Midweek Briefing 10AUG: EASA Cockpit Rules, Ukraine extends Russia Ban

EASA: New Cockpit Rules 10AUG EASA has published a new SIB with guidance for operators on, well, how best to arrange the swap of pilot-taking-a-pee and flight-attendant-now-up-front … Read the article

Ukraine extends Russia ban 10AUG Ukraine has extended the ban on Russian registered operators overflying or landing, until November 10th, 2016. In an operational notice.. Read the article


UUZZ/The Moscow Area will get busy between 26AUG and 04SEP (we’re not entirely sure why), but … The Main Air Traffic Management Centre (MATMC) has issued notice that there will be increased regulation for flights to UUWW, UUDD, and UUEE. Permission to depart will expire 30 mins after planned off blocks time, after which the Operator (that’s you) must call MATMC for a completely new permit.

MWCR/Cayman recorded its first local transmission of the Zika virus on 08AUG. Several other people on the Cayman Islands have reported symptoms of the virus; however, authorities stated that in these cases the patients contracted Zika during travel abroad.

MKJK/Kingston, Jamaica is carrying out work on its Comms lines until the end of the week, and is expecting to lose some Flight Plans. The outage is 0415-1100Z daily. If you are operating to Jamaica, or through the FIR, it’s worth sending your FPL early, and not during that time. Maybe send it a few times to be sure, should minimise delays due to missing FPL’s.

VIZZ/India Independence Day on 15AUG. Multiple restrictions. No overflights within 150nm of Delhi. VIDP/Delhi will not allow non-scheduled flights 0030-0430Z, and 1030-1330Z. Check with your handler for specific restrictions on 15AUG.

LIRA/Rome Ciampino will be completely closed from 14-29OCT for runway maintenance and upgrades. According to CIA, maintenance work will be carried out on a 24/7 basis on parts of runway 15/33, at various junctions and taxiways.

EVVA/Ventspils is closed for the week from today, due to repairs to the main runway. One of the three main airports in Latvia, it reopens on 15AUG.

GUCY/Gbessia, Guinea Opposition leaders have announced the postponement of opposition demonstrations planned for 10-16AUG. Marchers will reportedly demonstrate on the Autoroute Fidèle Castro, between Aéroport International de Gbéssia (GUCY/CKY) and the Palais du Peuple. The demonstration was originally slated to occur on 4 August but was later postponed until 10 August.

WIZZ/Indonesia Travel advice updated: Political tensions have given rise to occasional mass demonstrations in cities in Papua; take extra care and seek local advice on your travel plans.

SOCA/Cayenne FIR has broken it’s SITA system and has no CPDLC or ADS-C until, they think, at least 14AUG. Revert to HF and use 8855/5526; failing that try 3023.

RJZZ/Japan On 08AUG, Japanese military officials placed the country’s armed forces on alert for the potential of a North Korean missile launch. According to an official statement, the Japanese military will be ready to strike any North Korean missile that threatens Japan. Because some North Korean missile tests are difficult to detect, the current state of alert will last for three months. Previously, Japanese defense officials issued a series of temporary orders in response to imminent North Korean missile launches.

LWKS/Skopje Flooding on 6-7AUG2016 in Skopje and neighbouring areas has resulted in over 20 deaths. Some roads, including part of the Skopje ring-road, are closed. Alternative routes are available, but traffic may be slow moving. You should travel with extreme care.

LTZZ/Turkey Per new dictat from the DGAC in Turkey, all Ambulance flights entering Turkish airspace are to report “ACTIVE AMBULANCE FLIGHT” on first contact with Turkish ATC.

DIZZ/Cote D’Ivoire Effective 15SEP2016 Ivory Coast will withdraw the following HF frequencies: BOUAKE 5710KHz, 1578KHz; DALOA 5701KHz, KHOROGO 6673KHz; Man 5710.5 KHz; ODIENNE 6673 KHz; SAN PEDRO 6012KHz

EDDV/Hannover has special runway configurations on 14AUG due to (yet another) bomb from WW2 being removed. Between 1100-1400Z all approaches to 27L/09R are suspended.

VVZZ/Hanoi ACC reports that a lot of flights operating through the Hanoi ACC area of responsibility have not been submitting flight plan messages to VVHNZRZX or VVHNZQZX. In order to avoid missing / delay of FPL messages, copy these AFTN addresses when submitting your FPL’s.

EGZZ/United Kingdom 8AUG Rail staff in southern England, including London, began a five-day strike, which will reduce rail services by 40 percent. Travellers should expect major delays and large-scale traffic disruptions

BGSF/Kangerlussuaq Daily Closures between 09AUG and 30AUG for runway work. Double check NOTAMR A0295/16 for complete list of timings. Only Medivac, Search and Rescue and PPR confirmed operations allowed.

KTEB/Teterboro Landing Fees here are to increase by about 25% on September 1st. Comments regarding the fee changes can be submitted to The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, and must be received by 10AUG2016.

Measles Myanmar/Taiwan On August 6th health officials confirmed a measles outbreak in the Sagaing region, a mountainous area located in northern Myanmar, bordering eastern India. We have also received report from Taiwanese health officials confirming a link between two cases of measles and Taipei’s Songshan International Airport (RCSS/TSA). The two cases, which were first detected on 15JUL, involved an airline ground crew worker and a passenger who traveled to the airport.

SECU/Cuenca, Ecuador Operations at Cuenca airport will be suspended from mid-August 2016 for 3 weeks to 1 month due to the need for additional runway works.

OMDB/United Arab Emirates On 04AUG both runways at Dubai International Airport (OMDB/DXB) resumed full operations following the 03AUG 777 accident. Expect delays and some cancellations as the airport is still struggling to catch up.

UTZZ/Turkmenistan and UAZZ/Kazakhstan On 04AUG Turkmenistan temporarily closed its border with Kazakhstan, citing security concerns. Officials stated that the closure will last for five days. Turkmenistan instituted a similar border closing on 20JUL. Authorities did not release details on the purported security concerns that prompted 04AUG closure.

UZZZ/Russia 03AUG Polish officials stated that they did not have a specific date to reopen visa-free border traffic between Poland and the Russian enclave of Kaliningrad. Security concerns associated with the NATO Summit and Roman Catholic Church’s World Youth Day led officials to temporarily restart border checks at Poland’s borders. Residents of border areas, however, will be able to travel across the border for cultural, social or family reasons.

UNKL/Yemelyanovo Runway11/29 is closed for all types of aircraft THU 0600-0700, WED FRI 0610-0710, MON TUE SAT SUN 0500-0700, 01SEP until 29OCT

View the full International Bulletin 10AUG2016


Monday Briefing: ATC Strikes, Australia ADS-B requirements

Wednesday and Thursday – ATC Strikes Jan 28: Full details of ATC strike action across Europe are now clear and the impact is widespread. Countries affected are France, Italy, Greece, Austria, Slovakia, Czech, Hungary, Malta, Cyprus and Portugal. Both 29JAN and 30JAN have a variety of airspace closures and restrictions; read details below.

Australia ADS-B requirements Jan 28 : All operators who are not ADS-B equipped, have restrictions when operating into Australian Airspace effective since 15DEC13. Operations will be confined to the SSR radar coverage area extending from 200 nm north of Cairns down the East coast to 200 nm west of Adelaide. Non compliant operators must fly at FL290 or below. See Permits and Regulatory news below for further information.

URSS/Sochi has a new Volmet in action from 23JAN on HF 12870 and 13310, with reports for Sochi, Rostov, Krasnodar, Anapa, M Vody and Stavropol.

AGGH/Honiara, Solomon Islands Airport is closed until further notice due B737 landing accident. No injuries but aircraft clearing will take some time. As of last report, airport personnel were in the process of clearing the aircraft and the 13 tons of cargo it was carrying off the runway into a nearby hangar, at which point operations at the airport will resume.

Kxxx/Washington Area A temporary flight restriction (TFR), outlined in FDC Notam 4/2985, will be in place on 28JAN 2000-2300 local for aircraft flying into or out of the Washington, D.C. area. Issued as part of security measures for U.S. President Barack Obama’s State of the Union address, defines the affected area as the boundaries of the current D.C. flight restricted Zone (FRZ) and will prohibit general aviation operations at Washington Reagan National Airport (DCA), Washington Executive/Hyde Field (W32), Potomac Airfield (VKX) and College Park Airport (CGS).

Europe ATC Strikes: ATC and Transport Unions Multiple Strike Action for 29JAN and 30JAN. On 29JAN Portugal 0700-0900Z and 1400-1600Z; No arrivals/departures and restricted overflights. Malta 0500-1700Z. Italy 1200-1600Z, Bulgaria 0500-1500Z, Cyprus 1300-1700Z. 30JAN France – entire day from 1800Z day before to 0500Z day after, Czech Rep 0600-1800Z, Austria, Slovakia and Hungary 0800-1000Z. Enroute ACC’s affected are generally operating during these periods with strictly limited traffic levels managed by slots. Greece 0700-100Z and Italy 1400-1415Z. Inbound Intercontinental flights will be accepted into Italy regardless of strike action. Germany cancelled all action, and Spain is not participating. For a full briefing and more up to date info refer to Eurocontrol NOP.

HEMM/Mersa Matruh, Egypt will close for 5 months from 10FEB for runway reconstruction.

HTxx/Tanzania ICAO codes – update to last weeks news, thanks to Doug at Emirates for this info. HTDA will in fact remain valid for Dar Es Salaam. Zanzibar has changed as planned to HTAK.

OIBK/Kish Island, Iran has fuel restrictions in place due to shortage until 10FEB. Maximum 800USG per aircraft allowed.

NFFF/Tontouta New Caledonia reporting ATC strike action from 27JAN-31JAN. Not clear if this is related to European action.

HRYR/Kigali, Rwanda is closed 0000-0500Z until 02FEB due runway maintenance.

MROC/San Jose Runway will be closed from 0900-1000 on 06FEB.

EPWW/Warsaw ACC Significant restrictions in place for the next few months due to new system. Overall Enroute capacity down to 25%.

UTAx/Turkmenistan ACC New requirement to contact Turkmenistan ATC minimum 150km (75nm) from the FIR boundary for all flights entering Ashgabat, Turkmenbashi, Turkmenabat ACC Airspace.

HKNA/Nairobi ACC Upgrading Area Control VHF service, with many frequencies out of service including 121.3, 125.3 and 118.5 – operators advised to use HF instead until 30JAN.

Hong Kong CAA closed 31JAN-03FEB for New Year Celebrations, request permits early, also for period after closure. Chinese regulatory offices will be closed from 31JAN until 06FEB.

Russia New requirements for API and PNR data for Airlines operating both scheduled and non-scheduled flights in effect 01DEC. API data should be transmitted 15 mins prior departure to SITA MOWRU8X. NOTAM A2345/13 and AIC 04/13.