What will Riyadh Air look like?

Saudi Arabia’s government has unveiled its new national airline, branding it Riyadh Air, headed by former Etihad Aviation Group chief Tony Douglas. Riyadh Air will operate from a hub in the Saudi capital with a network expanding to more than 100 destinations by 2030. The airline will be the gateway between the three continents of Asia, Africa, and Europe.

It has not detailed its planned fleet, but the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund states that it will acquire “modern aircraft equipped with the latest technology” to achieve “world-class” safety and sustainability.

“Establishment of the airline is aligned with [our] mandate to further enable the aviation eco-system in Saudi Arabia,” says the fund, of which the carrier will be a wholly-owned subsidiary.

“Riyadh Air will usher in a new era for the travel and aviation industry globally and will provide tourists from around the world the opportunity to visit Saudi Arabia’s cultural and natural attractions.” It expects the new carrier to bring USD 20 billion in GDP growth to the kingdom and create over 200,000 jobs.

Saudi Arabia already has a national airline, Saudia, which is already undergoing its own modernisation and expansion programme.

Riyadh Air will be chaired by the fund’s governor, Yasir Al-Rumayyan, while Tony Douglas will serve as chief executive. Abu Dhabi-based Etihad revealed last October that Douglas was leaving the company.

“Riyadh Air will be a digitally native airline, driven by a pioneering spirit with an obsessive focus on attention to detail and innovation at its heart. We aim to permanently transcend our guests’ perceptions and experiences of flying in the modern world.”

Tony Douglas, CEO, Riyadh Air

Saudi and international figures will make up the new airline’s senior management, says the fund, adding that the carrier will – like the major Gulf airlines – take advantage of its geographical position between Asia, Europe and Africa. "The new national airline is set to benefit from [our] investment expertise and financial capabilities,” the fund adds.

King Khalid airport in Riyadh is set to undergo expansion and be transformed into King Salman airport. Last November officials announced plans for a new airport in the capital Riyadh -- spanning 57 square kilometres (22 square miles) -- that is set to accommodate 120 million travellers per year by 2030 and 185 million travellers by 2050.

The airline will act as a “catalyst” for the kingdom’s national tourism and transport strategy, the fund says, by expanding passenger and cargo air transport options. Riyadh Air will “unlock” promising sectors, it adds, and help diversify the economy, enabling a “more financially resilient” aviation ecosystem.

The Gulf kingdom is pursuing ambitious aviation goals as part of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's wide-ranging "Vision 2030" reform agenda, including more than tripling annual traffic to 330 million passengers by the end of the decade. It also wants to move up to five million tonnes of cargo each year.

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Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) is close to a deal to order Boeing commercial jets for the fleet of a new national airline, The Wall Street Journal reported on Saturday, citing people familiar with the matter.

The aircraft order is valued at USD 35 billion, the report said, adding that the deal could be announced soon during an official launch of the national airline. The deal includes wide-body jets which are often used for long international flights.

In October, Saudi Arabia was in advanced negotiations to order almost 40 A350 jets from Airbus, with Boeing also lobbying for a slice of the kingdom’s transportation expansion, industry sources had told Reuters.

The head of state-owned Saudi Arabian Airlines (Saudia) had then told Reuters that it was in talks with Boeing and Airbus on orders both for itself and a planned new carrier, RIA. Boeing declined to comment and the Saudi PIF did not immediately respond to a request from Reuters for comment on the report.

Last month Air India announced an order for 470 planes from Boeing and Airbus in record-setting deals for the commercial aviation industry. The order includes 220 Boeing jets valued at $34 billion, with 190 737 Max aircraft, 20 787 Dreamliners and 10 of the company’s 777Xs.

Saudi Arabian airlines and their fleet

Currently, there are 4 scheduled operators in Saudi Arabia - Saudia (flag carrier of Saudi Arabia), Saudia-owned flyadeal, low-cost carrier Flynas and Nesma Airlines.

Saudia operates a diverse fleet comprising both Airbus and Boeing aircraft. The fleet comprises of Airbus A320, Airbus A321, Airbus A330, Boeing B777 and Boeing B787. The airline has also placed an order for 15 Airbus A321 XLR and 20 Airbus A321 Neo.

Airbus, the leading aircraft manufacturer, has announced that it more than doubled its deliveries in February 2022 compared to the same period in the previous year. The company delivered a total of 57 aircraft in February, up from 26 deliveries in February 2021.

This surge in deliveries is a positive sign for Airbus, which has been hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic. The aviation industry has been severely impacted by the pandemic, with many airlines grounding their fleets and delaying orders for new aircraft.

However, the growing demand for new aircraft is a positive sign that the industry is starting to bounce back. Airlines are looking to renew their fleets and replace older, less efficient aircraft with newer, more fuel-efficient models.

The increase in deliveries is good news for Airbus and the aviation industry as a whole.

The A320neo family and the A220 are popular choices for airlines looking to add new aircraft to their fleets. These aircraft are fuel-efficient, have lower operating costs, and offer passengers a comfortable flying experience. The A350 and A330neo are also popular choices for airlines looking for larger, wide-body aircraft.

Also read - Air India Pilots can now fly 2 aircraft types after recent DGCA approval

The Tata Group-owned Air India has announced its commitment to order 250 Airbus aircraft to boost its domestic and international operations. The commitment includes 140 A320neo and 70 A321neo single-aisle aircraft as well as 34 A350-1000 and six A350-900 wide-body jets that will mark a new era for the country as the all-new, long-range aircraft celebrates its debut in the Indian market.

A350 aircraft of choice for Air India’s renaissance in long haul travel and A320 Family to be the cornerstone of Air India’s domestic and regional fleet.

In conclusion, Airbus' announcement that it more than doubled its deliveries in February 2022 is a positive sign for the company and the aviation industry as a whole. The growing demand for new aircraft is a sign that the industry is starting to recover from the pandemic.

Airbus' fuel-efficient aircraft are popular choices for airlines looking to renew their fleets, and the company's efforts to increase production rates are paying off. With the increasing deliveries, Airbus can maintain its position as a leading aircraft manufacturer and support the aviation industry's recovery.

Also read - Air India plans simplified single pay structure for pilots

After a year of halting 787 Dreamliner deliveries due to production issues, Boeing has received clearance from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to resume deliveries of the aircraft.

The Boeing 787 Dreamliner is a popular aircraft that is widely used by airlines around the world. However, in 2020, the FAA issued an order that prohibited Boeing from delivering any new 787s until the company addressed certain production issues. Specifically, the order cited issues related to the quality of the aircraft's structure, electrical systems, and other critical components.

Boeing has been working diligently to address these issues and improve the quality of its production processes. The company has also been working closely with the FAA to demonstrate that it has addressed all the issues cited in the order.

Boeing Cleared By FAA To Resume 787 Deliveries.

The FAA's decision to clear Boeing to resume 787 deliveries is a significant milestone for the company. It is also good news for airlines that have been waiting for new 787s to add to their fleets. The resumption of deliveries is expected to help airlines that are struggling to meet the growing demand for air travel as more people return to flying following the pandemic.

Boeing's efforts to address the production issues are a clear indication of the company's commitment to safety and quality. The company has invested heavily in new technology, processes, and training to improve the quality of its aircraft and to ensure that they meet the highest safety standards.

Boeing has also implemented new measures to ensure that its suppliers and contractors are meeting the same high standards for quality and safety. These measures include more stringent quality checks, increased oversight, and more frequent inspections.

The resumption of 787 deliveries is an important step forward for Boeing.

However, the clearance to resume deliveries is a positive sign that Boeing is on the right track. The company has shown that it is committed to addressing any issues that arise and to meeting the highest standards for safety and quality.

The clearance by the FAA for Boeing to resume 787 deliveries is a significant step forward for the company and the airline industry as a whole. Boeing's commitment to safety and quality is evident, and the resumption of deliveries is good news for airlines and passengers alike.

AirAsia India, in collaboration with the aviation regulator Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), integrated the pilot's flight duty logbook directly from its crew management system to the eGCA platform.

The eGCA platform provides end-to-end solutions and connectivity with regional offices to improve transparency and accountability across all functions of DGCA.

This initiative, as part of DGCA's digitisation programme, will eliminate the need for pilots to hand-fill their flight and simulator duties carried out during their careers in physical logbooks, thereby improving efficiency and transparency.

Pilots were traditionally required to update their pilot logbooks in physical logbooks, as required by the MOCA's Aircraft Rule, 1937 (67A).

However, with the integration of AirAsia India's crew management system with eGCA's logbook API (Application Program Interface), this process will now be digitised, making it simpler, more user-friendly and sustainable.

"We are proud to collaborate with DGCA in integrating our crew management system with eGCA's logbook API. This initiative is a significant step towards improving the efficiency and transparency of the aviation industry and also contributing to sustainability. By eliminating the need for pilots to manually update their pilot logbooks, we are simplifying the process and making it more user-friendly. This initiative in conjunction with DGCA is a testament to our commitment to innovation and digitisation, and we are excited to continue working towards making services simpler and more user-friendly for pilots."

Captain Manish Uppal, Head of Operations, AirAsia India

The eGCA platform provides 298 services, including pilot licensing, to add value to DGCA safety regulations, eliminating operational inefficiencies, improving personal interaction, regulatory reporting, and increasing productivity and transparency.

With this partnership, AirAsia India and DGCA are striving to make services simpler and more user-friendly for pilots, while also enhancing the overall efficiency and transparency of the aviation industry.

In addition to providing accurate real-time pilot flying hours, this integration will also facilitate the timely submission of applications for pilot licensing, renewal and endorsement by eliminating multiple data validation steps.

As a manual intervention in the process is significantly reduced, this will result in faster processing of applications, as the verification of flying data in submitted applications will be considerably streamlined.

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has given in to a long-standing request from Air India to permit it to use a common pool of pilots for various aircraft types. This will allow the airline to utilise its crew most effectively during a time of growing pilot shortage by allowing a small batch of its cockpit crew to switch between Boeing 777 and 787 aircraft on a trial basis, according to a report by The Hindu.

Nonetheless, the pilot community and safety experts have emphasised the need for the exercise to be strictly supervised by a third party while still allowing for flexibility in crew utilisation.

The aviation regulating body DGCA authorised mixed fleet trial operations in a letter to Air India on March 3, designating eight pilot examiners (those who accredit other pilots) to take part in the trial's first phase. To transition from one type to the other, the pilots—some of whom fly Boeing 777s and others Boeing 787s—will receive classroom and simulator training. After that, they will be able to fly the new type for at least 150 hours, making at least 10 landings.

Air India Pilots can now fly 2 aircraft types after recent DGCA approval

An anonymous senior DGCA official stated, "This exercise will allow us to gather empirical data and decide the future course of action on scaling up the trial. The official further mentioned that although 16 nations worldwide permit pilot interchangeability, they also did so gradually. The official continued, "The need has been there for a while, but such a decision requires substantial due diligence, which is why it took time.

ALSO READ - Air India to hire 900 pilots & 4200 cabin crew in 2023 after new aircraft order

The decision would allow "captains on both fleets to operate any type, enhancing their experience, professional development, variety, and operational scope, as well as giving the company additional resilience and flexibility," Air India CEO Campbell Wilson wrote in a statement to the company's staff. According to him, Air India will be the first and only airline in India to receive this approval as a result of the decision.

ALSO READ - Air India will require 6500+ pilots for the recently ordered 470 aircraft

Last month, Air India announced an order of 470 aircraft from Airbus and Boeing, which includes 20 Boeing 787s and 10 Boeing 777-9s. This means the airline now requires "7,000-8,000" pilots in the next 10 years which some within the airline described as a “nightmare” situation given that the airline has seen some cancellations on long-haul flights to the U.S. due to existing crew shortages. The airline’s CEO acknowledged this and said that efforts to restore aircraft in disrepair had led to a mismatch. 

ALSO READ - From A350s to B777Xs, Air India finalizes the Historic 470 Aircraft deal with Airbus & Boeing

Even though Boeing 787s and 777s are aircraft by the same manufacturer, they have different cockpit instrumentation.

ALSO READ - Air India pilot unions claim shortage of flying crew; slam work schedule

There are significant operational and handling performance differences between various aircraft types. For instance, a pilot who has been trained to fly the Boeing 737 cannot start flying the Airbus A320 right away. He or she would have to complete extra training in order to receive a type rating for the new type. Long periods of classroom study and simulator time are required for this training.

It becomes more difficult when similar aircraft types are involved. The same type ratings apply to numerous types of aircraft. Although they handle similarly in terms of performance, flying them is technically straightforward. Pilots won't require the whole training of a new type rating, just some additional brief instruction to comprehend key distinctions.

Although technically quite different, aircraft can share a type rating if their appearance and handling for pilots are similar enough. This is how long-running aircraft series, despite major technical advancements over time, share a type rating between all variants.

Although type ratings are typically connected with pilots, cabin crew can also hold a type rating for select aircraft that can accommodate up to three or four people. Crew members certified to conduct duty on various aircraft are frequently used by airlines that operate a mixed fleet with a mix of widebody and narrowbody aircraft for maximum operations.

Before operating on an aircraft, cabin crew must complete an aircraft-specific type training and conversion course, just like pilots. Such training must be provided by the airline, which may contract them out to a cabin crew training organisation if it doesn't have a facility of its own.

Cabins of different aircraft types are also configured differently, and a thorough knowledge of these aspects is crucial for flight safety. Cabin crew conversion training covers areas like door operations, slides and rafts, emergency equipment, communications, oxygen systems, and locations of equipment on the aircraft type.

(With Inputs from The Hindu)

The defence ministry on Friday, March 10 sealed a deal with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) to procure six Dornier aircraft for INR 667 crore for the Indian Air Force.

The addition of the six aircraft will further bolster the operational capability of the IAF in remote areas, the defence ministry said announcing the contract.

https://twitter.com/DefenceMinIndia/status/1634168024273137665

The Dornier-228 aircraft is a highly versatile multi-purpose light transport aircraft. It has been developed specifically to meet the manifold requirements of utility and commuter transport as well as for maritime surveillance. The aircraft will have an upgraded fuel-efficient engine coupled with a five-bladed composite propeller.

"The Ministry of Defence, on March 10, signed a contract for procurement of six Dornier-228 aircraft for the Indian Air Force from Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) for INR 667 crore. The aircraft was used by IAF for route transport roles and communication duties. Subsequently, it has also been used for training of transport pilots of the IAF," it said.

The aircraft is ideally suited for short-haul operations from semi-prepared and short runways of the North East and island chains of India.

ALSO READ - Union Cabinet approves buying 70 HAL HTT-40 basic trainer aircraft for IAF

The Dornier order for HAL comes on the back of an INR 6,838-crore contract awarded to it by the defence ministry for 70 HTT-40 basic trainer aircraft. The new trainer aircraft, a longstanding need, will provide a boost to the ab initio training of air force pilots. Basic trainers figure on the long list of weapons and systems that India has imposed an import ban on during the last 30 months. HAL will supply the Hindustan Turbo Trainer-40 (HTT-40) planes to IAF over six years.

Currently, ab initio training of all rookie pilots is carried out on Swiss-origin Pilatus PC-7 MkII planes and Kiran Mk-1/1A trainers. Those training to become fighter pilots further train on the British-origin Hawk advanced jet trainers.