By Ms. Rahma Gharbi & Mr Al Haitam Bouchakor
Welcome to our aviation press review for the first week of January 2023! In this edition, we will be highlighting some of the top stories and developments in the aviation industry from the past week. From new infrastructures to partnerships and agreements, there has been a lot of exciting news in the industry. We hope you enjoy reading our review and stay tuned for more updates in the coming weeks.
By Mr. Al Haitam Bouchakor:
First off this past week, Automotive OEM Stellantis has entered into an agreement with air taxi startup Archer Aviation Inc. to build its electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft called Midnight. I believe this partnership between Automotive OEM Stellantis and air taxi startup Archer Aviation Inc. is a strategic move that positions both companies for success in the evolving aviation industry. The development of the electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, named Midnight (shown in the image above), allows Stellantis to expand into the aviation sector and leverage their expertise in manufacturing and engineering to produce a high-quality product. Archer Aviation, on the other hand, can benefit from Stellantis’ resources and supply chain management experience to bring Midnight to market efficiently and effectively. Overall, this collaboration demonstrates a strong collaboration and forward-thinking approach to innovation in the transportation industry.
Additionally, the use of electric technology in the Midnight eVTOL aircraft aligns with the increasing demand for sustainable and environmentally friendly transportation options. As concern for climate change continues to rise, consumers and companies are looking for alternatives to traditional fossil fuel-powered vehicles. By entering into this agreement, Stellantis and Archer Aviation demonstrate their commitment to sustainability and their willingness to adapt to meet the changing needs of the market.
Furthermore, the potential for air taxi services, like those offered by Archer Aviation or AuraAero, to revolutionize urban transportation makes this partnership even more exciting as part of disruptive innovations. The ability for individuals to travel quickly and efficiently within cities via air taxi has the potential to reduce traffic congestion and improve overall mobility. By collaborating with Archer Aviation, Stellantis is positioning themselves to be a leader in this emerging transportation sector.
Continuing in the sustainable aviation topic this last week, Toulon-Hyeres’s airport is revealing one of its new services. Proposed by WFS contractor for the refueling at the airport, it is a fully electric Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) replenishing done by an electric truck. The SAF offered is mixed with only 30% kerosene. The availability of sustainable fuel at the Toulon city airport is a positive development for both the airport and the community. From a management perspective, offering sustainable fuel options aligns with the growing demand for environmentally-friendly transportation and demonstrates the airport’s commitment to sustainability. This can help to attract environmentally-conscious travelers and companies, which can lead to increased revenue and business for the airport.
Additionally, the availability of sustainable fuel at the Toulon city airport can help to reduce the airport’s carbon footprint and contribute to a healthier environment for the surrounding community. This can improve the airport’s reputation and strengthen its relationship with local stakeholders.
The US nightmare
By Ms. Rahma Gharbi
FAA system outage causes thousands of flights delays and cancellations across the US
At the beginning of 2023 and exactly On Wednesday, 11th of January, the United States starts the new year with a disaster: More than 9 700 flights within, into or out of the United States have been delayed and more than 2800 flights have been canceled, due to a computer outage at the federal aviation administration. This communication system, called NOTAM or notice to air missions, is used by the pilots and airline dispatchers before each flight to review the notices that include details about the weather, hazards, the runway closure or construction and many important information that could affect the flight. And so, the NOTAM is considered as a vital safety system.
In fact, the NOTAM has failed on Tuesday night, when it stopped accepting new or updated information.
The white house said that “there is no evidence of a cyberattack” and they are conducting an investigation into the causes of this sudden situation.
A widespread cancellation of flights that affected the entire country…what happened to the airlines?
Southwest airlines has cancelled more than 400 flights that day, which is almost 10% of it schedule. And half of it flights were delayed.
Regarding delta airlines, more than the third of its flights were delayed and 50%of American’s airlines flights were also delayed.
Cybersecurity threats in Aviation
Threats to cybersecurity can have an effect on operations and cause airports and airlines to suffer considerable financial losses.
In the event of a cyberattack on an airport, all of the information related to passengers, cargo shipments, payments, employees, and many other items will be hacked. Additionally, since airports are part of a country’s critical infrastructure, breaches can have significant and widespread consequences beyond financial loss and reputational damage.
Sources:
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/faa-computer-outage-flights-delayed/ https://colortokens.com/blog/cybersecurity-for-airports-threats-mitigation/
