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April 7, 2006
NORTH/SOUTH AMERICA NEWS
New U.S. Air Cargo Security Rules are Forthcoming (April 1st)
Security Alert
Air Cargo World http://www.aircargoworld.com/regions/northam_0406.htm
Pam Hamilton, director of air cargo programs at the TSA, expects to release the new rules on air freight security “in the next few months.” This will be the first major overhaul to air cargo security regulation in seven years, and the first since September 11th. Drafts of the new policies will be distributed to regulated parties on the day of publication.
FAA Proposes to Extend Deadline on Thermal Acoustic Insulation (March 30th)
Fire Penetration Resistance of Thermal Acoustic Installation Installed on Transport Category Airplanes
DOT Web site http://dms.dot.gov/search/document.cfm?documentid=392447&docketid=24277
A final rule was published in July of 2003, requiring newly manufactured transport airplanes entering 14 CFR part 121 service to require thermal/acoustic insulation installed in the lower half of the fuselage. The compliance date was September 2, 2007 but the testing process took much longer than anticipated and now the FAA would like to extend the deadline one year longer.
Chile Will Require IATA Audits of its Airlines (March 29th)
Giant Steps for Aviation Safety: Chile First to Announce IOSA in National Regulation
IATA Web site http://www.iata.org/pressroom/pr/2006-03-29-01.htm
Chile will now require that all of its domestic carriers undergo the IATA Operational Safety Audit as a condition of their certification process, becoming the first country to do so. As a condition of membership, all IATA carriers must be IOSA audited by the end of 2007.
NTSB Warns of Rudder Problems on Some Airbus Jets (March 26th)
NTSB Investigators Sound Alarm On Airbus Rudder
USAToday http://www.usatoday.com/travel/flights/2006-03-26-airbus-rudder_x.htm
The US National Transportation Safety Board thinks that there is a possible serious safety problem with Airbus A300 and A310 jets, which are used in both passenger and cargo formats, and believes the inspection plan recommended by the manufacturer is inadequate. After two incidents, one where the rudder of an Air Transat A310 broke off in flight and another where FedEx found a 3 foot section of a A300 rudder damaged, the NTSB has issued an “urgent” recommendation that carriers immediately inspect all A300 and A310 jets. Airbus had ordered its customers to inspect the planes within 500 flights or six months. The US FAA and the Canadian Transportation Safety Board are expected to quickly make the NTSB recommendation a requirement in those countries. There are about 400 of these jets flying worldwide.
EUROPE NEWS
EU Asks Russia to End $300M Siberian Overflight Charges (March 27th)
EU To Press Russia On Siberian Overflight Charges
Reuters/Airwise.com http://news.airwise.com/story/view/1143497628.html
The European Union wants Russia to start phasing out its Siberian overflight charges, which amount to $300 million annually. Russia had previously agreed to phase out the charges by 2013, but has yet to publish a timeline for doing so.
IATA’s Bisignani Thinks Heathrow Fuel Problems Will Last Into 2007 (March 27th)
Intelligence
Aviation Daily (subscription required) www.aviationnow.com/aviationdaily
Speaking with reporters, IATA’s CEO foresees more rationing until the London airport can get new pipelines built to increase capacity. Many analysts expect more problems with the existing fuel rationing system, as airlines have begun to introduce their summer schedules and are adding flights.
ASIA NEWS
India, Kuwait Sign Memorandum of Understanding in Air Services Negotiation (March 27th)
Memorandum of Understanding
Director General of Civil Aviation, India http://www.dgca.nic.in/bilateral/mou-kuwait.pdf
The memorandum between India and Kuwait added two designation airlines and confirmed full 3rd, 4th, and 5th freedom rights for all-cargo services. Additionally, Kuwait requested an increase in capacity entitlements and access to 4 additional Indian cities; India requested fifth freedom rights for all commercial flights.
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