sign in sign up
<<
Home , Bamboo Airways, Commercial aviation, Seletar Aerospace Park, Vishwajeet

VOL 19, NO. 01 JAN-FEB 2021

CLOSED

JUST WHEN THINGS WERE LOOKING UP…

FLEET RESTART SINO-US TIES Pulling planes from storage Will Biden ease tensions A planned sale finds could pose big problems for Chinese companies? few buyers for flag carrier Untitled-1 1 06-Jan-21 17:58:53 CONTENTS

20 23 26

FEATURES

14 MORE OF THE SAME? 26 DIGITAL REVOLUTION Just when things were looking up with vaccines COVID-19 has accelerated digitalisation getting approved and shipped at the end of 2020, On the cover: (Image from Shutterstock) efforts like never before, with airline mobile apps new COVID-19 variants arrived in Asia and around and solutions taking on new roles during the the world, throwing up new barriers to a return to pandemic. 4 VIEWPOINT ‘normal’. The challenges mean that aviation won’t A new year, but ‘new normal’ be improving anytime soon. 29 DOES ANYONE REALLY still missing  WANT AIR INDIA? 20 RESTARTING THE FLEET The government wants to sell Air India and NEWS With the peak northern summer approaching conglomerate Tata Sons wants to buy it, but the and vaccines offering hope, are preparing deal has failed to take off repeatedly over the past 6 BUSINESS AVIATION to bring their back in service, but a lack several years. Why is it taking so long? NEWS of planning and decision-making could cause headaches in the MRO world. 7 ROTOR/UAV NEWS 23 TRADE WARS COULD GROUND 8 MRO NEWS CHINESE AVIATION COMPANIES 9 INTERIORS/IFEC NEWS The three-year Sino-US trade dispute avoided striking American vendors that sell civilian aircraft 10 AVIATION PEOPLE ON and their parts to China, but suddenly they’re THE MOVE grappling with US bans on businesses with key Chinese aircraft builders, in turn leaving those 12 INDUSTRY NEWS buyers short of supplies.

Contributors Subscriptions: Rose Jeffree Printer: Times Printers Pte Ltd @AsianAviation Australia: Michael Doran, Emma Kelly, [email protected] ISSN 0129-9972 Benn Marks Asian Aviation (AAV) Advertising Offices : Ian Goold & Representation India: Neelam Mathews, Shelley Vishwajeet MICA (P) 198/02/2007 : Keishi Nukina Worldwide: Kay Rolland April 2021, readership 9747 Moscow: Vladimir Karnozov Phone/Mobile: +33 6 09 13 35 10 © ASIAN PRESS GROUP Pte Ltd Editor: Matt Driskill : Ralph Jennings [email protected] [email protected] Graphic Design: Elinor McDonald Russia & CIS: Laguk Co. Managing Director/Publisher: [email protected] Yuri Laskin, Sergei Kirshin Marilyn Tangye Butler Phone: + 7 495 912 1346 [email protected] Head Office — Fax: + 7 495 912 1260 Asian Press Group Pte Ltd [email protected]

Contributor’s opinions do not necessarily reflect those of the publisher or editor and while every precaution has been taken to ensure that the information contained in this publication is accurate and timely, no liability is accepted by the publisher or editor for errors and omissions, however caused. Articles and information contained in this publication are the copyright of Asian Press Group Pte Ltd (unless otherwise stated) and cannot be reproduced in any form without the written permission of the publisher. The publisher cannot accept responsibilityAsianAviation for loss or damage | June to 2016 uncommissioned 3 photographs, manuscripts or other media. VIEWPOINT

A new year, but ‘new normal’ still missing

IF YOU WERE LIKE ME LAST YEAR, you spent days online listening veloping its “ Pass” and the non-profit group The Commons to webinars and Zoom calls with experts in the aviation industry Project has developed one called the “CommonPass”. Both store prognosticating about the ‘new normal’ that would take hold once digital proof that the traveller has been tested for COVID-19 and we saw the end of the pandemic. And with the news of vaccines the border officials can scan the QR code to see where the traveller coming into play before the end of 2020, there was indeed a glim- was tested, which organisation did the testing, etc. Both of these mer of hope that things were looking up and it might be possible initiatives are great ideas and will, hopefully, become a reality sooner that we could take to the air again for international flights, borders rather than later. The only problem is, once again, governments are would reopen and the industry could try to earn back the billions dragging their heels on implementing them and efforts to coordinate of dollars it has lost. Now that we’ve entered the new year, it turns their rollout by organisations like ICAO are falling on deaf ears. As out that even with vaccines — being rolled out as slowly as they IATA’s de Juniac said: “This approach tells us that these governments are — we’re still waiting for whatever normality will arise and the are not interested in managing a balanced approach to the risks of signs aren’t promising. COVID-19. They appear to be aiming for a zero-COVID world. This is an impossible task that comes with severe consequences, the full COVID-19 & Quarantines extent of which would be impossible to calculate.” If you plan on travelling internationally on a regular basis this year, think again. Governments around world are not dropping their Hydrogen Dreams, Dodging Bullets quarantines anytime soon, especially as new strains of COVID-19 The duopoly of and bear watching this year as well. keep being discovered. Despite the pleas from organisations like Boeing dodged a major bullet when it settled a single US federal the International Air Transport Association (IATA), the Association charge of fraud in the 737 MAX debacle. The company agreed to of Asia- (AAPA) and the International pay US$2.5 billion to settle the case and blamed two errant em- Organisation (ICAO), governments, guided by their health author- ployees for the fiasco that cost the lives of 346 people who trusted ities, still take comfort (and political cover) in showing people that Boeing’s workmanship. Politicians in the US said the settlement they are “doing something”, even though we’ve seen that by the time was “pathetic” and a “disgrace” with one calling Boeing’s corporate a quarantine is actually in place, it’s too late. By some accounts, the culture “rotten”. Airbus, which is laying off employees left and right so-called “mutant UK strain” escaped Great Britain and was trav- (like other manufacturers) and bleeding cash, seems to be pinning elling around the world as early as December 2020. As Alexandre its hopes and future on hydrogen-powered planes and wants to de Juniac, the director general of IATA, said: “Science tells us that have one in the air by 2035. It’s a noble sentiment, but one wonders travellers will not be a significant factor in community transmission if how serious the company is about actually putting the necessary testing is used effectively. But most governments have tunnel-vision funding into such a moon-shot programme given the current state on quarantines and are not at all focused on finding ways to safely of the industry. For this to become a reality, it will take more than re-open borders, or alleviate the self-imposed economic and mental good thoughts and pretty pictures of futuristic planes. health hardships of the lockdowns.” As I’ve mentioned before, the old saying “may you live in inter- esting times” is really a curse. As they say in TV land, it remains to Digital Health be seen if 2021 will be as ‘interesting’ as last year. Hopefully not. When I first came to Asia to work for an NGO in then war-torn Sri Lanka in 1989, I had to carry a yellow card that showed proof I had been vaccinated against things like Yellow Fever. While a physical card may not make a comeback, organisations are developing a Matt DriskillEDITOR digital replacement using QR codes and smartphones. IATA is de- [email protected]

What a feeling of happiness being open to the world can give us. With know-how and understanding, our engineers develop future-proof FINANCE & LEASING ROUTE DEVELOPMENT BUSINESS AVIATION solutions in the form of hygiene concepts that allow passengers and crew Cooperation is the name Airlines are scaling back A bright spot dims as quarantines of the game to survive. once ambitious growth plans. cut into private jet operations. alike to travel safely. Your success is our mission.

highlights-diehlaviation.com/en/fly-again-together 4 AsianAviation | Jan-Feb 2021

Asian-Aviation-Nov-Dec-2020.indd 1 02.11.2020 09:38:03 What a feeling of happiness being open to the world can give us. With know-how and understanding, our engineers develop future-proof solutions in the form of hygiene concepts that allow passengers and crew alike to travel safely. Your success is our mission.

highlights-diehlaviation.com/en/fly-again-together

Asian-Aviation-Nov-Dec-2020.indd 1 02.11.2020 09:38:03 Business Aviation News

EXECUJET MRO SERVICES MALAYSIA GAINS NEW CERTIFICATION ExecuJet MRO Services Malaysia is now cer- tified to work on all in-production models of Dassault Falcon aircraft, making it the lead- ing maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) organisation in Asia for Dassault Aviation civil aircraft. ExecuJet has now completed TAG Aviation welcomes two aircraft significant maintenance checks on all current production models of Dassault Aviation civil to its Asia fleet aircraft, namely the Falcon 900, Falcon 2000, TAG Aviation welcomed a new Gulfstream G600 and a new Bombardier Global 7500 to Falcon 7X and Falcon 8X. Some notable ex- its Asia fleet in the fourth quarter of 2020. TAG Aviation is one of the few operators in the amples include completion of a 24-month region managing the two newest aircraft models from Gulfstream and Bombardier. The new maintenance check on a Philippine-regis- Gulfstream G600 has just entered into service and is one of the first delivered to Asia. It tered Falcon 900EX with ADSB-Out upgrade joins a comprehensive fleet of more than 20 Gulfstream aircraft under TAG Aviation man- and several 24-month/1600 flight hours agement in Asia, which includes a G280, G450, G550, and G650/G650ER aircraft. The new inspection on Falcon 2000 series aircraft. Bombardier Global 7500 is the second in TAG Aviation’s Asia fleet and joins more than 20 ExecuJet’s hangar, workshops and office oc- other Bombardier aircraft including Challenger 604, 605 and 850 aircraft as well as Global cupies 64,000 square feet of land at Subang 5000, XRS, 6000 and 7500 models. — MATT DRISKILL but, as a temporary measure so it can cater to the increased flow of maintenance TEXTRON AVIATION ANNOUNCES NEW CESSNA work, it has expanded into a second hangar that is 32,000 square feet and is adjacent to MONITORING OPTIONS its main facility. Due to its growing business, Textron Aviation announced new aircraft transfer their flight data to one of two cus- the company plans to move into a new, pur- flight data monitoring (FDM) service options tomer-selected Flight Operational Quality pose-built facility at another section of the for Cessna Citation business jets equipped Assurance (FOQA) providers, Flight Data airport that will be dedicated to business avi- with Aircraft Recording System II (AReS Services L3Harris Technologies’ Flight Data ation. The new facility will be 100,000-150,000 II). Through Textron Aviation’s proprietary Connect service or Safran Electronics & square feet and have a hangar large enough LinxUs data reporting ecosystem, Cess- Defense’s Cassiopée Flight Data Monitoring to fit 10 to 15 large-cabin, long-range busi- na Citation customers can now choose to solution. — MATT DRISKILL ness jets simultaneously. — MATT DRISKILL

JET AVIATION INCREASES CHARTER SERVICES IN RESPONSE TO GROWING DEMAND

Jet Aviation announced that is expanding in 2020. With COVID bringing airlines to inquiries in particular, the company has its charter and aircraft management ser- a near standstill in 2020, Jet Aviation has broadened its services to meet the varying vices with 41 new global fleet additions. been responding to a marked increase in requirements of its customers and Jet Avi- The expansion comes in response to demand for aircraft management and char- ation also continues to add new aircraft to growing inquiries about charter services, ter services. its global aircraft management and charter despite the overall slowdown of Noting a five-fold increase in charter fleet. — MATT DRISKILL

SINO JET WINS FIVE AT WORLD TRAVEL AWARDS 2020 Sino Jet Group has been presented with and China’s Leading Private Jet Charter safeguard passenger and crew safety. By five wins at the World Travel Awards 2020 2020. Sino Jet said that its stability and February 2020, the company had imple- including World’s Leading Private Jet Com- growth in 2020 came in part because of mented comprehensive safety practices pany 2020, World’s Leading Travel Club its swift implementation of new safety pro- including aircraft disinfection, double-crew 2020, Asia’s Leading Travel Club 2020, and tocols. It secured confidence by adjusting roster scheduling to manage quarantine Asia’s Leading Private Jet Charter 2020, its standard operating practice (SOP) to regulations — MATT DRISKILL

6 AsianAviation | Jan-Feb 2021 Rotor/UAV News

LEONARDO ANNOUNCES DRONE CONTEST The 2021 edition of the Leonardo Drone Con- test will be a “drone game” in which new technologies and functions will be applied in a new arena. Much like the formula in the first edition, the new competition will include a scientific and technological presentation symposium at the end of spring 2021, and the development of the new tender which will be held in the autumn at Leonardo’s Aircraft headquarters in Turin. — MATT DRISKILL Volocopter commits to launch in Singapore ROSTEC STARTS Volocopter announced its commitment to launch air taxi services in Singapore after two ASSEMBLING FIRST MI-171A3 years of close collaboration with the city. Working together with the Economic Development Russian Helicopters has started assem- Board of Singapore (EDB) and the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS), Volocopter bling the first prototype of Mi-171A3 off- plans to make air taxi services a reality in the Southeast Asian city-state within the next three shore helicopter. The Mi-171A3 comes with years. In October 2019, Volocopter completed an air taxi demonstration flight in Singapore several significant upgrades including a over the Marina Bay area. Leading up to this flight, the company opened a Singapore office new airframe that integrates a crash-re- in 2019, conducted extensive flight tests, and worked with the Ministry of Transport (MOT) sistant fuel system into the bay floor and CAAS, to receive the necessary permits to fly. Meanwhile, Volocopter and ADAC Luftret- and modernised avionics upgraded for off- tung announced that ADAC Luftrettung has reserved two VoloCity electric vertical take-off shore operations and flights in the Arctic. and landing (eVTOL) aircraft to prepare for operational tests in 2023 on multicopter use for — MATT DRISKILL emergency medical services. — MATT DRISKILL

EMBRAERX, AIRSERVICES AUSTRALIA OUTLINE URBAN AIR MOBILITY CONCEPT ERICKSON GETS FINAL FAA CERTIFICATION OF EmbraerX, a subsidiary of Embraer, and Solutions, the new EmbraerX spin-off, will Airservices, Australia’s civil air navigation be responsible for this partnership with Air- COMPOSITE BLADES service provider, have developed a new services and for the development of Urban Erickson announced final FAA certification concept of operations (CONOPS) for the Air Traffic Management solutions. CONOPS for the composite main rotor blades on the air taxi market, also known as urban air explores new and practical concepts to S-64F and CH-54B. Earlier this year, Erickson mobility (UAM). safely facilitate the introduction of the air announced FAA approval of the S-64E Going forward, Eve Urban Air Mobility taxi industry. — MATT DRISKILL model. This recent announcement finalises the certification of the S-64F and CH-54B, solidifying FAA certification for the entire fleet RUSSIAN HELICOPTERS DELIVERS FIRST ANSAT of S-64 Air Crane E & F models, as well as the The Russian Helicopters holding company CH-54 Skycrane A & B models. The advanced (part of Rostec State Corporation) has de- design of the blades provides a significant livered a first Ansat helicopter to a client performance advantage, especially in hot and in Europe. The operator of the rotorcraft, high conditions. which is equipped for medical operations, is the Ministry of Interior of the Republika ÖAMTC AIR RESCUE STARTS Srpska (Bosnia and Herzegovina). This is with a stretcher and a medical shelf. The FLEET MODERNISATION WITH the first of three helicopters under the de- helicopter cabin has space for transporting FIVE AIRBUS H135S livery contract. Ansat for Republika Srpska one patient and two chairs for accompany- Airbus Helicopters and ÖAMTC Air Rescue comes with a medical module equipped ing doctors. — MATT DRISKILL have signed a firm contract for the purchase of five H135s. The delivery of the first helicopter of this contract is scheduled for early 2022.

AsianAviation | Jan-Feb 2021 7 MRO News PRATT & WHITNEY PRATT PRATT & WHITNEY ADDS SECOND GTF MRO SHOP IN CHINA GKN signs deal with COMAC and AVIC Pratt & Whitney announced that it will ex- pand its global network of providers that COMAC subsidiary SAMC (Shanghai Aircraft Manufacturing Company), AVIC Supply and GKN maintain the Pratt & Whitney GTF engine Aerospace have signed a joint venture (JV) agreement for the manufacture of composite and to include MTU Maintenance Zhuhai. A metallic aerostructures in Jingjiang, Jiangsu Province, China. The deal is part of GKN’s plan to joint venture between MTU Aero Engines grow within the commercial aerospace market within China. The 80,000 square metre facility and China Southern Airline Company, MTU in Jingjiang will be GKN Aerospace’s first aerostructures JV in China. It will offer COMAC, AVIC Maintenance Zhuhai will provide engine and Western customers the opportunity to access a local supply of advanced aerostructures in maintenance for PW1100G-JM engines for the country. The JV builds on COMAC, AVIC and GKN Aerospace’s record in the global com- the of aircraft. The mercial aviation industry. Production is scheduled to begin in Q4 2021 and, by the mid-2020s, Zhuhai facility will be MTU’s third facility the workforce is expected to grow to 1,000 people. In addition to the JV facility, GKN Aerospace to serve engines with full disassembly, as- is in final preparations to open (April 2021) a separate 20,000 square metre site in Jingjiang, sembly and test capability in the GTF MRO focusing on the manufacture of transparencies for the commercial market. — MATT DRISKILL network. MTU Maintenance Zhuhai will be- come the second facility in China and fifth in MRO CHINA AIRCRAFT SERVICES Asia supporting GTF MRO work, alongside WELCOMES NEW CLIENT JSC ROYAL FLIGHT AIRLINES AMECO in China, Pratt & Whitney’s Eagle China Aircraft Services Limited (CASL) has Founded in 1995, CASL is a joint venture Services Asia (ESA) in Singapore, as well as signed JSC Royal Flight Airlines as a new between China National Aviation Corpo- IHI and MHIAEL in Japan. — MATT DRISKILL client with flights from Moscow’s Vnukovo ration, , and (VKO) and Shereme- Gama Group, providing aircraft line and MEGGITT SECURES tyevo International Airport (SVO) to Hong base maintenance, cabin services, ground CONTRACT WITH SICHUAN Kong International Airport. services equipment and business jet main- SERVICES AERO-ENGINE CASL will provide ground handling and tenance, as well as supply and storage ser- mechanic support to the airline’s Boeing vices at Hong Kong International Airport. Meggitt has secured a three-year con- 767 and 777 flights to and from Hong Kong. — MATT DRISKILL tract with Sichuan Services Aero-Engine Maintenance Company (SSAMC) to supply REVIMA OBTAINS PART-145 CERTIFICATION components for the CFM56 engine. The FOR THAILAND FACILITY contract has a lifetime value of approxi- mately US$1 million. SSAMC is a 60/40 Revima, an independent APU and landing joint venture between and CFM, gear MRO company, has completed the and is based at the Chengdu-Shuangliu certification process for its new landing airport. — MATT DRISKILL gear facility in Chonburi, south of Bang- kok, Thailand. Construction on the 120,000 MAGNETIC MRO SIGNS DEAL square foot facility began in February 2019 WITH AUSTRALIA’S REX and was completed in March 2020. In parallel, a significant staffing and train- Magnetic MRO, a Total Technical Care ing program was initiated and completed, and Asset Management organisation, has with numerous months of professional and announced that it has recently signed a hands-on training at Revima’s headquarters CAMO service agreement with the Aus- in Normandy, . The US$40 million tralian operator REX Airlines (RAL) which facility is equipped with the latest machin- monitoring and maintenance processes. will be in operation in the first quarter in ery and tooling, fully connected for smart — MATT DRISKILL 2021. — MATT DRISKILL

8 AsianAviation | Jan-Feb 2021 MOMENT CONNECTS 120 MILLION PASSENGERS IN 2020 Interiors/IFEC News Moment, a French provider of on-board digital solutions, announced a five-fold increase in the use of its solutions, reaching a 120 million passenger user-base. Thanks to its resilience and agility, the company was able to drastically increase the scale of its operations in 2020, inking three new contracts with airlines, while expanding into new business segments.

INMARSAT SATELLITE ENTERS SERVICE FOR AVIATION BROADBAND Inmarsat said its newest and most advanced satellite to date, the GX5, is now delivering capacity to Europe and the Middle East as part of the industry-leading Global Xpress (GX) network, which powers Recaro Aircraft inks deal with employees, the GX Aviation and Jet ConneX (JX) inflight Wi-Fi services. releases new products Aircraft seating manufacturer Recaro Aircraft Seating said a majority of its employees have voted to approve the company’s concessions plan to help keep the company in business. A total of 95 percent of IG-Metall (IGM) members voted “yes” for the concessions made by employees, which prevents dismissals for operational reasons. Additionally, Recaro revealed a luxury seat for ’ first Premium Economy cabin. The customised seat design was a result of a collaboration between Recaro and Emirates, which began in April 2019 at a seat show held in parallel to the Aircraft Interiors Expo. Recaro also announced that KLM Royal Dutch Airlines (KLM) is the launch customer for the SL3710 seat on Embraer and Boeing aircraft. KLM ordered more than 5,500 seat pax of the SL3710 and nearly 2,000 JOLED AND AERQ seat pax of the BL3710, which are slated for delivery starting in February 2021. The Recaro WORK ON OLED DISPLAYS seats will be retrofitted on a number of Embraer E190 and Boeing B737-800, and will be line-fitted on the Embraer E195. — MATT DRISKILL Japan’s JOLED, an OLED expert and manu- facturer of 4K OLED by printing technology, and AERQ, a promoter of digital transforma- THINKOM SOLUTIONS SUPPLIES ANTENNAS FOR INMARSAT tion for aircraft cabins, announced a collab- ThinKom Solutions announced it is sup- technology underpinning Inmarsat’s GX Avi- oration aiming to integrate medium-sized plying its ThinAir Ka2517 aero satellite an- ation broadband satellite inflight connectiv- OLED displays in aircraft cabins. AERQ is tennas to GDC Technics, in support of In- ity (IFC) solutions, including the new GX+ a joint venture between LG Electronics and marsat’s next-generation GX terminal and North American IFC service announced by Technik, founded in 2019 to make associated inflight broadband services. Inmarsat and Hughes Network Systems ear- airlines the playmaker of their digitalised The Ka2517 will serve as a critical enabling lier this year. — MATT DRISKILL cabin experience by introducing innovative technologies to the aviation industry. AERQ ONEWEB SUCCESSFULLY INTELSAT COMPLETES provides a digital ecosystem that consists DEPLOYS 36 BIRDS ACQUISITION OF GOGO of an open IT platform, in-seat system, and Cabin Digital Signage. By leveraging LG OneWeb’s fourth launch overall and the third COMMERCIAL AVIATION Electronics’ extensive knowledge in dis- for 2020 is the first to be conducted with Intelsat announced it has completed its ac- play technologies, AERQ is aiming to utilise Soyuz by Arianespace from the Vostoch- quisition of the commercial aviation business OLED displays in aircraft cabins. AERQ has ny Cosmodrome in Russia. By successfully of Gogo. The closing of the US$400 million demonstrated its Welcome Board, is work- placing 36 new OneWeb constellation sat- cash deal brings together two complemen- ing on ceiling panels using large OLED dis- ellites into orbit, Arianespace resumed the tary enterprises — the world’s largest satellite plays, and has also revealed a concept for deployment of this client’s satellite network, operator with the leading provider of com- a class-divider using transparent displays. which now is composed of 110 satellites in mercial inflight broadband and entertain- — MATT DRISKILL low Earth orbit. — MATT DRISKILL ment services. — MATT DRISKILL

AsianAviation | Jan-Feb 2021 9 Aviation People on the Move

ACS has appointed the BAA TRAINING has succeeds Muhammad Albakri. IATA also experienced Jason Bird as named Aurimas Urbonas announced that Willie Walsh will take over head of cargo in their as managing director for as director general and CEO. Singapore office. BAA Training Spain. JET SUPPORT SERVICES, The BII.AERO has appointed has named Pascale ASSOCIATION has named Andrew Newell as sales Barhouch as director of Glenn Hogben as CEO. He director. Newell brings a business development for will work to ensure the ACA highly specialised the Middle East and India. continues to lead the expertise in the aircraft industry and support its members through interiors sector and is tasked with setting current challenges and into the future. up a new centre of excellence at Bii.

GALEY SUPPORT INNOVATIONS has MARTA RAMIREZ KEN NIEZE promoted David Valovich to the position of vice PAYCARGO has appointed Marta Ramirez president of Operations and Ken Nieze as vice presidents. Ramirez GIOVANNI ANDREW MASON DARREN HARDING PEDACCINI and Administration. is the new Global VP, Human Resources, based at PayCargo’s Florida headquarters AIRPORT DIMENSIONS has appointed Nieze appointed VP of Sales, West Coast, Giovanni Pedaccini as its new commercial based in Seattle. manager and Andrew Mason as new creative director. The company also named Darren Harding as its new has named Chen Sy Yen as LIN SHIH YING DR KIAN CHUAN ERIC HERMAN the new general manager commercial director. (NANA LIN) CHAN for India. Chen has held key GEODIS has named Lin Shih Ying (Nana positions at the SIA head has appointed Richard Lin) as managing director for Taiwan office as well as at overseas stations. Thomson as its chief and becomes the second female MD in financial officer. Thomson GEODIS’ Asia-Pacific region. The company is a former Air New has also named Dr Kian Chuan Chang Zealander and has been CFO of publicly as regional customs brokerage director listed Metlifecare for the past three years. and Eric Herman as managing director for

contract logistics in APAC. DAVID SETTERGREN JAY AIKEN ARGUS INTERNATIONAL, SR TECHNICS named David Settergren as has named Mike vice president for Asia and named Jay McCready as senior vice Aiken as vice president for the . president of Operations and Business Development. VIRGIN GALACTIC KAMIL H. AL-AWADHI WILLIE WALSH HOLDINGS has named ATPCO has named Alex The INTERNATIONAL AIR TRANSPORT Alistair Burns as chief Zoghlin as president and ASSOCIATION has named Kamil H. information officer. Burns CEO following a two- Al-Awadhi as IATA’s regional vice will be responsible for month, in-depth handover president for Africa and Middle East, delivering the technology strategy for with the executive team. effective 1 March 2021. Al-Awadhi Virgin Galactic.

10 AsianAviation | Jan-Feb 2021 KEEP. I T. SIMPLE.

WHEELS AND BRAKES. IT’S THAT SIMPLE.

TPAEROSPACE.COM Industry News

NOKIA SHANGHAI BELL SNAGS HKIA DEAL Nokia Shanghai Bell announced that the Hong Kong (AAHK) will deploy a new, high-bandwidth, mission-crit- ical Nokia IP/MPLS network to support tow- er operations at Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA). In addition to provision of packet-based IP routing solutions, Nokia will support and manage migration of lega- cy non-IP aviation applications to the new network. — MATT DRISKILL

HONEYWELL, SIGN APU DEAL Sichuan Airlines has selected Honeywell’s 131-9A auxiliary power units (APUs) for its

TRU A320 fleet of aircraft. As part of a five-year agreement, Honeywell will provide the 131- 9A APU for Sichuan Airline’s 93 new A320 China’s CAFUC lines up training suppliers aircraft that will enter service by 2025. The ALSIM and TRU Simulation+Training have won contracts with the Civil Aviation Flight Uni- airline will also replace the APUs on its 141 versity of China (CAFUC). TRU said it had signed a deal with CAFUC to build and install existing A320 aircraft with the same Hon- a Cessna Citation M2 light jet Level D Full Flight Simulator (FFS) at the training centre in eywell APU. This is the largest APU retrofit Guanghan, China, to support CAFUC’s fleet of new Citation M2 aircraft delivered this year. deal in Honeywell’s history. — MATT DRISKILL CAFUC’s fleet of Cessna aircraft includes 159 Cessna Skyhawk pistons, the largest in Chi- na, four new Citation M2 light jets and seven Cessna Citation CJ1/CJ1+ light jets. ALSIM PLAZA PREMIUM GROUP meanwhile, announced that it won a deal to supply five ALSR20 and one AL172 simulators. AND MARHABA FORM The latest purchase increases the CAFUC’s fleet of Alsim simulators to a total of 15 devic- PARTNERSHIP es, already composed of AL42s, specific Diamond DA42 and AL172s, specific Cessna 172 Skyhawks. In total, this latest deal brings the total contract value between ALSIM and the Plaza Premium Group and marhaba have CAFUC to about US$3.9 million in the last two years. — MATT DRISKILL formed a strategic partnership to enhance their offering of airport lounges and ‘meet CHINESE COMPANY WINS CAMBODIAN AIRPORT DEAL and greet’ services. The partnership will see the two companies expand market presence Metallurgical Corporation of China (MCC) of which is being funded by China. The air- by consolidating service distribution and has been awarded the 2.67 billion yuan port is part of the Cambodian government’s customer engagement through integrated (US$405 million) contract to design and strategy to boost tourism, but it comes as cross-selling capabilities. The partnership construct the airfield for a new airport in other planned projects, including a new re- will initially cover major in strategic Phnom Penh, Cambodia. The airport has a sort near Angkor Wat, face questions over markets across Asia, the Middle East and total cost estimated at US$1.5 billion, most their long-term feasibility. — MATT DRISKILL Europe. — MATT DRISKILL

AEROLEASE AVIATION CANCELS DEAL WITH MITSUBISHI AIRCRAFT

Mitsubishi Aircraft Corporation announced when Mitsubishi restarts development of stands at 153, the majority of them to Jap- that its deal with Aerolease Aviation for the the regional jet. anese carriers. Mitsubishi Aircraft also has Spacejet has been cancelled and the two With Aerolease’s cancellation, the total 114 options for the type, according to Cirium sides agreed to “revisit” a possible contract number of firm orders for the SpaceJet now fleets data. — MATT DRISKILL

12 AsianAviation | Jan-Feb 2021 APOC AVIATION OPENS NEW WAREHOUSE IN SINGAPORE As part of the on-going strategic plan to expand its global footprint, APOC Aviation, a leasing, trading, aircraft component and part- out specialist, has announced the opening of its first facility outside Europe. The new APOC , SABRE , JAL, PLAN JV base in Singapore will hold stock of modern RENEW DEAL TO HELP RECOVERY OF A320 family and B737 components, providing INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL the local market with faster access to their Sabre has renewed its long-term distribution stock of spares inventory. partnership with Korea’s largest low-cost Qantas and (JAL) announced carrier (LCC), Jeju Air. The renewed agree- plans to form a new joint business for cus- AUSTRALIA’S PEL-AIR ment means that Sabre will continue to tomers travelling between Australia, New RECEIVES KING AIR FOR distribute Jeju Air’s content to hundreds of Zealand and Japan to support the tourism AIR AMBULANCE SERVICE thousands of travel agents, and the travellers industry’s recovery when international fly- Australian regional carrier Rex announced they serve, through its extensive, worldwide ing resumes amid the COVID-19 pandemic. that its subsidiary Pel-Air has taken delivery travel marketplace. Jeju Air typically operates The airlines have submitted an application of the first of five Beechcraft King Air 350 scheduled domestic services between cities for authorisation to regulators in Australia aircraft for the NSW Ambulance fixed-wing across as well as between and New Zealand, with a decision expected patient transport service commencing Air and international destinations including Ja- within six months. Subject to this regulatory Ambulance operations in January 2022. pan, China, Russia, the Mariana Islands, and approval, it is anticipated that the joint busi- Pel-Air was awarded this contract in a number of key destinations across South- ness would commence operations around February 2020. The aircraft will undergo east Asia. — MATT DRISKILL July 2021. — MATT DRISKILL modifications locally, to meet the very stringent requirements of NSW Ambulance.

BAA TRAINING SIGNS DEAL WITH BAA Training and Vietravel Airlines have signed a long-term partnership agreement. BAA Training has committed to the start-up airline Vietravel, controlled by Vietnam’s leading tour operator Vietravel, to provide wet and dry Airbus A320 full-flight simulator lease services. The first students AIRBUS occupied the Airbus A320 full-flight simulator (FFS) from November 2020. AIRBUS INAUGURATES NEW SINGAPORE CAMPUS BAMBOO AIRWAYS SELECTS Airbus has officially opened its new integrat- house has increased storage volume and ed campus in Singapore. The inauguration capacity by over 70 percent. Also located at AFI KLM E&M FOR was hosted by Christian Scherer, Airbus the campus is the new oper- COMPONENTS SUPPORT chief commercial officer, along with Chan ation for the Airbus digital services platform Bamboo Airways in Vietnam has contracted Chun Sing, minister for Trade and Indus- Skywise. In addition to supporting Skywise with Industries KLM Engineering try for Singapore. Located at Singapore’s customers, the team based in Singapore will & Maintenance (AFI KLM E&M) to provide Aerospace Park, the new campus be involved in exploring potential partner- component support for its Boeing 787 fleet. covers an area of 51,000 square metres. It ships with start-ups and other technology The long-term component contract, between is an expansion of an existing site, housing providers in the region. The campus will also Bamboo Airways and AFI KLM E&M covers the Airbus Asia Training Centre (AATC), a be home to a branch of the global Airbus component repair, spares pool access and joint venture between Airbus and Singapore Leadership University, providing training logistics for a fleet of 14 aircraft. Moreover, Airlines, and the company’s Asia-Pacific and tailored development programmes for Bamboo Airways becomes the 21st member spare parts distribution facility, operated company employees. When operational, the to join the AFI KLM E&M 787 Operators by Airbus subsidiary Satair. New facilities Singapore facility will be second in Asia, Community and will benefit from AFI KLM at the campus include offices serving as the complementing an existing centre in Bei- E&M global network and reliable predictive company’s regional hub for its commercial jing, and will offer courses to employees maintenance tool, Prognos. aircraft, defence, space and helicopter busi- based at Airbus offices across the region. nesses. In addition, a second Satair ware- — MATT DRISKILL

AsianAviation | Jan-Feb 2021 13 CLOSED

Partnership counts

More of the same? SHUTTERSTOCK If you need assistance, even beyond normal support services Just when things were looking up with vaccines getting approved and shipped – we are here at the end of 2020, new COVID-19 variants arrived in Asia and around the to help! world, throwing up new barriers to a return to ‘normal’. The challenges mean that aviation won’t be improving anytime soon as Matt Driskill explains. We are your engine experts THE PAST YEAR WAS UNPRECEDENTED as anyone involved efforts to develop a ‘digital health ’ that would smooth the Our people make the diff erence. We are passionate. We are dedicated. We marry engineering in aviation knows. But the industry in November last year gave a way for travellers crossing borders, cargo carriers were preparing with intelligent creativity. And we never give up unless an optimal solution has been found. collective sigh of relief when news broke that vaccines were on the super-cold transportation for vaccines and countries large and small As the global market leader in customized solutions for aero engines, MTU Maintenance way and the dreaded quarantines put in place to stem the spread were opening ‘green lanes’ or ‘travel bubbles’ to kickstart flights supports you with the right product across the lifecycle of your engine. From innovative of COVID-19 might be going away. People were also applauding across borders. maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) services, to integrated leasing and asset management. Contact us and fi nd your solution today.

14 AsianAviation | Jan-Feb 2021 www.mtu.de/en

MMaint_E_235x275_Asian_Aviation_01.inddaint_E_235x275_Asian_Aviation_01.indd 1 114.01.214.01.21 009:099:09 Partnership counts If you need assistance, even beyond normal support services – we are here to help!

We are your engine experts

Our people make the diff erence. We are passionate. We are dedicated. We marry engineering with intelligent creativity. And we never give up unless an optimal solution has been found. As the global market leader in customized solutions for aero engines, MTU Maintenance supports you with the right product across the lifecycle of your engine. From innovative maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) services, to integrated leasing and asset management. Contact us and fi nd your solution today.

www.mtu.de/en

MMaint_E_235x275_Asian_Aviation_01.inddaint_E_235x275_Asian_Aviation_01.indd 1 114.01.214.01.21 009:099:09 AVIATION OUTLOOK ICAO

With the new variants of the virus spreading faster and wider, Paralysed revenue streams botched rollouts of vaccination centres and no end in sight to the pandemic and the troubles it has wrought, the aviation industry resulting from the plunge in air traffic needs to hold on until at least mid-to-late 2021 to see any sign of has led to severe liquidity strains improvement, according to industry associations, experts, airline officials and others. across the aviation value chain… “Paralysed revenue streams resulting from the plunge in air traffic INTERNATIONAL CIVIL AVIATION ORGANISATION has led to severe liquidity strains across the aviation value chain, placing the industry’s financial viability in question and threatening millions of jobs around the world,” the International Civil Aviation the global picture only by the second quarter of 2021, though this Organisation (ICAO) said recently. Cascading impacts have also will still be subject to the effectiveness of pandemic management been severe across tourism markets globally, given that over 50 and vaccination rollout.” percent of international tourists formerly used air travel to reach their destinations.” Airlines The global US$370 billion drop in gross airline passenger oper- The world’s airlines alone need additional funding of at least US$70 ating revenues represented losses of US$120 billion in the Asia-Pa- billion to US$80 billion, according to Alexandre de Juniac, the out- cific, US$100 billion in Europe, and US$88 billion in , going director general of the International Air Transport Association followed by US$26 billion, US$22 billion and US$14 billion in Latin (IATA). That additional funding is in addition to about US$170 billion America and the Caribbean, the Middle East and Africa, respectively, that airlines have already received via various public and private ICAO data showed. ICAO said “the near-term outlook is for pro- funding measures. IATA warned in January that the former bright longed depressed demand, with downside risks to global air travel spot of domestic travel in countries like China, Japan and South recovery predominating in the first quarter of 2021, and likely to be Korea dimmed in November, down 41 percent year-on-year, while subject to further deterioration. ICAO expects any improvement in international traffic was down 88 percent. IATA data also showed that

16 AsianAviation | Jan-Feb 2021 AVIATION OUTLOOK

forward bookings were down 88 percent from 2019. While we still see airlines turning cash positive De Juniac said the funding would help airlines sur- vive until at least June, when he said he expects the within the year, the near-term picture is bleak. first signs of travel restrictions to ease as COVID-19 Instead of a boost from the year-end holiday period, vaccines begin to play a bigger role in containing we got even more restrictions. the virus. De Juniac said he expects to see more air- lines fail in the coming months if they don’t receive ALEXANDRE DE JUNIAC, INTERNATIONAL AIR TRANSPORT ASSOCIATION. additional funding, which would be added to the 30-40 that have already folded like AirAsia Japan and , or gone through administration like . Also affecting travel will be increased airfares. While airlines “While we still see airlines turning cash positive within the year, might initially cut fares to spur passenger uptake, a decided lack the near-term picture is bleak,” de Juniac said in January. “Instead of business travellers will force airlines to raise fares, most industry of a boost from the year-end holiday period, we got even more re- experts agree. This is because corporate accountants have seen strictions. Governments tightened borders in a knee-jerk response that much of their company business travel can be supplanted by to a virus mutation. Canada, UK, Germany, Japan and others added online meetings or other indirect means. This has been illustrated testing to their COVID-19 measures without removing quarantine in the aviation industry by companies such as lessors who have requirements. In other words, they have chosen policy measures that managed the process of bring planes off-lease by using third-parties will shut down travel. This approach tells us that these governments where the planes are based to conduct virtual inspections. Fares are not interested in managing a balanced approach to the risks of are already rising in some cases, according to industry data that COVID-19. They appear to be aiming for a zero-COVID world. This showed fares in the US are trending as much as 70 is an impossible task that comes with severe consequences—the percent higher compared to 2020 fares for March 2021 departures full extent of which it would be impossible to calculate. But, with this while Economy fares are up 18 percent. approach, we know for sure that the travel and tourism economy The “absence of corporate travel will undermine quite significantly will not recover, jobs will continue to disappear and the lockdown’s the economics of long-haul flying,” said Peter Harbison, chairman toll on people’s mental health will continue to grow, particularly on of the CAPA Centre for Aviation at a recent online event in those who are separated from loved ones.” Australia. “I should say very significantly, not quite significantly. And IATA

AsianAviation | Jan-Feb 2021 17 AVIATION OUTLOOK

leverage the use of the vaccines in that way to expand it, and so its role in international aviation.” Harbison also said low-cost carriers will recover fastest because they’re “usually best positioned to benefit from the recovery process after a major shock. In these subdued economic conditions, they have lower costs therefore can afford to fly at lower fares. And the recovery will be led by domestic and international short-haul mar- kets, LCC typical markets, VFR and leisure travel, and by the fact that there’ll be limited business travel demand this year. Equally, most LCCs have better balance sheets than the full service carriers, and tend to be more nimble in their approach to getting in and out of markets.”

OEM Outlook The latest data from Cirium’s Fleet Forecast that was released late year showed the world will need US$2.8 trillion worth of new CAPA aircraft over the next 20 years, despite the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic significantly reducing deliveries of new aircraft during There will be bilateral bubbles, again, 2020. The report predicts that 43,315 new passenger and freighter aircraft will be delivered between 2020 and 2039, representing an only with a combination of testing and 8 percent drop compared to the 20-year outlook in the 2019 Cirium vaccination. Vaccination alone is unlikely Fleet Forecast and includes some 4,600 fewer deliveries in the next decade. Engine flying hours will also fall by 45 percent in 2020 to 94 to provide the solution. million, compared to 170 million in 2019. However, the use of more efficient aircraft this year means that total CO2 emissions are likely PETER HARBISON, CAPA CENTRE FOR AVIATION to be down by 50 percent. Over the next 20 years, total engine flying hours will increase to 310 million. we’ve seen, of course, that borders will close and open unpredictably Asian markets will be the growth engine for the global aviation as circumstances change. Hopefully the rapidity of those closures industry during the next two decades, the report forecast. China and the widespread nature will not be as significant as they’ve looks to be the biggest single destination for new commercial and been in late 2020, but we know that they will occur. And exceptions passenger aircraft deliveries between 2020 and 2039, with a 22 to where the vaccine might help, perhaps — and this is a delicate percent share — one point ahead of the rest of Asia combined. argument — the major transit hubs like the Middle East, Singapore, Airbus and Boeing are expected to remain the two largest com- Hong Kong. Intensive testing may allow them to reconnect with mercial aircraft manufacturers (OEMs), between them delivering an state-of-the-art airport connections and restore a position in long- estimated 77 percent of aircraft and 86 percent by value through haul global travel. They still will be subject to lower corporate travel 2039. In the passenger market, single-aisle jets will account for 67 and less business travel revenues, but they do have typically lower percent of deliveries and 54 percent of delivery value, with the core costs than the full-service carriers elsewhere. of this US$1.5 trillion market continuing to be the 150-seat size, “There will be bilateral bubbles, again, only with a combination typified by the Airbus A320neo and Boeing 737 Max 8. The US$1.1 of testing and vaccination, “ Harbison said. “Vaccination alone trillion twin-aisle market will focus on 787s and A350s, with “mid- is unlikely to provide the solution. Within Europe, perhaps, even sized” 250-300 seaters taking almost two-thirds of delivery value. though the EU is being relatively slow in adopting and allocating Twin-aisle supply will remain the last duopoly in the commercial the resources for vaccines. The US and Central America, which has sector until the turn of the decade. held up pretty well so far. Again, if both the US and foreign vacci- nation levels are sufficiently high. Bear in mind we’re talking later Quarantines & Technology in the second half of this year, probably the third or fourth quarter. When China locked down Wuhan on 23 January last year at the start Within North Asia where, with the exception of the recent spike in of the COVID-19 pandemic, governments around the world called it Japan, the levels of coronavirus have been relatively low. And then too drastic, especially countries like the US and the UK. A year later, perhaps, and this is a little more controversial, along China’s Belt the UK has implemented some of the strictest quarantine measures and Road. China is pushing out the China vaccine to a number of in the world. China, Singapore, Japan and other Asian countries have its allies along the Belt and Road and will certainly be looking to also implemented strict 14-day quarantine measures despite the

18 AsianAviation | Jan-Feb 2021 AVIATION OUTLOOK

…the one thing I learned from 2020 is you better be careful with your forecasts. There has been lots of back and forth, countries moving in and out of lockdowns, some countries with domestic traffic bouncing back and then dropping.

CYRIL TETAZ, AMADEUS ASIA-PACIFIC

IATA, ICAO and the Association of Asia-Pacific Airlines (AAPA) have all come out against quarantines, but have been able to do little to convince governments that sealing off the country is the wrong approach. Officials with these organisations say they’re dealing with health ministers who maintain a “zero-COVID” approach to incom- ing travellers, which de Juniac has called “impossible”. As reported previously in Asian Aviation, groups like IATA and The Commons Project are developing so-called ‘digital health ’ to ease international travel. IATA’s Travel Pass and The Commons Project’s CommonPass, both run on a smartphone and take advantage of QR codes to verify a traveller has tested negative for COVID-19. Other companies are also seeing a large move to biometric and ‘contact-less’ procedures at airports and other travel hotspots. Cyril Tetaz, executive vice president for airlines at Amadeus Asia-Pacific, said in an online interview with Asian Aviation that “in hindsight the one good thing for us is that most of our customers remain committed to their (technology) projects. “What happened in 2020 is that there was a lot of discussion in the industry around touch-less airport and touch-less connectivity and a lot of discussion around where to stimulate demand,” Tetaz said. “And to do that you have to be absolutely brutal about customer engagement with digital touchpoints.” Tetaz said one of the major problems facing aviation is that everything, from routes to passenger loads to fuel loads, cargo and catering, was all based on historical data and COVID-19 has forced a reckoning in the industry because there’s nothing in the past data that prepared the industry for the near total shutdown in flying as a result of the pandemic. The outlook for 2021, Tetaz said, “is the one thing I learned from pleas from IATA and other aviation associations that say quarantine 2020 is you better be careful with your forecasts. There has been lots measures have done little to stem the spread of the virus. of back and forth, countries moving in and out of lockdowns, some “Prior to COVID-19 there was a strong global health discourse that countries with domestic traffic bouncing back and then dropping. argued against lockdowns and similar mass quarantines. This is but “We’re very cautious and very humble when it comes to fore- one area of thinking that the current pandemic has overturned,” said casts…but we learned that the one rule you must have is to be very Nicholas Thomas, an associate professor in health security at the quick to react…with COVID, it’s very clear we’re going to have to City University of Hong Kong. “As far as is possible, lockdowns are work faster, from a tech standpoint more toward agile processes. going to become part of the essential toolkit for governments to use And I think customers, our customers, will have expectations for in addressing the ongoing as well as future outbreaks,” he said in a quicker turnaround (on technology) projects as well. So things are recent Bloomberg report. difficult to predict, but I think we’re going to have to work faster.” 

AsianAviation | Jan-Feb 2021 19 STEVE STRIKE, OUTBACK PHOTOGRAPHICS Restarting the fleet

With the peak northern summer approaching and vaccines offering hope, airlines are preparing to bring their aircraft back in service, but a lack of planning and decision-making could cause headaches in the MRO world as Michael Doran discovers.

AT THE START OF 2020 the global fleet of commercial What is concerning MROs is this lack of certainty and how that numbered around 26,000 and while numbers fluctuate, aviation may limit their ability to meet the RTS demands when they arrive. consultant NAVEO estimated that in mid-November 39 percent, or The tasks are well documented by the OEMs, from how aircraft and 10,000 aircraft, were parked as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic’s engines are to be stored to how they are to be reactivated and, apart effects on aviation. from the MAX rectifications, most are well-established MRO prac- Many airlines have already retired aircraft with the balance of their tices. With close to half of the grounded 737 MAX aircraft awaiting parked fleet in different levels of readiness, available to return in line delivery, the impact their rectification works will have on the MRO with the growth in passenger demand. Those decisions were made landscape remains to be seen. long ago, but with so much uncertainty surrounding travel restric- Airbus has developed a ‘Return-To-Service App’ for Airbus and tions, airlines are holding off committing to any firm return-to-service non-Airbus aircraft that allows airlines to visualise the status and (RTS) programmes. the maintenance forecast for each aircraft and create an RTS plan.

20 AsianAviation | Jan-Feb 2021 MRO

◀ Many airlines have already retired aircraft with the balance of their “We are seeing stored aircraft going into service and we recently parked fleet in different levels of readiness, available to return in line sent a former Thomas Cook A321 down to Africa and another that with the growth in passenger demand. came out of a repossession in Romania which is going to Asia in February,” says Chandler. “We’ve got a couple of A320 trans- Airlines select a tentative RTS date and an assumed utilisation for ferring in January, one a 2000 model and two which are a year old, each aircraft and the app will analyse the associated impact in terms so it’s a broad spectrum.” of man-hour, costs and critical works. When an aircraft is certified as ready for return a ferry flight is Vallair has broad aviation operations with locations in Luxembourg organised, either by the airline operator or a specialist ferry flight and Chateauroux and Montpellier in France. Its MRO activities business, who will organise everything including the crew, fuel, include light and heavy checks, passenger to cargo conversion, flight planning and insurance. “Normally they do a quick up and painting, parking, storage, return to service and aircraft disassembly. back down to exercise all the systems and make sure everything is Vallair mainly focuses on A320, B737 and ATR aircraft with parking operating correctly so any issues can be attended to by the MRO slots for 50 single-aisle aircraft at Chateauroux, although it did host before the ferry flight. Now, due to COVID more than anything else, the A380 fleet for a time, and a further 20 narrow- typically it’s a hired-in crew by the operator,” Chandler said. bodies at Montpellier. With aircraft tentatively returning to operations, Vallair is seeing RTS activity pick up, but Head of Commercial Malcolm Chandler says aircraft are still coming in from a mix of end of lease returns and lessor repossessions. “We have a lot of aircraft that were put into storage pre-COVID, mainly from airline failures and we’ve had more come in,” he told Asian Aviation. “I don’t think we’ve seen the really big repossessions or big failures yet and I think there’s more to come in Europe.” Vallair takes in aircraft for a mix of short-term parking for up to 12 weeks through to long-term storage of a year or more. Depending on the storage programme in place and the instructions from the continuing airworthiness management organisation (CAMO), tasks are done periodically to keep the programme active. Chandler says it’s the way they are looked after during parking that determines their road back into service and that the RTS process is a set of standard MRO operations. “From short-term parking it involves removing all the protective covers, checking and purging the pitot static systems, checking the oxygen systems, removing any interior coverings on seats and carpets and a general visual around the exterior for any damage,” he explained. “There might be an engine idle run with checks of the VALLAIR fuel system but it’s all fairly standard with each CAMO having its own small variation in how it’s done. The CAMO issues us the work- ▲ Vallair’s Malcolm Chandler says the way aircraft are parked pack and we would complete that work and issue the Certificate of determines their road back into service. Release to Service (CRS).” Concurrently with the RTS programme, the owner or operator Aero Norway specialises in the complete range of MRO services will elect to do any other maintenance that has fallen due, such as for CFM56 variants, such as the -3, -5B and -7B. Pre-COVID it was C-checks or replacing life-limited components before taking the servicing around 100 engines a year and was developing its on-wing aircraft back. However if the owner has found a new home for it the programmes where teams would go to the customer and perform process may involve a heavy check, full paint strip and re-spray, lighter workscopes, such as changing engine modules. Returning cabin reconfiguration, new carpet plus any other modifications they aircraft engines to service after parking is not a major activity for need for operating in a particular area. engine MROs but the COVID related grounding means some older If an aircraft is close to a major six or 12-year check, the owner will engines are being retired earlier than expected, which is creating have to have that done as the airline will not want to induct a new work for the sector. aircraft and then have to ground it for eight weeks of maintenance Aero Norway Customer Support Manager Kenneth Johnston soon after. says their usual workload of scheduled engine servicing has dried

AsianAviation | Jan-Feb 2021 21 MRO SIVERTSEN

▲ It takes around 4-5 hours to preserve and pack an engine at Aero Norway. up and with the COVID restrictions on moving technicians to other Similar to aircraft, engines need to be maintained in storage and countries on-wing MRO is off the agenda. “At the moment we’re Johnston says that it is not difficult to do and if it’s done correctly primarily doing repair work needed on engines being returned that there should not be any issues with the engine on its return to do not meet the specified requirements of the lessor,” Johnston operations. “The biggest issue is to make sure the engine is pre- tells Asian Aviation. “It could be anything like a repeat inspection or served internally, and the OEMs have issued advisories to operators something being monitored and although it’s serviceable it can’t be to help them understand what they can and cannot do,” Johnston returned in that condition.” says. “If you’re not going to preserve them they need to be run at least once a month as it’s catastrophic to let the oil system and bearings become overdue causing a lot of work when you want to return to service.” It takes around four to five hours to preserve and pack an engine and they can then be stored for a year in Aero Norway’s climate-controlled facility, giving owners some time to find a new home for them. “It’s obviously simpler to do it in the shop to when it’s on an aircraft and running it every month reduces the MRO work for RTS, which is ok if the operator still has the engineers and ground crew to support doing this,” Johnston adds. “To get an aircraft back into service quickly takes a huge amount of time and effort and all the industry redundancies and furloughs will have an impact on that.” The major issue for MROs is the unpredictability on a return to ser- vice which makes planning a scheduled workload and the resources required almost impossible. For newer aircraft and engines the MRO demands are less of a challenge but assets returned due to lease-end or repossessions do require MRO before they can be redeployed. “There is no forward planning so everyone will want things done

SIVERTSEN yesterday when it takes off again but the capacity just won’t be there,” says Johnston. “It’s really important for the airlines to be ▲ Aero Norway’s Kenneth Johnston says engines need to be run at closely monitoring the market and predicting what they are going least once a month if they are not in preservation state. to need when things do pick up again.” 

22 AsianAviation | Jan-Feb 2021 REGIONAL AVIATION SHUTTERSTOCK Trade wars could ground Chinese aviation companies

The three-year Sino-US trade dispute avoided striking American vendors that sell civilian aircraft and their parts to China, but suddenly they’re grappling with US bans on businesses with key Chinese aircraft builders, in turn leaving those buyers short of supplies. Ralph Jennings reports.

IN DECEMBER, THE US DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE updated business with Chinese firms,” said Rajiv Biswas, Asia-Pacific chief its Entity List to forbid American business with Chinese aerospace economist with the London-based market research firm IHS Markit. firms such as Shanghai Aircraft Design and Research Institute, The move by the Trump administration means it believes firms which designs the civilian COMAC airliners, and Shanghai Aircraft on the list to be “military end users,” meaning they could take gear Manufacturing Co, a builder of the actual aircraft such as China’s first sold for civilian use and repurpose it as defence hardware. The US regional jet, the C919. Companies affiliated with the plane making government resents China’s past decade of military expansion in giant Aviation Industry Corporation of China also landed on the the East China Sea and South China Sea and in some cases has list. Among the affiliates are Harbin General Aircraft Industries and challenged China’s claims of control over those areas. Xi’an Aircraft. China ranks as the world’s second-largest market for civil aero- “As many Chinese aerospace firms are now on the US Entity List, space and aviation services after the United States, according to IHS this could significantly restrict the ability of US firms to conduct Markit data. US firms exported about US$17.7 billion in aerospace

AsianAviation | Jan-Feb 2021 23 SINO-US RELATIONS

The broader Sino-US trade row went on hold in August when Chinese Vice Premier Liu He and two US government trade offi- cials agreed to push for a deal that would end it. Joe Biden, who is scheduled to take office as president on 20 January, is expected to reevaluate the US$550 billion worth of Chinese goods subject to US import tariffs as his China policy emerges.

US aerospace firms aim to keep Chinese clients Biden’s administration can also take names off the Entity List, which added a total of 58 Chinese companies in December along with 45 Russian firms, but political analysts in Asia say that corner of US foreign policy won’t be his top priority. American aerospace firms were silent in December about whether the Entity List restrictions threatened to hobble their China business. Several said they expected their usual China business to continue and even pick up. Collins Aerospace, for example, is still looking to China for sales of flight decks, cabins, controls and aerostructures, a spokesper- SHUTTERSTOCK son for the North Carolina-based firm said. “China is an important growth market for Collins Aerospace and we are sparing no effort to ▲ The demonstration model of the cockpit of the Chinese passenger make sure that we continue to realise our strategy in the region,” the aircraft C919. spokesperson said. “In fact, we plan to elevate our client relationships to provide them with even more innovative and trusted solutions.” products to China in 2018, the data show, making China the top GE Aviation, an Ohio-headquartered General Electric subsidiary export destination for the American civilian aerospace sector. that supplies aircraft engines, says it’s holding steady in China as a “If it weren’t for a very steady stream of US components and tech- key portion of the 60 percent of its deals outside the United States. nologies, the Chinese civil aircraft industry would cease to exist and The company has done business in China for 30 years. “China is a couldn’t be resurrected for about a decade,” said Richard Aboulafia, critical market that cannot be ignored, and we are committed to it,” vice president of analysis with Teal Group, a US-based aerospace a company spokesperson said. and defence market research firm. Every Chinese-made jet includes US parts, Aboulafia said. COMAC, short for Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China, is China’s homegrown aircraft flagship. The company spent seven years and at least US$9.5 billion to develop the C919, which com- pares in size to an Airbus 320 or Boeing 737. COMAC is working now on the CR929, a twin-aisle commercial aircraft expected to be out over the next 10 years and fly internationally.

Spared by trade tariffs China has so far left American aircraft and aircraft parts off its list of items subject to its total US$185 million in import tariffs, business consultancy Dezan Shira & Associates said in a June briefing online. THE BEATING HEART That’s because China imported 57 percent of its aircraft from the United States in 2018, the consultancy said. Officials in Beijing have said they want China to grow more tech- OF AEROSPACE nologically self-reliant because of trade and high-tech barriers that rose under the U.S. presidency of Donald Trump. We care about the aerospace engine industry and

American turbojets and associated parts are especially unlikely SHUTTERSTOCK don’t believe in ‘one size fits all solutions’. to be taxed by China given that the country gets more than half of those supplies from the United States, Dezan Shira said. Aircraft ▲ Aircraft mockups of the Aviation Industry Corporation of China. US undercarriages are expected to dodge any tariffs, it added. officials worry China could repurpose civilian parts for military use.

24 AsianAviation | Jan-Feb 2021 www.farsound.com

asian aviation hoz a/w.indd 1 07/01/2021 16:03 SINO-US RELATIONS

Chinese orders for Boeing aircraft remain “robust”, company spokesman Bryan Watt said in December. He called China a “vital market” and described his Chicago-based company with US$77 bil- lion in 2019 revenue as “a growing part of the Chinese economy”. The company forecasts that China will need 8,600 new over the next 20 years. “We look forward to being an essential partner for China’s fleet growth for years to come,” Watt said. General Electric and engine maker Honeywell International have joint ventures with the Aviation Industry Corporation of China and supply COMAC. A Collins Aerospace joint venture supplies commu- nication and navigation systems for the C919. Honeywell declined to comment.

Search for workarounds Chinese aircraft builders will find workarounds for any blocked business with the United States, analysts believe. Volume produc- tion hasn’t picked up yet, so “the amount of stuff shipped is pretty paltry”, Aboulafia said. Chinese aircraft makers can source some parts from Israel, Russia and Sino-foreign joint ventures that are based in China. American companies eventually might qualify for special US gov- SHUTTERSTOCK ernment licenses to service Entity List clients, Biswas said. The US Department of Commerce’s military end-use label for the targeted ▲ A Chengdu Airlines COMAC ARJ21-700 at Chengdu airport Chinese buyers means that US exporters must be licensed to sell. in China.

THE BEATING HEART OF AEROSPACE

We care about the aerospace engine industry and don’t believe in ‘one size fits all solutions’.

AsianAviation | Jan-Febwww.farsound.com 2021 25

asian aviation hoz a/w.indd 1 07/01/2021 16:03 SCOOT Digital revolution

COVID-19 has accelerated airline digitalisation efforts like never before, with airline mobile apps and solutions taking on new roles during the pandemic. Emma Kelly looks at some of the developments.

THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC has resulted in airlines fast-pacing airline chatbots are working harder than ever before. digitalisation solutions across all points of the passenger journey. Thanks to COVID-19, a whole range of processes and services While on the ground, contactless airport processes were already throughout the journey, from food ordering and in-flight entertain- being rolled out and expanded before the pandemic struck, they ment selection to destination information and information are now becoming an established and accepted way to travel. In- are making the jump to passenger mobile devices. The digital flight processes and services, however, once merely on airlines’ revolution is well underway and likely to progress further as pas- digital wish lists are now becoming reality thanks to passenger sengers seek to return to flying in the safest and most contactless health and safety concerns in the new flying environment, while way possible.

26 AsianAviation | Jan-Feb 2021 AIRLINE IT

◀ Low-cost carrier Scoot in 2020 launched its new in-flight portal, revenue for the airline, as well as data on passenger preferences ScootHub, which is designed to be a one-stop shop for passengers. and spending habits. Scoot parent SIA has also been busy accelerating its already Airlines in the Asia-Pacific region have been at the forefront of extensive digitalisation programme across all stages of the jour- these developments. Singapore-based low-cost carrier Scoot, for ney. Pre-flight, passengers receive personalised travel restriction example, launched at the end of 2020 the first phase of its new in- information and automatic and online check-in options with digital flight portal, ScootHub, which is designed to be a one-stop shop pass, while check-in, lounge and boarding processes are for all customer needs on-board its aircraft. The portal is aimed at contactless. Onboard, IFE can be accessed via the SingaporeAir reducing both surface contact and physical interaction between mobile app, the Companion App, on passenger mobile devices, while customers and crew by eliminating physical in-flight menus, du- they can also access an e-library of magazines and newspapers ty-free catalogues and magazines. It also allows Scoot to resume and an e-menu for the ordering of food and drinks. Further digital some in-flight services, with the onboard purchase of food previously developments are likely, according to the airline. “We are always temporarily suspended during the pandemic. on the lookout for innovative ways to create a safe and seamless The portal is accessed from passenger mobile devices, with experience that will continue to engage our customers,” it says. passengers scanning a QR code on the seatback or connecting to Digitalisation of the in-flight experience is set to explode, accord- the ScootHub network on their mobile devices, providing access to ing to service providers. It will start with in-flight ordering of food, numerous features. In the first stage, passengers are able to followed by retail and much more to follow, according to Nathan food and beverages from the Scoot Café, shop for duty free items Clapton, vice president in-flight media at connectivity provider from KrisShop, play games and browse travel content from their Inmarsat Aviation. Technology provides the opportunity to restore mobile devices. When passengers order food and beverage from passenger confidence, allowing them to stay connected, informed Scoot Café, for example, cabin crew are alerted via their fulfilment and distracted, he told attendees at the Inmarsat-Airline Passenger device, with passengers served within 20 minutes of an order being placed. As soon as this page is turned, airlines and their suppliers The next phase of development, in April, will see passengers able to book ground activities will start to see the advantages of providing connected and attractions during their flight from the services directly through passenger devices. portal. Passengers will be provided with desti- nation-specific recommendations for activities NATHAN CLAPTON, INMARSAT AVIATION and restaurants which they can book onboard. Passengers will also be able to sync their Sin- gapore Airlines Krisflyer membership to earn or redeem miles when Experience Association FlightPlan virtual event late last year. By they purchase items from the KrisShop or activities and attractions staying connected, passengers will feel safer on a journey that has via Pelago, which is the SIA Group’s new platform for destination become less reassuring on a device that gives them confidence, he inspiration and content. By the end of June, Scoot passengers will says. Mobile devices are a great way for airlines to provide contextu- be able to access KrisShop.com’s full range of items and delivery al information about the journey and to engage with the passenger options, including delivery to an address on the ground. providing information they need, while in terms of distraction they Scoot says it has “a roadmap of additional features to be deployed can go on-board with pre-loaded entertainment content. “As soon in subsequent phases”. By the end of this year, for example, travel and as this page is turned, airlines and their suppliers will start to see hospitality brands will be able to offer passengers relevant content the advantages of providing connected services directly through on the in-flight moving map using real-time geo-positioning, pro- passenger devices,” he says. viding information on attractions, tours and experiences. Passengers are keen to see an expansion of digital solutions on- “ScootHub enables us to resume valued services in a safe, low- board offered via their mobile devices, including digital pre-landing touch manner, improving customers’ experiences and — through immigration clearing, IFE on their own devices, destination status reduction in paper-based collaterals — improving our environ- alerts, contactless payments, pre-order contactless catering, a toilet mental sustainability too,” says Campbell Wilson, Scoot CEO. “Our queue booking app, digital safety card and in-flight magazine and investment in this portal is part of Scoot’s comprehensive digitali- a crew chatbot, according to Inmarsat’s Passenger Confidence sation programme, both internal and external, which also includes Tracker research. health-focused initiatives such as touchless check-in kiosks and As well as being good for passengers, this will be good for airlines, bag-drop facilities, enhanced online and mobile check-in capabili- says Clapton. “The will start to become an as effective ties and real-time information on travel requirements,” he adds. As communication/engagement and monetisation channel for airlines well as benefiting passengers, it also provides valuable ancillary as their websites have been up to now,” he says.

AsianAviation | Jan-Feb 2021 27 AIRLINE IT

These are challenging times for the airline industry, and we have leveraged our proven track record in digital innovation in the aircraft cabin to deliver solutions that can help make travel a safer experience for passengers and cabin crew.

KEN SAIN, PANASONIC AVIONICS

tail experience than previously available, with passengers presented with goods based on factors such as flight destination, duration and time of day, as well as insights from in-flight retail data. “Epax ‘breaks open the trolley’, delivering new options in a contactless manner through this true digital transformation,” says Federico Germani, chief commercial officer at Gategroup. IFE and system suppliers are offering a range of digital solu- tions. Panasonic Avionics, for example, has the Welcome Aboard Collection, which includes “less touch” solutions such as the Onboard Reader which digitises print publications and the Com- panion App to integrate the passengers’ personal device into the IFE experience, limiting passengers’ touch while still enabling the full IFE experience. “These are challenging times for the airline industry, and we have leveraged our proven track record in digital innovation in the aircraft cabin to deliver solutions that can help make travel a safer experience for passengers and cabin crew,” says Ken Sain, CEO. Similarly, Thales InFlyt Experience has developed the Ready to Fly portfolio of solutions that reduce touch and mitigate passenger congestion. These include the ability to control Thales IFE systems with their personal devices, and access digital versions of onboard paper menus, magazines and safety and health information. In ad- dition, the Thales Travel Assistant solution enables passengers to

GATEGROUP request and receive automated information on the seatback monitor. Thales says it is also working on further developments, working ▲ Gategroup launched the Epax digital retail solution in conjunction with partners to develop cabin automation solutions that decrease with analytics provider Black Swan Data. congestion, facilitate aircraft disembarking and manage passenger flow by using synthetic data. Airline suppliers are coming to the market with a multitude of Airlines have also been expanding the functionality and availa- digital solutions to on-board processes and services previously done bility of their digital chatbots during the pandemic, as passengers physically. Bluebox Aviation Systems and Dnata Catering Australia, seek more information than ever before and the travel landscape, for example, have teamed up to allow passengers on flights in Aus- including travel restrictions and quarantine requirements, has been tralia, New Zealand and the Pacific to order food, drinks and retail constantly changing. AirAsia’s AVA, for example, which was already goods in-flight using Bluebox’s wireless IFE solutions. available on the airline’s app, Facebook page and airasia.com, has In addition, global catering provider Gategroup has launched the recently been added to messaging application WhatsApp. AVA is Epax digital retail solution in conjunction with analytics provider capable of handling 80 percent of customer inquiries, according to Black Swan Data. Epax, which is being trialled by UK LCC easyJet, the airline. AVA already handles “millions of cases annually” across allows passengers to browse, order and buy from in-flight retail the other platforms so it made sense to launch her on WhatsApp, ranges via their own mobile devices. The solution uses machine which has more than 2 billion users worldwide, says AirAsia chief learning and data driven innovation to deliver a smarter in-flight re- customer happiness officer Adam Geneave. 

28 AsianAviation | Jan-Feb 2021 SHUTTERSTOCK Does anyone really want Air India?

The government wants to sell Air India and conglomerate Tata Sons wants to buy it, but the deal has failed to take off repeatedly over the past several years. Shelley Vishwajeet takes a look at why it’s taking so long.

FOR THE OLDEST OPERATIONAL INDIAN AIRLINE that enjoys ▲ Rather than trying to sell Air India in one piece, many analysts say huge brand equity with a nearly 50 percent international market it will be a much better and neater option to sell it in parts. share among Indian carriers and a sizeable 11 percent domestic market share, the sale of Air India should have been a smooth emotional reason and family pride to wrest back the brand which affair. But then, like many Indian Maharajas of yore, this emperor started off as Tata Airlines, India’s first civil aviation carrier, back in has virtually no clothes and has just too many retinues for the new the 1940s. The airline’s founder was JRD Tata, the uncle, mentor and suitor to take care of. protector of Ratan Tata, the current chairman emeritus of Tata Sons, The airline has also accumulated a whopping debt of over US$10 which controls the Tata Group. And both had enjoyed a very close billion. Only last fiscal year it broke its yearly loss record at over emotional relationship. JRD had no children of his own and Ratan’s US$1.1 billion. This year, the loss could be even more, given the parents died. So, one can guess their close bonding. Ratan Tata was paralysis wrought by the COVID-19 pandemic. Unlike most private made the chairman of Tata Group by JRD despite objections and airlines, Air India wasn’t able to lay off idle employees. other serious claimants. Ratan Tata of course made JRD proud with Yes, Air India remains a ‘golden chariot’ in many ways, but then the handling, restructuring and reinventing of Tata Group. nobody really wants to buy a chariot with rusting wheels and too Tata Airlines was changed to Air India in 1946 and the carrier many loose screws and too many old horses, i.e., employees. was nationalised in the 1950s by the socialist Nehru government. It’s no surprise then that there haven’t been many suitors for the But then, during the 1950s, all big airlines such as British Airways flag carrier. Only Tata Group or Tata Sons, India’s largest corpo- in Europe or in Asia were taken over the by the rate conglomerate, has been a serious contender. They have an governments of the day. India was no exception.

AsianAviation | Jan-Feb 2021 29 INDIAN AIRLINES AUSTRALIAN INTERNATIONAL AIRSHOW AND AEROSPACE & DEFENCE EXPOSITION

This apart, taking back Air India makes a lot of commercial sense fleet size of 215 aircraft but way ahead of SpiceJet’s fleet of 76 aircraft. for Tata Sons. Tata have always believed themselves to be the grand- So, what’s holding Tata back? One, what should be true premium father of India’s skies. They have been keen to reclaim their fiefdom for acquiring Air India’s assets and rights? This is relatively the easy 23 - 28 NOVEMBER after private players were reallowed entry in the early 1990s. But part. But what is the total debt and liabilities and the nature of lia- AVALON AIRPORT, GEELONG, AUSTRALIA given the tight government, bureaucratic control in early liberalisa- bilities that comes along with Air India? This is the tough part and tion years and certain vested interests, Tata’s re-entry into aviation there has been little transparency to it. Australia’s own international industry event, the most has been delayed many times. Rishikesh Mishra, secretary general of New Delhi-based Centre of The group re-entered the field with a joint venture, first with AirA- Aviation Policy, Safety and Research, says that the deal is not really comprehensive aviation, aerospace and defence exposition sia by launching AirAsia India as a low-cost carrier in 2014 and soon about the nature or the kind of sweeteners beings offered but really after with as a full-service airline in 51/49 partnership with about the financial transparency. “And I don’t think the government in the Southern Hemisphere. Singapore Airlines. However, both airlines remain loss-making with has been really clear or transparent about the total extent of financial less than a 13.5 percent domestic market share between them. AirA- liabilities of Air India.” sia India is also embroiled in serious regulatory and legal troubles. From Tata’s side, the person supervising the deal is not the Tata Nonetheless, size and market share does matter. Combining Air Group Chairman N Chandrasekharan, but Tata Sons’ Chief Financial India’s 11 percent domestic market share with two Tata-led airlines Officer Surabh Agarwal. will immediately give it a market share of 24.5 percent. This will “Before inking the deal, Tata would like to have an absolute clarity catapult them to the number two position after IndiGo with a 51.4 on the financial status of Air India, something I believe has not hap- percent market share and ahead of current number two SpiceJet, pened…dealing with employees or its other airline JV partners is a which enjoys a market share of 15.2 percent. lesser problem and Tata can very well resolve it,” points out Mishra. And given Air India’s dominance in international routes, it will Mishra says rather than trying to sell Air India in one piece, it will immediately make Tata the biggest international air operator from be a much better and neater option to sell it in parts. “Write off Air India with over a 50 percent market share. In addition, Air India owns India’s debt, as it is a government to government debt. Give gen- many other international flying rights that are either unutilised or un- erous termination benefits to employees. Sell the Air India brand derutilised. Add to it, 171 aircraft owned by Air India and associates, separately. And sell its rights and assets separately. This is the only which together with AirAsia India’s 20 and Vistara’s 22, will give the way to create a win-win situation for every stakeholder and keep combined entity a fleet size of 193 aircraft, just a bit behind IndiGo’s the brand alive.”  AVALON 2019 Highlights SUBSCRIBE TO ASIAN AVIATION: ASIA’S ONLY COMPREHENSIVE INDEPENDENT INDUSTRY PUBLICATION l 38,952 Trade Visitor Attendances l 698 Participating Companies ☐ Yes, please enter my subscription Rank/ Initials l 41 International Air Chiefs and Representatives Australia ☐ 1 year A$156 ☐ 2 year A$273 (Inc postage & GST) Family Name l 161 Official Delegations Asia & New Zealand ☐ 1 year US$127 ☐ 2 year US$219 (Inc airmail postage) India/Pakistan & Bangladesh ☐ 1 year US$267 ☐ 2 year US$498 (Inc registered post) Job Title 100 YEARS OF THE Rest of World ☐ 1 year US$185 ☐ 2 year US$324 (Inc airmail postage) Organisation ROYAL AUSTRALIAN AIR FORCE PRINT SUBSCRIPTION ALSO INCLUDES DIGITAL MAGAZINE 1921 - 2021 Organisation’s main activity Please charge my ☐ Visa ☐ Mastercard for $ ______Address Benn Marks Phone: +65 6457 2340 Fax: +65 6456 2700 Phone: + 7 495 912 1346 @AsianAviation☐☐☐☐ ☐☐☐☐ ☐☐☐☐ ☐☐☐☐ Europe: Ian Goold [email protected] Fax: + 7 495 912 1260 City Postcode Asian Aviation (AAV) India: Neelam Mathews, Shelley Vishwajeet www.asianaviation.com [email protected] Expiry Date Japan: Keishi Nukina Date Subscriptions: Rose Jeffree Printer: Times Printers Pte Ltd Moscow: Vladimir Karnozov MICA (P) 198/02/2007 [email protected] ISSN 0129-9972 Taiwan: Ralph Jennings State Country PAYMENT BY DIRECT DEBIT or CREDIT CARD ONLY NO CHEQUES ACCEPTEDAdvertising Offices Editor: Matt Driskill Graphic Design: Elinor McDonald www.airshow.com.au & Representation [email protected] Bank Deposit: Please [email protected] your reference ID# or Phone ( ) Worldwide: Kay Rolland April 2021, readership 9747 Managing Director/Publisher: Head Office — Singapore Phone/Mobile: +33 6 09 13 35 10 © ASIAN PRESS GROUP Pte Ltd MarilynAccount Tangye Butler Name: Asian Press GroupAsian Pte PressLtd Bank:Group Pte DBS Ltd US$ SWIFT DBSSSGSG [email protected] [email protected] Regional Manager: Raymond Boey Email ABN Routing: 021000018 Account: 0065 003712 01 4 022 Russia & CIS: Laguk Co. Contributors Block 729 #04-4280, , Yuri Laskin, Sergei Kirshin Department of Defence Australia: Michael Doran, Emma Kelly, Avenue 6, Singapore 560729 Contributor’sPhone, opinions fax or do email not necessarily your subscription reflect those of to: the ASIANpublisher PRESS or editor GROUPand while everyPTE precautionLTD. PO hasBox been 88 takenMiranda to ensure NSW that 1490 the information AUSTRALIA contained in this publication is accurate and Official Logistics Provider timely, no liability is accepted by the publisher or editor for errors and omissions, however caused. Articles and information contained in this publication are the copyright of Asian Press Group Pte Ltd (unlessPhone: 30otherwise AsianAviation+61 stated)2 9526 and 7188 | Jan-Febcannot Fax: be 2021 reproduced+61 2 9526 in any 1779 form Email: without [email protected] written permission of the publisher. The Company publisher cannot No. accept200611219N responsibilityAsianAviation for loss or damage| June 2016 to uncommissioned 30 photographs, manuscripts or other media.

AS2021 275x235 AD.indd 1 19/1/21 3:55 pm174 AUSTRALIAN INTERNATIONAL AIRSHOW AND AEROSPACE & DEFENCE EXPOSITION

23 - 28 NOVEMBER AVALON AIRPORT, GEELONG, AUSTRALIA Australia’s own international industry event, the most comprehensive aviation, aerospace and defence exposition in the Southern Hemisphere.

AVALON 2019 Highlights l 38,952 Trade Visitor Attendances l 698 Participating Companies l 41 International Air Chiefs and Representatives l 161 Official Delegations

100 YEARS OF THE ROYAL AUSTRALIAN AIR FORCE 1921 - 2021

www.airshow.com.au

Department of Defence

Official Logistics Provider

AS2021 275x235 AD.indd 1 19/1/21 3:55 pm174 E2 PROFIT HUNTER. A FORCE WITH NATURE

Ultra efficient high-aspect ratio wings, new engines and lightweight materials help to deliver a double-digit reduction in fuel consumption and the lowest level of CO2 emissions. Inside the cabin and outside, it’s the quietest aircraft in its class, delivering a 65% reduction in noise levels around airports and the biggest margin to ICAO noise limits. The E2 Profit Hunter is a force with nature, not against it.

E2sustainability.com #ConnectToOurWorld

C42418-002-Embraer-Sustainability-AAV-Jan21-275x235-v1.indd 1 15/01/2021 15:27