March 19, 2020 - No. 020 In This Issue ABARIS TRAINING Virgin Australia Suspends All International Operations Mx Group Seeks Monetary Relief from Effects of Covid-19 FLIGHT SCHOOLS WORK TO CORONAVIRUS-PROOF PILOT TRAINING West Star Aviation Has Been Awarded the FAA Diamond Award of Excellence U.S. Airlines Seek Bailout as Layoffs Hit European Carriers Serious Labs Introduces Virtual Reality Airline Maintenance Module for MEWP Operators FAA Has Long Resisted Safety Board Calls For Tougher Air Tour Oversight Airlines begin parking jetliners north of Tucson as virus restricts destinations, demand. Italian Government Renationalizes Alitalia SpaceX's latest Starlink launch included an unforeseen engine issue Virgin Australia Suspends All International Operations Virgin Australia has made plans to ground its entire international fleet this morning, as well as suspending all international routes from the end of March. Additionally, it has reduced its domestic capacity by 50% in a move to prevent further financial losses due to the coronavirus. The airline expects operations to return to normal by June 2020. What are the details? Virgin Australia has taken unprecedented action against the harsh market conditions and suspended all of its international flights starting from the 29th of March. The airline is following advice given by the Australian government to no longer fly to foreign countries. Specifically, the Australian government issued a new warning late on Tuesday night, 17th of March, that all countries in the world are now considered stage four risk destinations. Thus, Australian airlines are not allowed to operate to them. In terms of International routes, Virgin Australia will be suspending the following destinations: Melbourne to Bali on March 29th. Brisbane to Tokyo-Haneda on March 29th. Melbourne to Los Angeles on March 20th. Other international flights, such as Virgin Australia's popular Sydney to Los Angeles route and New Zealand destinations will continue to fly until March 29th to enable foreigners and Australians to return home. What about domestic flights? Additionally, the group will be reducing domestic operations in Australia by around 50%. These will not be route suspensions, but just reducing frequencies between capital cities such as Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane (which have hourly flights). These changes also affect the group's low-cost arm Tiger Airways which will also see capacity reductions. "We are also acutely aware of the important role airlines play in supporting connectivity, tourism, and the nation's economy and are maintaining most of our domestic routes, and instead of reducing frequencies in our schedule." - Virgin Australia CEO Paul Scurrah After the end of March, the equivalent of 53 aircraft (including all of its widebodies) will be grounded. This includes "grounding of five Boeing 777, one Airbus A330 and fourteen Boeing 737 aircraft from the Group's international fleet" and "twenty Boeing 737, six A320, two ATR and five Airbus A330 aircraft from the Group's domestic fleet". What did the Virgin Australia CEO say? Speaking to shareholders and the aviation market, the CEO of Virgin Australia, Paul Scurrah, outlined why the airline has taken these actions, saying, "We have entered an unprecedented time in the global aviation industry, which has required us to take significant action to responsibly manage our business while balancing traveler demands and supporting the wellbeing of Australians. We have responded by making tough decisions which include reducing our domestic capacity and phasing in the temporary suspension of international flying for a period of two and a half months." To help keep the company stable, the CEO has fast-tracked employee holidays, unpaid leave and redeploying staff onto other projects (such as focusing on aircraft maintenance). The CEO team is also taking no bonus' this year and has had its salary reduced by 15%. The company has not ruled out some redundancies, however. What about passengers booked onboard a Virgin Australia flight? If you are booked onboard a Virgin Australia flight in the near future, the airline has the following steps in place. Passengers who have bookings for flights through till the end of June 2020 can change their flight to a later date or location without a fee. Those who want to cancel can get travel credit without issue. Passengers who are scheduled to fly on a canceled service will be emailed or otherwise contacted in the next 14 days. If you have booked through a travel agent, then they will be your point of contact regarding your booking. Due to the large number of people changing their bookings, Virgin Australia recommends only trying to contact them if your flight is in the next 24-48 hours. "We are committed to supporting our guests during this period and have set up a dedicated customer care hub to manage the surge of customer queries and travel changes." https://simpleflying.com/virgin-australia-suspends-all-international-operations/ Back to Top Mx Group Seeks Monetary Relief from Effects of Covid-19 The Aeronautical Repair Station Association is seeking a relief package of tax credits and $11 billion in grants and loan guarantees from the federal government in the wake of the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic. The association, which represents FAA-certified repair stations and parts manufacturers and distributors, outlined its request in a letter yesterday to President Donald Trump and congressional leaders. ARSA said it is hearing from members concerned about cash flow in light of maintenance work being canceled and customers potentially unable to pay bills. It proposes a 50 percent tax credit for airline contract maintenance work performed at repair stations in the U.S., as well as $11 billion in relief: $8 billion in grants and $3 billion in loan guarantees. "The simple fact is that we don't know how long the coronavirus disruptions will last and what the impacts will be," said ARSA executive v-p Christian A. Klein. "Congress needs to act swiftly to limit damage to the aviation maintenance industry, which has both a huge impact on the economy and which is so essential to the safe operation of aircraft." According to ARSA, the aviation maintenance industry employs more than 250,000 workers and generates about $50 billion in direct annual economic activity. https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/business-aviation/2020-03-18/mx-group-seeks-monetary-relief-effects-covid-19 Back to Top FLIGHT SCHOOLS WORK TO CORONAVIRUS-PROOF PILOT TRAINING Flight training providers face special challenges in implementing methods for providing a safe environment for learning in the confines of an aircraft cockpit. With checklists and protocols already standard operating procedure in aviation, incorporating beefed-up aircraft-disinfecting measures has quickly been woven into the routine-as several large flight training organizations report with recent moves to reduce the risk of coronavirus exposure for their students and flight instructors. Batavia, Ohio-based Sporty's Academy announced March 14 that it "remains open with enhanced procedures" for the use of company aircraft and aviation training devices. The school made its customers aware that "cleaning and disinfecting supplies are maintained at the dispatch desk." When an aircraft or ATD is dispatched, customers should expect a disinfecting wipe and a screen wipe to be issued along with the keys. "Disinfecting wipes may be used to clean major surfaces, controls, and knobs that may be touched during the flight," it said, adding that only certain approved screen cleaners should be used on avionics. "It is up to the client and the instructor to determine the flight deck surfaces to wipe down prior to their flight," the advisory noted. After the flight, those individuals "must ensure that all trash is removed from the airplane as is our normal practice." Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, with main campuses in Daytona Beach, Florida, and Prescott, Arizona, reported ramping up its "already stringent health precautions through intensive communication, disinfection protocols and temperature checks for all students, faculty, staff and visitors" to prevent the spread of coronavirus on its campuses and in the communities where they are located. Although the resumption of classes at the university March 18 after spring break was to take place mostly online at least through April 6, students in flight training and aviation maintenance programs "with federal requirements for in-person instruction" had the option to continue studying on the main campuses after passing screening and consenting "to follow all prevention protocols." "Educational equipment, including aircraft, must undergo frequent disinfection," Embry-Riddle said in a March 15 message. "We have increased the availability of hand sanitizers, and to promote good hand hygiene, we have launched a communication campaign on both campuses." Flight training continued at California Aeronautical University, which posted notice that it had evaluated potential threats, "and there are none at this time. Moreover, we have been proactive in educating our students and staff in reference to healthy protective measures and will expend every effort to continue to do our part in the protection of public health and follow appropriate guidance as necessary from the CDC." The school, based in Bakersfield, noted that Flight Training Center students were using distance education resources for classroom instruction. "Due to the nature of flight instruction and the need for students to continue their progress, the flight department will remain operational with enhanced health precautions until further notice," it said in a March 16 online update. Safety measures in effect included "regular disinfection of facilities, aircraft and equipment." American Flyers, a flight school with locations in states in the Northeast, South, and Southwest, noted in an emailed advisory that it is closely monitoring coronavirus developments and is "following guidelines from the government and relevant health authorities." Its measures include "practicing extra caution" with sanitary procedures on its premises such as frequent cleaning of "common touchable surfaces such as countertops, doorknobs, computer screens, keyboards and other surfaces." In aircraft, commonly touched surfaces are being sanitized by fueling and maintenance personnel, and "we are encouraging all students to bring their own flight supplies, especially headsets, during this time." Headsets provided by the school would be sanitized before and after use. "American Flyers is certain that we will all persevere during this health crisis, and the key to that is to support one another," it added. A flight school and FBO in southern Maine, an area where coronavirus infections began to be confirmed in early March, concluded on March 17 that it was time to shut down instruction and aircraft rentals for the time being. Southern Maine Aviation emailed its customers that "the most important thing we can do at this time is spend the next few weeks laying low. We need to beat this virus and to do that we need to slow down the rate at which it is spreading. We need to isolate ourselves as much as possible, which the CDC recommends." The school's interim plan to staff with a skeleton crew for three weeks to refuel aircraft and answer phones would be regularly re-evaluated, said the message from Mark Damuth, the general manager. https://www.aopa.org/news-and-media/all-news/2020/march/18/flight-schools-work-to-coronavirus-proof-pilot-training Back to Top West Star Aviation Has Been Awarded the FAA Diamond Award of Excellence West Star Aviation is pleased to announce it has been awarded the FAA Diamond Award of Excellence for completing specialized training pertaining to aviation maintenance, safety and FAA rules at two of their locations, Perryville, MO (PCD) and the Denver, CO (APA) satellite facility. This is the highest aviation honor in the aircraft maintenance industry, and West Star is proud to be recognized for their continued commitment to aviation excellence. The rigorous 12-month program requires 100% participation from all eligible technicians, who provide dedicated maintenance to our customers along with a specifically structured safety training program. "We are honored to receive this prestigious award, as it is a true testament of the ongoing training culture West Star provides to our skilled and experienced technicians," said Gary Schandl, director of quality assurance. "We will continue to encourage all our locations to participate in the valuable program and aspire for each of them to be awarded the honor next year," continued Schandl. https://www.aviationpros.com/aircraft/maintenance-providers/press-release/21129985/west-star-aviation-west-star-aviation-has-been-awarded-the-faa-diamond-award-of-excellence Back to Top U.S. Airlines Seek Bailout as Layoffs Hit European Carriers With the coronavirus continuing to devastate the travel industry, Norwegian Airlines and Scandinavian (SAS) Airlines announced today they would all but cease operations, each "temporarily" laying off about 90% of their workforce including pilots, cabin crew and maintenance teams. "It is indeed with a heavy heart we have to temporarily lay off more than 7,300 of our colleagues, but we, unfortunately, have no choice," said Norwegian CEO Jacob Schram in the statement. "When the world returns to normalcy, my goal is to keep as many of our dedicated colleagues as possible." The moves seem to be a sign of further crises still to come: According to the Center for Aviation (CAPA), a travel marketing research and intelligence firm, most international airlines in the world will be bankrupt by the end of May because of COVID-19. The travel industry, from cruises to hotels, has been decimated by the spread of the coronavirus, but airlines have been hit particularly hard because aviation is already a high fixed-cost industry. "Forward bookings are far outweighed by cancellations, and each time there is a new government recommendation it is to discourage flying," said CAPA in a statement. "Demand is drying up in ways that are completely unprecedented. Normality is not yet on the horizon." Both Ryanair and Lufthansa, two of the largest airlines in Europe, have made announcements concerning cuts to their operations. Lufthansa will scale down its long-haul flights by 90%, as well as 80% of its intra-Europe routes. Ryanair plans to reduce seat capacity by 80% and did not rule out a full grounding of its fleet. Virgin Atlantic, partially owned by billionaire Richard Branson, has asked its employees to expect eight weeks of unpaid leave as it reduces flights by 80%. The company has already had to postpone the launch of its new cruise line, Virgin Voyages. "It's a crisis-prone industry; it's on the front lines of what's happening in the world," said aviation expert Seth Kaplan about the impact on airlines. "It's a high fixed-cost industry that's labor intensive. You've got big, expensive airplanes that you're paying for even when they're not flying." With a ban on travel between the United States and Europe, most major U.S. airlines had already made deep cuts to their routes and capacity. While they haven't yet seen the same number of layoffs as in Europe, it could be all but inevitable without the assurance of a bailout from the federal government. Drastic measures are being taken to prevent layoffs: Delta's CEO Ed Bastian announced that he would forego his salary for six months to try to avoid laying people off. A new report from The Wall Street Journal suggests that U.S. airline CEOs are seeking $50 billion in financial assistance, three times larger than the amount given after the Sept. 11 terror attacks that cost the industry about $34 billion, adjusted for inflation. During a news conference this afternoon, President Donald Trump was receptive to bailing out the airline industry. "We're going to back the airlines 100%," he said. "We told the airlines we're going to help them." The airlines' own trade group, the International Air Transport Association, predicts losses associated with the coronavirus to exceed between $63 billion and $113 billion. https://www.adweek.com/brand-marketing/us-airlines-bailout-european-layoffs-coronavirus/ Back to Top Serious Labs Introduces Virtual Reality Airline Maintenance Module for MEWP Operators Edmonton-based Serious Labs announced a new airline module for MEWP operators as part of its latest software update. Now globally available, the module provides advanced hands-on training and assessment in a risk-free environment for airline maintenance crews. Serious Labs' new airline module offers MEWP operators advanced training that tests precise positioning and placement near challenging curved structures. Created by MEWP industry experts, these challenging scenarios allow the operator to increase risk awareness and develop the operational skills needed to position the MEWP within inches of the aircraft when performing real-world maintenance tasks - while reducing the risk of touching or damaging the aircraft with the equipment. "One of the challenges in the aviation industry is airplane maintenance, and this type of work is frequently done through the use of scissor and boom lifts," said Darren Verschuren, International Account Director, Serious Labs. "Typically, when you train airplane maintenance crews how to operate MEWPs, you have to do it far away from the actual aircraft. There are significant financial repercussions for even minor mistakes. Training through the use of VR simulation is an ideal way for the operators to gain hands-on experience and hone skills before they get close to the aircraft." The 23 task-based scenarios are easy to set up, easy to run, and are focused specifically on operating near the parabolic structure of an aircraft. The airline module challenges the operators to have smooth control of the equipment at all times, use the joystick controls to demonstrate correct feathering of the functions, alter the machine speed when approaching the fuselage, and more. Serious Labs' ESP Scoring system provides quantifiable feedback to understand operator performance in terms of efficiency, safety, and proficiency. "Because the ESP Scoring™ data is captured from the scenarios where we control the conditions, we are able to isolate the operator's skills and really begin to understand how to help them improve. We are the only ones in the world to offer this capability, and it's tremendously advantageous from a training and results perspective," said Verschuren. "The airline industry is an excellent niche for our VR MEWP simulators," said Jim Colvin, CEO, Serious Labs. "Decades ago, the airline industry adopted simulators as a training technology for pilots, so it's easy for them to understand how their maintenance crews could benefit from its effectiveness as well. They know it works." https://www.aviationpros.com/tools-equipment/maintenance-it/press-release/21129751/seriouslabs-serious-labs-introduces-virtual-reality-airline-maintenance-module-for-mewp-operators Back to Top FAA Has Long Resisted Safety Board Calls For Tougher Air Tour Oversight In 2004, a tour helicopter operated by Bali Hai Helicopters flew straight into a cliff near Kalaheo, Kauai, where the weather can change on a dime. All five people aboard perished. Much like the most recent fatal tour crash on Kauai in December, the pilot of that Bell 206 JetRanger chopper was on his last flight of the day. He had logged nearly eight hours in the cockpit with hardly any rest. After investigating the Bali Hai crash, the National Transportation Safety Board issued recommendations it hoped would make those tour flights safer. It called for stronger maintenance inspection and pilot training standards - the pilot had been flying over Kauai's rugged terrain for less than two months. The agency also advocated for stronger rules on pilot breaks. The Federal Aviation Administration did take some action, but not to an extent the NTSB considered sufficient. To this day, the NTSB considers those FAA responses on the Bali Hai crash "unacceptable actions." It's just one flashpoint in a decades-long tug of war between the two agencies over how best to safeguard the country's air tours and skydiving flights. Scenic Hawaii and its more than $100 million air tour industry often lie at the center of the debate. A 30-Year Tug Of War In fact, the NTSB has spent more than 30 years voicing concerns over what it views as lax and uneven oversight. Those calls have often been rebuffed, however, by the FAA and the general aviation industry, which worries that smaller tour operators will go out of business if the standards grow too rigid. "When the NTSB does their work ... they do not have to consider the financial consequences of what they're recommending," said John Goglia, an NTSB board member from 1995 to 2004. The FAA does have to consider those impacts, however, and "it's a formidable obstacle to overcome," he added. "There's a lot of people who think the FAA should not be considering that." The FAA said in a statement that it shares a common goal to promote air safety, but "the agencies sometimes have different views on the most appropriate course of action." Those differences have played themselves out after almost every major Hawaii air tour crash like a broken record. After the Bali Hai crash, the NTSB pointed to one of its previous calls for stronger oversight nearly 10 years earlier, saying this "serves to illustrate the very scenario the Board's recommendation sought to prevent." Now, it's happening again. In the past year, Hawaii has seen a spate of tour and skydiving crashes that have left 21 people dead. Meanwhile, a recent whistleblower complaint alleges cozy ties between local helicopter companies and FAA regulators. "The public should be concerned that they haven't addressed those issues," Goglia said of the unresolved recommendations from 2007. "All that needs to be mandated. Every one of those factors we have seen in accidents over and over again." Not All Tours Follow Same Standards Historically, the NTSB has issued 138 recommendations aimed at making air tours safer. It considers the FAA's response to 29 of those unacceptable, including several that stem from Hawaii crashes. A year after Bali Hai, another Kauai tour helicopter crashed offshore near Haena when the pilot flew into bad weather. The Heli-USA-owned Aerospatiale chopper sank almost immediately, and three passengers drowned. All tour helicopters flying over water should have inflatable floats so passengers have more time to ditch in a water crash, the NTSB subsequently recommended. In response, the FAA required many, but not all tour helicopters to include those floats. That response remains "unacceptable," per the NTSB. Pilots need better training to emphasize it's OK to turn around when the weather turns sour, Goglia said. "If we were to eliminate all the weather-related risks from these ... the accident rate would be considerably different," he said. Meanwhile, the board has spent decades urging the FAA to put all helicopter and airplane tours, plus skydiving flights, under the same strict set of standards. A loophole allows some of those commercial flights to operate under weaker standards of maintenance, training and oversight even if customers aren't aware of the difference. "People assume that because the FAA approves it, they have the same level of safety as any other commercial operator. They don't," Goglia said. The NTSB's calls to fix that date back at least to 1986, after a tour helicopter and tour airplane collided over the Grand Canyon, killing all 25 people on board those aircraft. Eight years later, when two Hawaii helicopters crashed on the same day, the NTSB renewed that call. Three people drowned in one of those crashes, off Kauai's Na Pali Coast. Rep. Ed Case, who's spent much of his return to Congress scrutinizing the air tour industry, looks to close that loophole in his Safe and Quiet Skies Act. But the nation's general aviation lobby opposes that change. "We have to ensure that the regulation is in check and it's being done for the right reasons," said Melissa McCaffery, western-pacific regional manager for the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association. "I think in Hawaii over-regulating the air tour industry is not going to solve the problem." The advocacy group represents 1,300 members in the Aloha State. General aviation is "incredibly safe," McCaffery said, "so I'm just a strong believer that we can't make blanket statements about each individual accident." Lawmakers generally lack the technical expertise to dictate how to respond, she added. Instead, McCaffery proposed enacting reforms through the new Hawaii Air Noise and Safety Task Force, a group formed in January that's comprised of aviation stakeholders, including the AOPA, plus state legislators and officials. Ford Fuchigami, a key former member of Gov. David Ige's staff, co-chairs the group. The FAA serves as technical advisor. "I think in Hawaii over-regulating the air tour industry is not going to solve the problem." Melissa McCaffery, Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association No community groups are listed as members, but McCaffery said they plan to involve the public in outreach meetings. The association's political action committee holds some sway in Washington, D.C. It spent nearly $2 million in lobbying and more than $400,000 in political contributions in 2019, according to the government accountability website OpenSecrets.org. "We donate to people that we think could help with making aviation better," McCaffery said. Goglia, meanwhile, said he doubts that Case's bill would pass in an election year. Putting The FAA 'On Notice' In Hawaii, 30 air tour companies operate under the more stringent standards - "Code of Federal Regulations Part 135," according to the FAA. They're costlier to comply with, but the tour companies that do so get more flexibility in their operations in return. Another 18 companies, however, are authorized to operate in the islands under what's known as "Part 91" instead, according to the FAA. They're the loosest possible set of standards, NTSB officials say. Typically, they're meant for general aviation flights. Anyone who wants to fly commercially under them needs special permission from the FAA. "People assume that because the FAA approves it, they have the same level of safety as any other commercial operator. They don't." - John Goglia, former National Transportation Safety Board member Tours operating under Part 135 undergo more frequent, rigorous aircraft maintenance and pilot training, officials say. Part 91, meanwhile, involves less frequent oversight. Under 91, "you very rarely see the FAA visit you," Goglia said. "They might come over and talk to you, but they're not going to come knocking on your door." All skydiving flights, including the crash at Dillingham Airfield that killed 11 people, follow Part 91. It's still not clear what caused that crash in June, moments after takeoff. Still, when NTSB board member Jennifer Homendy arrived in Honolulu in its aftermath, she swiftly called out the FAA for not holding those flights to higher standards. "There is an inherent risk to parachuting ... but paying passengers should be able to count on an airworthy plane, an adequately trained pilot, a safe operator and adequate federal oversight of those operations," Homendy told media gathered at the Ala Moana Hotel. "Are we trying to put the FAA on notice on this? Yes," she said. In 2008 NTSB issued a lengthy report detailing its concerns over inadequate maintenance, pilot training and federal inspections in skydiving flights. Since then, there have been at least an additional 81 skydiving flight accidents and 30 deaths recorded across the U.S., including the 11 people who perished in the Beechcraft King Air plane crash at Dillingham. Higher Standards Costs More Money To be sure, Hawaii air tour crashes have occurred under the stricter standards - not just the weaker ones. The Safari Helicopters crash in December that killed seven people operated under Part 135. Hawaii's other fatal tour crash last year, the Robinson 44 chopper crash in Kailua, also operated under the stricter Part 135 standards. But that tour company, Novictor, had its Part 91 privileges revoked months prior to the crash based on the "company's accident history and lack of verifiable safety measures," according to the whistleblower report made public in January. The Kailua crash killed all three people aboard. The 2004 Bali Hai crash, meanwhile, operated under Part 91. So did a 2016 chopper tour that crashed into Pearl Harbor and killed a 16-year-old boy. "My knee-jerk (reaction) is, oh yeah, everyone should be 135," said Calvin Dorn, CEO of Paradise Helicopters. "For me, Part 91 is a little too lax." But Dorn also suggested that new operators be allowed to operate under Part 91 for an initial period to get their business going. "If a new guy wants to start out and he has to wait a year to get a 135 ... he's probably out of business already," Dorn said recently. "We do want to have some avenue by which they can go through" to succeed. Ray Smith operates Air Ventures, an airplane tour company on Kauai, under Part 91. The designation prohibits his planes from flying 25 miles past their departure point. They must also take off and land at the same place. He said he's got plenty of incentive to maintain his operation to the highest possible standard. "I never want to have to explain to a family why we had an airplane go down," Smith said. "I've got to make damn sure these airplanes get back. Right now, I can't think of anything that we do different if we were either one" - Part 91 or 135. "The FAA doesn't have the resources to be a policeman. They rely on me to keep my company as good as I can," Smith said. "They have time to look at their 'problem children' and they don't have time to spend time with the people they're comfortable with." It wouldn't make sense under Air Ventures' business to operate under Part 135, Smith added. The move would require spending thousands of dollars on new flight instruments, plus different inspections for every 50 and 100 hours in flight. It would be cost-prohibitive, Smith said. "I know how expensive maintenance can be," he said. "If you start pushing the requirements so hard then there would be people not flying when the airship is ... reliable." Indeed, Goglia said the stricter standards add tens of thousands of dollars in additional costs annually to an air tour company. They would also make those operations safer, he added. "Is it safe? It probably is safe. Is it as safe as it could be? I doubt it," said Goglia, who co-hosts a podcast on aviation safety, "Flight Safety Detectives." "Do you want to fly with the minimum safety, or do you want to fly with a safety net?" https://www.civilbeat.org/2020/03/faa-has-long-resisted-safety-board-calls-for-tougher-air-tour-oversight/ Back to Top Airlines begin parking jetliners north of Tucson as virus restricts destinations, demand Pinal Airpark has become a top flight destination, as Delta Airlines and other carriers park some of their airplanes in the desert outside Tucson to wait out the coronavirus slowdown. Ten Delta jetliners landed at the regional airpark between 6:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday and another 13 aircraft from the Atlanta-based airline were scheduled to arrive at the storage and maintenance facility by 10 a.m. Wednesday, according to the air traffic website FlightAware. The airpark 30 miles northwest of Tucson usually sees no more than a single takeoff or landing in a day, said Jim Petty, airport manager for Pinal County. "I would call this very unusual," he said. "It's not that we can't handle the extra activity; it's just that it doesn't happen everyday." Marana Airport is also bracing for an influx of smaller commercial aircraft, as carriers worldwide cancel flights and move aircraft into storage during the pandemic. "It's been years since we've seen the wholesale grounding of flights like this," said Marana Airport Manager Steve Miller. The last time anything like this happened was 9/11, he said. Delta announced Monday it was cutting its domestic seat capacity by 10-15% in response to government travel directives and a sharp drop in demand. The airline also has suspended or reduced service to a number of international destinations as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak. Petty said he has heard that as many as 500 aircraft might have to be grounded "system wide" in response to the pandemic. "People are talking big numbers, and it's scary," he said. Pinal County owns the airpark and leases it out to five aviation-related businesses. Ascent Aviation Services handles the bulk of the aircraft storage and maintenance activity, and Delta is one of its largest customers, Petty said. The warm, dry climate in Southern Arizona is considered ideal for mothballing aircraft, and Ascent has 500 acres available for secure storage at Pinal Airpark and Tucson International Airport, according to its website. That's enough space to park more than 400 aircraft. Petty said the most activity the airpark has ever seen came in the wake of the 9/11 attacks, when roughly 250 aircraft were stored there. The current influx could mean a windfall for Pinal County, which collects landing and storage fees for every airplane on top of its fixed lease rates. But Petty said there are no winners in a situation like this, and it makes him sick to his stomach to think about all the people who might lose their jobs in the coming weeks. "The airline industry is suffering so terribly," he said. Kyle Potter is editor-in-chief of the Minnesota-based flight deal and travel website Thrifty Travel. He isn't surprised by all the jumbo-jet traffic now arriving at Pinal Airpark. Delta has already canceled roughly 65% of its flights to Asia, so "the vast majority" of its long-haul fleet is getting parked, Potter said. "There's not a lot of places you can park this many airplanes." And Delta isn't the only one suffering. The pain is being felt across the airline industry, with no end in sight, Potter said. "I think there's no doubt this is going to go on for a while. Even after the conoravirus outbreak is over, the demand for air travel isn't going to immediately come back," he said. "The question is who can come out of it and who can't." Messages left for Delta and Ascent were not immediately returned Monday. Petty said there were rumblings about increased traffic at Pinal Airpark as far back as February, but the aircraft didn't begin to arrive in force until this week, after the Trump Administration announced and then expanded virus-related travel restrictions. There's no telling how many jetliners will eventually land in Pinal County, or how long it might be before they fly back out again. Petty said he hopes to see that happen as soon as possible, but "anyone who tells you how long they are going to be there, they're guessing." https://tucson.com/business/airlines-begin-parking-jetliners-north-of-tucson-as-virus-restricts/article_0d3005e5-0280-5143-b73f-740096cf89f2.html Back to Top Italian Government Renationalizes Alitalia Troubled flag carrier Alitalia will become once again a state-owned airline as a result of a new decree signed on Monday by Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte as part of a relief package to support the economy in a country hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic. Alitalia was supposed to be split into three units: aviation, maintenance and handling and sold off to the highest bidder in a process that was due to be completed by the end of May 2020. The deadline to present binding offers for one of all of the units was scheduled to be Wednesday, March 18, but even before the deep crisis caused in the aviation industry by the recent pandemic sprawling across the world, interest for the chronically loss-making carrier has been very soft. The Italian government has therefore decided to create a new state-owned company that would make a bid for all three units of Alitalia and to pour 600 million Euros into the venture. The company had already received a bridge loan of 400 million Euros last November that was supposed to see the carrier through its sale at the end of May, but the new market conditions have almost exhausted the loan, therefore needing an extra cash injection to maintain operational continuity. In May 2017 the carrier had already received another bridge loan for 900 million Euros to guarantee its survival and find parties interested to take over all its assets and operations, but during that time no satisfying solution could be found and the funds eventually ran out, requiring a new cash injection. The European Union in Brussels has been investigating both interventions by the Italian Government under suspicion of being illegal state aids, but no formal infraction has been contested so far. "This experience (of the coronavirus) teaches us that a national carrier is strategic for the destiny of our country from many different standpoints," Transport Minister Paolo Di Micheli told Italian TV Rainews24, ANSA reported. "This experience will confirm to us that we need our flag carrier." The Government will also guarantee enough funds to provide temporary financial relief to the 3,960 employees, all of them from the aviation unit, furloughed by commissioner Giuseppe Leogrande at the end of February as a temporary measure for the COVID-19 crisis. It is expected that many carriers in Europe and around the world will need government support to get through the current crisis, therefore the Italian government does not expect to have problems with the Brussels Authorities for this operation. The new state-owned company will, therefore, see all 11,000 employees remain under the same umbrella and continue to operate with the already planned fleet reductions that will see aircraft numbers decrease throughout 2020 to approximately 100 aircraft from 113 jets that were operating at the end of 2019. https://airlinegeeks.com/2020/03/17/italian-government-renationalizes-alitalia/ Back to Top SpaceX's latest Starlink launch included an unforeseen engine issue While successful in its primary mission, the latest SpaceX launch wasn't without unexpected issues: The secondary mission of recovering the Falcon 9 booster with a controlled landing failed, for the second launch in a row, and SpaceX CEO and founder Elon Musk also confirmed that one of the rocket's engines shut down early during the ascent phase of the launch vehicle. This didn't affect the actual orbital deployment of the 60 Starlink satellites on board the Falcon 9, which went exactly as planned. That's due in part to the redundancy built into the design of the Falcon 9 launch vehicle, which uses nine Merlin engines working together. But Musk still said on Twitter that the failure of one of those would still mean a "thorough investigation [is] needed before next mission." To be clear, SpaceX's Merlin engine has been an extremely reliable performer for the company to date, with 84 out of 86 fully successful missions versus attempts for Falcon 9-class vehicles in just under a decade. Falcon Heavy, which also employs Merlin engines, has also performed successfully during its three flights to date. It's worth pointing out, however, that SpaceX originally scrubbed this Falcon 9 Starlink launch at the last second during its planned Sunday mission window, due to engine power readings that were above expected numbers. That could indicate some kind of relationship between those readings and the failure of the single Merlin engine during today's ascent, but as Musk noted, more detailed investigation from the SpaceX team will be required to find out what exactly happened. In terms of impact to SpaceX's launch schedule, it's not yet clear what this could mean, but Musk clearly stated that they'll have to figure out what occurred before any future flights. SpaceX is still preparing for its first-ever human spaceflight with the commercial crew Demo-2 mission, set to take place tentatively sometime in April, May or June - provided the ongoing COVID-19 situation doesn't affect that schedule, either. https://techcrunch.com/2020/03/18/spacexs-latest-starlink-launch-included-an-unforeseen-engine-issue/ Curt Lewis