24JAN: PBCS: The new rule on the NAT, A319, A330 hit by gunfire at Tripoli

Weekly International Ops Bulletin published by FSB for OPSGROUP covering critical changes to Airports, Airspace, ATC, Weather, Safety, Threats, Procedures, Visas. Subscribe to the short free version here, or join thousands of your Pilot/Dispatcher/ATC/CAA/Flight Ops colleagues in OPSGROUP for the full weekly bulletin, airspace warnings, Ops guides, tools, maps, group discussion, Ask-us-Anything, and a ton more! Curious? See what you get. Rated 5 stars by 125 reviews.

RCZZ/Taiwan China has opened up the airway M503 to northbound traffic. The airway sits just within the ZSHZ/Shanghei FIR, and has been used for southbound traffic since 2015. Taiwan complained back then, and they’re doing so again now – they say the airway is too close to existing routes that serve airports in outlying groups of Taiwan-controlled islands, and thus poses a risk to safety. China have ignored them. So for now, if you’re flying from the VHHK/Hong Kong FIR in the south to any number of airports in northern China, the Chinese authorities are quite happy for you to route via M503.

LOWI/Innsbruck The airport is getting busy with winter ski flights, so from Wednesdays 18z to Sundays 18z until Apr 15, GA/BA flights will now only be allowed a maximum of 1 hour on ground.

DAZZ/Algeria Air Algerie flights resumed on Jan 23 after a wildcat strike by cabin crew grounded nearly all departures from the capital’s airport DAAG/Algiers the previous day. Their trade union has threatened more strike action in the coming weeks.

KZZZ/USA The US government shutdown only lasted 2 days in the end: Jan 20-22. Now a bill has been signed to restore federal funding up until Feb 8. This is good news for general aviation, as the shutdown had effectively halted all FAA non-critical functions. One such example is the U.S. Aircraft Registry – when that shuts it halts the purchase, sale, maintenance, and in some cases even the movement of aircraft. For all the details on how government shutdowns impact general aviation, NBAA have it covered here.

KDCA/Washington State of the Union Address on Jan 30. No GA ops allowed at KDCA airport that day from 2000-2300 local time, including participants in the ‘DCA Access Standard Security Program’ (DASSP). No such restrictions for other airports in the area, including KBWI/Baltimore and KIAD/Washington Dulles.

DNEN/Enugu Runway repair work that had been ongoing since early Dec has now been completed. The airport is now back to normal ops, and is open from 06-23z.

RJZZ/Japan Expect travel disruption in Tokyo and the surrounding region this week due to a storm on Jan 22 that left the city fully covered with a heavy blanket of snow of over 20 centimetres. The city has come to a standstill with vehicles trapped in bridges and tunnels. Hundreds of cancellations and delays at both RJAA/Narita and RJTT/Haneda on Jan 22 left thousands stranded; both airports will be extremely busy over the next few days as they clear the backlog.

HLLM/Tripoli The only functioning airport in the Libyan capital reopened on Jan 20 after a five-day closure caused by deadly clashes that left passenger jets damaged. However, our advice remains the same: don’t land at any airport in Libya, don’t even overfly the country. Read the latest info here.

ZZZZ/Worldwide A recent rise in the cost of oil means that for the first time in three years, the global benchmark has risen above US$70.00 a barrel. Despite this, four of the major carriers, Delta Air Lines, American Airlines, United Airlines and Dubai-based Emirates, have confirmed they will not be hedging fuel bills.

HEZZ/Egypt Expect heightened security and traffic disruption in the run up to Jan 25 – the seventh anniversary of the 2011 revolution that ousted former president Hosni Mubarak. Several political parties and movements have backed calls for protests on the day.

KZZZ/USA Heavy snow on Jan 22 closed all runways at KMSP/Minneapolis airport for a few hours and forced the cancellation of over 500 flights. Although the weather forecast across the Midwest states is set to improve over the coming days, anticipate residual travel disruption as many roads are still blocked or partially blocked and icy conditions are present across the region.

SOZZ/French Guiana Controllers are on strike again. The Cayenne FIR (SOOO) will not be providing ATC services overnight from 23z-11z on the nights of both Jan 25 and Jan 26 – although expect more closures to be announced for other nights too. Airspace throughout the entire FIR basically becomes uncontrolled, though some routes are available as their contingency plan is active – review the SOOO Notams for details of those. SOCA/Cayenne airfield is also unavailable as an alternate overnight.

EGGX/Shanwick From March 29 you will need to comply with PBCS (Performance Based Communication and Surveillance) if you want to fly on the NAT Tracks between FL350-390. That means you’ll need ADS-C and CPDLC, and be RNP4 compliant. Depending on where you’re registered, you may also need to get PBCS approval. We’ve got all the details here.

OJAM/Amman The city’s second airport (OJAI is the main one) will be closed to everything except emergency and VIP flights each day from 09-15z until Feb 2.

VIDP/Delhi Due to the Republic Day celebrations, from now until Jan 26, GA ops are prohibited daily between 04-08z, and the airport will be completely closed to all ops daily between 0505-0645z.

KZZZ/USA Heading to watch certain sports games in Minnesota next month? There are a bunch of FAA required routes and a no-fly zone to watch out for. Full details here.

RPZZ/Philippines Powerful volcanic eruptions this week at the Mayon volcano, located around 330km south of RPLL/Manila, and 15km north of RPLP/Legazpi – which is now closed until Jan 27. Over 50,000 people have fled the surrounding areas and are now taking shelter in evacuation camps. Ash is drifting north from the volcano, and clouds have been reported up to FL360 over the ocean directly off the east coast from Manilla. More explosive eruptions are likely within the next few days.

EGLL/Heathrow They will be trialling some new 3.2° RNAV approaches on all four runways until Oct 2018. All carriers that are RNAV 0.3 equipped and operate at Heathrow must have the additional RNAV approaches, details of which can be found in the UK AIP SUP 001/2018.

MKZZ/Jamaica A state of emergency has been declared in parts of St James (which includes Montego Bay). A major military operation is now underway, in response to recent violence including shooting incidents. Travellers are being told to avoid the area, and those already there should remain in their resorts as much as possible.

Weekly International Ops Bulletin published by FSB for OPSGROUP covering critical changes to Airports, Airspace, ATC, Weather, Safety, Threats, Procedures, Visas. Subscribe to the short free version here, or join thousands of your Pilot/Dispatcher/ATC/CAA/Flight Ops colleagues in OPSGROUP for the full weekly bulletin, airspace warnings, Ops guides, tools, maps, group discussion, Ask-us-Anything, and a ton more! Curious? See what you get. Rated 5 stars by 125 reviews.