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ATR 72-500 nearly lands on ultralight airstrip instead of Kish Island Airport runway, Iran
21 February 2018
EASA publishes the 2018-2022 European Plan for Aviation Safety
The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) published the 2018-2022 European Plan for Aviation Safety (EPAS)
The EPAS, a key component of the European Aviation Safety Programme, provides a framework for safety work at European level, helping the identification of major safety risks and defining the actions to take. It also intends to supports the Member States of the European Union to implement their State Safety Programmes and is meant to facilitate the sharing of best practice and knowledge.
Strategic priorities for operational safety of Commercial Air Transport aircraft are: aircraft upset in flight (Loss of Control) and runway excursions and collisions. Additionaly, EASA is planning to address current and future safety risks like Cybersecurity and Conflict Zones.
Costa Rica suspends Nature Air during ongoing investigation of fatal Cessna Caravan accident
Costa Rica’s aviation authority (Dirección General de Aviación Civil) suspended the Nature Air’s AOC on January 12, 2018, over safety issues.
DGAC Costa Rica made this decision because several key employees were no longer with the company. Nature Air’s pilot training director died in the accident on December 31 while the operations manager quit and the safety manager had requested a leave of absence.
DGAC states that Nature Air only has 3 crews for the coverage of all flight routes, including the safety manager who is currently on sick leave.
Update:
The suspension was lifted in February 2018. Financial difficulties prevented the airline from being able to operate flights. This situation caused the DGAC to issue an indefinite suspension of the airline’s AOC on May 2, 2018.
FAA issues safety alert: High Collision Risk During Runway Crossing
The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued a Safety Alert for Operators (SAFO), to warn pilots of high-risk category runway incursions and potential collisions in the first two-thirds (2/3) of an active runway.
The FAA states a high percentage of Category A or B runway incursions, and the highest risk of collisions, occur in the first two-thirds of a runway.
A Category A runway incursion is a serious incident in which a collision is narrowly avoided. A Category B runway incursion is an incident in which separation decreases and there is a significant potential for collision, which may result in a time-critical corrective/evasive response to avoid a collision.
The SAFO contains several recommended actions for pilots, vehicle/tug drivers, and operators.
Search for MH370 to resume as Malaysia strikes deal with Ocean Infinity
The Australian Transport minister confirmed that the Malaysian Government is entering into an agreement with Ocean Infinity, to search for Malaysia Airlines flight MH370.
The Malaysian Government has accepted an offer from Ocean Infinity to search for the missing plane, entering into a ‘no find no fee’ arrangement. Ocean Infinity will focus on searching the seafloor in an area that has previously been identified by experts as the next most likely location to find MH370. Australia, at Malaysia’s request, will provide technical assistance to the Malaysian Government and Ocean Infinity.
The search for MH370, missing since March 8, 2014, was suspended on 17 January 2017.
More information:
ICAO Council urges compliance from North Korea on aerial testing
The ICAO Council expressed its strong condemnation of the continued launching of ballistic missiles by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) over or near international air routes, which seriously threatens the safety of international civil aviation.
It was noted that the North Korean missile launches had occurred over international air routes and without prior notice being given, causing significant concerns to the safety of international civil aviation in the region. In response to these incidents, the President of the Council had sent several letters to the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea to urge the country to comply with established international provisions.
As an ICAO Member State, North Korea is expected to notify adjacent countries of any activity or incident arising from its territory which may pose risks to nearby civil aviation routes or operations. This would include matters such as volcanic ash clouds from local eruptions, or aerial testing which may affect civil aviation.
EASA updates Conflict Zone Information Bulletin regarding North Korean airspace
EASA revised their Conflict Zone Information Bulletin regarding North Korean airspace.
Referring to French, German, U.K. and U.S. aeronautical publications, EASA recommends operators that they should “take this information and any other relevant information into account in their own risk assessments, alongside any available guidance or directions from their national authority as appropriate.”
As a result of unannounced testing of missiles, all countries warn for a risk to aviation in the Pyongyang FIR. The U.K. is the only country that also includes the Sea of Japan as a possible risk to aviation.
The CZIB is valid until 19 March 2018.
Source:
Nepal working on independent aircraft accident investigation body
A committee formed by the Ministry of Civil Aviation, Nepal recently submitted a report suggesting appropriate organizational, financial and administrative modalities, necessary for setting up an independent aircraft accident investigation organisation.
Currently, investigations into aircraft accidents in Nepal are carried out as per the Civil Aviation (Investigation of Accident) Regulation 2014. The usual practice is to form an ad hoc investigation committee. ICAO Annex 13 however requires states to establish an independent organization to conduct investigations into aircraft accidents and incidents.
After a 2016 audit under ICAO’s Universal Safety Oversight Audit Programme (USOAP), it was established that Nepal’s level of Effective Implementation of ICAO’s accident investigation related Standards and Recommended Practices, associated procedures, guidance material, and best safety practices was 20,4%.