Source: TSA Firearm detections increased by 10.3%, while rate of firearms detected per million passengers is down Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers intercepted 1,508 firearms at airport security checkpoints during the first quarter of 2023, which ended March 31, averaging 16.8 firearms caught per day. More than 93% of the firearms were loaded. The number of firearm catches during the first quarter represents a 10.3% increase over the same period in 2022; however, the number of passengers from 2022 to 2023 has also increased. In the first quarter of 2022, TSA officers stopped 1,367 firearms at airport security checkpoints, which averaged 15.2 firearm catches per day. More than 86% of those firearms were loaded. During the first quarter of 2023, [...]

Source: EASA The European Union Aviation Safety Agency has increased its transparency to citizens by making the EASA Light area of its website available in all 24 EU languages, ensuring information about EASA’s activities can be more easily understood by millions of non-English speaking citizens in Europe and beyond. EASA Light, launched in mid-2020, is an area of the EASA website specifically designed for the general public, rather than the specialist aviation audience addressed by the more extensive EASA Pro area of the site. Its feature-style articles do not assume any detailed knowledge of aviation concepts. “Passengers would not dream of boarding a plane unless they had a high level of confidence that air travel is safe,” said EASA Executive Director Patrick [...]

Source: ICAO The safety, security, and sustainability of air transport regionally and globally were carried forward during a recent mission by ICAO Secretary General Juan Carlos Salazar to Chile, at the occasion of the (pictured) Seventeenth Meeting of Civil Aviation Authorities (RAAC/17), which took place in Santiago from 11 to 14 April 2023. The RAAC/17 meeting addressed themes around the governance of civil aviation authorities (CAA), competitiveness, human resources, environmental sustainability, innovation, and the effectiveness of the aviation plans. It resulted in the RAAC/17 Civil Aviation Declaration for South American Region, whereby the participants committed themselves to working collaboratively on these topics, "with all stakeholders to achieve our shared goals of a safe, secure, efficient, sustainable, and thriving aviation industry in [...]

Source: ACI-LAC EC Solutions joins the World Business Partner network of Airports Council International Latin America and the Caribbean (ACI-LAC). EC Solutions is a company with more than 50 years of experience providing technology services for airports in Latin America. They have collaborated and executed projects with some of the most important airports in the region, providing innovative and customized solutions to improve operational efficiency and passenger experience. "We are excited and proud to join ACI-LAC and embark on this new stage as WBP. We at EC Solutions are confident that the proper use of technology helps improve the efficiency and passenger experience at airports. We look forward to working closely with ACI-LAC members to implement technology solutions that enable Latin [...]

Source: ALTA The Latin American and Caribbean Air Transport Association (ALTA) is pleased to welcome Saab, a global defense and security company founded in Linköping, Sweden, in 1937. Saab is a leading provider of air traffic management solutions worldwide, with an extensive portfolio that includes surface movement radars, multilateration and vehicle trackers, as well as airport decision support tools. Saab's surveillance-based situation awareness platforms are deployed at more than 100 locations around the world, helping air navigation service providers, airport operators, and airlines to operate in a safe, predictable, and efficient manner. "A new ALTA member is always a reason for us to celebrate because with them we extend the scope of our work, directly benefit the growth and professionalization [...]

Source: ALTA The Latin American and Caribbean Air Transport Association (ALTA) announces the creation of a working group dedicated to the development of the air cargo sector in Latin America and Caribbean through the discussion of strategic aspects of the operation, as well as local and regional projects that improve competitiveness and efficiency of processes. The first ALTA's Cargo Committee meeting, held on March 31, was attended by leading executives from Aeroméxico, Aerolíneas Argentinas, American Airlines, Atlas Air, Avianca, Azul, Copa Airlines, Gol, Equair, interCaribbean, Latam Airlines, Lufthansa, TAP and Bahamasair, who elected Claudio Torres, Regional Director LATAM CARGO, as President of ALTA's Cargo Committee and Leonel Ortiz, Operations Director of Avianca Cargo, as Vice-President. This is a key segment for the industry. Air [...]

Source: UK CAA Ministers and aviation chiefs have revealed an action plan for the next 2 years in the race to reach Jet Zero by 2050, as the government continues with ambitious plans to decarbonise faster than any other G7 country, grow the economy, and support hundreds of thousands of well-paid green jobs. The Jet Zero Council – made up of industry, academic and government leaders – met today (17 April 2023) at Farnborough Airport. Through its 2-year plan, the council committed to continue working to speed up the design, manufacture, and rollout of zero emission aircraft and vital infrastructure at UK airports. The plan sets out how the council will help to accelerate the production of sustainable aviation fuels (SAF), by continuing to invest millions of [...]

Source: IATA The International Air Transport Association (IATA) welcomes the United Arab Emirates (UAE) ratification of the Montreal Protocol 2014 (MP14), a move that will strengthen the global legal deterrent against unruly and disruptive passenger incidents onboard flights. "IATA welcomes the leadership shown by the UAE in ratifying MP14. Not only will this give the UAE authorities important new powers in dealing with unruly passengers that land in the country, but as a major aviation market and ICAO Council member, it will also encourage other States to ratify MP14. Ensuring greater international harmonization and strengthening the legal deterrent against unruly and disruptive passengers who pose a threat to passenger and crew wellbeing and safety onboard is a priority for the [...]

Source: ACI ACI World and SITA's latest Airport IT Insights Survey reveals accelerated digitalization will be key to more resilient and agile airport operations Airports Council International (ACI) World and SITA today announce the results of the latest 2022 Airport IT Insights Survey, revealing how airports are ramping up their investment in technology to digitalize their operations and streamline the passenger journey through more self-service options. ACI World and SITA have collaborated for the past 19 years on the Airport IT Insights Survey, the most extensive study of IT trends within the global airport industry. The report reveals that with the quicker than expected recovery of air travel demand, Chief Information Officers (CIOs) are eager to leverage IT solutions to fortify [...]

Source: TSA The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) announced the award of three orders for a combined total value of up to $1.3 billion for Computed Tomography (CT) scanners to include up to 426 base, 359 mid-size, and 429 full-size units, if all options are exercised, for deployment across TSA checkpoints starting Summer 2023. Analogic Corporation will provide base-size units. IDSS Holdings will provide mid-size units. Smiths Detection Incorporated will provide full-size CT X-ray systems. "These CT units represent sophisticated technology that helps our professional, dedicated and highly skilled workforce detect new and evolving threats to improve aviation security," said TSA Administrator David Pekoske. "Deploying these units across our security checkpoints as expeditiously as possible will also improve checkpoint efficiency and [...]