Source: US DOT   U.S. airlines carried 9.5% more scheduled service passengers in April 2021 than in March 2021 (preliminary) but 39% fewer passengers than in pre-pandemic April 2019, according to data filed with the Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) by 18 airlines that carry more than 90% of the passengers. The large airlines carried 46.6 million passengers in April 2021 (preliminary), compared to 3 million passengers in April 2020, which was the lowest monthly total in BTS records dating back to 1974.  The previous low was 14.6 million passengers in February 1975. Preliminary April 2021 passenger numbers (18 carriers reporting): Total: 46.6 million passengers, up 9.5% from March 2021 (42.6M) but down 38.7% from April 2019 (76.1M) Domestic: 42.7 [...]

Source: US FAA The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) will award $8 billion in grants to keep U.S. airport workers employed, construction projects going and help U.S. airports recover from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. The funding for the grants comes from the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 President Biden signed into law on March 11, 2021. “The Airport Rescue Grants keep workers employed and help the aviation sector recover as more Americans get vaccinated and begin traveling again,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. “These grants are part of the Administration’s commitment to build back a better and safer transportation system throughout our country.” The funding provides economic relief to eligible commercial service, reliever, and general [...]

Source: US FAA The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the Department of the Air Force signed an agreement (PDF) aimed at eliminating red tape while protecting public safety during commercial space activities at ranges operated by the U.S. Space Force. The agreement recognizes common safety standards for FAA-licensed launch and reentry activities that occur on, originate from, or return to Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida and Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. It also removes duplicative processes and approvals for the U.S. commercial space sector. “Assured access to space is vital to our national security,” said Acting Secretary of the Air Force John P. Roth. “The launch licensing standards provided in the agreement will support a rapidly expanding [...]

Fuente: ERA Las principales asociaciones de aviación (1) dieron la bienvenida al último Protocolo de Seguridad de la Salud de la Aviación COVID-19, de la Agencia de Seguridad Aérea de la Unión Europea (EASA) y al Centro Europeo para la Prevención y el Control de Enfermedades (ECDC). El documento reconoce los avances epidemiológicos positivos en Europa y el bajo riesgo de transmisión del virus durante el transporte aéreo, como parte de las medidas actualizadas para que los pasajeros viajen de forma segura y sin problemas, este verano. Por primera vez en la historia, el protocolo apoya el uso de pruebas rápidas de antígenos, en particular para los pasajeros que viajan desde áreas de alto riesgo, y también pide la armonización [...]

Source: CANSO As the European Parliament’s Transport Committee has today adopted its reports on the two legislative proposals of the Single European Sky package (SES2+), CANSO looks forward to the EU institutions starting trialogue negotiations on a final text. The SES2+ package will set a new regulatory framework for the European air traffic management sector and aims to establish more sustainable and efficient flightpaths.   CANSO is fully committed to making this vision a reality in order to facilitate the transition towards more digital, scalable and resilient provision of air navigation services. We have therefore called for the revised framework to:   Ensure stronger network-oriented approach towards the management of air traffic across Europe Ensure that the management of the [...]

Source: US FAA The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) today released the Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) for the Spaceport Camden project in Camden County, Ga. The Camden County Board of Commissioners is seeking an FAA license authorizing Spaceport Camden to support up to 12 small-lift commercial space launches per year. The site would include a launch pad, a control center complex and another facility with provisions for visitors to view the launches. The FAA prepared the FEIS in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, which requires the agency to identify and disclose the potential environmental impacts of the proposed project. The Final EIS evaluated the Proposed Action along with a No Action Alternative. The FAA anticipates publishing a [...]

Source: ERA Leading aviation associations1 welcomed the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC)’s latest COVID-19 Aviation Health Safety Protocol, which acknowledges the positive epidemiological developments across Europe and low risk of virus transmission during air travel as part of updated measures to keep travel safe and smooth for passengers this summer. For the first time ever, the Protocol supports the use of Rapid Antigen Tests, particularly for passengers travelling from high-risk areas -- and also calls for harmonisation of the measures across Europe. This follows this week’s adoption of the latest Council Recommendations supporting the restart of intra-EU and third country travel, making use of the EU’s Digital COVID Certificate (DCC) system. Member States must now [...]