John Sheridan

Among the operational topics for the technical committee at the triennial ICAO Assembly were significant safety issues. One paper from the Russian delegation provided a description of extensive studies of wake vortices, and the development of a wake vortex safety system that would use outputs from ADS-B, Swim and two Aviation System Block Upgrades 1 elements, with pilot alerts transmitted over the anticipated datalinks in that period–that is, by 2018. The Russian presenter suggested that the uncertainty of wake turbulence today causes unnecessarily large longitudinal approach spacing that could be significantly reduced if real-time wake measurements could be provided to pilots, thereby increasing capacity and airport throughput. Better wake-turbulence forecasting at high cruise altitudes would also allow more flexibility in planning future trajectory operations. 
A separate Russian paper discussed training to prevent of loss-of-control accidents stemming from undetected high-altitude stalls caused by icing, IAS failure, incorrect weight entry or lack of angle-of-attack information, particularly during autopilot operation, where the classic symptoms of stick shaker, warning horns and buffet may actually lag the actual stall itself, with the aircraft already descending in a high pitch attitude and possibly rolling. Currently, according to the presenters, even advanced flight simulators cannot adequately simulate high-altitude stalls and are only moderately able to simulate “traditional” lower-altitude ones.

News about bills, laws, regulations and other governmental decisions affecting aviation and aerospace. Topics include FAA re-authorizations, taxes on fuel and aviation activities, environmental legislation, ICAO decisions, governmental mediation of labor conflicts and World Trade Organization disputes and decisions.

Ensuring Safe Operations

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

Curt Epstein

News and issues relating to business, corporate and private aviation, primarily regarding turbine-engine-powered airplanes and helicopters. Subjects include aircraft, engines, maintenance, operations, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security, and training.

Typically held in early June, the event will now be in mid-May

NBAA Reschedules 2026 Northeast Regional

Kerry Lynch

News and issues relating to international air transport and cargo carriers, national airlines and regional airlines, including aircraft, engines, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security and training.

Supersonic bill calls for FAA to issue new regs in a year

House Panel To Consider Supersonic, FAA Shutdown Funding Bills

News and information on safety procedures and concerns.

Essential news and analysis on the defense aerospace business. Your trusted source for new and ongoing programs and requirements in military aircraft (manned and unmanned), engines, avionics, weapons and associated systems, including ground-based air defense.

Sec 373 of the NDAA essentially reverts ADS-B requirements back to previous mandates

Senators Move To Strike Measure Easing Military ADS-B Mandate

Robert Sancetta

Preventative testing can help pilots avoid bigger problems later on

AINsight: Navigating Screening Medical Testing for Pilots

Hanneke Weitering

News and developments about airplanes, helicopters and unmanned air vehicles used in all varieties of operations, including airlines, military, business, commercial, general aviation and private.

FAA begins Part 23 review of hybrid-electric EL9 airplane

Electra Files Type Cert Application for EL9 STOL Aircraft

EASA and CAA sign off on Halotron BrX STC

Non-Halon Fire Extinguishers for Learjets Get Euro Nods

News about environmental issues relating to aircraft operations, including noise issues, emissisions, and regulations. See Fuel for biofuel.

FAA and NPS propose new rules for Bay Area sightseeing flights 

Bay Area Parks Air Tour Agreement Opens for Comment

Charles Alcock

News and issues concerning the aviation charter and fractional-ownership industries and markets, including company announcements, regulations, new developments and labor issues.

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