High Seas Airspace – near misses 16MAR The Baltic Sea (Scandinavia) is seeing an alarming rise in traffic proximity events, and ICAO has issued guidance to operators with background and information. Military flights operating under ‘due regard’ are, well – not. Read the full article about High Seas airspace.

Canada New Entry Rules – relaxed 16MAR The new Canada Entry Rules – requiring most visitors to have an eTA before departing – came into force yesterday; with a caveat. In short: you should have one, but it’s OK if you don’t – at least until September 2016. Read the full article.

Cxxx/Canada The new Canada Entry Rules – requiring most visitors to have an eTA before departing – came into force on 15MAR; with a caveat. In short: you should have one, but it’s OK if you don’t – at least until September 2016. Read the full article.

Cxxx/Canada Effective 30MAR, Canadian rules will no longer require an approach completely independent of GNSS at the planned destination. However, where a GNSS approach is planned at both the destination and the alternate, the aerodromes will need to be separated by a minimum of 100 NM. Refer AIC5/16.

Baltic Sea Based on several concrete examples of missing flight plans, the Russian Federation, Finland and Estonia agreed to define 7 new waypoints for State aircraft operations over the High Seas that could be used, to replace the current string of LAT/LONG coordinates, to facilitate all future FPLs between St. Petersburg FIR and Kaliningrad FIR. The ICAO Secretariat assigned the following 5LNCs: PISIS-PIDINPISIM-PIRUX-PINIX-PIVAX-PIPOM. All involved States (Russian Federation, Estonia, Finland and Latvia) agreed to implement/publish these waypoints (all over the High Seas), for the 30 MAR 2016 AIRAC date. Read the High Seas Airspace article.

North Atlantic CPDLC and ADS-C services will be out of service in Gander, Shanwick, Shannon and Reykjavik FIRS on 21MAR for periods lasting no longer than a few hours due to Inmarsat satellite replacement work. Please check the FIR NOTAM’s that pertain to your operation that day.

Kxxx/United States Due to a missile launch from within Miami Airspace the FAA has issued NOTAM A0366/16 to advise of the potential impact to operations with KZMA, KZWY and TJSJ FIRs from March 16 to March 17th. Please check the NOTAM for full details on all the possible routing constraints.

LTXX/Turkey NATO has begun surveillance within the Turkish FIR as part of assurance measures for Turkey. The first duty period was 12-15MAR.

Time Changes Clocks go forward/back depending on whether you’ve just had a long winter or a long summer. The US changed on 13MAR, most of Europe is on 27MAR, Australia and NZ on 03APR. TimeandDate.com has a very useful list.

KTEB/Teterboro A new Charted Quiet Visual Runway 19 visual approach will be published on 31MAR. Starting 04APR, the FAA will test the procedure for 180 days to gauge pilot compliance and environmental impact to determine if the procedure will become permanent.

YMML/Melbourne will host the Formula 1 Grand Prix 17-20MAR, with additional traffic to both YMML and YMEN/Essendon during these dates.

KATL/Atlanta Officials in Atlanta are laying the groundwork for an expansion of the world’s busiest airport. Work will begin soon on a $6 billion expansion and renovation project at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. Workers will update the domestic passenger terminal and concourses, and add a sixth runway and a hotel. Work begins on concourse renovations later this year.

Lxxx/Austria has issued AIC 4/16 outlining the near future use of more direct Free Route Airspace.

Oxxx/Iran The U.S. State Dept issued a Travel Warning to reiterate and highlight the risk of arrest and detention of U.S. citizens, particularly dual national Iranian-Americans, in Iran, and to note that FAA has advised U.S. civil aviation to exercise caution when flying into, out of, within, or over the airspace over Iran.

NVVV/Port Vila Runway 11/29 will be closed from 16MAR at 1300Z until 17MAR at 1930Z for maintenance. This essentially closes the airport during the time period.

Yxxx/Australia A reminder that Easter travel could be severly disrupted with Border Force and Immigrationstaff at international airports across Australia planning to take strike action on the eve of Good Friday.

UIBB/Bratsk Don’t go. No fuel. Until 31MAR.

View the full International Bulletin 16MAR2016

New Wake Turbulence Categories 24FEB New Wake Turbulence Categories will begin a slow introduction in Europe on 22MAR at Paris Airports LFPG/De Gaulle and LFPB/Le Bourget, where the current four (Light, Medium, Heavy, Super) will become six. Those six new categories are Light, Medium (with Lower and Upper), and Heavy (with Lower, Upper and Super). Read the full article …

Fiji Cyclone  Winston 24FEB Fiji sustained widespread damage throughout the Islands on 21FEB from Tropical Cyclone Winston; most airports are open and operating again, including all international airports (NFFN/Nadi, NFNA/Suva). The following domestic airports are also open: Kadavu, Labasa, Rotuma, Labasa, Rotuma, Gau, Kadavu. NFNA/Suva has no overnight parking available at present due to congestion caused by the Relief effort.

NFFN/Nadi, Fiji Hit by Tropical Cyclone Winston on 21FEB, while there is widespread damage throughout the Islands, most airports are open and operating again, including all international airports (NFFN/Nadi, NFNA/Suva). The following domestic airports are also open: Kadavu, Labasa, Rotuma, Labasa, Rotuma, Gau, Kadavu. Note that NFNA/Suva has no overnight parking available at present due to congestion caused by the Relief effort.

KAGS/Augusta, USA Special Procedures in place 07-10APR for US Masters Golf Tournament.

EXXX/Europe New Wake Turbulence Categories will begin a slow introduction in Europe on 22MAR at Paris Airports LFPG/De Gaulle and LFPB/Le Bourget, where the current four (Light, Medium, Heavy, Super) will become six. Those six new categories are Light, Medium (with Lower and Upper), and Heavy (with Lower, Upper and Super). The rules are part of the RECAT-EU project, with the intention of squeezing more traffic into busy European Airports by applying more precise turbulence separation rules. The separation minima are determined specific to each Aircraft Pair. For example, at the moment, an A330 following a B777 (Heavy behind heavy) requires 4 miles in trail. With the new rules, that is reduced to 3nm. An A320 can now follow 4 miles behind a B777, instead of the current 5nm. There are no Flight Planning Changes (continue to use /L,M,H,J for the ICAO Category). For crews, you’ll notice the smaller separation, but there are no changes to callsigns or pilot obligations – for now. Read full article.

DRRR/Niamey FIR Air Traffic Control 48HR strike 24 and 25FEB. The ASECNA Contingency plan is activated, with ATC provided by neighbouring ACC’s Dakar and N’Djamena.

LTXX/Turkey We have received several reports that Overflight Permits, which were removed as a general requirement for non-scheduled flights in 2015, are being requested by Turkey for Business Aviation aircraft, specifically M- and VP- registrations. Reports welcomed to clarify to bulletin@fsbureau.org.

RCTP/Taipei Airport works on several parking positions may create availability issues from 04MAR-04APR especially for Airbridge gates. Check with handler.

LFPB/Paris Le Bourget Due WIP airport will be closed during 10 nights from 15FEB to 26FEB, every night from 2045 to 0500Z. No Medevac flights will be possible.

EPKK/Krakow Runway 07/25 is closed daily 2330-0430 until 03MAR.

UXXX/Simferopol FIR EASA published an updated SIB 2015/16 regarding the use of Simferopol FIR on 17FEB. The key change is the phased reintroduction of the use of Simferopol FIR for international transit traffic, on the basis of an evaluation of the high seas portion of the airspace (ie. outside the 12nm territorial limit of the Crimean Peninsula). This airspace provides routes UL851 and UM856 (Odesa South Sector), which since 17FEB are suggested by EASA for use by overflying traffic.

YMML/Melbourne will host the Formula 1 Grand Prix 17-20MAR, with additional traffic to both YMML and YMEN/Essendon during these dates.

EHAM/Amsterdam has changed the callsign of Schiphol Start-up to “Schiphol Planner”.

OYAA/Aden, Yemen Airport closed and all flights cancelled since 21FEB due to security concerns.

NVVV/Port Vila On 17FEB local officials signed an agreement with a private contractor to begin repairing the runway. Several airlines suspended flights on 23JAN due to safety concerns with the airport’s runway. Aviation officials stated that the renovations should begin in March.

View the full International Bulletin 24FEB2016

New Canada Entry Rules 10FEB CXXX/Canada Starting 15 MAR 2016, visa-exempt foreign nationals who fly to or transit through Canada will need an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA). Exceptions include U.S. citizens and travellers with an existing visa, and commercial aircrew. Read more …

Winter Storms clear Newfoundland 10FEB Nova Scotia and Newfoundland (CYQX, CYHZ, CYYT) have two severe Winter Storms passing through this week; Halifax will see up to 40cm of snow, affecting diversion choices on the North Atlantic. The visualisation above shows the US Winter storm at the end of January.

MKJK/Kingston FIR Jamaica, has ongoing issues with radar coverage and serviceability, leading to ad-hoc flow management procedures including 15 minute en-route separation, and 10 minute arrival separation at international airports. Latest update indicates this will continue throughout February. We have had several reports from international airlines of delays averaging around 1 hour on departure. Further reports welcome to bulletin@fsbureau.org.

SKED/Bogota ACC, Colombia is applying 20 minute spacing for northbound flights heading into Jamaican airspace due to the increasing delays there.

SPIM/Lima FIR Peru have published new Aircraft Interception procedures for Civil Aircraft. Probably worth a look – although, we must warn you, they are in Spanish only, and exceptionally lengthy. Maybe just double check that overflight permit and keep in touch with ATC instead.

North Atlantic As mentioned last week, effective 04FEB MNPS Airspace is replaced by HLA/High Level Airspace on the North Atlantic. A popular topic. RNP4 or RNP10 now required. Read our International Ops Notice 01/2016 or our blog post: Did you know MNPS is over?

NVVV/Port Vila, Vanuatu Several airlines have suspended operations here effective 01FEB16 over concerns as to the condition of the runway. Airport remains open without restriction.

PACD/Cold Bay has no Jet A1 Fuel avaiable until 29FEB

HRYR/Kigali‘s runway is closed on a nightly basis from 0200-0700 local time (0000-0500 UTC) until 31MAR for repairs.

North Korea launched a long range rocket at 0031Z on 07FEB. According to preliminary reports, the rocket passed over the Japanese island of Okinawa and landed in the Pacific Ocean. US military officials stated that the rocket did not pose a threat to the United States or allies in the region. South Korean media reported that North Korea is preparing for another nuclear test and has the technology necessary for an inter-continental ballistic missile (ICBM).

AYPY/Port Moresby has a number of common VHF frequencies out of service because of a Telecomms fault. ATC advise to call them on HF HF 5565, 8861, 6622, or 8837, if able.

View the full International Bulletin 10FEB2016