Global Sourcing for Aviation

1 Global Sourcing for Aviation The article by Adrienne et al. (2020), appearing in the Journal of Air Transport Management is a peer-reviewed publication providing an insight into the global grounding of aircraft in response to a decline in demand due to COVID-19 and the resulting challenge for airlines and freighters as they gradually resume operations. The situation presents logistics challenges of an unprecedented nature because aircraft are mostly operations throughout the year and only undergo grounding in scheduled maintenance conditions. The article covers the issue of COVID-19, which is less than a year old since its occurrence, and issues discussed within the article also relate to the literature of global logistics in the aviation industry. The authors use the case of the UK airports where a significant number of grounded aircraft were. They select airfield operations to investigate the concerns and outcomes of resuming flights and the challenges and new encounters for the aircraft operating companies and their logistics support.

Article’s Content in Comparison and Contrast to the Course Airlines had to place their aircraft in temporary storage during the pandemic because of the decline in the reservation and the global lockdowns (Adrienne et al., 2020). Significant job losses also presented an opportunity for airlines to cope with the lack of revenues, but then became a challenge given that resumptions required the incorporation of staff members that were not active for months. Original equipment manufacturers for aircraft also did not have demand during the period and reported revenue losses. Grounding of aircraft required safe preservation and storing aircraft in parked conditions was necessary. The airlines had to ensure the aircraft remained fueled so that tanks had a minimum of 10% of its capacity. If the aircraft storage is in a facility without refueling facilities, it was necessary to have more fuel before parking. The intention of fueling is to prevent movement as the fuel adds weight and keeps important parts in

2 the fuel system lubricated. Additionally, airlines had to take extra measures to power down engines. They also needed to cover all external angles of attack and temperature sensors, vents, static ports to prevent contamination and entry of foreign objects, including dust, insects, and birds. There was also a need to periodically cycle the hydraulic systems like brakes to circulate fluid in the aircraft. Rather than use the aircraft brakes, it was necessary to use wheel chocks.

The article explains the need for the extra features and style of operations during the grounding of planes which is similar to the discussion on storage considerations in logistics from the course (Bowersox et al., 2013). Although the (Adrienne et al., 2020) article is responding to a specific storage issue of aircraft, it still shows significant similarity with the course readings. For instance, there is a common approach in highlighting the need for proper storage to ensure there are no deficiencies when needing to restore or install a component. Like the storage of spare parts as inventory and during transportation to the site for installation, the grounded and parked aircraft are in a state of storage where there must be the protection of their parts to ensure sustained service quality and prevent any deterioration of their fitness for purpose.

Airlines also had to incur additional cost in finding materials to cover their fleet in storage, to fuel the aircraft, and to sustain the hydraulic fluids, while also finding chocks to keep the aircraft from moving (Adrienne et al., 2020). These options relate to the element of packaging discussed in the course, where the functions, cost, and applicability to the mode of transport and storage matter. Here, packaging was for physical protection, waterproof protection, weather and intruder elements protection, and preservation of the functionalities (Lopez & McKevitt, 2017).

3 Applications in the Industry The article's information and findings apply to today’s organization as they offer insights into the experiences of keeping fleet operations while in temporary storage with an uncertain duration. It explains the need to plan for such risks and ensure adequate material availability for grounding of aircraft or other critical machinery at a time when logistics support for the materials might be impossible. Early planning for such risk events and the use of least complicated methods as well as operational rules such as keeping aircraft fuel levels about 10% of the tank capacity is important (PwC, 2017). If the practices in logistics arrangements including packaging and storage could be part of operations considerations, then activating the steps in an emergency becomes easy for aircraft operators.

Reliability and Validity Adrienne et al. (2020) article appears in a peer-reviewed journal targeting the aviation and aerospace logistics industry, making it relevant. Additionally, it is a recent publication from the past year, which makes the content generalizable to the sector's current conditions.

Furthermore, there is an explanation of the methodology used to collect the information and the approaches used to analyze including the review of existing literature. The study is qualitative in its approach, but it provides quantifiable data used to discuss its results and offer recommendations for the sector. The case study approach improves its validity from the perspective of using primary data and objectifying the research agenda.

Conclusions and Recommendations The article offers the groundwork necessary to build theories and expand knowledge about COVID-19 and its importance on aviation logistics. It is a foundational study valid for use

4 by others in the class to not only understand the issue but also develop research questions for further inquiry and to improve the literature.

5 References Adrienne, N., Budd, L., & Ison, S. (2020). Grounded aircraft: An airfield operations perspective of the challenges of resuming flights post COVID. Journal of Air Transport Management, 89, 101921. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jairtraman.2020.101921 Bowersox, D., Bowersox, J., Closs, D., & Cooper, M. B. (2013). Supply chain logistics management (4th ed.). McGraw-Hill/Irwin.

Lopez, E., & McKevitt, J. (2017, January 30). How a closed-loop supply chain can help reduce product waste. Supply Chain Dive. https://www.supplychaindive.com/news/supply-chainsustainability-closed-loop-recycling-packaging/434989/ PwC. (2017). Shifting patterns: The future of the logistics industry. PwC’s Future in Sight Series. https://www.pwc.com/gx/en/transportation-logistics/pdf/the-future-of-thelogistics-industry.pdf