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.

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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:

• EASA CZIB-2017-06R1

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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%.

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The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration extended the Conflict Zone Notam on South Sudanese airspace by a year. U.S. pilots should exercise caution flying into, out of, within or over the territory and airspace of South Sudan at altitudes below FL260 due to the hazardous situation created by the ongoing fighting and instability in South Sudan.

More information

• FAA Notam on South Sudan

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The UAE GCAA published the first interim statement on their progress of the investigation of the Emirates Boeing 777 accident last year.

On August 3, 2016, Emirates Airlines flight EK521, a Boeing 777-300, impacted the runway during an attempted go-around at Dubai Airport, United Arab Emirates. All 300 on board survived the accident. One fire fighter was killed during the ARFF operations.

The investigators published a preliminary report after 35 days and now issued a short statement on the progress of the investigation. Regarding the operation of the flight the investigation is working to determine and analyze the human performance factors that influenced flight crew actions during the landing and attempted go-around.
In addition, the investigation has reviewed and has identified safety enhancements related to the validity of weather information that was passed to the flight crew, and communication between air traffic control and the flight crew.
A detailed examination was performed of the aircraft evacuation systems, including the operation of emergency escape slides in a non-normal aircraft resting position, and the effects of wind on the escape slides.
A large number of aircraft systems were tested with the assistance of the manufacturers and analysis of the data downloaded indicates that there were no aircraft systems or engine abnormalities up to the time of the accident.

More information:

• ASN Emirates flight EK521 accident information
• GCAA Interim Statement

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The incident aircraft after having been towed to the platform (NTSB).

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) pubished a factual report as part of its ongoing investigation into the October 2016 runway excursion of an Eastern Air Lines Boeing 737 at New York’s LaGuardia Airport.

The Boeing 737-700 (registration N278EA), a chartered flight operated by Eastern Air Lines, overran runway 22 during landing at New York-LaGuardia Airport, Oct. 27, 2016. The airplane veered to the right during the overrun and partially transited the Engineered Material Arresting System before it came to a stop on the turf about 200 feet from the runway end. None of the 11 crew and 37 passengers, including then vice presidential candidate Mike Pence, were injured.

Any analysis, findings, recommendations, or probable cause determinations related to the accident will be issued by the Board at a later date.

More info:

• NTSB factual report DCA17IA020

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Accident location of flight 3153.

The National Transportation Safety Board announced it has scheduled an investigative hearing for Aug. 17, 2017, in Anchorage, Alaska, as part of the ongoing investigation of the Oct. 2, 2016, crash of Ravn Connect flight 3153 near Togiak, Alaska.

Flight 3153 was a scheduled commuter flight operated by Hageland Aviation Services, dba Ravn Connect. The Cessna 208B Grand Caravan departed Quinhagak, Alaska, at 11:33 a.m., Oct. 2, 2016, destined for Togiak. The airplane, carrying two pilots and one passenger, impacted steep mountainous, rocky terrain at about 11:54 a.m., approximately 12 miles northwest of Togiak. There were no survivors.

Among the safety issues to be discussed at the investigative hearing are:

• Operational control at Hageland Aviation, including its FAA oversight, organizational structure, policies and procedures, and training and guidance for operational control agents.
• Pilot training and guidance related to deteriorating weather conditions to mitigate controlled flight into terrain risk, including the incorporation of lessons learned from previous controlled flight into terrain accidents.
• Safety management, training and oversight resources available to the Alaskan aviation community.

An NTSB review of accident data revealed Hageland Aviation Services aircraft were involved in six accidents since 2013. Four of those accidents involved controlled flight into terrain and one involved flight into instrument meteorological conditions.

more information:

• NTSB press release
• ASN Accident Information Flight 3153

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The 17th of July is the worst day in aviation history with 927 fatalities in 17 airliner accidents, according to ASN data.

The average over the period 1946-2016 is 11 accidents 234 fatalities.

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