By Kamal Shah
The Singapore airshow rekindled the hope sparked in Dubai not so long ago. Hope that the industry will pick itself up and move onwards and upwards despite two years of bizarre Covid oriented negativity that has seen unprecedented revenue loss.
On a bleak canvas, let me quote IATA chief Willie Walsh to give us an idea of how courage marks global aviation and those who try to reach for the skies. “Over the 2020-2022 period, total losses could top $200 billion.
Airlines have dramatically cut costs and adapted their business to whatever opportunities to survive. That will see the $137.7 billion loss of 2020 reduce to $52 billion this year. That will further decline to $12 billion in 2022. We are well past the deepest point of the crisis. While serious issues remain, the path to recovery is coming into view. Aviation is demonstrating its resilience yet again.”
That resilience is best expressed in what I saw at the airshow. A collective desire to fight the blight. And it was best done in futuristic thinking. We saw Qantas boosting its Project Sunrise by coming closer to a decision on the A350-1000s for long-haul routes even though the official stamp is yet to be given.
Airbus indicated to me that all signs were hopeful the deal would be made. Vietnam’s Bamboo Airways is considering the Triple Seven X with significant expansion plans in its network. Jetblue Airways has ordered another 30 Airbus A220-300s to take its firm commitment to around 100. A Boeing 777X flight test airplane made its Asia debut, demonstrating aerial manoeuvres that showcase its new carbon-fibre composite wing and quiet GE9X engine.
Based on the most successful twin-aisle aircraft ever, the 777, and with advanced technologies from the 787 Dreamliner family, the 777-9 will be the world’s largest and most efficient twin-engine jet, delivering 10% better fuel use, lesser emissions and operating costs than the competition.
Cebu Pacific has begun receiving the first of its 14 A330neos. Singapore Airlines has decided to replace its ageing 747 fleets with A 350 freighters, all these exercises indicating a bright tomorrow. Etihad has also gone in for this option. It is not just commercial aviation. Airbus held a very impressive demo on the A400M military transporter, and it certainly will find buyers for its sheer versatility.
The A400M can fly over 2200 nm to deliver a payload of 25 tonnes (55 000 lb) into a 2500 ft(750 m) grass/soft airstrip (low CBR), with enough fuel onboard to fly another 500 nm (930 km). Previous generation medium airlifters’ total cost per tonne is 40% higher than A400 M’s.EFW also secured an order for six A321 Passenger-to-Freighter (P2F) conversions from SmartLynx, which will operate all six A321P2F aircraft for DHL in Europe.
This same approach heralded the arrival of the A220-100 and A220-300, potentially the spearhead of the single-aisle long haul revolution. With a 25% lower fuel burn and an all-new design, the A220 already has 750 orders in its books, and it hopes to produce 14 aircraft a month or once every two days. Meanwhile, Boeing also struck a thick vein of promise with its belief that the Max would be back in China very soon. And it is working hard on its intent to make the 777-9 a reality.
In conjunction with ST Engineering, the US company announced plans to create additional capacity for the 767-300 Boeing Converted Freighter (BCF) to support growing customer demand worldwide. In the second half of 2022, Boeing will add a 767-300BCF conversion line at ST Engineering’s airframe facility in Guangzhou, China.
Embraer made a telling mark with its presence through the E190-E2, part of Embraer’s E2 family of advanced jets. The Tigershark is dubbed the profit hunter because of its high performance and low fuel burn. According to Embraer, it delivers the lowest operating costs and highest yields for airlines, more comfort for passengers and space for their bags, the slightest noise footprint and less impact on the environment.
“We forecast that the Asia Pacific, including China, requires more than 3000 aircraft under 150 seats in the next 20 years,” says Raul Villaron, Asia Pacific Vice President for Embraer Commercial Aviation. “Crossover jets like the E-Jets E2 and the first-generation E-Jets play an essential role. Embraer is also taking the lead in bringing back turboprops and is planning an aircraft that will fit the bill.
Another forward-thinking development was how engine manufacturers are chasing that holy trinity of low emissions, more fuel efficiency and less noise. Embraer, Rolls-Royce and Wideroe will undertake a 12-month study to see how viable a zero-emission regional aircraft could be. And talking about the future Embraer’s urban air mobility unit, Eve will partner with Skyports to develop a concept of operations for advanced air mobility in Japan.
Western Australia-based helicopter operators Avair and HeliSpirit, have signed a letter of intent (LoI) for 50 of the EVE eVTOL aircraft. According to Embraer, it has nearly 2,000 letters of intent for its eVTOL aircraft, worth $5.4 billion, and its customers range from airlines and rotor operators.
AirAsia Aviation Group will take at least 100 Vertical Aerospace VX4 electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft from lessor Avolon, becoming the first Southeast Asian operator of the type. Urban air mobility developer Volocopter is also looking at Oriental markets by 2025, and UAMs are clearly the next big thing.
China showed off its Z10 attack gunship in the chopper category, which looks pretty much like the AH64 Apache Longbow, a brace from the RSAF performed manoeuvres at the show. Israeli drone maker Steadicopter showed off an unmanned helicopter called Black Eagle 50. The drone’s extended range and additional payload capacity make it stand out in a crowded field of unmanned products, said Or Saf, marketing and project manager for Steadicopter.
Boeing was actively scouting for markets for the Chinook, and much the same goes for Bell, who firmly believe can find buyers for the AH-1Z Viper helicopter in the Asia-Pacific region.
All in all, a very inspiring effort in Singapore with enough signage to underscore the gravel in the gut of the industry. And on a nationalistic note, as the Tejas flew into the sky in a display of fourth-generation fighters, I felt a sense of pride. India would now increasingly make her presence felt in the air, not just as a buyer but as a seller.
