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 [...]

Source: Chair of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure The following are opening remarks, as prepared for delivery, from Chair of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Peter DeFazio (D-OR) and Chair of the Subcommittee on Aviation Rick Larsen (D-WA) during today’s hearing titled, “Starships and Stripes Forever – An Examination of the FAA’s Role in the Future of Spaceflight.” Videos of DeFazio and Larsen’s opening statements are here and here. More information on the hearing can be found here. Chair DeFazio: Thank you, Chair Larsen and Ranking Member Graves, for calling today’s hearing to hear from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and stakeholders on the growing commercial space industry and the government’s regulation of that industry, or [...]

Source: ALPA Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l (ALPA) president Capt. Joe DePete testified today before the U.S. House of Representatives Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee on Aviation on the need for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to continue working with industry and labor stakeholders to create a national space integration strategy that will ensure the safety of the national airspace, improve commercial spaceflight efficiency, and reduce emissions. “The FAA forecasts an increase in U.S. launch activities by as much as 100 percent by 2025,” said DePete. “These predictions mean the FAA must build upon—and broaden—a pattern of collaboration by the aviation and aerospace sectors.” Airline pilots face operational issues involving spaceflight, as recently demonstrated by uncontrolled space debris reentry events. DePete [...]

Source: EASA The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) today issued a new version of the Aviation Health Safety Protocol providing clear operational guidance and risk-based recommendations for health-safe air travel to complement the European Union’s initiatives, such as the EU Digital COVID Certificates. The new version of the document takes into account new evidence and information such as the circulation of variants of concern (VOCs) and the rollout of the COVID-19 vaccination programmes. The new version  also emphasises  the need to keep non-pharmaceutical measures in place – such as the wearing of medical face masks, hygiene measures and physical distancing. It is intended to provide support to national authorities in [...]