this is the opinion of “RG” Sergey Melnichenko, General Director of the International Advisory and analytical Agency “Safety of flights”
– the World of civil aviation is facing a crisis the likes of which have not yet been. Here is a summary of recent events: Brussels Airlines is reducing thousands of jobs and brings its fleet to 16 aircraft. Until the end of the year, the us airline Delta will Park all of its 18 wide-body Boeing 777 and the autumn fired seven thousand pilots. Qatar Airways will bring its fleet of about 50 aircraft and reduce staff by about 20 percent. Emirates plans to bring its fleet from 46 aircraft giant A380. Moreover, the airline announced plans to cut about 30 thousand jobs. The largest reduction in the history of passenger aviation.
it is Understandable why such special enthusiasm perceived messages about the gradual resumption of passenger flights. So, from may 21, Emirates has resumed passenger flights to nine major destinations. From 1 July Ryanair, which by the end of 2018 carried the most passengers in the world, resumes 40 percent of flights on schedule. Since June, Lufthansa will resume flights to 106 destinations in Europe, and for 20 long-haul destinations.
ICAO and other international aviation organizations emphasize the need for thorough preparation for the resumption of flights. Recently, we published made by our specialists translation into Russian language is very important document the world Fund of safety of flights (FSF) “pandemic: the non-medical aspects of flight safety”. In fact, this road map is reasonable and practical actions that will help ensure a safe, harmonized and sustainable return to global air transportation.
In the midst of a crisis safety should still prevail. What is very important? Now all flights, whether we like it or not, will not be the standard. And the fact that the passengers, including Russian aircraft, will be obliged to fly in masks and gloves – this is only a small part of the problem. It is necessary to consider the increased risk in the system of safety management after a long period reduced the number of flights. This applies primarily to the crews and airplanes that were forced to idle.
Only that the tragedy occurred in Pakistan: a passenger crashed A320. The plane crash claimed nearly a hundred lives. There’s still a lot of unknown. But in any case, investigators will probably study and the possible impact on the actions of the crew the long break airline: Pakistan just a few days before the incident resumed flights after suspension for coronavirus. While one of the assumptions of the experts who studied the available photos and videomaterial��s that the crew went to the second round not because of problems with the landing gear, and due to the fact that the pilots simply forgot to let him out before planting.
the Pilots were able belatedly to understand that the chassis are in the retracted position, but if missed due to natural drawdown of the aircraft touches the bottom of the engine with the runway surface. Because of the resulting damage and leaks oil engines stopped. This version will be easy to confirm or reject, examining the surface of the runway for signs of contact. However, this information does not yet exist. The black boxes are found. So the experts will understand that was the cause.
How effectively the observance of social distance on Board the aircraft: Seating passengers in a staggered manner and the abandonment of the middle row seats? The European Union has stated: the requirement of free seats will not be administered. If the government of any country cares about the citizens and imposes such a requirement, it is, in my opinion, should compensate the losses of the carrier. If it is not, then the carrier will be forced to increase the cost of tickets.
it is Clear that a certain percentage of the airlines, despite the limitations that most likely will not be able to return to the sky. Recent forecasts by the International air transport Association IATA show that the income from ticket sales in 2020 could fall by 252 billion, or 44 percent, compared with last year’s level.
the recovery Period will be even more complex and dynamic than the clotting time of flight. All airlines, without exception, will have to learn to work on a completely different level of flexibility and speed. And most importantly – respecting the highest safety standards.
