EasyJet has reached an agreement with Airbus to defer delivery of 24 A320-family jets as the UK budget carrier moves to conserve cash amid 90 percent service cuts due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The deferrals cover 10 deliveries scheduled for EasyJet's 2020 fiscal year, 12 slated for FY2021 and two for FY2022. As a result, during FY2021 the airline will take no aircraft deliveries.
The Coronavirus impact on the aviation Industry
Apr 9, 2020 - 11:19 AM
Gulfstream Aerospace is not only keeping its business jet production lines, green aircraft completions, product support operations, and G700 flight-test campaign ongoing during the Covid-19 crisis, but it is also helping in the fight against the virus. The Savannah, Georgia-based aircraft manufacturer has donated personal protection equipment to hospitals in New York, made monetary donations to organizations that help those in need, and is now using its 3D printers to make medical equipment.
Apr 9, 2020 - 11:05 AM
With FBOs pumping less fuel as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, the National Air Transportation Association (NATA) has issued equipment maintenance guidance for fuel providers. During this “low-use” period, problems that might be encountered in refueling equipment include microbial growth in filter vessels, tanks, and piping; increased water production in fuel tanks with low volume; and unused fuel left in hoses that could possibly “spoil” or degrade off-specification.
Apr 9, 2020 - 10:29 AM
Business aviation traffic volumes have continued to fall this week in the wake Covid-19-driven reductions in economic activity and travel restrictions. As of this morning, the continually updated traffic data published by aviation services group Argus showed the number of flights in North America and Europe to be 65 percent lower this month versus April 2019. Year-to-date activity is about 12 percent less than at this time last year, according to the Argus TraqPak data.
Apr 9, 2020 - 9:37 AM
Active winglet manufacturer Tamarack Aerospace Group has begun producing medical-grade masks for its local hospital after learning it was running low on some personal protective equipment because of the Covid-19 pandemic, the Sandpoint, Idaho-based manufacturer said. “We tapped into our resources to see where we could help meet their needs,” noted Tamarack president Jacob Klinginsmith.
Apr 8, 2020 - 10:25 PM
The U.S. air ambulance industry is requesting emergency funding of $363.5 million—equivalent to $254,424 per aircraft—from the federal government. The Association of Air Medical Services (AAMS) formally made the request for funds from the Public Health and Social Services Emergency Fund in a letter to Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Alex Azar on April 6.
Apr 8, 2020 - 4:49 PM
Engineers at Husky Corp., a manufacturer of fuel nozzles and accessories (including aviation fueling hoses), have come up with a rapid-manufacture ventilator design the company claims it could produce at a rate of 500 a week to aid in the nation’s shortage during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Apr 8, 2020 - 3:12 PM
Due to the Covid-19 crisis, the Canadian Business Aviation Association has canceled its annual convention and exhibit, CBAA 2020, which was scheduled to be held in Toronto from June 16 to 18. “Given the uncertainty around when we can expect a recovery [from Covid-19], we have decided to delay the event for a full year and plan to reconvene in Toronto at Skyservice, June 15 to 17, 2021—CBAA’s 60th anniversary,” the trade group said this week.
Apr 8, 2020 - 12:52 PM
A highly anticipated plan to cut monthly production rates at Airbus took effect Wednesday, as the company revealed that 60 airplanes it produced during the first quarter remain undelivered to customers due to the Covid-19 crisis. The company delivered 35 aircraft in March, down from 55 in February, reflecting customer requests for delivery deferrals and what Airbus called other factors related to the pandemic.
Apr 8, 2020 - 12:19 PM
With the decreased traffic at New York’s Westchester County Airport (HPN) due to the Covid-19 pandemic, airport management has decided to accelerate the construction schedule for the rehabilitation of its primary runway. While initial plans for the project called for nightly closures of the runway, the 6,500-foot Runway 16/34 will now be closed entirely for several periods. Starting on April 21, it will be closed through 6 a.m. on April 25 for survey work to establish runway pavement grades and install wire conduits and centerline light cans.
