Aviation

Qantas and Airbus Partnership for the biofuel industry.

Qantas preparing flights, New Zealand opens skies for Australia

QANTAS AND AIRBUS MAKE A COMBINED INVESTMENT IN THE AUSTRALIAN BIOFUELS INDUSTRY.

Qantas and Airbus have decided to invest roughly $200 million to help Australia build a sustainable aviation fuel [SAF] business. Due to the lack of a local commercial scale in the SAF industry, both CEOs have signed a collaboration with Australia SAF in Doha.

Australia now exports millions of tonnes of feedstock each year, including as canola and animal tallow, to be used as SAF in other nations. So, by 2030, the Qantas group has decided to utilised 10% of SAF in its entire fuel mix, which includes 15% of its current fuel use out of London and 20 million litres per year for flights from Los Angeles and San Francisco to Australia from 2025.

Sustainable fuels can reduce greenhouse gas emissions by up to 80% when compared to kerosene, making them one of the most useful tools for reducing environmental impact. Qantas and Airbus have agreed to collaborate on a locally developed and produced SAF project that is commercially viable and meets a strict set of environmental sustainability criteria as part of the airline’s recently announced orders, which include the A350-1000 to operate the project sunrise nonstop flight from Australia to New York and London. From the start, the new fleet will deliver up to a 25% reduction in fuel usage and carbon emissions, and they are all already approved for operating with 50% SAF.

The agreement is for a five-year period with the possibility of an extension. Qantas’ financial contribution to the Australian Sustainable Aviation Fuel Partnership includes AU$50 million already set aside for SAF research and development in the country.

The partnership also includes Pratt & Whitney, whose GTF engines were recently picked by Qantas for their new A220 and A320neo family aircraft. While consistently improving the effectiveness of aviation propulsion technology, the corporation supports wider usage of cleaner, alternative fuels, such as SAF.

Qantas has begun a conversation with its large corporate customers to explore their interest in using SAF offsets for their company’s flights. This information is helping to shape the design of a scheme that might be expanded to include individuals as part of Qantas’ existing offsetting programme. This new programme is scheduled to begin later this year.

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The Qantas Group’s commitment to sustainability:

In 2019, Qantas became the world’s second airline to commit net zero emissions by 2050.

2. The airline group is committed to a 25% reduction in emissions and 10% SAF usage in the fuel mix by 2030, and a 60% SAF use by 2050, under the Qantas Group Climate Action Plan, which was introduced in March 2022.

3. A350s will initially be used for nonstop service between Sydney and London and Sydney and New York as part of the Qantas Group’s landmark Project Sunrise programme, which will be carbon neutral from the beginning.

4.With a focus on high integrity initiatives in Australia and abroad, Qantas’ Fly Carbon Neutral programme is one of the world’s largest airline offsetting programme. Over 10% of travellers decided to “select the box” to offset flights. In Qantas’ efforts to reduce carbon emissions, offsetting is a crucial tool, especially because alternative aeroplane fuel technology has been years away.

5.With the introduction of the Qantas Green Tier earlier this year, the 14 million frequent flyers of the airline may now earn rewards for going greener both at home and while they are travelling.

Airbus climate action plan;

1. The manufacturer’s climate action plan’s main pillars are on replacing the fleet with new, fuel-efficient aircraft, increasing the use of sustainable aviation fuels, improving air traffic management, and ultimately delivering zero- emission aircraft by 2035.

2.When compared to prior generation aircraft, Qantas’s choice of Airbus aircraft already results in fuel savings up to 25%.

3. Airbus commercial aircraft are already certified to fly with up to 50% SAF.

4.The creator conducted its maiden test flight using 100% SAF in 2021.

5.Airbus plans to have SAF approved for use on all of its current commercial aircraft by 2030.

6.The possible use of synthetic fuels that blend carbon feedstock’s with renewable hydrogen is a topic of further studies. Airbus is completely committed to taking the lead in helping the aviation industry become carbon neutral by 2050.

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Aerospace

India is set to build a central command for the Air Traffic Control system, called ISHAN

Coutresy : Boeing planes

India’s air traffic growth has led to increased responsibilities for air traffic control. The Airports Authority of India (AAI) is considering centralizing air traffic control for aircraft, dividing the country into four regions. The goal is to consolidate India’s segmented airspace into a single entity to improve air traffic management (ATM) efficiency, safety, and smoothness.

Recently, the AAI invited expressions of interest to develop a detailed project report for the Indian Single Sky Harmonized Air Traffic Management (ISHAN) initiative in Nagpur. Under this plan, air traffic controllers in Nagpur would handle domestic flights flying above 25,000 feet, eliminating the need for coordination among controllers in different regions.

For domestic regional flights operating above 25,000 feet, control would shift to the central command in Nagpur. This consolidation aims to enhance airline operations, increase flight handling capacity, and reduce congestion and flight times for passengers.

Currently, the AAI provides ATM services over Indian airspace and adjoining oceanic areas, covering over 2.8 million square nautical miles. This airspace is divided into four flight information regions (FIRs) in Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, and Chennai, along with a sub-FIR in Guwahati.

FIRs are responsible for providing air traffic services, including weather information, visibility, and search and rescue assistance. The proposed unification under the ISHAN initiative aligns with the projected growth of the aviation industry, which anticipates a doubling of domestic passenger traffic by 2030.

Aviation

Airbus is set to increase the production rate for the A350 as demand surges

Airbus SE is set to boost production of its advanced A350 widebody jet as it capitalizes on rising demand for long-distance travel and wide-body aircraft, amidst the ongoing crisis affecting its competitor Boeing due to issues with the B737 Max.

The surge in orders for Airbus’s A350 aircraft has instilled confidence in the company, prompting them to ramp up production rates. This move is particularly advantageous as Boeing continues to grapple with production quality issues surrounding its 787 and 777x aircraft.

In 2024 alone, Airbus has received 137 orders for the A350, signaling a need to expand manufacturing capabilities to meet customer demands. With 1,277 orders received and 592 aircraft delivered as of April 2024, Airbus is poised to fulfill pending deliveries efficiently.

The European aircraft manufacturer announced plans to increase production of A350 jets to 12 per month by 2028, surpassing earlier projections aiming for 10 per month by 2026. This decision was disclosed alongside the company’s first-quarter figures.

The Asian market is proving lucrative for the A350, with significant orders from airlines like Indigo and Air India, totaling nearly 70 aircraft commitments for the future. Meanwhile, Airbus is progressing with its A220 and A320 programs, aiming for a monthly production rate of 14 and 75 aircraft, respectively, by 2026. Additionally, the long-range A321XLR is anticipated to commence service in the third quarter of the current year.

In contrast, Boeing has been compelled to scale back production due to regulatory pressures aimed at enhancing factory processes. While Airbus anticipates a positive market outlook, Boeing continues to face challenges with FAA certification and quality approvals, resulting in ongoing delays for its 737 Max and 777x models.

Financially, Boeing reported a significant cash burn of $3.9 billion in the first quarter, leaving it with $7.5 billion in cash and short-term securities by the quarter’s end, down from $16 billion at the beginning of the year. Consequently, Boeing’s stock has plummeted by 38% in the year so far, contrasting with Airbus’s 14% gain, marking Boeing’s lowest performance in over a year.

For a full listing including details on customers and regions, as well as historical data for the previous year, go to the download section below.

March 2024 deliveries: 63 deliveries to 32 customers
March 2024 gross orders: 137
2024 deliveries to date: 142 deliveries to 45 customers

	Single-Aisle	A300/A310	A330	A340	A350	A380	TOTAL
Total Orders	19470	816	1774	377	1277	251	23965
Total Deliveries	11705	816	1598	377	592	251	15339
Aircraft in Operation	11007	271	1482	202	591	234	13787

Aviation

All passengers killed in plane crash, after pilot let his children to control the plane

When boarding a plane, passengers entrust their safety to the skilled hands of the pilot. However, tragedy struck when one of the flight ended in disaster as all passengers lost their lives in a horrific plane crash.

In 1994, during a flight from Moscow to Hong Kong, tragedy struck as an Aeroflot relief pilot made a fateful decision. In a move that would have devastating consequences, the pilot invited his own children into the cockpit to play with the controls. Little did anyone know, this seemingly innocent gesture would lead to the loss of all 75 lives aboard the aircraft.

It was a seemingly innocent act that led to catastrophic results. The relief pilot, Mr. Kudrinsky, invited his two children, Yana, 12, and Eldar, 15, into the cockpit during the late hours of the night. Little did anyone know, this simple gesture would set off a chain of events that would end in tragedy.

Once in the cockpit, the children were allowed to sit in the captain’s chair and play with the controls, unaware that they should have been disabled as the plane was in autopilot mode.

Eldar, perhaps in a moment of curiosity or innocence, held the control column down for a mere 30 seconds. Yet, in those brief moments, the autopilot disengaged, thrusting the aircraft into manual control.

By the time the pilots regained their seats and attempted to regain control, it was too late. Despite their efforts to pull the plane out of a dive, they overcorrected, causing the flight to climb almost vertically, ultimately stalling it.

Final moment Flight 593 crash

In the final moments, as the pilots struggled to stabilize the aircraft, Flight 593 crashed into the Kuznetsk Alatau Mountain range in southern Russia, completely obliterating the plane and claiming the lives of everyone on board.

Investigations revealed a chilling truth: there was no evidence of technical failure. Instead, the crash was attributed to the unthinkable decision to allow inexperienced hands to manipulate the controls of a commercial aircraft.

The black box recording captured the harrowing sequence of events, providing a grim reminder of the human cost of a lapse in judgment. In just over two minutes, the lives of all on board were tragically short, leaving behind a legacy of sorrow and unanswered questions.