The Pilots Union capitulated and has ordered all Israeli airline pilots to take an English language exam.
THis is part of the International Civil Aviation Organization requirement for renewing an international pilot’s license.
All El Al Israel Airlines Ltd pilots will take the English exam by March 5.
Bravo.
Two Israel Air Force F-16 fighter jets almost crashed into a Ryanair passenger plane near Ovda Airport, Israel, on March 1st.
The passenger plane was en-route from Krakow, Poland, to Ovda airport, Israel, when two fighter planes, engaged in the training exercises, came “dangerously close”. The Ryanair pilots changed the course at the last minute to avert the crash.
The flight FR-2616 was carrying 162 passengers at the time.
The airline confirmed the incident but said that “These military aircraft were at all times over 3 miles away from the Ryanair aircraft, so the reports of a ‘nearly crash’ or ‘evasive manoeuvres’ are all false and invented. All passengers on board the Ryanair aircraft noticed nothing, since our aircraft never diverted from its cleared flight path to Ovda.”
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MONTREAL, 17 November 2010 ? The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) has adopted more stringent air cargo security standards, as part of its ongoing efforts to enhance the overall security of air transport operations worldwide.
The new measures emphasize more extensive screening of cargo, mail and other goods prior to placing them on board aircraft and better protection from unauthorized interference from the point where security controls are applied until departure of the aircraft.
Also included is the strengthening of provisions related to the deployment of security equipment, the security of air traffic service providers, training programmes and instructor certification systems, and cyber threats.
The updated security requirements are contained in the 12th revision of Annex 17 (Security) to the Convention on International Civil Aviation, adopted today by the Council of the Organization.
“This latest revision to the Security Annex has been in development for some time and reflects our determination to constantly review and adapt ICAO security standards to address a rapidly evolving security situation. It also complements a number of recent initiatives to significantly increase the level of aviation security, in a proactive and concerted manner,” said Mr. Roberto Kobeh González, ICAO Council President.
The recent 37th Session of the ICAO Assembly unanimously adopted a Declaration which identified a number of areas where States committed to working together, in cooperation with the industry, on security issues. These include air cargo security, screening technologies to detect prohibited articles, strengthening international standards, improving security information-sharing and providing capacity-building assistance to States in need.
A diplomatic conference, held in Beijing in September 2010 under the auspices of ICAO, adopted two international air law instruments for the suppression of unlawful acts relating to civil aviation.
The two treaties further criminalize the act of using civil aircraft as a weapon, and of using dangerous materials to attack aircraft or other targets on the ground. They also provide for the unlawful transport of biological, chemical and nuclear weapons, and their related material, to be punishable. Making a threat against civil aviation may also trigger criminal liability.
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Easyjet flight U2-1656 had to reject takeoff from Tel Aviv, Israel, on November 6th.
It is believed that the crew had commenced takeoff for Nice, France, without clearance and the tower instructed them to stop.
The plane slowed down safely. All passengers and crew members remained unharmed.
Now that an Air India cabin crew told the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) of Air India safety violations and that the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has been tolerant and inactive regarding said violations, the ICAO may well take action. Problems were indicated, such as understaffing, inadequate rest areas for crew, lack of implementation of “Flight Duty Rules.”
The letter says:
“We have reported more than 5000 safety violations on long haul destination flights alone, over the past three years. However, as the DGCA has ignored them, we were left with no choice but approach the ICAO.”
A ten member International Civil Aviation Organization team will be in India from August 19 to 24 and a representative of USFAA (US Federal Aviation Administration) will arrive in the county on September 9 as part of an inspection of India’s air safety preparedness.
Earlier this year, the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Committee on Aviation Environmental Protection (CAEP) advanced two important goals to make air travel cleaner and quieter worldwide. As a member of CAEP, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) played a crucial role.
“Air transportation continues to grow within and amongst nations,” said FAA Administrator Michael Huerta. “These new environmental standards and procedures recognize that we can work together internationally to achieve positive advancements in making aviation as environmentally efficient as possible.”
Relating to aircraft noise, CAEP has recommended a new international standard for newly designed aircraft that would reduce noise by 7 decibels relative to the current noise standard. The new requirement would become effective in 2017 for large aircraft and in 2020 for smaller models.
To address global warming greenhouse gases produced in air travel, CAEP has agreed to new international certification procedures for aircraft relating to carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. At previous CAEP meetings, the committee had agreed on how to measure CO2. These new certification procedures now open the door for CAEP discussions on how stringent the standard should be set and whether the standard should only be applied to newly designed aircraft or some application to in-production aircraft. These discussions are expected to be completed by 2015.
El Al flight 2521 had to return and make an emergency landing at Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv, Israel, on April 21.
Authorities said tire shreds were found on the runway after the plane took off for Prague, Czech Republic. The pilot was then informed about the situation and was asked to turn back.
The plane landed uneventfully and none of the 181 passengers and crew members was harmed.
The airline said in a statement, “El Al sees flight safety as an utmost priority and does not compromise on the matter.”
