Technika a trh

aerospace industry l editorial l agencies

Dear Readers,

The aerospace industry is currently in an

unprecedented situation. The coronavirus

pandemic, which has been ongoing for

several months, is having an adverse effect on the industry and it is difficult to estimate how extensive its impact will be.

Unfavourable reports are emerging almost regularly and more can be expected,

unfortunately. There has been a sharp

decline in commercial flights and aircraft

are grounded. Beyond that, there has been a steep decline in new aircraft orders,

existing orders have been cancelled or

postponed, and supply chains have been

disrupted. Carriers and manufacturers have incurred major financials and, of no

less importance, a significant portion of

the industry's workforce has been laid off.

The virus is not selective in where it spreads and is thus causing problems also for

the aerospace industry, which is facing

the postponement of numerous projects.

In order to tame the course of the disease,

the European Space Agency has postponed the launch of the Vega rocket, a project in which the Czech company SAB Aerospace participated with a satellite

dispenser.

Despite all of these negative impacts,

however, I would like to point out some

positive examples that demonstrate the

strength of both foreign and Czech companies and that may unfortunately be

overlooked in the flood of today's news.

Such examples are the use of 3D printing

to manufacture face shields at giants such

as Airbus and Boeing, the first test flight of

the SpaceJet M90 from the Japanese

company MHI, and Virgin Orbit's successful test of a B747 modified to launch

satellites into orbit. In the domestic environment, it is definitely worth mentioning

the new Savage-series STOL aircraft from

Zlín Aviation and the successful phase of

flight tests of the L-39NG aircraft manufactured by Aero Vodochody. I am especially grateful to all of the pilots who have

shown solidarity and helped to distribute

protective equipment throughout the

country within the Pilots to the People

project.

If we add to this the measures introduced at Czech companies and the resulting

ability not only to protect their employees,

but also to fulfil their obligations, we are

on the right track to escape from this period with the least possible damage. Even

though we have no influence on the remaining issues, it is precisely this resilience of the entire sector that fills me with the

optimism that better days await Czech industry. After all, despite numerous setbacks, it has always recovered throughout

its more than 100-year history. I firmly believe that this time will not be different.

I wish you good health and pleasant

reading.

Michal Janečka

The author works as the aerospace sector

manager at the government agency

CzechInvest.