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By
Karolina Prokopovič
No doubts that the coronavirus has turned the
world upside down.
In terms of aviation, there is a near
shutdown in air travel, airlines are swapping passengers for essential cargo
supplies. The current situation is without precedent in history.
As for now, nearly half of the global fleet
safely hibernates. And it is a new normal for the aviation industry.
Although the process of putting planes into
storage is not a new phenomenon, it is a new normal for airlines, airports,
etc.
For many of us it is difficult to understand
how operators take care of their fleet and, on the whole, what aircraft
hibernation means.
Let’s take a quick glimpse into the way
Brussels Airlines has prepared its fleet to wait when it can soar again.
Brussels Airlines is one of many carriers
worldwide that had to temporary halt all its scheduled services and ground its
aircraft.
Although several planes are on standby in
case they are needed for any emergency operations, all the rest of the birds
have found shelter at Brussels Airport.
How do you imagine the process of putting the
aircraft into storage? Can you even image it?
Brussels Airlines reveals that the whole
procedure is a way more complicated than simply parking a car.
Airframers even provide operators with
dedicated instructions for storing the planes safely.
These instructions, in turn, have to be
followed with high precision in order for the airline to gain immediate
benefits from smooth aircraft lift and sooner operations start.
For example, the carrier explained that
storing an Airbus A330 takes about 400 man hours. Wondering why so many?
“This means that all
windows are taped to prevent sunlight from decolouring the interior, landing
gears and engines are thoroughly packed so that birds cannot nest in them and
to prevent corrosion. All our seats are covered as well, to keep them crisp and
clean”,
says the airline
But storing the plane is not the end of the
story. Aircraft cannot be left alone for the period of hibernation.
For instance, every single day the wheels
have to be turned just slightly, to make sure they do not get worn out under
the weight of the aircraft and every week, inspections and tests need to be
performed.
This means that even during quarantine 30
Maintenance & Engineering team members of the Brussels Airlines have to
work hard at their own front.
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