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The world is made up of pessimists and optimists, with the outcome usually somewhere in between. Optimism is not the same as being cheerful or just happy as these feelings are also not uncommon to pessimists. Pessimistic people more often feel that bad things are coming & their consequences last longer, if not forever. In fact, they make negative extrapolations and believe that bad things trigger a domino-effect. So far this year, the pessimists have had the upper hand when it comes to all COVID-19 crisis developments in aviation. Keep reading +
by Capt. Otjan de Bruijn, ECA President
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If becoming a pilot ranked as ‘difficult’, ‘challenging’ or even ‘undesirable’ before the pandemic crippled the industry, starting your training today classifies as a folly.
The economic devastation caused by the COVID crisis simply depleted the chances of any flying job at the end of pilot training. And while COVID may be putting the dream of many on hold, it also offers an opportunity to start approaching this career choice with a sound dose of rationality and less emotions. Keep reading +
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Talks on a new partnership deal between the EU and the UK are still ongoing, but a no-deal outcome is now touted as the most likely scenario. This is particularly worrying news for the hard-hit aviation industry and its professionals. With a pandemic still raging across the globe, EU and UK airlines can hardly afford to lose more market access, cut more jobs or just even factor in more uncertainty in their operations. But without a strong and fair EU-UK Air Transport Agreement on 1 January 2021, that will be their likely fate. Keep reading +
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In a welcome display of ambition and determination, 8 Transport Ministers from across Europe signed a Joint Declaration calling for a “socially responsible” aviation. Austria, Belgium, Denmark, France, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands and Portugal are joining forces in an attempt to move the European Commission and their fellow-Member States towards an ambitious COVID-19 aviation recovery guided by safety, fair & undistorted competition and social rights for employees. Keep reading +
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New ECA Board
In November, ECA held its General Assembly and Board elections. Jon Horne, outgoing President, stepped down after a career spanning over 10 years on the ECA Board. He's been involved in and overseen policy development and political campaigns ranging from the EASA Flight Time Limitations to addressing one of the biggest challenges of our time – environment. Otjan de Bruijn (VNV) is taking over the reins as President of ECA. He is joined by Juan-Carlos Lozano (SEPLA), returning to the ECA Board as Vice-President after previously serving as a Technical Board Director.
Alessandro De Blasio (ANPAC) & Tanja Harter (VC) were re-elected for another 2-year term. They will continue to serve along with Arik Zipser (VC), Karine Gély (SNPL), Clemens Kopetz (Aeropers).
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Over 20 associations collectively representing the entire European aviation ecosystem have announced a joint commitment to work with policy makers to achieve net zero CO2 emissions by 2050, part of a comprehensive collaborative analysis released today detailing ways aviation can recover sustainably and more resiliently from the COVID-19 crisis whilst supporting the European Union’s Green Deal objectives. The commitments will help build a greener, socially and economically robust future for aviation. Keep reading +
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Wizz Air expands. Aggressively. While its competitors are reducing capacity due to the COVID crisis, the airline is expanding and, since March, is taking on Western Europe with new bases and routes. But the airline’s overly optimistic outlook seems now to gradually subside to the reality of low demand, travel restrictions and a 2nd COVID wave in Europe. And as the Wizz-headlines are getting less and less upbeat, the airline seems to be catching up with another miscalculation in its strategy: Western Europe’s stricter employment legislation and industrial relations culture. Keep reading +
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The air transport industry has been one of the industries hardest hit by the slowdown in commercial activity due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It is, therefore, poorly placed to withstand yet another politically induced storm that is leading to a more restrictive Air Transport Agreement between the EU and UK. Airlines are already laying off thousands of loyal staff, with some airlines unethically using a worldwide pandemic (a temporary phenomenon) to seek deep and permanent cuts to the terms and conditions of those who will survive the job cuts.
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Remote Towers is a concept where the air traffic service (ATS) at an airport is performed remotely, i.e. somewhere else than in the local control tower. It comprises the re-location of air traffic controllers to a Remote Tower Centre (RTC) and the provision of all required data including a camera display of the airport and aircraft (normally with enhancement features). ECA accepts the development of Remote Tower Services (RTS), provided that the flight safety, service and quality level is met or increased, compared to conventional tower services.
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