NASA spent the better part of a decade paying the Russian space agency for seats aboard its Soyuz rockets. It hopes the Dragon can end that dependence by providing an American-made system to get astronauts into low earth orbit. This mission, known as "Crew-1," is supposed to be the first of many routine flights that will ferry astronauts to and from the station. Unlike the Soyuz, which has room for three crew members, the Dragon can carry up to seven passengers into orbit, according to the company. While the design fundamentally resembles older spacecraft like the Apollo capsules used to reach the moon, Dragon sports some modern upgrades such as a sleek white interior and touch-screen control panels. The arrival of four astronauts to the station will bring the total crew to seven. Normally the ISS is staffed with anywhere from three to six crew members, and space will be tight. Hopkins said he will likely have to make do with the capsule as his bedroom for the duration of the mission. The extra crew will help NASA to conduct more scientific research aboard the station, Hopkins said. "I think they're going to keep us pretty busy." The four astronauts will spend the next 28 hours enroute to the station aboard the capsule. Docking will occur Monday evening around 11 p.m. and will be televised by NASA TV. https://www.npr.org/2020/11/15/934185926/astronauts-prepare-to-launch-to-space-station-aboard-spacex-rocket Curt Lewis