Hi Members,

And non-members reading this and thinking “what did I miss out on by not joining in this OPSCHAT?”

You can watch the full replay on your Member’s Dashboard.

Here’s went down this week in the world of international operations things…

The Big Things

The USA – revised LOA approval process. Basically, if you’re a Part 91 new aircraft you can now get the top 10 things rolled into 1 LOA. No news yet on the process being made easier for older aircraft, but watch this space…

China – Now require proof of ownership of your aircraft if you go there. Because of Russia flying “re-registered” (stolen) aircraft. We’ve not seen any reports yet on what this involves but we think a few extra days for permits to be approved.

Europe – Strikes remain in vogue… LFPG/Charles de Gaulle are going mad with the strikes. Fire services, airport workers strikes. EBBR/Brussels as well as Tunisia are getting in on the action as well with various airports workers and an ATC strike.

Also in Europe – EU-LISA have been having secret meetings, and our little spies have reported back saying that if you make a profit or if there is any business stuff that takes place because of the flight then you need to register. So it’s got a little more annoying again because we thought private flights were exempt but apparently not…

Hawaii – RIMPAC military exercise at the end of June which goes on for 35 days, mainly during the day. There is a big PDF document on it but it’s not particularly useful for seeing what’s really going on. Basically, some delays depending on which way you’re routing, and look out for all the extra military aircraft.

Slots in Europe

It is a mess, and it’s probably going to get worse, because there are loads of staff missing at airports. And there are some ATC problems as well. Which means slots. A lot of slots. NMOC, who run them, have some tips on how to handle all this, and how not to – like yoyo-ing (bad), slot swapping (good), late filing (bad), early filing (won’t help, but good).

Send us your slot questions at news@ops.group if you have any.

EASA Fuel Rules

We think there are two big things to look out for and read up on:

• Which policy applies to you: They each have different monitoring and recording, safety measuring requirements etc. The main thing they seem affect is the contingency fuel.
• New planning requirements: Particularly for destination alternates seem to have changed – the planning minimas mainly, as have some things like what to include in your arrival routing planning etc (they say what is ‘reasonably expected’)

EGGX/Shanwick

Something which we’re looking into, but here is what we know so far:

Shanwick want you to register with then if you want to get your clearance via ACARS. But there isn’t a CPDLC or ADS-C list as far as we know. We are working on an article on this, and on CPDLC logon things to watch out for, so watch this space.

Danger Club

We’ve been inspired to start talking about Fatigue. So we want to run a Danger Club on this and get folk talking, and help solve it from the bottom up (because some of those at the top aren’t helping…)

If you have any interesting incidents or accidents to share to talk on let us know, or come join us at the next Danger Club meetup!

Join the weekly international ops call!

OPS CHAT is a conversation about this week’s changes and dangers affecting International Flight Ops, open to everyone!

It’s on every Tuesday at 1300 UTC.

It’s for Pilots, Dispatchers, ATC, and anyone else involved in international ops – and here are the key things we look at every week:

• New risks and changes this week affecting airspace, ATC, airports, and international ops
• The top 5 Ops Alerts published for OpsGroup members this week
• Conversation and chat
• Unsolved mysteries – unanswered questions from the Ops Group/Flight Ops slack channels.
• New member intros and group updates
• A general Q&A – bring a good Q and we’ll match it with an A.

When is it on? Tuesday at 1300 GMT/UTC/Z. That means: 6am LA (sorry!), 9am New York, 2pm London, 3pm Amsterdam. Bring a timezone appropriate drink (If you’re in a Brooklyn a coffee, if you’re in Berlin a coffee martini?) and join us for a group chat about all things ops.

If you’re stuck on something in particular (a pesky overflight permit for Peru, perhaps …) – ask your question and we’ll find someone that knows. For the weeks highlights, we’ll pop up a few maps and things to help show what’s happening, but mostly this is really just a chat and pretty casual. As you might have gathered.

How long is it on for? Ah, 30 minutes maybe? Or longer if things get interesting.

How do I join? You will need:

• 1x computer device (example here)
• Electrical power
• A face (because we like seeing you)
• A watch (set an alarm for Tuesday 12.59Z)
• Aaaand a Zoom registration: here.

So in short – register and then show up. Turn on your video, and take part. Easy!

Any other questions? Email the team!

Hi Members,

We had another busy OPSCHAT call this week with Chris in the hosting seat, along with returning Quiz Master Dave and Rebecca.

You can watch the full replay on your Member’s Dashboard.

Here’s a roundup of what we talked about:

The Big Stuff

• Bahamas – The Click2Clear (fast track customs clearance) roll out for everyone is no more… indefinitely. Because it was confusing. We’re waiting for clarification on the rules and a new roll out date.
• Antigua – TMA overflights are being denied (all the bits below FL245). ‘Cross border’ permits are needed. Look out for the Notam on it.
• America – A big political summit is happening, four TFRs across LA basin affecting access to airports here especially KBUR/Burbank and KVNY/Van Nuys ,so look out for the special procedures.
• Europe (in general) – World Fuel Service releases. Something is going on with them. Possibly a fuel shortage or a staff shortage? We ain’t sure. But there are a few airports impacted and we think it extends beyond WFS. LFPB/Le Bourget, LIML/Milan Linate… not accepting various cards including WFS, but other airports across France and Italy have reported problems.
• Italy – Strike season. ATC strike June 8 for Milan ATC and then a general airport worker strike on June 16.
• North Korea – eight unannounced launches in one go! Keep an eye on things, and don’t overfly. safeairspace.net is where we report the changes.

Unsolved mysteries

Canada FTL Regulations in Italy – Yes, you might get ramped checked. Yes, they might check your duty hours. But the general consensus seems to be that if it is state approved, and in accordance with your company’s ops manuals, then you’re probably A-OK. They’re generally just checking everything is order, not digging deep into the specifics.

A question about the chunk of restricted airspace over the Atlantic and why – maybe because of military exercises? We’re looking into it.

OPSQUIZ

Dave was back to host this week’s OPSQUIZ. Congrats to this week’s winner, PHIL! A prize will wings its way to you. Here’s a sample question for this week: What are the new standard symbols on US airport charts to show hotspots?

As always, we’re here to help with any operational support, info or questions. You can reach us on news@ops.group, or via the slack channels #flightops and #questions.

To watch the replay of the OPSCHAT in full: head over to the dashboard. We hold a new one every week on Tuesdays at 2000z, click here to register and join us live. See you next week!

Hi Everyone,

It was another great OPSCHAT call this week hosted by Rebecca, with the help of returning quiz master Dave.

You can watch the full replay on your Member’s Dashboard.

Here’s a roundup of what we talked about:

The Big News

• Sri Lanka – A new VCCF Notam has been issued telling operators to tanker in fuel. A domestic crisis there has lead to widespread fuel shortages along with security issues. We talk about alternative options for fuel stops.
• East China Sea – Unverified footage emerged this week of a missile launch filmed from the flight deck of a commercial airliner. No official sources have released a statement. Real or not, we briefly touch upon the ongoing dispute in the region and what to look out for.
• Canada – Construction is causing delays at CYYZ/Toronto. But in better news, a new list of 47 smaller airports has been published which can now be used as a point of entry.
• Bermuda – A TCAS mandate is on the horizon for next year. Some aircraft will be exempt – we take a look at the specifics.
• The NAT – A military exercise will affect some tango routes on June 1 and 2 – keep an eye on the Notams if you’re flying those tracks in the next 48 hours. [NOW CANCELLED]

Unsolved Mysteries

Bahamas: The new ‘Click2Clear’ system has left us scratching our heads. Does anyone have solid intel on who needs to use it, and who doesn’t?

EU LISA: That old chestnut. We still don’t have all the answers, but we’ve received a solid update, and discuss the latest we know.

OPSQUIZ

Dave was back to host this week’s OPSQUIZ. Congrats to this week’s winner, “Leroy”. A juicy prize is on its way to you…

As always, we’re here to help with any operational support, info or questions. You can reach us on news@ops.group, or via the slack channels #flightops and #questions.

To watch the replay of the OPSCHAT in full: head over to the dashboard. We hold a new one every week on Tuesdays at 2000z, click here to register and join us live. See you next week!

Hi Members,

We had another busy OPSCHAT call this week, including the return of the weekly quiz with the help of Quiz Master Dave.

You can watch the full replay on your Member’s Dashboard.

Here’s a roundup of what we talked about:

The Big News

• Cuba – The US Govt is set to lift airport restrictions on US commercial operators in Cuba – the big news is that Havana will no longer be the only option. There’s been no news yet on whether the ban on private ops will be lifted.
• Las Vegas – The three big airports KLAS/Las Vegas, KHND/Henderson and KVGT/North Las Vegas will see very high traffic volumes this Memorial Day weekend. Expect holding and other delays, and consider extra fuel.
• France – Two big events are happening at almost the same time in Southern France – the Cannes Film Festival and Monaco F1 Grand Prix. Special procedures are in place at both LFMD/Cannes and LFMN/Nice airports.
• Europe – UEFA Soccer finals are happening in both Tirana (Albania) on May 25, and Paris on May 28. We talk about the impact to ops, and how to find more info.
• Europe (again) – Look out for the ADS-B mandate which comes into effect on June 7 next year. Unless you’re flying something very small, or very slow, your ride will likely be affected.

Unsolved Mysteries

East Hampton Airport – has anyone had any luck actually getting hold of the incoming approvals needed to land or use the instrument approaches?

Saudi Arabia – the crew visa is only valid for 72 hours. Is there anyway to get an extension beforehand, that doesn’t cost the earth?

OPSQUIZ

Dave took the wheel this week, and hosted another quiz. Congratulations to this week’s winner who is all the way down in Auckland, New Zealand. Well done! Here’s a sample question from this week: Which major European airport closed briefly last week due to a building fire? Join us next time as we have great prizes on offer, all hand picked by our quirky team!

As always, we’re here to help with any operational support, info or questions. You can reach us on news@ops.group, or via the slack channels #flightops and #questions.

To watch the replay of the OPSCHAT in full: head over to the dashboard. We hold a new one every week on Tuesdays at 2000z, click here to register and join us live. See you next week!

Hi Members,

It was another busy OPSCHAT this week!

You can watch the full replay on your Member’s Dashboard.

Here’s a roundup of what we talked about:

The Big News

• Europe – Some Schengen Area countries have extended their internal border controls for another six months due to “security concerns”: Austria, Denmark, Germany, Norway, Sweden, and France. The EU aren’t happy about this because it’s questionable whether there’s really any new threat here. The impact to ops is essentially delays – all passengers and crew will have their passport details checked thoroughly as if they were arriving from outside of the region.
• United States – There are ops updates for several airports. KCOS/Colorado Springs has been affected this week by grass fires, KASE/Aspen is open again, there are long delays at KIAD/Washington Dulles due to runway work, KHTO/East Hampton has new operating rules, and PPR is needed for non-sched ops at KBOS/Boston until late June.
• Switzerland -The World Economic Forum is happening from May 20 – 26. Airport and airspace restrictions will apply. We take a look in more detail.
• Jamaica – The entire MKJK/Kingston FIR went ATC zero on May 12 due to a strike. More are possible. Be familiar with contingency procedures if headed there. We talk about what they are, and where to find them.
• Sri Lanka – There is widespread civil unrest, a notam has been issued advising operators to tanker fuel as it is unlikely to be available. Security is a problem for layovers – avoid if possible.

Unsolved Mysteries

Can pilots use contingency procedures on the NAT when refusing a climb/descent clearance from ATC? We get various points of view from the group.

Danger Club!

We’re holding our next session on Wednesday, May 18 at 1900z and we think it is going to be a good one. Click to register here, and feel free to invite a friend!

As always, we’re here to help with any operational support, info or questions. You can reach us on news@ops.group, or via the slack channels #flightops and #questions.

To watch the replay of the OPSCHAT in full: head over to the dashboard. We hold a new one every week on Tuesdays at 2000z, click here to register and join us live. See you next week!

Hi Members,

We had another busy OPSCHAT call this week!

You can watch the full replay on your Member’s Dashboard.

Here’s a roundup of what we talked about:

The Big News.

• Mexico – Trouble reported at MMMX/Mexico City. New IFALPA Safety Bulletin: unexpected holding and low fuel events, EGPWS and aircraft proximity events. The new airport MMSM/Santa Lucia is causing extra challenges for ATC. Be aware of clearances using non-standard phraseologies, and pay extra attention to your terrain clearance.
• Africa – ASECNA airspace (the folk responsible for 6 major FIRs in Western and Central Africa) have ‘Free Route’ airspace available until at least October 2022. All info included in AICs. In other news ADS-B will be operational from May 19th (but it’s not mandatory yet – that’s coming next year).
• Somalia – ATC services are back in Somalia. They’re returning to Class A above FL245 across the entire HCSM/Mogadishu FIR, including the oceanic portion (starting from May 11) 3am-6pm LT. VHF, HF, CPDLC and SATCOM. Outside of these hours, it reverts back to Class G again.
• Europe – Spill over risks from the Ukraine/Russia conflict. EASA has published a report identifying no less than twenty risks (highlighted by operators and other authorities). Some interesting (unconsidered) ones as well, so it’s worth a read.

Unsolved Mysteries.

LRCS – Is my SATCOM approved in the NAT HLA? Here is the FAA info on it. Watch this space for a post tomorrow.

Radar vectors – who is legally responsible for terrain clearance?

The OPSQUIZ.

Mark’s back to host, and we have a second time champion this week! Congratulations! Here is a sample question from this week: Who publishes the eastbound NAT Tracks? Join us next time as we have great prizes on offer, all hand picked by the team!

As always, we’re here to help with any operational support, info or questions. You can reach us on news@ops.group, or via the slack channels #flightops and #questions.

To watch the replay of the OPSCHAT in full: head over to the dashboard. We hold a new one every week on Tuesdays at 2000z, click here to register and join us live. See you next week!

Hi Members,

We had another busy OPSCHAT call this week, with the return of our weekly OPSQUIZ and a new champion.

You can watch the full replay on your Member’s Dashboard.

Here’s a roundup of what we talked about:

• Poland – A mass ATC walkout has been avoided. Ops normal for now, but look out for July 10 which is the new deadline for an agreement.
• Europe – An alarming fake Notam has been doing the rounds alluding to big restrictions on foreign operators due to a fuel shortage. EASA has confirmed it’s fake. Also, look out for big military exercises happening in Italy, France and Finland.
• China – Entry rules are still super restrictive. Flights to Guangzhou and Beijing are being cancelled. Unknown impact for crew.
• Amsterdam – Ongoing disruptions at EHAM/Schiphol due to runway closures, strikes and staff shortages. Has anyone been there recently?

Unsolved mysteries

Crew quarantine in China: We’re still looking for answers. Is there anyway to avoid three weeks in a hotel? And if so, where?

Fuel prices on the US East Coast: They’re soaring, but we’re hearing rumours of great deals. Do you know where to find them?

Approach bans: Can ATC stop you from flying an approach due to the weather, or is that specific to the UK/Ireland?

Pringles: Bec’s cautionary tale.

OPSQUIZ

Mark’s back to host, and we have a new champion this week! Congratulations! Here is a sample question from this week: When receiving radar vectors, who is legally responsible for terrain clearance? Join us next time as we have great prizes on offer, all hand picked by the team!

As always, we’re here to help with any operational support, info or questions. You can reach us on news@ops.group, or via the slack channels #flightops and #questions.

To watch the replay of the OPSCHAT in full: head over to the dashboard. We hold a new one every week on Tuesdays at 2000z, click here to register and join us live. See you next week!

Hello Members.

It was another busy OPSCHAT call this week, along with our new quiz!

You can watch the full replay on your Member’s Dashboard.

Here’s a roundup of what we talked about:

• Poland – An ongoing ATC industrial dispute may lead to big controller shortages in the EPWW/Warsaw FIR from May 1. There may be knock on effects for neighbouring airspace. See our article for more.
• Singapore – There are new crew Covid rules. The main change is that vaccinated crew no longer need a pre-arrival Covid test, and they are no longer limited to the three approved layover hotels – you can chose from any now. But be careful of this gotcha: if one crew member is unvaccinated, the whole crew must follow those rules (which means isolating in an approved hotel).
• Hong Kong – From May 1, fully vaccinated foreigners will be able to enter for any reason. But the quarantine rules aren’t changing – they will still need to stay in approved hotels for at least seven days. You can check the official page on pax rules here. Local agent HKBAC have told us that there’s currently no official plans for any changes to the crew rules – which are pretty restrictive: crew must be must be vaccinated, take a pre-arrival test, another test on arrival, isolate in their hotel on layover until their outbound flight, and wear a wristband for location tracking.
• Africa – Fuel shortages at big airports are spreading. They’re now reported at DNMM/Lagos, FAOR/Johannesburg and GOBD/Dakar. More may soon follow.
• Netherlands – There have been big delays at EHAM/Schiphol thanks to multiple runway closures and an unexpected strike. Things are expected to improve from Apr 27 onwards, but keep an eye on the Eurocontrol NOP website and the Notams for updates.

Unsolved mysterious

Crew quarantine in China. You can enter but will be stuck in quarantine for weeks, or drop your pax and leave. Does anyone have a clever alternative solution?

Russian alternates. Is anyone still using Russian airport for ETOPS alternates? Most folk seem to be saying no. We discuss some other options in more detail, including lesser known PADK/Adak Island and PASY/Shemya. We also talk about Part 91 ops and risk tolerance when ETOPS doesn’t apply.

A new mystery – where do you actually need to call in in advance? Where have you been that doesn’t match the AIP? China, Myanmar, Pakistan, Iran seem to still want you to… basically any of the ADIZ.

Opsquiz!

Congrats to the reigning ruler who now has a two in a row streak and will shortly claim his prize – his own little piece of Scotland. As a taster, here is the toughest question from this week: If you are talking to Shanwick on HF, who are you actually talking to?

As always, the team is here to help with any operational support, info or questions. You can reach us on news@ops.group, or via the slack channels #flightops and #questions.

To watch the replay of the OPSCHAT in full: head over to the dashboard. We hold a new one every week on Tuesdays at 2000z, click here to register and join us live. See you next week!

Hi Members,

It was another busy OPSCHAT call this week – with a fun new addition.

You can watch the full replay on your Member’s Dashboard.

Here’s a quick summary of what we talked about:

• Russia – SITA are cancelling their VHF services from April 11. So no more SITA run VHF/VDL or datalink. There was also an air prox event between a civilian airliner and military fighter near the Latvian border – spill over effects from the conflict in Ukraine are still a big issue!
• Europe –  Strikes and staff shortages. The perfect post-Covid storm. Suddenly the industry isn’t quite ready for Easter, so now it’s one big mess. UK fuel shortages hopefully resolving by end of the week. GPS jamming, yep still an issue, we’ve written a handy Opsicle about it you can find here.
• Japan – It’s opening to rest of world, but not for tourists yet. Crew entry rules are causing confusion. No clear answer on this yet. If anyone has news, please share it with us.
• USA – Big closures at KASE/Aspen and KJAC/Jackson Hole. Russian military exercise has been affecting NOPAC routes in the Anchorage FIR. Alphabet Soup – the FAA are changing up their flight planning codes to cover new PBN RNP1 NAV advanced capability stuff. Watch this space for an update on it.
• And something for fun. Opschats now have a quiz involved! And there are prizes to be won (good prizes, exciting prizes, prizes worth winning. Well, we think so.) All ops related questions of course.

Congratulations to our first ever winner!

As always, the team is here to help with any operational support, info or questions. You can reach us on news@ops.group, or via the slack channels #flightops and #questions.

To watch the replay of the OPSCHAT in full: head over to the dashboard. We hold a new one every week on Tuesdays at 2000z, click here to register and join us live. See you next week!

Hi members,

It was another busy OPSCHAT call this week.

You can watch the full replay on your Member’s Dashboard.

Here’s a quick summary of what we talked about.

• Europe – EASA have updated their fuel regs – we dug into what has actually changed. France has begun rolling out new ATC systems, starting with the LFFE/Reims FIR which could lead to big delays. The EASA Environmental Portal deadline has been and gone – if you’re operating a jet into Europe under Part 91 or 135, you probably need to know about it – we briefly covered what operators need to do. Our recent article may also help. A strange new Notam has been issued about unannounced military ops up to FL300 between Italy and Greece, so we talked about what we’ve heard. Potentially disruptive strikes across Europe were cancelled last minute. But don’t get too relieved, more will probably come.
• USA – Several major airport closures are on the horizon including KJAC/Jackson Hole and KADS/Addison – we took a brief look at the details. We also discussed disruptions at KTEB/Teterboro due to upcoming work on Runway 06/24 with the help of local experts – they gave us some great information to help keep you out of trouble if you’re unfamiliar with ops there (with special thanks to David Belastock over at the Teterboro User’s Group). We looked at spiralling fuel costs and shortages, especially on the East Coast, as well as global shortages. If you experience rapidly rising costs or supply problems, let us know! The US Masters in Augusta GA is happening from April 7 – 10, we talked about special FAA procedures that have been published for nearby airports.
• The Middle East – There have been more drone and missile attacks in the OEJD/Jeddah FIR, Saudi Arabia. The latest caused flight disruptions at OEJN/Jeddah airport. We chatted again about the practical risk for overflights along with those taking off and landing. Safeairspace.net also has a full briefing available.
• Asia  – A question was asked about airspace incursions in Taiwan’s Air Defence Identification Zone (ADIZ). We looked at what’s been happening recently, and what operators need to do to stay out of trouble. We’ve also previously made a handy article on this issue.

As always, the team is here to help with any operational support, info or questions. You can reach us on news@ops.group, or via the slack channels #flightops and #questions.

To watch the replay of the OPSCHAT in full: head over to the dashboard. We hold a new one every week on Tuesdays at 2000z, click here to register and join us live.

Hi members,

It was another very busy OPSCHAT call this week.

You can catch the full replay on your Member’s Dashboard.

Here’s a quick summary of what we talked about.

• Europe – With the closure of Ukrainian airspace not going away in a hurry, there are concerns about airspace congestion as traffic is squeezed into Western Europe. To make matters worse, ongoing ATC strikes along with system upgrades in France, and potential industrial action in Poland may be brewing the perfect storm for major traffic jams.
• Russia – Ongoing sanctions against Russia are causing ongoing headaches for aviation. The rules are different in every country, and so operators need to be familiar with the jurisdictions they’re flying over. In more news, the Russian CAA website is currently down due to a cyber-attack – check out our latest article.
• Dubai – Double trouble. There are two disruptions happening at the same time in May. At OMDB/Dubai one runway is being closed from May 9 – June 11, while over at OMAD/Al Bateen, the airport will be closed from May 11 – July 20. We discuss the potential impacts to traffic, along with suitable alternates during this time.
• Saudi Arabia – Recent Houthi drone and missile attacks have caused flight disruptions at OEJN/Jeddah airport. They seem to be travelling further, and becoming more accurate. Reports of aircraft being held near the Egyptian border during these attacks, but not new Notams have been issued. We talked about ESCAT procedures, where to find them, and what alternates to use. See Safe Airspace for more info.
• South-East Asia – Several major border openings have been announced in recent weeks including Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand. We take a brief look at what has been changing.
• USA – The FBI has released a new warning of cyber-attacks maliciously targeting SATCOM networks. With the help of members on the call, we assess what this actually means for operators.
• Colombia – We talk about two recent non-fatal attacks on airline pilots resisting robberies in the cities of Bogota and Cali. A major carrier has released security information to its crew. The basic advice is don’t put up a fight, leave valuables in the hotel, and only carry small amounts of cash.
• Airport Spy – We’ve had a lot of new reports in the last few weeks. Don’t forget to check it out, you can access it here. Feel free to submit your own Spy Reports, any and all feedback is welcome.

As always, the team is here to help with any operational support, info or questions. You can reach us on news@ops.group, or via the slack channels #flightops and #questions.

To watch the replay of the OPS CHAT in full: head over to the dashboard. We hold a new OPSCHAT every week on Tuesdays at 2000z, click here to register and join us live.

Hello members,

We had another busy OPSCHAT call this week!

You can catch the full reply on your Member’s Dashboard.

Here’s a rundown of what we talked about:

• Airspace Risk in Europe – We looked at EASA and IFALPA’s new safety bulletins. Brief discussion about GPS jamming. Feedback from member operating out of Cyprus who encountered it recently – ATC were advised but seems to be ops normal for them there. We also asked whether there are any other risks or impacts that operators are encountering as a result of the conflict in Ukraine that are not being publicised or reported?
• Russia latest – The US has still not been officially banned from Russian airspace via the UUUU notams. Although there are reports of people having difficulties obtaining overflight permits anyway. Brief discussion about Bloc permits, and then Chinese permits (taking 4-5 days, expect short notice changes to be refused, carry additional fuel for unexpected routes/levels).
• Saudi Arabia airspace risk – The US FAA has now issued an advisory on Houthi drone incursions. A few key questions put to group:
  • Why has it taken the FAA so long to issue this?
  • What is the actual risk to overflights?
  Feedback from group is that ESCAT is likely the biggest impact. Ops into Southern Airports are unusual for western operators.
• Canada – Briefly touched on the end of the pre-travel testing mandate from April 1 – only applies to fully vaccinated pax (no booster required). Non-vaccinated pax must still follow existing rules. No impact to crew who are exempt anyway.
• USA – Airspace improvement project on East Coast finishing with changes in Nov 3. 55 new Q and Y routes and ultra high sector routes (>FL400). New routes will be published in Sept but unavailable  for use until Nov 3. More info here.
• North Korea – Several missile launches over the weekend landed in the Yellow Sea. Total of eleven this year – all without airspace warnings. Likely to be more. Brief discussion on the ZKKP/Pyongyang FIR – seems operators are staying well clear. Discussed the FAA SFAR which does a good job of communicating the risks. More info here.
• Unsolved mystery: Reports in media of bizav aircraft being used for relief missions, particularly to Poland. Looking for updates on conditions at airports, traffic congestion and fuel availability. Let us know at news@ops.group
• Danger Club: Happening March 24 at 1800z! Read more and register here.

As always, the team is here to help with any operational support, info or questions. You can reach us on news@ops.group, or via the slack channels #flightops and #questions.

To watch the replay of the OPS CHAT in full, head over to the dashboard.

We are changing up our Opschats

Why? Well partly because we are tired of our own voices, but mainly because we want to hear from you!

Don’t panic

We are not going to ask people to sing, tell jokes, or entertain everyone. We are going to ask folk to bring their own ideas, questions and (aviation) topics of conversation because we think our chats should be a chance to talk about the subjects you want to talk about.

If you don’t fly regularly to the Tigray region then a 10 minute update on what is happening there might not be want you want to hear.

Maybe you are more interested in the latest change to the North Atlantic? Or maybe you have had issues finding parking at LDSP/Split and want to ask anyone if they know of an alternative?

Perhaps you are about to fly to a new airport and want some intel? Or maybe you are actually routing through Tigray soon and you do want that update…

So, what are the pressing aviation industry issues for you?

We want to hear them because OPSGROUP is about that – it is about trying to tackle those things that are making aviation less safe, less friendly, less human.It is about connecting the community and sharing the info and expertise, the experience and the ideas.

And we find that sometimes, when we stop talking and listen, that is when the best ideas are discovered.

So we invite you to our Open Mic

An OPSGROUP chat where we won’t be giving the info, or leading the conversation, but we will be asking you to offer up some comments.

We also thinking hearing what other information can we share and what else would you want to find from OPSGROUP would be interesting.

And if you don’t have answers for those then just come along for the hello, bring a beer if you like, and see if anything pops into your head.

When: June 21 at 1300 UTC (9am New York, 2pm London, 5pm Dubai, 9pm Singapore).

How to attend: Reserve your spot here! Members only. We won’t be recording these sessions, so it’s very much a “be there or be square” kinda situation 😊

What would you like to discuss? What could OPSGROUP do to help you? What’s the barrier to your next flight? Let’s talk about it, and see who else is struggling with the same thing (you’re never alone!)

See you there!

Opschat replay

• Some of the latest ops alerts: Greenland diversion fees, Suriname ATC strike, the Mali military coup, DRC volcanic ash, Russia permit tomfoolery, and the really big news about Europe starting to open up to travel again.
• We also covered the strikes coming up in Greece, UK, Paris, Portugal, and Italy.
• We discussed the recent Albania ATC farmout, and the Belarus situation (politics or risk?)
• We touched on recent Safeairspace hotspots Israel and Saudi/Yemen.
• Some new things we’re working on: Airport Lowdowns, Relief Air Wing, and Open Mic chats.

The November 24th “East/West-One-Day-Two-Calls” OpsChat Bonanza was great! Thank you to all who joined us, and those who shared some useful intel with the group.

Boy, did we cover a lot! The good news is if you missed the show, you can re-watch the recording here:

During the chat, we provided a bunch of links for each topic covered. If you weren’t quick enough to catch them at the time (we don’t blame you), here’s a little summary….

November Updates…

Greenland

What? Baffling Notam issued declaring Greenland’s airports were closed.

What else? Panic not, a better one was then reissued, saying that you could still use Greenland’s airports for ETOPS and diversion alternates. We called them and they said that tech-stops and ferry flights are also allowed (although not listed in the Notam). They’ve basically just banned passenger flights, and don’t want people staying overnight.

More Info:
– Greenland Closes Its Airports To (Nearly) All Passenger Flights – Opsgroup Blog Post
– Official Word from The Danish Civil Aviation 

Israel

What? You can now overfly Israel (as well as Jordan, Saudi Arabia and Bahrain).

What else? You need a local sponsor, should depart from an approved airport (but they do make exceptions) and need a permit.

More Info:
– Israel overflights now allowed – Opsgroup Blog Post

Hong Kong

What? Strange ILS behaviour, especially on Runway 07R/25L. Pretty much down to antennas, terrain and Boeing AFDS…

What else? They have also updated their Covid entry restrictions for crew – it’s now slightly harder to get in.

More info:
– The Thing About the ILS
– Hong Kong Entry Rules for Flight Crew – OpsGroup Blog Post
– The Official Word

CENEMAR (Central America)

What? There are some new flight planning requirements you need to know about.

What else? You can flight plan direct above FL200, and must include the new AFTN address MHFPZYZX when filing your flight plan.

More info:
– CENEMAR: New Flight Planning Requirements – Opsgroup Blog Post

Other big updates from 2020…

November 5th ICAO changes

When? Er… November 5th!

What? We are talking changes to wake turbulence categories, NAT Contingency Procedrues, SLOP and Gross Navigation Errors.

More info:
– The 511 on Nov 5th Changes – Opsgroup Blog Post
– Hopefully a Link to the New 4444

Other overflights that are now ok

What? FAA SFAR updates – where US operators can’t go!

Where?
– Ukraine: UKFV/Simferopol FIR is ok, UKDV/Dnipro FIR is not ok.
– Iran: Not ok, but the Gulf of Oman and Persian Gulf are – Emirates, Kuwait, Bahrain and Muscat FIRs.

More info:
– Safeairspace
– Overflying Crimea – Opsgroup Blog Post

Russian Me-trics

What? Russia are moving to feet (referenced to QNH) below transition through their airspace, starting with major airports.

When? From December 3rd.

More info:
– Russia are still playing me-trics on us – Opsgroup Blog Post
– The Russian AIP (don’t worry, it is in english too)

ADS-B

What? When will you get in trouble for not having it.

Where?
– Europe: ADS-B is required from June 2023, but have your retrofit plan in by December 7 (unless your AoC is before 1995).
– US: ADS-B is required anywhere Mode C, or in the picture below.
– Rest of World: Above FL290, pretty much.

More info:
– European ADS-B Mandate – Opsgroup Blog Post
– The FAA FAQs on ADS-B

North Atlantic Datalink Mandate

What? The North Atlantic Datalink Mandate (NAT DLM) is the thing that came into effect in Jan 2020, which meant that CPDLC was then required between FL290-FL410 throughout the entire NAT region. Simply put, you must be equipped with CPDLC and ADS-C if you want to fly between these flight levels.

And then what happened? Then Covid happened. Because of the resulting reduction in traffic they suspended this mandate, and it looks set to stay this way until the end of Feb 2021. Bottom line, aircraft which do not have CPDLC and ADS-C can continue to operate across the North Atlantic between FL290-410 until then.

More info:
– North Atlantic Datalink Mandate – Opsgroup Blog Post

SafeAirspace Update…

Ethiopia

What? Escalating conflict – Danger to overflying aircraft – beware of open airways!!

Where? Ethiopia – the Tigray region bordering Eritrea

More info:
– Safeairspace – Ethiopia
– Airspace Risk Warning: Eritrea and Ethiopia – Opsgroup Blog Post

Saudi Arabia

What? Drone and ballistic missile strikes continue from Yemen, no end in sight.

Where? Southern Saudi Arabia particularly, but Jeddah and Riyadh have also been attacked.

More info:
– Safeairspace

Armenia/Azerbaijan

What? The conflict is ‘officially’ over, but the airspace remains dangerous!

Where? The airspace between Azerbaijan’s UBBA/Baku FIR and Armenia’s UDDD/Yerevan FIR.

More info:
– Safeairspace

Western Sahara

What? An emerging conflict zone, with the threat of anti-aircraft weaponry. Little info or warnings, that may well affect aircraft operating into the Canarias.

Where? Northwestern Africa – a area region between Morocco and the Polisario.

More info:
– Safeairspace

Stay tuned for our next Ops Chat coming up in January 2021!

We have decided to run not one, but two Ops Chats on Tuesday November 24th!

Why two calls?

The calls have been getting bigger and bigger. So, we’re runing two so there’s more time to talk, answer questions, and make sure that if you want to get a chance to take part, you can. And also, so that you don’t have to stay up until midnight (or worse) if you’re not in the United States.

Who can join?

This is an open call. If you work in international flight ops, you’re welcome to join us.

So, when should I set my alarm for?

The date is Tuesday, November 24th.

Chat 1, the EAST-CHAT is at 10am London time. (10am London, 11am Berlin, 2pm Dubai, 6pm Singapore, or 1000Z)
Register and save your spot at ops.group/eastchat

We will have some lunch.

Chat 2, the WEST-CHAT is at 10am New York time (9 am Paris (Texas), 7 am Forks of Salmon (California, or 1500Z).
Register at ops.group/westchat

So, pick the time that suits you best and join us for a chat. Or, join us for both chats. Your choice!

What are we chatting about?

• We are getting to the end of this year, and the plan is to get out from the Covid fog and take a look at what else has been going on in 2020.
• There have been some big changes, and in case you have missed them, we will give you brief rundown of what they are.
• We will look over the “highlights” of November’s ops alerts.
• There will be a 2020 Airspace risk review looking at Conflict Zones and changes this year.

Get your questions ready

You can be nice and send these through early (email us) so we can look clever answering them, or you can put us on the spot. But we love questions so prepare some for us.

When: Thursday 23rd July @ 10am Eastern, 1400 UTC
(Thurs 7am San Francisco, 10am New York, 3pm London, 4pm Berlin, 10pm Hong Kong)

The next OPSCHAT is coming up this Thursday, and there’s definitely some stuff to talk about!

Here’s what we’ve got so for on the agenda:

• Analysis: That jet that went to Italy and got turned around.
• Risks – what might you be missing because of the Covid headlines?
• If a country need a Covid test, where do you get one before leaving?
• All the 2020 NAT changes in ten lines – and what’s coming in November.
• Staying proficient when we aren’t flying. What’s being done to keep people in the flying mindset?
• Jobs – seekers and finders.
• Relief Air Wing – how OPSGROUP can help hurricane survivors this year.
• Going to Europe – can you or can’t you?
• The KEF – STN run, backdoor into Europe?

What else would you like to see discussed? Or, is there something you’d like to present on?

What’s the barrier to your next flight? Tell us, and we’ll bring it up on the call, and see who else is struggling with the same thing (you’re never alone!)

You can already register and save your spot here.

But do please tell us what else we should talk about! We’ll update the agenda once we have expanded the list.

See you there!

Email: opschat@ops.group.

It won’t look anything like the cheesy corporate picture above, but we’re going to have a special OpsChat around Flight Operations and Covid-19, to coincide with the release of the OPSGROUP Covid-19 SuperManual.

When: Wednesday, May 13th @ 4pm Eastern, 8pm UTC
(Weds 1pm San Francisco, 4pm New York, 9pm London, 10pm Berlin, Thurs 4am Hong Kong, 8am Auckland)

We’ll focus on these areas:

• Going to work, Health Check, Illness at work, Dispatchers
• Flight Crew: Fit to fly, License, medical, keeping aircraft and crew current
• Wellbeing and Mental Health: How to find calm, Be Kind
• Aircraft cleaning and preparation, Risks: Hand Sanitizers, Dangerous Good regulations
• Aircraft Setup, Boarding, Temperature Checks, Baggage, Seating
• Wearing of PPE (Personal Protective Equipment)
• Additional Aircraft Equipment
• In flight Crew procedures: Pilots, Flight Attendants, In-flight Service
• Illness in Flight – Crew actions, Dispatch actions, Cleaning procedure
• Overnights/Layovers, Hotel guidance, Crew PPE kits
• Crew Illness away from Home base

Join us – the usual way, register here, get Zoom, and jump on at 4pm EST on Wednesday.

Have a look at the OPSGROUP Covid-19 SuperManual, we’ll get into that on the call.