What You Need to Know About Post-Pandemic Aircraft Operations
You may have been nervous before the pandemic, but there is no doubt that boarding a plane will be far more worrisome for everyone, as air travel is slowly becoming what people are doing again. Due to the health crisis of the last few months, planes around the world have been stopped, which made us wonder: what needs to be done to get them back into the air?
Airplanes are like cars – are they prone to stalling if you leave them in the parking lot for too long? What needs to be done so that they are ready to carry passengers again? And in the future, how will procedures change to keep them clean enough – and hopefully safe enough – to move people around the world while COVID-19 is still a major threat? Here’s how airlines keep their planes fit for travelers and employees during and after the pandemic.
Aircraft maintenance
Since there are thousands of aircraft around the world, it is important to know how they are serviced. Fortunately, aircraft maintenance was considered important long before the current crisis, and the practice continued during the height of the pandemic.
According to the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association,
Proper maintenance and inspection requirements are even more important if the aircraft was out of service during a crisis. Airplanes begin to fail from the moment they are parked, as the corrosion process begins on components that no longer move or receive lubrication, seals begin to dry out, and internal engine components become dormant.
Yes, just like with a car, planes need certain procedures to be ready to fly … it’s just a lot more expensive:
- Wheel rotation every 1-2 weeks.
- Cover engines to prevent animals from nesting inside.
- Starting the air conditioner to reduce humidity and humidity from inside the cab.
- Oil and filter change.
According to the Financial Times, airlines spend nearly $ 30,000 on annual maintenance for each remaining aircraft. Thus, it is safe to say that ground planes will be ready to fly if and when the need arises for their flights in the future – or they are replaced by newer aircraft.
Pilot training
Even if pilots feel like flying a bike, they still have to meet certain requirements in order to be eligible to fly a commercial airliner again. To fly, pilots must adhere to the rules of “novelty”: they must spend a certain number of hours in the air and successfully complete three take-offs and landings within the previous 90 days to carry passengers. Unsurprisingly, flight training was deemed “necessary” during the pandemic, and although some instructions were changed during the stop, much of the training can still be performed on flight simulators and pilots will still need to meet stringent requirements before flying with passengers. once. again.
Pilots must pass a Proficiency Test annually to keep their licenses valid. These checks confirm that the pilot’s skills and knowledge meet industry standards at the highest level. In addition, they are required to perform an operational qualification check every 6 months for the particular airline they work for, proving that they are aware of everything they need to operate the aircraft of that airline.
These checks can also include:
- The night vision
- Maneuvers
- Communication and navigation
- Cockpit inspection procedures
- Airplane tool
According to General Aviation News, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) recently drew up a memorandum allowing pilots to continue testing according to their instructions during shutdowns. Certain rules normally required for pilots to remain active fall within a three month grace period , but pilots must request an exemption in writing from the FAA.
Currently, however, pilots can take 90 days from the last flight before they need to demonstrate the required take-offs and landings. Since domestic flights are still in operation, it is more than likely that flights will return in smaller waves and return to normal once more airline pilots and crews are recruited.
Keep things clean
Airlines are diligently creating new methods of cleaning and disinfecting aircraft for use during a pandemic. These procedures are extensive in the hope that they will better protect their employees and customers – and make us comfortable enough to fly again.
american airlines
Cleaning procedures will be expanded for American Airlines, which will fog up their aircraft with EPA-registered hospital-grade disinfectants.
Customer service areas include tray tables, seat belt buckles, armrests, window shades and seat back screens. It also includes a wiper door and bin handles.
Improved cleaning of galley, reclining and crew rest areas in crew areas. New improvements also add to the cockpit surface.
Delta
Delta announced early last month that it will disinfect every flight with electrostatic sprayers as part of its new Delta Clean program. These nebulizers are electrically charged and spray liquid disinfectant in the form of a mist, just like an outdoor sprinkler system. This will allow them to wash evenly from floor to ceiling, armrests, seats, seatbacks, tray tables, doors and bathrooms.
Following the sanitation process, staff will complete an additional checklist and wipe down common and service areas before each flight.
United airlines
United has teamed up with Clorox to develop the United CleanPlus program. In addition to using electrostatic nebulizers, United will also use high-efficiency particulate matter (HEPA) filters that help circulate air and remove up to 99.97% of airborne particulates. You can watch the cleaning process in action here .