Optimise Aircraft Downtime Due To COVID-19 By Following Five Tips - Honeywell

KUALA LUMPUR, June 1 (Bernama) -- As the world looks to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic and borders start to reopen, the aviation industry must be ready for aircraft to fill the skies once again, according to Honeywell Aerospace. In a statement, the aircraft engine and avionics manufacturer gave five tips to optimise aircraft downtime during the pandemic and keep aircraft and flight crews ready for a quick return to service. Its Asia-Pacific business and general aviation leader, Amit Kaul, suggested that airlines run aircraft engines and log the time religiously; detail and clean the aircraft’s interior; plan for regular maintenance and upgrades; plan ahead by reviewing business needs and considering digitalisation; and exercise their crew and expand their knowledge. He said airlines should fire up engines at least once every 30 days and let the engine oil come up to temperature, which takes about 15 minutes. Leaving an aircraft idle for too long, he cautioned, could violate the terms of warranties, maintenance service plans or insurance coverage. "Honeywell usually requires a full teardown if an engine sits more than six months. It doesn’t take long for the oil to drain off parts, exposing them to corrosion. "Plus, fungus and other microbes can grow in the fuel lines. So, it is good for operators to power on the engines, auxiliary power units, avionics, as well as run the environmental control systems to ensure they’re in good working order," Amit said. Most importantly in this regard, he said airline operators must document every run in the airframe, engine and pilot logbooks, including ground runs. Secondly, he said good hygiene is essential, “which is hugely important to passengers and pilots”. “Detail and clean the interior. Then, cover the aircraft correctly. Normally, it is not easy to find time to shampoo the rug or get the gray out of the seats. Now is a great time for deep cleaning and disinfecting the aircraft,” he said. He reminded airlines to cover the aircraft properly. “Given that travel restrictions are still tight globally, using covers correctly help to protect the fleets left on the ramp. Canopy covers should fit tightly to keep grit from getting under the fabric and scratching windscreens,” he said. Thirdly, he said, the airlines can plan for regular maintenance and upgrades, leveraging the time they have on their hands to prepare for the new reality. “Start with improving the performance and resale value of your aircraft fleet. Today, many companies and maintenance sites including Honeywell are offering great incentives for maintenance and upgrades,” he suggested. Amit said airlines can also review their business needs and consider digitalisation, using the downtime to streamline business and operations processes, and look to new digital tools. To this end, he referred to the company’s recently launched Honeywell Forge analytics platform that combines flight planning, performance data from the aircraft and tools for managing connectivity and other features. “Honeywell Forge also delivers predictive maintenance alerts and recommendations for better efficiency, allowing operators to vastly improve the way they manage their fleets,” he said. Lastly, Amit suggested that airlines exercise their crew and expand the latter’s knowledge, as many pilots do not get enough practice with emergency procedures, or with flying certain approaches. “Take advantage of this time to read manuals and go through required or advanced training. Pilots or engineers can check out available online courses certified by regulatory bodies in their country,” he said. Meanwhile, Honeywell’s Americas business and general aviation director, Dave Lopez, said operators including business jet owners, airports and other industry stakeholders must continue working hand in hand to overcome the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. “They may also consider keeping aircraft and pilots active by flying for a good cause, such as volunteering their aircraft when there is community demand for transportation of medical supplies. Business aviation can really show its value to the community with some of these volunteer flights,” he said. He said making use of the downtime to upgrade, maintain and train would help to ensure that operators and their aircraft are ready and safe to fly the moment they are able. "These are challenging times for aviation industry, but it will pass," he added. -- BERNAMA