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COVID-19

AEROSPACE

Omicron spread stalls recovery

Countries have tightened travel restrictions after a new, more transmissable, variant of the Covid-19 virus, Omicron, was discovered in South Africa. The EU, US, Japan and Singapore have tightened rules on travel, with stricter testing, while the UK has reverted to mandated rules of using the PCR lab test, rather than the home lateral flow test for inbound passengers. On the news, airlines and travel agents reported a softening of forward bookings.

However, on 15 December, the UK scrapped the travel ‘red list’ of 11 countries including South Africa, that was originally imposed in November, arguing that Omicron is now too widespread.

AIR TRANSPORT

India delays full resumption of international flights

Anna Zvereva/Wikipedia

Responding to the rapid spread of the newest variant of the Covid-19 virus, India has pushed back plans to fully restart regular international passenger flights until the end of this month. Previously, New Delhi had hoped to resume all international services, that were suspended from March 2020, on 15 December. This does not affect some 32 countries with which India has an ‘air bubble’ agreement.

DEFENCE

Finland selects F-35

Finnish Air Force

On 10 December the Finnish government officially announced that the Lockheed Martin F-35 was the winner of its $9.4bn HX fighter programme to replace its F/A-18 fleet, beating the Boeing F/A-18 Super Hornet, Dassault Rafale, Eurofighter Typhoon and Saab Gripen. Finland will acquire 64 F-35As, with first deliveries commencing in 2026 and replacement of the Hornets between 2028 and 2030.

General Atomics reveal STOL UAV

GA-ASI

General Atomics has revealed a new armed UAV derived from its Predator/Reaper family but aimed at operations from austere short-field airstrips and aircraft carriers. The Mojave uses the fuselage from the Reaper but with high-lift wings and a tougher landing gear. Powered by a 450hp Rolls-Royce engine, it can carry up to 16 Hellfire missiles, take off and land in under 500ft and stay aloft for over 25 hours.

UAE sale ends a bumper year for the Rafale

The United Arab Emirates has become the biggest export customer for the Dassault Rafale after placing a $19bn order for 80 of the fighters with France. Confirmation of the acquisition, which also includes 12 Airbus H225 Caracal helicopters, came during a two-day visit by President Macron to the Gulf. First deliveries of Rafales to the UAE Air Force will begin in 2027, with the order following on from other export wins for the Rafale this year, including Greece, Egypt and Croatia.

Meanwhile in mid-December, the UAE suspended talks with the US over the acquisition of 50 Lockheed Martin F-35s due to concerns about restrictions.

AEROSPACE

Airbus seeks arbitration over A350 paint issue

In an unprecedented move, Airbus has announced it is seeking an independent legal review after negotiations with customer Qatar Airways over A350 paint cracking issues broke down. The row centres on surface degradation flaws on the A350’s composite fuselage, with Qatar grounding its fleet and refusing to take further deliveries from the airframer, citing it as an “important safety matter” according to CEO Akbar Al Baker. For its part, Airbus maintains that the paint cracking is purely cosmetic, a stance backed by EASA, with the airframer saying: “the attempt by this customer to misrepresent this specific topic as an airworthiness issue represents a threat to the international protocols on safety matters”.

FlyZero hydrogen airliner breaks cover

ATI

The UK Aerospace Technology Institute (ATI) has unveiled a liquid hydrogen-powered concept airliner which it claims will enable up to 279 passengers to fly direct between London and San Francisco or to Auckland, New Zealand with one-stop. The 54m wingspan zero-carbon emissions twin-engine FlyZero midsize aircraft would store liquid hydrogen in cryogenic fuel tanks at -250°C in the aft fuselage and two smaller ‘cheek’ tanks along the forward fuselage. More detailed findings from the FlyZero project will be published in early 2022, including three final ‘Scout’ aircraft concepts (regional, narrowbody and midsize), technology roadmaps, market and economic reports.

CAAC paves way for 737 MAX return to flight

On 2 December, China’s aviation regulator, the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC), published airworthiness provisions for Chinese airlines pending the return of the Boeing 737 MAX to commercial operations in the country. However, the airworthiness directive stops short of a full return to flight for the 737 MAX, with no timeline given. Boeing shares surged after the news, with deliveries to Chinese carriers now expected to resume in early 2022 and Chinese airlines comprising one-third of approximately 370 MAXs left to deliver. China’s CAAC was the first regulator to ground the MAX over two and a half years ago.

P&W announces GTF Advantage

Pratt & Whitney

Engine maker Pratt & Whitney has announced a new evolution of its Geared Turbofan (GTF) PurePower engine, the GTF Advantage. Boosting higher thrust and 17% increase in fuel efficiency compared to the V2500 engine, the Advantage will be offered to the Airbus A320neo family – particularly for operators in hot and high environments, or the long-range A321XLR, which is set to enter service in late 2023. The engine has already completed over a year of ground and flight testing.

GENERAL AVIATION

CAA to open consultations on ‘cost-sharing’ flights

The UK CAA has launched public consultations on the growing light aviation sector of ‘cost-sharing’ flights by private pilots enabled by internet bookings and which allow the direct costs (fuel, airfield charges, aircraft rental) of the flight to be shared. Among the proposed changes are a definition of ‘direct costs’, a maximum of six passengers, equal shares of the flight between all occupants, including the pilot, greater transparency on safety standards and a ‘common purpose’ of flights that do not depart and arrive at the same airfield. Cost-sharing flights, though legal and a traditional part of GA and light aviation flying clubs, have received wider public awareness thanks to sites like Wingly, which allow passengers to easily browse and select flights – including one way. The consultation is set to close on 12 January.

First Airbus H160 delivered

Airbus Helicopters

Airbus Helicopters has announced that it has delivered the first example of its new H160 twin-engine helicopter to a Japanese customer, All Nippon Helicopters. The helicopter, delivered from Airbus’ helicopter facility in Kobe, Japan, will be used in the newsgathering role, joining ANH’s existing fleet of five AS365s and five H135s.

SPACEFLIGHT

Rocket Lab unveils Neutron launcher

Rocket Lab

New Zealand launch company Rocket Lab has revealed its design for a reusable larger medium-sized rocket, able to put 15,000kg into LEO and compete with SpaceX’s Falcon 9. The Neutron launcher, says Rocket Lab, would be a rocket ‘designed for 2050’, with an all-composite construction, a tapering design to reduce shockwaves and a ‘hungry hippo’ payload fairing that opens to release the satellite and second-stage but closes and stays with the first stage for landing. Neutron, powered by seven Archimedes engines, would land vertically back at the launch location.

ESA to seek commercial partners in LEO

Following in the footsteps of NASA, the European Space Agency (ESA) has invited interest from commercial partners in developing transportation of cargo and astronauts to low Earth orbit, as well as services, including a ‘lighthouse’ space station. The latter, SciHab (science and habitation) platform would be a modular, human-tended station in LEO and open to commercial services. The agency foresees these services overlapping with the retirement of the ISS in the early 2030s, with David Parker, Director of Human and Robotic Exploration saying: “it is crucial that Europe is not left behind and seizes every opportunity to offer services, economic growth and innovation.”

AIR TRANSPORT

Rumours fly over Chinese Entebbe Airport takeover

According to local news reports, China could take over Uganda’s only international airport, Entebbe, after the country is in danger of defaulting on a $200m loan from Beijing signed in 2015. The infrastructure loan, signed between Uganda and the Export-Import Bank of China to allow for expansion of the airport, reportedly includes ‘toxic clauses’, allowing China to take over the airport if repayment of the loan is not met. However, on 1 December, Uganda’s Attorney General Kiryowa Kiwanuka refuted the rumours, noting that the first repayment date is April 2022, with Chinese sources describing it as a smear campaign.

Airbus ends the year with order surge

Air France/KLM

Over 36 hours in mid-December, Airbus landed a trio of deals with Singapore Airlines, Qantas and Air France/KLM with commitments for over 300 aircraft. The deals included a LOI with SIA to purchase seven A350Fs with options for another five. This was followed by Qantas selecting the A320neo family and A220 in a 134-aircraft order, beginning with 20 A321XLRs and 20 A220s. Finally, the Air France-KLM group placed a firm order for 100 A320neo family aircraft for KLM and subsidiary Transavia, options for a further 60, as well as up to eight A350F freighters.

Large-scale SAF production to begin in UK

British Airways has signed a multi-year deal to take commercial-scale levels of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) produced at a UK plant. The airline will be supplied with 73m gallons of SAF from recycled cooking oil produced at the Phillips 66 Humber refinery in North Lincolnshire, with flights using SAF to commence as early as 2022. The amount of SAF will reduce CO2 2 lifecycle emissions by nearly 100,000t. The Phillips 66 plant will be the first in the UK to produce SAF at scale, and BA will be the first airline to use SAF produced in Britain. BA parent group IAG has set a goal of 10% of its flights being powered by SAF by 2030.