John Sheridan

Among the operational topics for the technical committee at the triennial ICAO Assembly were significant safety issues. One paper from the Russian delegation provided a description of extensive studies of wake vortices, and the development of a wake vortex safety system that would use outputs from ADS-B, Swim and two Aviation System Block Upgrades 1 elements, with pilot alerts transmitted over the anticipated datalinks in that period–that is, by 2018. The Russian presenter suggested that the uncertainty of wake turbulence today causes unnecessarily large longitudinal approach spacing that could be significantly reduced if real-time wake measurements could be provided to pilots, thereby increasing capacity and airport throughput. Better wake-turbulence forecasting at high cruise altitudes would also allow more flexibility in planning future trajectory operations. 
A separate Russian paper discussed training to prevent of loss-of-control accidents stemming from undetected high-altitude stalls caused by icing, IAS failure, incorrect weight entry or lack of angle-of-attack information, particularly during autopilot operation, where the classic symptoms of stick shaker, warning horns and buffet may actually lag the actual stall itself, with the aircraft already descending in a high pitch attitude and possibly rolling. Currently, according to the presenters, even advanced flight simulators cannot adequately simulate high-altitude stalls and are only moderately able to simulate “traditional” lower-altitude ones.

News about bills, laws, regulations and other governmental decisions affecting aviation and aerospace. Topics include FAA re-authorizations, taxes on fuel and aviation activities, environmental legislation, ICAO decisions, governmental mediation of labor conflicts and World Trade Organization disputes and decisions.

Ensuring Safe Operations

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

Kerry Lynch

News and issues relating to international air transport and cargo carriers, national airlines and regional airlines, including aircraft, engines, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security and training.

News and issues relating to business, corporate and private aviation, primarily regarding turbine-engine-powered airplanes and helicopters. Subjects include aircraft, engines, maintenance, operations, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security, and training.

House bill to provide a $23.3 billion budget for FAA in 2026

House Panel Approves Budget Jump for FAA in 2026

Charles Alcock

News and issues concerning the aviation charter and fractional-ownership industries and markets, including company announcements, regulations, new developments and labor issues.

20 aviation authorities have produced reference materials about advanced air mobility

Asia-Pacific Regulators Issue eVTOL Air Taxi and Drone Guidance 

News and developments about airplanes, helicopters and unmanned air vehicles used in all varieties of operations, including airlines, military, business, commercial, general aviation and private.

New means of compliance intended to support operations of new aircraft in Europe

EASA Issues Innovative Air Mobility Rules Covering eVTOL Aircraft

David G. Mayer

FAA has improved on privacy issues

AINsight: Bizjet Owner Privacy Challenges and Solutions

Senate confirmed Bedford in 53-43 vote

Bedford Steps into FAA Administrator Role

Amy Wilder

News and issues relating to the aerospace industry that are related to the science, engineering and business of flight in space involving civil, industrial and military applications, and similar topics related to flight in the atmosphere of the Earth that are not covered more directly by other AINonline subject channels. In other words, both astronautical and aeronautical subjects, except for those aeronautical topics that are specifically covered elsewhere on this website.

Principal inspectors to contact operators by early September to reissue OpSpecs, MSpecs, or LOAs 

FAA Shifts Foreign Procedure Oversight to Operators

ATC funding recieved broad support

Budget Bill Provides $12.5B for ATC, 100% Depreciation

News and issues concerning general aviation, specifically airplanes and helicopters powered by piston and alternative engines (i.e., non-turbine powered aircraft). Subjects include aircraft, engines, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security and training.

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