AVS Work Plan for NextGen 2010 Is Released

May 18 — AVS plays an integral role in NextGen by setting, overseeing and applying safety standards for the aviation industry. The AVS Work Plan for NextGen 2010 explains how AVS is organizing to support NextGen. It also charts the course for AVS involvement, and lays out major deliverables AVS will contribute toward the successful implementation of NextGen.

AVS activity in support of NextGen focuses on its three core businesses: developing standards, managing approval processes and procedures, and overseeing continuous operational safety.

“NextGen is our opportunity to greatly improve the air transportation system to meet future needs,” said AVS-1 Peggy Gilligan. “We will continue to promote aviation safety for the flying public and those who rely on the aviation industry, but there will be change. We’re going to see giant leaps in technology, and AVS will continue its role to identify and mitigate risks as we introduce new systems and operations as quickly as possible. That’s our challenge.”

When fully implemented, NextGen will safely allow more aircraft to fly closer together on more direct routes while reducing delays, pollution, and noise. NextGen will greatly improve the air transportation system we have known for decades.

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  • FAA Calls on Airlines to Limit Cockpit Distractions


    For Immediate Release
    April 26, 2010
    Contact: Sasha Johnson
    Phone: (202) 267-3883

    WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Department of Transportation’s Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) today called on air carrier operators to create and enforce policies that will limit distractions in the cockpit and keep pilots focused on transporting passengers safely.

    “There is no room for distraction when your job is to get people safely to their destinations,” said Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. “The traveling public expects professional pilots to focus on flying and on safety at all times.”

    The Information for Operators (InFO) guidance reminds crewmembers and air carriers that any cockpit distraction that diverts attention from required duties can “constitute a safety risk.” This includes the use of personal electronic devices for activities unrelated to flight.

    Last October the pilots of Northwest 188 over-flew their destination by 150 miles because they were using their laptop computers for personal activities and lost situational awareness.

    “Every aviation professional needs to take the issue of distractions in the cockpit seriously,” said FAA Administrator Randy Babbitt. “And when there are two or more professionals on the flight deck, they must hold each other to the highest safety standards. Allowing distractions is unacceptable.”

    The FAA’s Sterile Cockpit Rule prohibits pilots from engaging in any type of distracting behavior during critical phases of flight, including take-off and landing.

    In this InFO, the FAA is asking air carriers to address the issue of distraction through their crew training programs and to create a safety culture to control cockpit distractions.

    As technology advances, laptops and other devices are becoming valuable tools for pilots to use in their routine duties. But they must only be used in the cockpit if they assist pilots in safely operating an aircraft.

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    Ekaterinburg Koltsovo Airport hosts CIS Event

    The second Routes CIS event will open in just 4 days time in Ekaterinburg, Russia hosted by Ekaterinburg Koltsovo Airport at the angelo Airport Hotel Ekaterinburg which is connected to the Airport.

    The number of delegates registered to attend the event has already surpassed the expected number of 200 and for several of the companies registered so far, Routes CIS 2012 will be the first time they have attended any of the Routes events. Airlines such as Yakutia Airlines, VIM Airlines and Tartastan Airlines will make their inaugural Routes appearance in Ekaterinburg alongside Kazan Airport, International Airport Barnaul, Belgorod International Airport and Koeln Tourismus Gmbh.

    Airlines currently registered to attend the event contain an, unsurprisingly, strong participation from the CIS based airlines. Attendees so far include S7 Airlines, Rossiya, Aerosvit, Air Astana, VIM, Yakutia, Tartastan, and Ural Airlines with more expected to confirm soon.

    Interest from the Middle East carriers comes in the shape Etihad Airways and Qatar Airways along with FlyDubai and Pegasus which have strong respective networks into the CIS region. Air Baltic will also be present and there will be a senior representation from Czech Airlines which operates 11 routes in Russia and the Ukraine combined from Prague.

    Other out of region attendees include European leading Low Cost Carrier Ryanair and SkyTeam member China Southern who also recently confirmed their attendance.
    Nigel Mayes, Vice President & Commercial for UBM Aviation Routes commented: “The unique location of Ekaterinburg makes it the ideal place for delegates from all over the CIS region to meet and we are delighted that this second event attracts the key decision makers from the region and plays an important role in shaping future networks within the CIS,” Mayes continued: “We expect the event to grow and develop in line with the expected market growth in the CIS region.”

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    Air Transport Association Congratulates Senate on FAA Bill Passage That Furthers NextGen and Creates Thousands of U.S. Jobs

    WASHINGTON, Feb. 17, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — The Air Transport Association of America (ATA), the industry trade organization for the leading U.S. airlines, today congratulated Chairman Jay Rockefeller, Ranking Member Kay Bailey Hutchison and the Senate for passage of the FAA Air Transportation Modernization and Safety Improvement Act (S.223), which will help create jobs and modernize the air traffic control system. A modernized air traffic management system will improve operational efficiency, reduce fuel consumption and emissions, and lower airline operating costs.

    “This bill moves the United States toward our goal of enabling a safe, sustainable and profitable airline industry that provides good value to customers and promotes global competitiveness,” said ATA President and CEO Nicholas E. Calio. “We applaud the leadership and significant work to pass a bill that reflects a continued commitment to safety and modernization of the air traffic control system by requiring that FAA establish and track performance metrics.”

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    Revised Safety Rating for India

    India’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has been notified that the US is downgrading its aviation safety ranking, based on failure to meet the standards of the ICAO. The International Civil Aviation Organization regulates technical, training, inspection, records, airworthiness, and operations standards. The safety downgrade is partially due to a September FAA audit which found 33 DGCA deficiencies including too few experts, maintenance deficits and poor documentation.

    India’s being lowered to safety category II means that there will be consequences affecting Air India and Jet Airways Indian flights.

    See the release below:

    Press release: FAA Announces Revised Safety Rating for India
    The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) today announced that India has been assigned a Category 2 rating under its International Aviation Safety Assessment (IASA) program, based on a recent reassessment of the country’s civil aviation authority. This signifies that India’s civil aviation safety oversight regime does not currently comply with the international safety standards set by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO); however, the United States will continue to work with India’s Directorate General for Civil Aviation (DGCA) to identify the remaining steps necessary to regain Category 1 status for India. With a Category 2 rating, India’s carriers can continue existing service to the United States, but will not be allowed to establish new service to the United States.

    India achieved a Category 1 rating, signifying compliance with ICAO standards, in August 1997. A December 2012 ICAO audit identified deficiencies in the ICAO-set global standards for oversight of aviation safety by India’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). Subsequently, the FAA began a reassessment of India’s compliance with ICAO standards under the FAA’s IASA program, which monitors adherence to international safety standards and practices. The FAA has consulted extensively with the DCGA and other relevant Indian government ministries during its evaluation, including consultations in India in September and early December, and meetings this week in Delhi.

    “U.S. and Indian aviation officials have developed an important working relationship as our countries work to meet the challenges of ensuring international aviation safety. The FAA is available to work with the Directorate General of Civil Aviation to help India regain its Category 1 rating,” said FAA Administrator Michael Huerta.

    The Government of India has made significant progress towards addressing issues identified during the September 2013 IASA assessment. On January 20, the Government of India took further steps to resolve outstanding issues when the Indian Cabinet approved the hiring of 75 additional full-time inspectors. The United States Government commends the Indian government for taking these important actions, and looks forward to continued progress by Indian authorities to comply with internationally mandated aviation safety oversight standards.

    Additional Background on the FAA’s IASA Program:

    As part of the FAA’s IASA program, the agency assesses on a uniform basis the civil aviation authorities of all countries with air carriers that operate or have applied to operate to the United States and makes that information available to the public. The assessments determine whether or not foreign civil aviation authorities are meeting ICAO safety standards, not FAA regulations.

    A Category 2 rating means a country either lacks laws or regulations necessary to oversee air carriers in accordance with minimum international standards, or that its civil aviation authority – equivalent to the FAA for aviation safety matters – is deficient in one or more areas, such as technical expertise, trained personnel, record-keeping or inspection procedures.

    Countries with air carriers that fly to the United States must adhere to the safety standards of ICAO, the United Nations’ technical agency for aviation that establishes international standards and recommended practices for aircraft operations and maintenance.

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    NASA UPDATES BROADCAST PLANS FOR JAPANESE CARGO FLIGHT TO STATION

    Jan. 20, 2011
    MEDIA ADVISORY

    HOUSTON — The launch of the H-II Transfer Vehicle “Kounotori2” (HTV2)
    planned for Thursday, Jan. 20, was rescheduled due to a forecast for
    weather conditions that would exceed launch restrictions. The Japan
    Aerospace Exploration Agency reset the launch for 11:37 p.m. CST on
    Friday, Jan. 21.

    NASA still plans live television coverage of the launch from
    Tanegashima Space Center in southern Japan. With an adjusted
    rendezvous plan, the grapple and attachment of the cargo ship to the
    International Space Station remain planned for Thursday, Jan. 27, and
    also will be covered live on NASA Television.

    NASA TV’s updated programming schedule for HTV2 events includes (all
    times CST):

    Friday, Jan. 21:
    11 p.m. — Launch coverage, anchored from NASA’s Johnson Space Center
    in Houston, begins. Launch is scheduled at 11:37 p.m.

    Thursday, Jan. 27:
    5 a.m. — Grapple coverage, anchored from Johnson, begins. The grapple
    of HTV2 is scheduled at 5:44 a.m.
    8 a.m. — Berthing coverage, anchored from Johnson, begins. The
    attachment should be complete at approximately 10 a.m.

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    NTSB Assisting Dana Air Crash Investigation


    The NTSB is dispatching an investigator to assist the government of Nigeria in its investigation of the crash of a Dana Air Boeing MD-83 airplane, Flight # 0992.

    On June 3, 2012 at about 11:51 a.m. local time, the airplane, en route from Abuja to Lagos Nigeria, crashed outside the airport into a two story building. All 153 passengers and crew onboard were fatally injured, and an undetermined number of ground fatalities and injuries also occurred.

    As the state of design and manufacture of the Boeing MD-83, the NTSB has designated Senior Aviation Accident Investigator, Mr. Dennis Jones, as the traveling U.S. Accredited Representative. Mr. Jones will be assisted from NTSB headquarters by investigative staff specializing in operational factors, powerplants, and airworthiness as well as advisors from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Boeing, and Pratt & Whitney.

    The investigation is being conducted by the Nigerian Accident Investigation Bureau.

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