Source: ALTA Dear readers, I am pleased to share with you an interview with Jim Davidson, CEO of Accelya, ALTA affiliate member since 2015, which allowed me to reflect on how many times we talk about the industry in numerical, statistical, operational terms… we talk about companies and, sometimes, not so much about the people. But it is not possible to separate aviation from people and Jim highlighted it from the beginning of this conversation: “aviation has an important impact on human nature and happiness”. Air transport is an essential service for daily life in a region like ours where there are not as safe and efficient transport alternatives. It is a service that generates opportunities through jobs creation – [...]

Source: IATA The International Air Transport Association (IATA) called for holistic reforms to manage the long-term need for a stable talent base for the ground handling sector. Thousands of ground handling staff left the aviation industry during the pandemic. Now as aviation ramps up, the severe shortage of skilled ground handlers is shedding light on the need for reform to stabilize the talent pool. In the immediate term, the most pressing issue is the bottleneck for security clearances as the airline industry prepares for the peak northern summer season. Longer-term, IATA urges the ground handling sector to; Adopt a stronger talent acquisition strategy Streamline onboarding processes, and Develop a more compelling retention proposition "The peak northern summer travel season is [...]

Source: ACI New resource will support long-term sustained recovery Airports Council International (ACI) World has today launched a complimentary White Paper on airport retail to help airports adjust their non-aeronautical (commercial) business strategies to reflect the evolution of the sector and support their long-term sustained recovery. The Regulatory Threats and Opportunities in Airport Retail White Paper is the newest addition to the ACI Airports' Non-Aeronautical Revenues and Activities (ANARA) guidance series launched earlier this year. The White Paper describes some of the major legislative and regulatory threats and opportunities to airport retail and duty-free to help airport operators, travel retail operators, and policymakers work together to stimulate an increase in sales, investment, and sustainable job creation. ACI World Director General Luis Felipe de Oliveira said: "As COVID-19 [...]

Source: ATAG Aviation industry executives met with government representatives in Montreal to detail industry aspirations for a long-term climate goal to be agreed for the sector at United Nations meetings later this year. The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) will debate the potential for a goal to decarbonise the air transport sector, with industry supporting a net-zero carbon trajectory. Executive Director of the cross-industry Air Transport Action Group, Haldane Dodd said: “In October last year, the industry – airlines, airports, manufacturers and business aviation – all committed to raise ambition on long-term climate action and pursuing net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. This was backed-up by a high-level plan on how it can be achieved including advances in technology and a [...]

Fuente: TIACA The International Air Cargo Association (TIACA) announces the kick-off of a number of desktop verification pilots for the BlueSky program, the industry’s first sustainability assessment, validation and verification program.  Following the announcement of the launch of the BlueSky Program at the March Executive Summit, we have kicked off the pilot phase of the desktop verification module with the help of Astral Aviation, CSC India and Swissport. The pilot participants are expected to complete the desktop verification over the next several weeks. Participants have already had a preparatory call with the validator and are currently completing the questionnaire and compiling submission documents. Once the questionnaire and evidence is submitted a formal assessment will begin and participants will have individual [...]

Source: US Department of Transportation The next meeting of the Committee is scheduled for June 28-29, 2022 U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) Secretary Pete Buttigieg announced that Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel – an attorney general who has prioritized protecting consumers and defending civil rights – will act as the state representative and new Chair of the Aviation Consumer Protection Advisory Committee (ACPAC). Attorney General Nessel is succeeding Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey as state representative and Chair. "It's never been more important to protect airline passengers' safety, rights, time, and money," said U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. "I thank Attorney General Healey for her leadership as the state government representative and Chair of the Aviation Consumer Protection [...]

Source: A4A Airlines for America issued the following statement in reaction to the brief filed by the U.S. Solicitor General in Virgin America, Inc., v. Julia Bernstein on petition for a Writ of Certiorari: “The Solicitor General’s brief sends a mixed message.  It recognizes that California’s meal and rest break rules as construed by the Ninth Circuit are incompatible with FAA rules applicable to inflight crews, and agrees that the Ninth Circuit’s analysis of this conflict was ‘misguided,’ yet still recommends against U.S. Supreme Court review. The conflict between federal and state law is a critical issue with nationwide implications, and we hope the Supreme Court will grant review on the merits and reverse the Ninth Circuit’s decision in the Bernstein case, for reasons set [...]

Source: US Department of Transportation President Biden's Bipartisan Infrastructure Law invests in research, workforce development and more through popular partnership with colleges around the U.S. As part of its University Transportation Centers (UTC) program, the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) is seeking applications from universities for up to 35 UTC awards, with total funding of $450 million for the 5-year period from 2022 through 2026. "I am inspired by the cutting-edge transportation technologies our UTCs are developing," said U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. "With this investment, we'll be able to support a new generation of visionary leaders and advance research that will help to transform our transportation system with safer, cleaner, more accessible ways for people and goods to move [...]

Source: ACI-LAC ACI-LAC and NACO - Netherlands Airport Consultant invite all its members to the webinar on "GRF 6 months after implementation – challenges and opportunities". Runway excursions make up over 25% of all aviation-related accidents. Introduced in November 2021, ICAO's new Global Reporting Format (GRF) is set to improve runway safety globally. During this session, we'll share the lessons learnt 6 months after its implementation. Join us for the webinar and get more insights into the challenges and opportunities of GRF Date: Tuesday, June 7, 2022 Time: 10:00 AM (Panama/Quito/Bogota) Moderator:  Pim Meyboom, Senior Project Manager Airside Automation at NACO, Netherlands Airport Consultants. Speakers:  David Almeida, SMS Manager, Quiport Pedro Vieira, Safety Analyst , RIOGaleão To participate, you have to register here: https://bit.ly/3PD06f4 NOTE: Simultaneous [...]