Source: FAA The FAA is closely monitoring targeted inspections of Boeing 737 MAX airplanes to look for a possible loose bolt in the rudder control system. Under consultation with the FAA, Boeing has issued a Multi-Operator Message (MOM), urging operators of newer single-aisle airplanes to inspect specific tie rods that control rudder movement for possible loose hardware. The FAA will remain in contact with Boeing and the airlines while the inspections are underway. The agency is asking the airlines to work through their approved Safety Management Systems to identify whether any loose hardware has been detected previously and to provide the agency with details on how quickly these two-hour inspections can be completed. The FAA will consider additional action based [...]

Source: ICAO The President of the ICAO Council, Mr. Salvatore Sciacchitano, and the ICAO Secretary General, Mr. Juan Carlos Salazar, recently conducted missions to Lima on the occasion of the Latin American Civil Aviation Commission (LACAC)'s VII Extraordinary Assembly, which coincided with LACAC's 50th anniversary and the 75th anniversary of Peru's hosting of ICAO's South American Regional Office. In their respective opening and closing remarks to the Assembly, the President and the Secretary General underscored LACAC's pivotal role in supporting cooperation among Latin American States and with ICAO. The continuous enhancement and development of air connectivity among Latin American States, positions them well to address the technological and ecological opportunities and challenges facing aviation today.  The collaboration between LACAC and ICAO's Regional Offices [...]

Source: US FAA Continuing its work to improve aviation safety, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) tasked a panel of fatigue experts to identify new ways to address air traffic controller fatigue. The three-member panel will examine how the latest science on sleep needs and fatigue considerations could be applied to controller work requirements and scheduling. The panel will identify potential ways the FAA could better address controller fatigue. As part of its work, it will review previous controller-fatigue research. The panel will begin its work in early January and provide a final report to the FAA about six weeks later. Mark Rosekind, a safety and sleep/fatigue professional and former National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) member, will chair the panel. Other [...]

Source: IFALPA The Executive Board of the International Federation of Air Line Pilots’ Associations (IFALPA) is pleased to announce that Céline Canu has accepted the role of Managing Director. Beginning in January 2024, Céline will lead the activities of the Secretariat Staff from IFALPA’s Headquarters in Montreal, Canada. IFALPA President, Cpt Amornvaj “Ben” Mansumitchai expressed his support: “I am delighted to welcome Céline Canu as the Managing Director of IFALPA. Having known her for many years, I am certain that her experience within the global aviation community, together with her vision and exceptional people skills, will play a pivotal role in working collaboratively with both the executive board and staff to achieve the Federation’s goals. She is the right person [...]

Source: EASA The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) have agreed on a set of criteria to allow the industry to accept alternate development assurance standards for software and airborne electronic hardware certification. This will open the door to innovation in aviation through the acceptance of design standards for software and hardware applied in other industries, such as the automotive sector. The novelty is outlined in a published paper and is the outcome of a joint EASA/FAA Task Force established in June 2019. The aim of the Task Force was to identify ways to develop means to assess available standards or publicly available methodologies without compromising the high safety standard of aviation, through the definition of [...]

Source: TSA Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport among first 27 participating airports In collaboration with the State of Arizona and Samsung, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is now accepting, for limited testing and evaluation purposes, Arizona-issued mobile driver's licenses and identification (ID) cards in Samsung Wallet on Samsung mobile devices at select TSA airport security checkpoints. Passengers will be able to use this new feature at checkpoints for identity verification at 27 participating airports. "With the addition of Samsung, TSA now accepts, from participating states, mobile driver's licenses and ID cards in multiple digital Wallets on devices from multiple manufacturers," said TSA Administrator David Pekoske. "Our Samsung partnership spotlights our commitment to expanding options for eligible passengers to use mobile [...]