Page 6 - World Airnews Magazine December 2020

FLAREPATH

THE MAX GETS ITS WINGS

By Heidi Gibson

they don’t agree it will not activate. hosted its fourth and final webinar for the

year focused on the impact COVID-19 has

It will only be activated once and it will

significant milestone has hap- never override the pilot’s ability to control had on African aviation, aviation technolo-
Apened and we need to mark it the airplane using the control column alone gy developments and the evolving state of

– amid the doom and gloom of a second These are important changes – as the the Africa’s flight industry.

lockdown in Europe and rising Covid-19 pilots behind the controls of the downed It featured an interesting presentation by
infections in the USA - the US Federal aircraft repeatedly had to disengage the managing director of ZA Logics Ogaga Udjo,

who said before COVID-19 the global airline
Aviation Administration has rescinded the MCAS as it attempted to take over the industry enjoyed 11 years of consecutive

order that halted commercial operations of plane and put the nose down. profits, strongly driven by performance in

the 737 Max. The work into these changes came after North America.

This will allow airlines around the world regulatory agencies and aviation organisa- He told the virtual audience that the

to take the steps necessary to resume tions from around the world worked with African aviation industry supports (US) $56

service and further allows Boeing to begin engineers, scientists, researchers, mechan- billion per annum in economic activity and

to make deliveries. ics, pilots and line pilots and engaged in a 6,2 million jobs and in the current climate
"We will never forget the lives lost in the thorough process that involved hundreds – with some open borders - African Airline
two tragic accidents that led to the decision of thousands of hours and more than a decision-makers are dealing with issues of

to suspend operations," said David Cal- thousand test and check flights. stabilisation, emergence and resurgence

houn, chief executive officer of The Boeing Other requirements include training from relatively weak positions.

Company. and here airlines must receive regulatory In terms of a possible recovery Udjo said
"These events and the lessons we have approval for their training programmes and most analyses forecast recovery to be
learned as a result have reshaped our pilots must complete all required training. negatively impacted by a lagged economic

company and further focused our attention Any undelivered Max will undergo an FAA recession, with traffic returning to 2019 lev-

on our core values of safety, quality and in-person, individual review prior to the els in the first quarter of – wait for it - 2024.

integrity." issuing of an airworthiness certificate – so Recovery could be bolstered where there
Throughout the past 20 months, Boeing that it can be delivered. is a strong domestic aviation industry.

has provided airlines with detailed recom- Each country’s regulators will determine It’s a focus area that I am sure all African

mendations regarding long-term storage their own schedule for return to service. states are concentrating on and that is why

and installing software enhancements, Turning our attention to our continent the we have as our editorial central point issues

completing wire separation modifications, International Road Federation in support of of travel, travel requirements, charter
conducting pilot training and de-preserva- the Southern African Transport Conference, operations and other interesting bits and

tion activities that will ensure the airplanes pieces that will help you to have confidence

are ready for service. in the aviation industry in this holiday

Most importantly now the MCAS, or season.

Manoeuvring Characteristics Augmen- And on that note we close the doors on

tation System, will feature two Angle of what can only termed an annus horriblis

Attack (AOA) sensors, each submitting their for aviation and look forward to a brighter

own data to the airplane’s flight control 2021. Happy Christmas and Have a Great
computer. New year.
The data will be compared and MCAS will Stay safe. Stay strong and Stay with

only be activated if both sensors agree. If World Airnews. Q
World Airnews | December 2020
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