Aviation

$10000 Offers Get Off A Plane, CEO Apologies And Free Pizza

A woman falls to her death while boarding a flight in Turkey, falling 50 feet from the boarding bridge of an aeroplane.

$10,000 offers to get off a plane, CEO apologies and free pizza: Here’s how a massive labor shortage and pent-up demand helped create a chaotic summer for airlines.

Each holiday weekend this summer has ended in chaos for many travelers facing huge numbers of flight cancellations and delays. July Fourth weekend could likely be more of the same. According to sources data from the Bureau of Transportation Statistics, there have already been more airline delays in 2022 than in any year during the previous ten years, and there have also been a lot more flight cancellations. Airlines have offered passengers a variety of criteria, including pizza during delayed flights and $10,000 cash to board empty aircraft. Additionally, the Delta CEO issued an apology to the travelling public for the delays.

More than two years after the COVID pandemic, people have begun to travel again. However, as demand increases, experts say airlines are finding it difficult to meet demand with a pilot labor pool that has not yet recovered from the COVID pandemic’s two-year shrinkage.

Scott Kirby, CEO of United Airlines, stated on a quarterly investor call in April that “the pilot shortage for the industry is genuine. And the majority of airlines just won’t be able to fulfil their capacity plans because there aren’t enough pilots, at least not for the ensuing five or more years.

A pandemic-tightened labor supply

When the pandemic stopped the majority of air travel in early 2020 and lockdowns kept millions of Americans and foreign travellers at home due to lockdowns, the airline business suffered severely.

Over the course of 18 months, Congress gave the airline sector three rounds of help totaling $54 billion to keep it afloat. The money was allocated to maintain payrolls so that when limitations were relaxed and travel resumed, there would be an adequate number of pilots, mechanics, and flight attendants.

Tajer claims that as a result, thousands of pilots probably quit their jobs early. According sources to the APA, 715 pilots at American alone have opted for early retirement in 2020.Due to the lower number of available pilots and the increased demand for flights this summer, the pilot labour pool is currently under stress, with airlines bidding against one another for candidates. According to Tajer, other major airlines are starting to hire pilots from American’s regional partners to join their mainline crew.The aviation industry will require a total of 612,000 new pilots along with over a million new maintenance staff and cabin crew over the next 20 years.

Aviation

India Launches Its Medium-Lift Class Helicopter Program, chooses New Engine

India’s longstanding need for a Medium Helicopter may soon become a reality as the country has fully ramped up its engine development efforts. This new helicopter is set to replace the Russian-built models currently in service and will play a crucial role across various scenarios for the Indian Armed Forces.

Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and SAFHAL Helicopter Engines Pvt. Ltd. (SAFHAL) have launched a groundbreaking partnership to develop a state-of-the-art high-power engine named Aravalli.

This new engine will power the upcoming 13-ton Medium Lift Helicopter (IMRH) and the Deck-Based Multi-Role Helicopter (DBMRH), both of which are being designed and developed by HAL.

Named after the majestic Aravalli mountain range in India, the Aravalli engine symbolizes the country’s drive for self-reliance, or Aatmanirbharta, in critical engine technologies. This cutting-edge engine will be instrumental for the IMRH, a versatile 13-ton multi-role helicopter designed to meet the needs of the Indian armed forces, and the DBMRH, a 12.5-ton naval variant tailored for the Indian Navy.

The IMRH is poised to become a cornerstone of the Indian armed forces over the next decade. With its first flight expected in 3 to 4 years, the IMRH is anticipated to begin induction by 2030, with plans to integrate between 300 to 400 units, and potentially more in the future.

The IMRH is envisioned as a highly versatile multi-role helicopter that will enhance the operational capabilities of the Indian military. The DBMRH, designed for naval operations, will also face the challenges of high-altitude environments in regions such as Ladakh, Sikkim, and Arunachal Pradesh—areas of strategic importance due to their proximity to the China border.

In addition to its military applications, the Aravalli engine is projected to enter the civil market, serving roles in offshore operations, utility services, and VVIP transport. The long-term vision includes Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) activities to further extend the engine’s utility and support the aviation industry.

This collaboration between HAL and SAFHAL builds on their successful history of working together on the Shakti engine, which powers several HAL helicopters, including the Advanced Light Helicopter Dhruv, the Light Combat Helicopter Prachand, and the Light Utility Helicopter. The proven success of this partnership lays a strong foundation for the development of the Aravalli engine, setting the stage for a new era in India’s helicopter capabilities.