Posted on 04/21/2020 7:33:34 AM PDT by rktman
The skies are eerily empty these days, presenting a new challenge for the world’s embattled airlines as they work to safeguard thousands of grounded planes parked wingtip to wingtip on runways and in storage facilities.
More than 16,000 passenger jets are grounded worldwide, according to industry researcher Cirium, as the coronavirus obliterates travel and puts unprecedented strain on airline finances. Finding the right space and conditions for 62% of the world’s planes and keeping them airworthy have suddenly become priorities for 2020.
Aircraft can’t simply be dusted back into action. They need plenty of work and attention while in storage, from maintenance of hydraulics and flight-control systems to protection against insects and wildlife — nesting birds can be a problem. Then there’s humidity, which can corrode parts and damage interiors. Even when parked on runways, planes are often loaded with fuel to keep them from rocking in the wind and to ensure tanks stay lubricated.
“Nobody thought this magnitude of preservation would need to be done,” said Anand Bhaskar, chief executive officer of New Delhi-based Air Works, a plane repair and maintenance company. “Parking space is a problem. These are logistics nightmares which we’re trying to work around.” Mass Grounding
The number of passenger jets in service is the lowest in 26 years, according to Cirium. Managing such large-scale storage is a challenge for an industry already in crisis, with airlines worldwide slashing capacity to close to zero or not flying at all. The International Air Transport Association has warned that revenue from flying passengers could drop by nearly a third of a trillion dollars this year and that 25 million jobs are at risk.
(Excerpt) Read more at sg.finance.yahoo.com ...
to ensure tanks stay lubricated.
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Gotcha. Lubricate the tanks. Perhaps change the air in the tires also.
Keeps some people working.
Some interesting stats on airplane service life:https://www.bts.gov/content/average-age-aircraft
Most machinery doesn’t like to sit idle.
Kalitta has 21! 747s.
I flew over Victorville Airport last week, there are a whole lot of planes parked everywhere on that field.
Learn to A&P
“You call Yahoo and have them write a story how Trump is destroying the world”
Nothing kills an outboard motor like just sitting.
Fill them with nitrogen. A little ‘armor all’ and it’ll be just fine.
Airline stocks are currently in the toilet.
Good time to buy, because they will rocket up when flights resume after COVID19.
Looks like Davos during a summit.
It’s my don’s profession. Fortunately, he’s been working and flying daily.
Son’s
Put some 3,500 jets on a field in Florida. Wait for a grass fire. Collect insurance.
Problem solved.
(Well, it worked for rental cars.)
Another example of how we aren’t just bouncing back.
The counting of the cost of CCP flu is just beginning.
I don’t like what I’m feeling one little bit.
Ahh, your son has JP-4 runnin’ through his veins - a noble craft indeed.
It really depends of the length of storage. A few weeks and the ground crew will perform an A-check and will probably start the engines and run them to check hydraulics and electrical and flight control systems. The avionics guys will go in and do prefunctory communications and navigation and autopilot checks. Takes a couple of hours.
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