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☆ Staffing shortages, outdated facilities threaten US air safety -- report
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-15 | by ( David Shepardson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

The panel, named by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), released a 52-page report citing problems that included shortages of air traffic controllers, technology issues, outdated systems and dramatic funding needs. It cited aging FAA air traffic control facilities with leaking roofs, broken heating and air conditioning systems and old surveillance radar systems that must soon be replaced at a cost of billions of dollars. A government watchdog report said in June critical air traffic facilities face significant staffing challenges, posing risks to air traffic operations. The FAA said in March it was taking steps to improve air traffic control operations, which are short-staffed. "There is no question that we are seeing too many close calls," the head of the FAA's air traffic organization told employees.

Persons: LaGuardia, Brendan McDermid, Michael Huerta, David Shepardson, Louise Heavens, Nick Zieminski, David Gregorio Our Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Federal Aviation Administration, FAA, National Transportation, New York, Southwest Airlines, Boeing, Cessna, Thomson Locations: New, New York City , New York, U.S, New York City, San Diego

☆ Britain's aviation regulator increases air traffic control charges
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-26 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

General view of planes on the tarmac at Farnborough Airport, in Farnborough, Britain March 9, 2022. REUTERS/Henry Nicholls/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsLONDON, Oct 26 (Reuters) - Britain's aviation regulator said on Thursday it would increase the amount airlines can be charged for air traffic control services to help national provider NATS recoup costs incurred during the COVID-19 pandemic. Airline executives last week called for new rules on passenger compensation in the event of such disruption. The average cost of UK air traffic services per passenger per flight would go up by 43 pence on average, to approximately 2.08 pounds, the CAA said. The process of raising price controls began before the NATS outage and is unrelated to the review and investigation into the glitch, it added.

Persons: Henry Nicholls, NATS, Joanna Plucinska, Kylie MacLellan Organizations: Farnborough Airport, REUTERS, Civil Aviation Authority, CAA, Thomson Locations: Farnborough, Britain, Europe

Passengers queue at airline counters in the Ninoy Aquino International Airport, in Pasay City, Metro Manila, Philippines, January 2, 2023. "While the information is currently under validation, immediate enhanced security measures are being implemented across all airports," CAAP said. The Oct. 4 memo included a screenshot of what it said was the threat, which did not contain the word "bomb" but said "an airplane will explode" at Manila's international airport today and "please beware". Transport Secretary Jaime Bautista said patrols had been increased and K9 units deployed at all terminals of Manila's international airport, and law enforcement agencies were coordinating closely. Reporting by Karen Lema and Mikhail Flores; Writing by Martin Petty; Editing by Kanupriya KapoorOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Eloisa Lopez, CAAP, Jaime Bautista, Bautista, Karen Lema, Mikhail Flores, Martin Petty, Kanupriya Kapoor Organizations: Ninoy Aquino International Airport, REUTERS, Security, Civil Aviation Authority of, Philippines Airlines, Cebu Pacific Air, Thomson Locations: Pasay City, Metro Manila, Philippines, Manila, MANILA, Davao, Bicol, Palawan, Cebu

LONDON (AP) — Gatwick Airport, London's second-busiest, is limiting flights this week, partly because of an outbreak of COVID-19 within air traffic control. In a statement late Monday, the airport said a daily 800-flight limit, affecting both departures and arrivals, has been imposed until Sunday. Gatwick said around 30% of staff in the division within air traffic control are off sick for a variety of reasons, including COVID-19. It said the daily cap will prevent last-minute cancellations and delays for passengers while National Air Traffic Services, or NATS, gets back to normal. NATS apologized to passengers but said that a variety of medical reasons meant it can't manage the normal flows in and out of the airport.

Persons: Stewart Wingate, NATS Organizations: —, Airport, Sunday, Gatwick, National Air Traffic Services Locations: London's, Britain

More than 1,500 flights were cancelled on Monday - a public holiday in parts of Britain, and one of the busiest travel days as the school holidays draw to close - when air traffic controllers were forced to switch to manual systems due to a technical problem. Ryanair, Europe's biggest airline, would be operating a normal schedule by Wednesday, said boss Michael O'Leary, as he criticised how Britain's National Air Traffic Services (NATS) had handled the situation. Harper chaired a meeting on Tuesday with NATS, the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), airlines, airports, trade bodies and Border Force. EasyJet (EZJ.L) said that the knock-on impact meant some flights were cancelled on Tuesday morning. Heathrow Airport, Britain's busiest hub, told passengers to contact their airline before travelling to the airport on Tuesday.

Persons: Maria Ball, Charles De Gaulle, Mark Harper, Michael O'Leary, haven't, O'Leary, Raphael Satter, Rishi Sunak, Sunak, Harper, NATS, Cirium, Sarah Young, Padraic Halpin, Farouq Suleiman, Kate Holton, Alistair Smout, Alison Williams, Mike Harrison Organizations: British, Ryanair, Europe's, Air Traffic Services, REUTERS, Civil Aviation Authority, CAA, Border Force, Aviation, British Airways, Heathrow, Thomson Locations: Europe, Britain, Liverpool, England, Paris, Edinburgh, London, Stansted, NATS

☆ UK air traffic control failure: Disruption to last for ‘days’
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-29 | by ( Tamara Hardingham-Gill | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —Travelers have been warned that the chaos brought about by a UK air traffic control failure earlier this week will continue for days. After waiting at the airport for an update, Palladino, who lives in the UK, was informed that the flight was canceled. “Due to yesterday’s technical issues suffered by UK Air Traffic Control, there may be some continuing disruption on some routes, including flight cancellations,” reads a statement from London’s Heathrow Airport on Tuesday. Passengers are however advised to check the status of their flight with the airline before travelling to the airport. “Our priority is always to ensure that every flight in the UK remains safe and we are sincerely sorry for the disruption this is causing.

Persons: Mark Harper, ” Harper, NATS, Rosa Palladino, Palladino, ”, Lee Vanstone, “ Organizations: CNN — Travelers, Transport, BBC, Air Traffic Services, CNN Travel, Gatwick Airport, Pisa Airport, UK Air Traffic Control, Gatwick, Gatwick LGW, British Airways Locations: Naples, Italy, Pisa

London CNN —Air passengers across Europe faced delays on Monday on one of the summer’s busiest travel days after the UK’s air traffic control system suffered a “technical issue” resulting in restrictions on flights. “Our priority is always to ensure that every flight in the UK remains safe and we are sincerely sorry for the disruption this is causing. A spokesperson for Manchester Airport, in northern England, told CNN: “We are aware of a nationwide air traffic control issue that is affecting flights in and out of airports across the country. Ireland’s air traffic control service provider AirNav had said that there were “significant delays” to flights traveling within UK airspace on Monday. “Flights between Ireland and UK airports, and flights traveling to or from Ireland that travel through UK airspace are experiencing significant delays,” it said.

Persons: NATS, Lee Vanstone, ike W, ingle Organizations: London CNN — Air, Air Traffic Services, ”, Pisa Airport Locations: Europe, Pisa, Pisa Airport

☆ A passenger plane came within 10 feet of crashing into a drone in a 'near miss' at 16,000 feet
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-25 | by ( Beatrice Nolan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

An Easyjet flight had a "near miss" with an "unidentified flying object," according to a new report. The pilot said the plane missed the unmanned flying object by around 10 feet. A report by the UK Airprox Board said the object was likely a drone. A National Air Traffic Services investigation report said the pilot first reported the incident over the radio during the flight. After landing the flight the pilot confirmed the plane had not made contact with the drone and the thud likely came from the cabin, per the report.

☆ Air traffic controllers suspend strike in West and Central Africa
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-24 | by ( Ngouda Dione | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

DAKAR, Sept 24 (Reuters) - A 48-hour strike by air traffic controllers in West and Central Africa has been suspended, their union said on Saturday. The strike, which started on Friday, has disrupted flights across the region and left hundreds of passengers stranded at airports on Saturday. The Union of Air Traffic Controllers' Unions (USYCAA), which called the wildcat strike, said in a statement it decided to suspend its strike notice for 10 days immediately so as to allow for negotiations. The union said more than 700 air traffic controllers joined the strike to demand better working and pay conditions. The controllers work under the Agency for Aerial Navigation Safety in Africa and Madagascar (ASECNA) an 18-member state agency that manages air traffic over an area covering 16 million square km of airspace.

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