A systematic pre-flight coronavirus testing regime for all international passengers is the only way to kick-start the airline sector’s recovery, according to IATA. Laying out its proposals for such a scheme today – which it says would be on a scale with the security measures introduced post-9/11 – the airline body suggests the initiative would replace the need for the quarantine requirements that are “killing the industry’s recovery”. “IATA is calling for the systematic testing of all international passengers before departure,” states director general Alexandre de Juniac. ”This will enable governments to safely open borders without quarantine”. Crucially, de Juniac continues, it will also ”provide passengers with the certainty that they will be able to travel without worrying about last-minute changes that could spoil their plans”, while giving them confidence that fellow travellers are Covid-free. He recalls the “dismally disappointing” figures for international travel in July, which were just 8% of year-ago levels, in explaining why drastic measures are needed. Noting that IATA ”did not come to this decision lightly”, de Juniac highlights potential hurdles such as “logistical challenges” around ”the integration of systematic testing to the travel process”. As a result, the scheme “needs manufacturers to develop a test that can be deployed that is fast, accurate, scalable, affordable and easy to operate”. “We expect a solution – or several solutions – to come to the market in the coming weeks,” de Juniac states. The scale of testing required – millions of passengers daily under pre-Covid levels of traffic – means non-medical personnel would need to deliver tests, he notes. At the same time, governments would need to agree to common standards on testing, so that there would be “mutual recognition” of the results. De Juniac suggests the standards should be agreed through ICAO. IATA will work with airports and other partners to implement the scheme, he states, partly informed by experiences already gained with limited testing at some airports. “Time is of the essence,” de Juniac concludes. “Our position today is setting a marker for everyone in the industry to aim for. Much will need to be done to achieve 100% testing of all passengers prior to departure. “We don’t see any alternative solution that would be less challenging or more effective.”

Source: Cirium

American Airlines’ pilots will begin 737 Max “special training” in November in preparation for the jet’s return to service, with the company’s entire complement of 737 pilots expected to complete the reviews by January 2021. Union Allied Pilots Association, which represents American’s cockpit crews, disclosed the time frame in a message to members on 21 September, a development coming as Boeing works to get the jet back in the skies. Boeing has said it expects the Federal Aviation Administration will certificate the Max, which has been grounded since March 2019, in the fourth quarter of this year. Prior to flying the jet, American’s pilots must complete “a distance-learning training module”, which will take about 1h 40min to complete. They must also complete about 3h of flight-simulator time, including a 1h briefing and 2h of simulated flying, according to APA’s message. The union expects that about 1,700 of American’s pilots will complete the training in November. Though training dates are set, APA has raised concern with the Max’s certification timeline. In a statement, it warns of a “last-minute rush to push the Max back into service and put pressure on the process before all things have been completely vetted”. The union notes that the Joint Operations Evaluation Board – a panel of pilots and regulators from the Federal Aviation Administration and other countries’ oversight bodies – has not completed its pilot training assessment. Additionally, the industry will need time to review updated pilot training requirements published by the FAA’s Flight Standardisation Board, APA says. “Clearly this is the cart before the horse,” says the union. “Rushing the final phase will only undermine the process and confidence in the Max’s return to service.”

Source: Cirium

Collins Aerospace expects recovery in aircraft interiors to take “longer than originally anticipated”, but is banking on an impetus from new products as airlines look to make cabins more hygienic. Troy Brunk, president, interiors of the Raytheon-owned business, believes commercial air traffic is unlikely to recover to 2019 levels until 2023. However, the company is “investing a significant amount of resources to develop near term-solutions so airlines have the ability to address passenger confidence to fly”, he says. Collins is one of the biggest players in interiors – its products include seats, water and waste systems, galley equipment, lighting, oxygen systems, and passenger service units. Before the pandemic it had already “invested in the touchless lavatory environment” but has “expedited our timeline” to “bring much of that to market earlier than planned”, says Brunk.
“These technologies vary in maturity level, so we’re creating roadmaps with our customers that will make incrementally adding hygienic features simple as those solutions come to market,” he says. “Airlines are more than willing to invest in smart solutions that address the immediate concerns they and their customers have about the flying experience. “Our collaboration with our airline partners has been terrific and it’s clear to us the types of technology they want to see developed, so they can get it installed and begin the journey back to some sense of normalcy.” Reducing the number of times passengers or crew have to touch equipment will be crucial. “Anything on board an aircraft with a touchpoint is under careful review to find out how we can either reduce the need for touch entirely, or, where touchless is impossible, how we can make that particular area as hygienic as possible through the use of anti-microbial materials, disinfectants or other cleaning agents,” he says. Collins’ touchless lavatory concept includes touch-free taps, soap dispenser, toilet lid and seat and flush. A fitting called Spash Guard “virtually eliminates” liquid waste particles entering the environment as an aerosol after the toilet is flushed, minimising, says the company, the risk of disease spread to passengers and crew.

Source: Cirium