Your Attention Please 18JAN As we reach 25,000 readers, your help is requested. We want to make sure we’re delivering the best bulletin to you, so if you have a few moments, please answer 3 questions. You’ll receive a gift token for use in the Flight Service store.

US Airport Disruptions 18JAN Airport workers plan disruptions in nine U.S. cities on MLK Day (Monday). Watch out for industrial action in Boston, New York City, Newark, Philadelphia, Miami, Chicago, Portland, and Seattle.

FJDG/Diego Garcia is closed from 15JAN to 19JAN.

WSSS/Singapore 2016 Airshow takes place 16-21FEB at Changi. Planning for parking, accommodation and when required permits should be arranged as early as possible.

LTBA/Istanbul is expecting a significant snow event on Monday. Commercial carriers have already preemptively canceled flights until the storm passes. Please check latest weather advisories and plan accordingly.

Kxxx/United States Airport workers plan disruptions in nine U.S. cities on MLK Day (Jan 18th). Watch out for industrial in Boston; New York City; Newark, N.J.; Philadelphia;  Miami; Chicago; Portland, Oregan; and Seattle.

LSZH/Zurich Delays this week due to World Economic Forum in Davos.

KMCO/Orlando A two-phase runway construction project at is scheduled to begin 12JAN and continue into April 2016. Runway 17R/35L will be closed during phase one, and Runway 18L/36R will close during phase two.

TBPB/Bardados is closed nightly from 0400-1000Z UTC due to work on the ATS building from Jan 13th to Jan 28th. Airspace is also downgraded to Class G to FL245 on the 13th, 14th, 20th, 21st, 27th and 28th. Please see NOTAM A0030/16 for full details.

URSS/Sochi reports of low fuel availability, check with Airport for latest, tankering recommended regardless.

NZxx/New Zealand The Aviation Security Officers Union advised on 14JAN of a possible strike. The union identified no date for the possible strike. Airport officials stated that if security officers strike, the air transportation will come to a standstill nationwide.

VIDP/New Delhi Airspace closed to commercial flights for more than an hour every day beginning next week in view of the Republic Day celebrations. 1035-1215 local, on 19-24JAN, and 26JAN.

West Africa The World Health Organization announced last week that the Ebola epidemic in West Africa is officially over. For the first time since the outbreak began in December 2013, all three of the hardest-hit West African nations — Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leone — have had zero reported cases of Ebola for 42 days in a row, a period equal to two full incubation cycles of the virus.

VHHH/Hong Kong According to reports on 13JAN, thieves targeted a South African national aboard South African Airways flight 286 from Johannesburg to Hong Kong on 21 December. The victim stated that a fellow passenger alerted him that other passengers had taken his baggage while he was sleeping and rummaged through it in the aircraft lavatory. When the victim subsequently inspected his baggage, he found that the lock had been broken and foreign currency worth approximately $1200, as well as items of jewelry, were missing. Hong Kong police officers searched several suspects when the aircraft landed, but the stolen items were not found. This type of crime is reportedly a significant problem on international flights bound for Asian destinations, particularly Hong Kong. According to statistics released by Hong Kong authorities in August 2015, a total of 45 in-flight robberies had been reported up to that point in 2015; 48 cases occurred in 2014. Cash, jewelry and smartphones are especially targeted.

Lxxx/Turkey Foreign nationals filing certain visa applications at a consular post must now upload their application documents online through the Turkish electronic visa application system prior to appearing at a consular post. Applicants must still submit their visa application forms and supporting documents in person at a Turkish consular post. This system does not impact electronic visas for those nationals eligible for E-visas, but does impact business visitors who must acquire a consular visa.

Int Ops Bulletin As we reach 25,000 readers, your help is requested. We want to make sure we’re delivering the best bulletin to you, so if you have a few moments, please answer 3 questions. You’ll receive a gift token for use in the Flight Service store.

View the full International Bulletin 18JAN2016

19MAY Operators have cancelled flights to HKMO/Mombassa amid increasing terrorist concerns in the north-east of Kenya; some have repatriated tourists mid-stay. The US Embassy is reducing staff numbers.

19MAY Catastrophic flooding in Serbia and Bosnia has led into increased aid traffic at LYBE/Belgrade and delays and parking restrictions may apply; the flooding is the worst since records began.

LYBE/Belgrade is seeing increased traffic due to aid activity as a result of flooding in the country. Delays of up to 2 hours for non-scheduled traffic possible.

LSGG/Geneva – anticipate high traffic volume and some delays due to EBACE traffic 20-22MAY. Aircraft static display is open on 22MAY.

SKCG/Cartagena, Colombia has restrictions until 28MAY requiring non-scheduled operators to seek permission at least 24H before arrival (though longer is recommended) SKBQ/Barranquilla is a sensible alternate during this period.

VYYY/Yangon, Myanmar is closed 29MAY 0730-0815Z for a live fire drill.

EGLL/London Heathrow ATC Regulation Trial continues, with a pre-tactical EGLLTC regulation of 52 aircraft per hour in place 0400-0800 daily until 31OCT.

HLLB/Benghazi, Libya closed until further notice due to security situation.

LDPL/Pula, Croatia is closed 23MAY 1600-1800Z due emergency exercise.

LIML/Milan Linate will close overnight for runway repairs between 03JUN-04JUL.

ULLI/St. Petersburg SPIEF International Economic Forum 21-24MAY. Refueling is available only on arrival and crews must be at the airport no less than two hours ahead of their departure time. Slots allocated to allow approx 10 arrivals per hour for the Forum. No overnight parking is available for unconnected flights during this period.

UKxx/Ukraine FIR’s (L’viv, Kyiv and Dnipro FIRs) Several airline reports of loss of GPS signals flying through this airspace.

Brazil has issued airport slots for World Cup 2014 on 15MAY, most are allocated already. An AVANAC domestic operating permit is required for all operators before a slot can be requested. Slot validity is 15 minutes. All pax and most crews will require a visa before arrival during World Cup operations – there is no possibility to obtain on arrival.

European Union The European Commission has adopted a new regulation that requires commercial air transport (CAT) operators from outside the European Union (EU), also known as “third-country operators” (TCOs), to obtain a single EU-wide safety authorization to fly to, from or within the EU. The registration requirement applies to CAT TCOs, who must demonstrate to the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) compliance with ICAO standards. CAT operators include all airlines and charter operators. The TCO authorization is a single process for all operators flying to the 28 European Union states, EU overseas territories and the four European Free Trade Association (EFTA) states (Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland). The authorization will be a prerequisite to operating in these states and territories. A TCO authorization is not required for operators only overflying the EU member states, EU overseas territories and the four EFTA states. All existing operators must reapply for authorization, even if they hold authorization from individual EU member states. The regulation is in effect from 26MAY and EASA recommends approval be gained within 6 months.

Turkey The previously announced Turkish e-Visa scheme, abolishing Visa on Arrival, scheduled to become effective 10APR14, has been postponed until 31DEC14. https://www.evisa.gov.tr/en/ for an e-Visa.

United States The FAA’s Flight Standards Service (AFS) has created OpSpec/MSpec/LOA A153, a new and more efficient operations authorization for U.S.-registered aircraft in order to comply with early automatic dependent surveillance – broadcast (ADS-B) directives mandated by a growing number of other countries, primarily in the Asia-Pacific region. The new approval is in the final stages of development and is expected to be available to operators at the end of June 2014.

Belarus A visa-free regime will be in place for the official participants of the 2014 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship and foreign tourists for the period from 25 April until 31 May 2014. An original or electronic ticket to a game of the 2014 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship will become the basis for a visa-free entry in the territory of Belarus for tourists.