How the aviation industry is rising to new challenges

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Monday 6 April 2020 13:41 PM

How the aviation industry is rising to new challenges

Aviation is just one of the industries we’re proud to be part of. And while you might expect us to firmly believe that aviation is a force for good, we’ve been inspired by the way the industry has mobilised to support communities, governments and supply chains during the outbreak of COVID-19, all while experiencing extremely difficult business challenges.

Here are just some of the ways our customers and partners in the industry are making a difference.

Using parked aircraft for good

While most business and personal trips are postponed, global trade, cargo and supplies need to keep flying. This includes essential supplies that will help healthcare workers fight the outbreak, as well food and other cargo that helps economies continue to function.

Usually, aircraft carry cargo in their ‘belly’, so even when on a passenger flight, it’s likely you’ll be sitting above anything from fresh flowers and fruit to pharmaceuticals and mail as around half of the world’s air cargo travels in the bellies of passenger planes. But as the number of passenger flights has decreased, vital air cargo capacity has also reduced. The aviation industry is rising to the challenge.

“Airlines are repurposing aircraft to carry more cargo, in some cases packing boxes into the cabin, and removing seats to create more space,” says Stephen Burnside, Market Analyst at Rolls-Royce. “This can be anything from an aid flight delivering medical supplies to creating much-needed capacity in the freight market, which keeps supply chains moving.”

Delta will use its Airbus A350 aircraft to operate the new cargo flights. Credit Delta

“Airlines are an economic and employment engine. This is demonstrated even as passenger operations shrink, as airlines continue to deliver cargo that is keeping the economy going and getting relief supplies where they are needed most.”
Alexandra de Juniac, Director General and CEO, IATA

Virgin territory

Virgin Atlantic’s first ever cargo-only charter took off from London Heathrow Airport on 20 March. The Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, powered by Trent 1000 engines, carried a belly full of pharmaceutical and medical products to the US. There were just three people on board: the Captain, First Officer and Cabin Service Supervisor, along with 11 pallets of cargo being sent to the US by a UK-based pharmaceutical company. The aircraft turned around at JFK and flew back to the UK full of inbound cargo.

“Our Cargo team swung into action and found a way to help customers, new and old, keep their freight moving while at the same time keeping some of our beautiful aircraft in the skies,” said Michael Oakes, Corporate Communications Manager at Virgin Atlantic.

Virgin Atlantic are not alone in increasing cargo operations. Vital supply lines between the US and China got a boost earlier this week when Delta Air Lines restarted regularly scheduled operations from China with the launch of cargo-only flights, the first for the airline since 2009, between Shanghai and Detroit. Delta are using fuel-efficient Airbus A350-900 aircraft, powered by Trent XWB engines, to carry up to 49 tonnes of cargo in the hold.

A Virgin Atlantic Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner is loaded with cargo. Credit Virgin Atlantic

“We know getting surgical masks, gloves, gowns and other protective equipment expeditiously to facilities across the country is imperative to protecting medical professionals and helping address the COVID-19 situation,” said Shawn Cole, Vice President – Delta Cargo. “Operating regularly scheduled cargo flights means suppliers in China can get these supplies to hospitals and healthcare facilities across the U.S. within hours, not the days or weeks it would take via cargo ship.”

Delta Cargo charter flights

WATCH

Airlines are using every opportunity to transport supplies where they can. Lufthansa recently packed 30 tonnes of cargo into an Airbus A330, using the belly, seats and even the overhead ‘bins’ to transport medical supplies and protective equipment from Shanghai to Germany, on the way back from a scheduled flight.

Other than switching passengers for goods, what do airlines need to do differently to operate cargo-only flights? “There are very few changes; pilots will make some technical adjustments for weight, such as reducing the thrust needed to take off, because cargo-only flights are generally lighter than those carrying passengers too,” says Jim Bickley, Head of Aircraft Operations at Rolls-Royce.

Governments have also relaxed legislation and permissions, so that airlines can transport essential supplies quickly.

“We’re continuing to support our airline customers, wherever and whenever they need to fly,” adds Jim. “We monitor our engines 24/7 from our Aircraft Control Centre, which is operating remotely, and are available if our airline customers need parts or spare engines at short notice.”

It’s not just airlines switching to cargo. Airbus and Boeing are both using their own test aircraft to transport medical equipment around the world, delivering essential items to help in the fight against COVID-19. And of course, freight companies are working flat out to keep supply chains running.

Repatriating citizens

In a fast-moving situation, many holidaymakers or those on business travel find themselves away from their home country, unable to get home. Airlines have played an important role in bringing people home, working with governments on charter flights to repatriate citizens. British Airways is working with the UK government on repatriation flights from locations such as Peru; while Qantas is bringing Australians home from countries around the world, including China, Honolulu and Japan.

Utilising the aviation industry’s skills and experience

The incredible skills in the aviation industry are being used for good around the world. Whether that’s engineering expertise, medical qualifications, data science or manufacturing, people in our industry are looking for ways to volunteer their skills, experience and time.

Some of our smartest minds are working on scaling up ventilator production in the UK, as part of the VentilatorChallengeUK consortium. The team is growing all the time and currently includes controls, valve and pump specialists who normally work in our Controls business in Solihull, UK, and commercial, procurement and programme management specialists usually based in our Derby, UK, campus. We expect the team to grow significantly in the coming days and are also using resources in the US, so that we can work around the clock.

Smiths Medical Ventilator

SAS Scandinavian Airlines has partnered with businesses such as care providers who need temporary employees, to match cabin crew who are unable to work while aircraft are not flying as usual but have the appropriate skills and experience.

And the UK’s National Health Service (NHS) has enlisted Virgin Atlantic and easyJet to help staff the new Nightingale hospital in London as part of the fight against coronavirus. The airlines are asking staff who have not been working since the COVID-19 pandemic grounded planes, to consider helping at the new hospitals being built across the country.

Aviation: benefits beyond borders

The aviation industry is determined to keep the world connected throughout the outbreak of COVID-19. Repatriation and cargo flights are essential in bringing people home and feeding global supply chains.

“There’s a real sense of the industry pulling together and making the best out of an extremely challenging time,” says Jacqui Sutton, Chief Customer Officer – Civil Aerospace, Rolls-Royce. “If there’s ever a global event that reminds us that there’s more that binds us together than divides us, this is it. It’s been really inspiring to see the work our customers and partners are doing to help communities and we stand ready to assist them.”