Source: FAA The U.S. Department of Transportation's Federal Aviation Administration has named Billy Nolen to serve as acting FAA Administrator after FAA Administrator Steve Dickson departs at the end of March. Deputy Administrator Bradley Mims will also take on an expanded role during this interim period, focusing on the FAA's workforce and the nation's airports. Nolen is an experienced aviation safety professional and former airline captain. He has been the FAA's Associate Administrator for Aviation Safety since January, where he has led a team of more than 7,600 employees who oversee all aspects of aviation safety. "Billy Nolen has extensive expertise in aviation and a deep understanding of the vital role the FAA plays in ensuring the safety of the traveling [...]

Source: ALTA The Latin American & Caribbean Air Transport Association (ALTA) greets the resolution approved during the 24th General Assembly of the Latin-American Civil Aviation Commission (LACAC), which calls its 22 States members to consider the creation of regional policies that promote programs for the development of the production and the use of Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF). The resolution includes a proposal of measures to achieve it: promote programs of SAF production (for example assurances of loans or subventions of capital), support the research and development of the supply chain in the production of SAF to reduce the costs and create an adequate regulatory framework to accelerate investments. “With enthusiasm we celebrate the resolution approved by LACAC States member, as it [...]

Source: UNWTO International tourism continued its recovery in January 2022, with a much better performance compared to the weak start to 2021. However, the Russian invasion of Ukraine adds pressure to existing economic uncertainties, coupled with many Covid-related travel restrictions still in place. Overall confidence could be affected and hamper the recovery of tourism. Based on the latest available data, global international tourist arrivals more than doubled (+130%) in January 2022 compared to 2021 - the 18 million more visitors recorded worldwide in the first month of this year equals the total increase for the whole of 2021. While these figures confirm the positive trend already underway last year, the pace of recovery in January was impacted by the emergences of the Omicron [...]

Source: TSA The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) announced the award of two orders for a combined total value of up to $781.2 million to Analogic for the procurement and maintenance of base and full-size Computed Tomography (CT) x-ray systems for carry-on items at TSA checkpoints. “These awards are another important step in enhancing aviation security” said TSA Administrator David Pekoske, “They provide our dedicated frontline officers with one of the best tools available to screen passenger carry-on items and also improves the passenger experience by allowing passengers to keep more items in their carry-on bags during the screening process.” The awards are one element in the larger effort to improve checkpoint security screening. The two orders were awarded to procure up to [...]

Source: IATA The International Air Transport Association (IATA) announced that the 78th Annual General Meeting (AGM) and World Air Transport Summit will take place 19-21 June 2022 in Doha, Qatar, hosted by Qatar Airways. This will be the second time that the global gathering of aviation's top leaders will be held in Qatar; the first being in 2014. Originally, the 78th IATA Annual General Meeting and World Air Transport Summit were planned for the same dates in Shanghai, People's Republic of China, hosted by China Eastern Airlines. The decision to change the venue reflects continuing COVID-19 related restrictions on travel to China. "It is deeply disappointing that we are a not able to meet in Shanghai as planned. In the [...]

Source: EASA The European Union Aviation Safety Agency published the world’s first guidance for the design of vertiports, the ground infrastructure needed for the safe operation of Urban Air Mobility services such as air taxis in locations across Europe, including in urban areas. The Prototype Technical Design Specifications for Vertiports offers guidance to urban planners and local decision-makers as well as industry to enable the safe design of vertiports that will serve these new types of vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft, which are already at an advanced stage of development. “Urban air mobility is a completely new field of aviation and we therefore have a unique opportunity to develop a set of infrastructure requirements from scratch,” Patrick Ky, Executive [...]

Source: A4A Airlines for America’s (A4A) Board of Directors sent the following letter to the White House urging the lifting of predeparture testing requirements and the federal mask mandate: Download [215.94 KB] 

Source: CANSO The early results from four End-to-End Route Optimisation trials in Latin America and Caribbean are showing significant savings in time, fuel, and carbon emissions. Carried out by the CANSO ATFM Data Exchange Network for the Americas, CADENA, as a Planned Airway System Alternative (PASA) initiative, the trials were run for 90 days in the second half of 2021 and involved one aircraft from one airline on each of the selected routes. Over the course of the trials, each aircraft produced significant savings and showed how those savings could be projected, per aircraft, over the course of a year. Here’s how each performed. Atlanta – Lima – Atlanta 9 July – 7 October 2021 Savings 90-Day One Year Flight [...]

Source: ALPA Denounces Carrier for Taking Handout, Leaving Small Communities Stranded In a letter sent to Secretary Pete Buttigieg, the Air Line Pilots Association, Int'l (ALPA) commended the Department of Transportation (DOT) for ensuring that SkyWest Airlines deliver on its pledge to provide air service for America's small and rural communities, while highlighting that the airline has received nearly $2 billion in taxpayer subsidies over the past several years. Earlier this month, the nation's largest regional airline notified DOT of its intent to discontinue Essential Air Service (EAS) to 29 cities, citing pilot staffing challenges. DOT rejected SkyWest's plan and is requiring the airline to continue service to each city until a replacement is found. "We urge the DOT to remain vigilant [...]

Source: IATA The International Air Transport Association (IATA) announced the launch of the IATA Recommended Practice Per-Passenger CO2 Calculation Methodology. IATA’s Methodology, using verified airline operational data, provides the most accurate calculation methodology for the industry to quantify CO2 emissions per passenger for a specific flight. As travelers, corporate travel managers, and travel agents are increasingly demanding precise flight CO2 emission information, an accurate and standardized calculation methodology is critical. This is particularly true in the corporate sector where such calculations are needed to underpin voluntary emissions reductions targets. “Airlines have worked together through IATA to develop an accurate and transparent methodology using verified airline operational data. This provides the most accurate CO2 calculation for organizations and individuals to make [...]