Author / David Mumford
-
![]()
Are ops to Hong Kong getting easier?
Since August 2018, Hong Kong Airport has been providing six daily designated slots to GA/BA between 1600-2059Z (0000-0500 local time), and it now looks like this policy has been extended through to…
-
![]()
Sudan airspace reopens
Sudan airspace reopened at 1200Z on Apr 12, having been closed for 24hrs following a military coup. So the HSSS FIR is now once again open for overflights. As for flights to…
-
![]()
Tripoli airport hit by airstrikes as civil war erupts in Libya
Libya has been plunged into civil war again, with militia from the East mounting a campaign to seize control of Tripoli, and threatening to shoot down aircraft operating in western Libya. Risk…
-
![]()
No end in sight for Pakistan airspace restrictions
Multiple news outlets are reporting that Pakistan has reopened its airspace, but that’s not accurate. The restrictions implemented a month ago remain in place, effective through to Apr 24 at the earliest.…
-
![]()
Algeria lifts ban on GA/BA flights
Amid ongoing anti-government protests, authorities published a Notam on Apr 2 banning all GA/BA flights from operating at airports across the country. But following the resignation of Algeria’s President Bouteflika, this ban…
-
![]()
Malaysia and Singapore agree truce over Seletar airspace closure
Update Apr 6: The Malaysian authorities have now lifted the airspace closure north of Seletar again, and in return Singapore will abandon plans for ILS at the airport – and will now…
-
![]()
Fiji ATC operations return to normal
Update Apr 2: ATC operations have returned to normal across Fiji, following last week’s strike by air traffic controllers. On Fri Mar 29, an Arbitration Court ordered they return to work, although…
-
![]()
2019 North Atlantic changes
There are four ICAO NAT Ops Bulletins due to go into effect on March 28th, 2019. The PBCS tracks will be expanded, real-time Space-Based ADS-B surveillance and reduced separation standards will be…
-
![]()
Venezuela: do not travel
Amid an escalating crisis in Venezuela, on Mar 11, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced via Twitter that the U.S. Embassy in Caracas will be withdrawing all of its remaining diplomatic…
-
![]()
New NAT Contingency Procedures for 2019
Starting 28th March 2019, there will be some changes to the contingency and weather deviation procedures on the NAT. ICAO has published a new NAT Ops Bulletin with all the details. Before, there…
-
![]()
Indonesia is intercepting aircraft – outside their airspace
If you are operating in the Singapore FIR, consider this carefully: you may be overflying Indonesia without knowing it. Indonesia will know though, and they want you to have an overflight permit. You…
-
![]()
First look at NAT changes for 2019
Starting 28th March 2019, a new trial will be implemented on the NAT called ASEPS (Advanced Surveillance Enhanced Procedural Separation) using ADS-B in the Shanwick, Gander and Santa Maria FIRs. Compliant aircraft…
-
![]()
The Impact of Space-Based ADS-B on International Operations
I can distinctly remember the build up to and roll out of GPS navigations systems. Like so many of us, I was excited to see this new technology integrated into my cockpit.…
-
![]()
Seletar launches new terminal on Nov 19
As WSSL/Seletar prepares to open its new $80 million terminal on Nov 19, the authorities have announced that WSSL is now a “schedules facilitated” airport. Don’t panic – at least, not yet.…
-
![]()
No change to Iran airspace warning despite new US sanctions
The US reimposed sanctions against Iran on Nov 5. Despite this, so far there has been no change to the FAA guidance to US operators issued on 9th September 2018: flights to Iran…
-
![]()
Shanghai airports closed to GA/BA
Both Shanghai airports ZSSS/Shanghai and ZSPD/Pudong will be closed to GA/BA between Nov 1-13. This is due to the China International Import Expo (CIIE) that will be taking place in Shanghai from…
-
![]()
Your top three PBCS questions answered
PBCS has been an ongoing PITA for some time now. We wrote about it back in March. Here are the top three questions we’ve had on it since then – and now…
-
![]()
New rules at Russian airports to combat cabotage abuse
There’s a new Customs restriction in place, reported at bothULLI/St Petersburg and UUWW/Moscow Vnukovo airports. The standard block of text doing the rounds is as follows: STARTING FROM 19/09/2018, IT WILL NOT…
-
![]()
That MMEL thing: here’s an update
The FAA is set to issue new guidance to provide a resolution to the long-running MMEL vs MEL debacle. However, it may not be the one we were expecting! Last year, ramp checks on…
