{"id":22790,"date":"2020-07-17T13:11:23","date_gmt":"2020-07-17T12:11:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/unitelive.org\/?p=22790"},"modified":"2020-07-17T13:11:24","modified_gmt":"2020-07-17T12:11:24","slug":"scrap-queen-of-the-skies-call","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/unitelive.test.igniteamt.com\/?p=22790","title":{"rendered":"Scrap \u00e2\u20ac\u0098queen of the skies\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 call"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Unite is calling on the government today, July 17, to insist that British Airways\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 must use retirement of its\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 entire 747 jumbo jet fleet, to bring forward an aircraft scrappage scheme.<\/p>\n

Unite believes that while the 747 jet is held in high regard, it is now time for the \u00e2\u20ac\u0098queen of the skies\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 to relinquish her throne. The entire aviation industry\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s stock of older, more polluting planes needs to be replaced with the next generation of cleaner and quieter aircraft built and maintained in the UK.<\/p>\n

Other European countries, including France, Germany,\u00c2\u00a0Spain\u00c2\u00a0and the Netherlands, have already\u00c2\u00a0committed to\u00c2\u00a0scrappage\u00c2\u00a0measures that will see their aviation industries invest in greener aircraft\u00c2\u00a0and help re-kickstart aerospace manufacturing,\u00c2\u00a0so badly hit by the Covid-19 pandemic.<\/p>\n

In fact Unite has been pressing the UK government to follow the lead of competitor nations to establish an investment programme for the aerospace sector<\/a> to survive, rebuild and recover.<\/p>\n

Unite\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s plan for the industry is based around these three clear aims:<\/p>\n

Survive<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Sector support similar in scope and ambition to that unveiled by the French and Germany governments.\u00c2\u00a0Continuation of the government\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s job retention scheme (JRS) plus a shorter working week scheme, which has been effective in saving Germany jobs.<\/p>\n

Rebuild<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

A government-supported aircraft replacement scheme to help the aviation sector dramatically reduce its carbon footprint. Production and parts must come from UK<\/p>\n

Research and Development increased and the current 50\/50 ratio between government and companies changed to 80\/20 to bring us in line with those of France and Germany.<\/p>\n

Recover<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Continued support for aerospace apprenticeships to close the growing skills gap across an ageing workforce. The sector has suffered a huge decline in new orders and maintenance work \u00e2\u20ac\u201c a knock-on effect from the pandemic hit to the aviation sector.<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u015bIt is now time for the UK government to do the same and\u00c2\u00a0put\u00c2\u00a0together a sector-based strategy\u00c2\u00a0for the long-term future of our\u00c2\u00a0world leading\u00c2\u00a0aerospace industry, and the thousands of highly skilled jobs it supports,\u00e2\u20ac\u0165 commented Unite national officer Rhys McCarthy.<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u015bInvestment in research and development is vital if zero and ultra-low emission planes are to be built. However, this must be accompanied with an immediate industry-wide scrappage scheme so that the newest planes, which emit 25 per cent less CO2, are 25 per cent more fuel efficient and are 50 per cent quieter, can replace more polluting aircraft as quickly as possible.\u00e2\u20ac\u0165<\/p>\n

He added, \u00e2\u20ac\u015bThis week Boris Johnson said he would \u00e2\u20ac\u0098examine\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 the idea of an aircraft scrappage scheme. British Airways\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 retirement of the 747 should be the impetus he needs to put such a scheme into action.\u00e2\u20ac\u0165<\/p>\n

\u00c2\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n