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☆ U.S. FAA reopens Montana airspace shut for defense activities
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-12 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

WASHINGTON, Feb 11 (Reuters) - The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said late Saturday it had reopened some airspace in Montana after it was briefly closed for undisclosed Defense Department activities. The FAA had issued a notice temporarily barring flights in an area about 50 by 50 nautical miles around Havre, Montana, near the Canadian border and classifying the area as "national defense airspace." The FAA declined to say whether the directive was related to another suspected balloon or object. The FAA issued similar actions in response to a suspected Chinese spy balloon that crossed the continental United States from Montana to South Carolina and was shot down earlier this month. Reporting by David Shepardson, editing by Deepa BabingtonOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Spirit Aero experiencing disruptions in supplying parts for 787, A350 programs
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-07 | by ( Abhijith Ganapavaram | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Feb 7 (Reuters) - Spirit AeroSystems Holdings Inc (SPR.N) said on Tuesday it was experiencing disruptions in supplying parts for the industry's top-selling wide-body jets, the Boeing 787 and Airbus A350, due in part to labor shortages. Spirit said it found the new process for the 787 required more labor per unit. On Airbus' A350 program, Spirit said disruptions continue to drive cost pressures. Spirit has targeted producing shipsets between 40 and 45 this year for the 787 program and about 60 units for the A350. Spirit reported a quarterly cash burn of $66 million, compared with analysts' estimates of $42.64 million, according to Refinitiv data.

☆ U.S. pauses activity at three airports for "national security effort" amid questions about Chinese spy balloon
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-04 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

WASHINGTON, Feb 4 (Reuters) - The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration said it paused departures and arrivals at three airports including Myrtle Beach International Airport in South Carolina on Saturday because of a "national security effort." The action occurred amid reports that a Chinese high-altitude surveillance balloon, which has been flying across the country in what Washington calls a "clear violation" of U.S. sovereignty, was in the area. Reporting by Diane Bartz; editing by Diane CraftOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Fact Check-No evidence for claims FAA updated its pilot ECG guidelines due to COVID-19 vaccine injury
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-03 | by ( Reuters Fact Check | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

Very concerned.”“After the vaccine rolled out, the FAA secretly widened the EKG parameter range for pilots so they wouldn’t be grounded. A PR interval between 120 and 200 milliseconds (ms) is considered normal, according to standard medical practice (here ). A PR interval greater than 200ms is considered to be a first degree atrioventricular block (AV block), which means that the signals are delayed (though not blocked), as explained (here). According to the American Heart Association (here), "A first-degree heart block occurs when the electrical impulse moves through the heart’s AV node slower than normal. First-degree heart block rarely causes symptoms and may not require treatment."

☆ Fact Check-HBAL617 balloon tracked online is from U.S. company Aerostar, not China
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-03 | by ( Reuters Fact Check | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Despite claims on social media, the balloon that flew over Memphis in fact belongs to U.S. company Aerostar. HBAL617 was the third most-tracked flight on Flightradar24 on Feb. 3, with over 3,400 users tracking the balloon (here). However, HBAL617 in fact belongs to Aerostar, an aerospace company based in South Dakota, according to Anastasia Quanbeck, Aerostar’s Culture and Communications Manager. Flightradar24 also confirmed the HBAL617 balloon tracked on its site does not belong to China. HBAL617 belongs to U.S. company Aerostar.

☆ European regulator sees progress in talks on Boeing 777X
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-24 | by ( Tim Hepher | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/2] The Boeing logo is seen on the side of a Boeing 737 MAX at the Farnborough International Airshow, in Farnborough, Britain, July 20, 2022. REUTERS/Peter Cziborra/File PhotoJan 24 (Reuters) - Europe's chief aviation regulator pointed on Tuesday to a narrowing gap in talks with Boeing (BA.N) over cockpit design requirements for the future 777X airliner. "We are hopefully converging," Patrick Ky, executive director of the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) told Reuters, when asked about the progress of ongoing discussions on the 777X. Ky's remarks come shortly after industry sources said EASA held talks earlier this month with Boeing and the FAA to review certification expectations for the delayed jet. U.S. executives argue the 777 jet, which is being upgraded to create the 400-seat 777X, is one of the industry's safest.

☆ Boeing's long road to the 737 MAX's return in China
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-13 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/2] A China Southern Airlines Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft is seen grounded at a storage area in an aerial photo at Boeing Field in Seattle, Washington, July 1, 2019. AUG. 11 - A Boeing MAX test plane flies in China as the manufacturer works with the regulator on its return. JUNE 15 - A China Southern MAX conducts test flights for the first time since March. SEPT. 14 - China's aviation regulator meets with Boeing about the MAX's return. 2023JAN. 11 - China Southern schedules commercial flights with the MAX for Jan. 13JAN. 13 - A China Southern MAX flies from Guangzhou to Zhengzhou, marking the model's return to Chinese passenger service.

☆ Explainer: Why U.S. flights were grounded by a FAA system outage
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-11 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Over 4,000 flights were delayed and more than 600 canceled because of the outage as of early Wednesday morning. The FAA system that is meant to distribute notices to pilots on hazards failed at about 2 a.m. Eastern Time, officials said. [1/3] Passengers wait for the resumption of flights at O'Hare International Airport after the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) had ordered airlines to pause all domestic departures due to a system outage, in Chicago, Illinois, U.S., January 11, 2023. REUTERS/Jim Vondruska 1 2 3The NOTAMs sent by the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration are part of a global safety system managed through the United Nations' aviation agency. The incident, and the information overload that pilots complain the system encourages, prompted the effort to change the way the system operates.

☆ U.S. FAA proposes requiring 5G safeguards on planes by early 2024
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-09 | by ( David Shepardson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

REUTERS/Octavio JonesWASHINGTON, Jan 9 (Reuters) - The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said Monday it is proposing a requirement that passenger and cargo aircraft in the United States have 5G C-Band-tolerant radio altimeters or install approved filters by early 2024. The proposed airworthiness directive, which would take effect in February 2024, is similar to one that took effect in December 2021, prohibiting passenger and cargo flight operations in the vicinity of 5G C-Band wireless transmitters unless the FAA specifically approved them. Some international airlines have privately expressed reluctance to install filters absent a legal requirement from the FAA, officials told Reuters. FAA acting Administrator Billy Nolen in October sought a delay in some 5G C-Band transmissions from smaller operators over aviation safety concerns. A deal struck shortly before a 2022 deadline did not prevent dozens of foreign carriers from canceling international flights to the United States.

☆ U.S. FAA proposes requiring airplanes to have 5G safeguards by early 2024
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-09 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/2] Airline passengers walk inside the Tampa International Airport as airports around the country are awaiting for Verizon and AT&T to rollout their 5G technology, in Tampa, Florida, U.S., January 19, 2022. REUTERS/Octavio JonesWASHINGTON, Jan 9 (Reuters) - The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said Monday it is proposing to require passenger or cargo aircraft in the United States by early 2024 have 5G C-Band-tolerant radio altimeters or install approved filters. The proposed airworthiness directive is similar to one that took effect in December 2021, prohibiting passenger and cargo flight operations in the vicinity of 5G C-Band wireless transmitters unless the FAA specifically approved them. The FAA is also proposing to require airlines to revise airplane flight manuals to prohibit low-visibility landings after June 30 unless the retrofits have been completed on that airplane. Reporting by David ShepardsonOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ United States, South Korea to partner on advanced air mobility development
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-07 | by ( David Shepardson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

WASHINGTON, Jan 7 (Reuters) - The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said on Saturday it had agreed to partner with the Korea Office of Civil Aviation (KOCA) future Advanced Air Mobility aircraft development and operations. The two nations signed a declaration to collaborate and share information on advanced air mobility projects and work together to promote the safety oversight of advanced air mobility projects, the U.S. regulator said. The FAA has previously announced similar partnerships with Japan, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia and New Zealand in the National Aviation Authorities Network to harmonize certification and integration plans for advanced air mobility projects. Last month, the FAA issued the airworthiness criteria that Archer Aviation (ACHR.N) will need to meet for its M001 air taxi to be certified for use. The FAA released the criteria for public comment of Archer's eVTOL after it made a similar announcement in November for Joby Aviation's (JOBY.N) Model JAS4-1 eVTOL.

☆ American Airlines pilots raise concerns over new cockpit protocols
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-06 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Jan 6 (Reuters) - The union representing 15,000 American Airlines (AAL.O) pilots has voiced concerns regarding the new cockpit protocols enforced by the airline, without adequate training. The carrier on Tuesday implemented new procedures for cockpit communications during critical events such as low visibility landings, according to the union. "The operational changes that management is attempting to implement without fulsome training alters how pilots communicate, coordinate, and execute flight safety duties at some of the most high-threat times of flight," Allied Pilots Association (APA) said in a post on Monday. "This attempt to train by bulletin, while ignoring serious safety concerns and well-established best practices, runs the risk of dramatically eroding margins of safety," it added. Reporting by Aishwarya Nair in Bengaluru; Editing by Shailesh KuberOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Turbulence causes injuries on two flights, prompts U.S. safety board probe
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-19 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Meanwhile, two passengers and three crewmembers on a United Airlines (UAL.O) flight from Rio de Janeiro were injured early on Monday by turbulence en route to Houston, Texas. Medical personnel brought them to a local hospital with "minor injuries," United Airlines said in a statement. It reported that the flight hit turbulence while passing over Cancun, Mexico, citing air traffic radio scanners. Of the 20 people hospitalized after the Hawaiian Airlines flight, 11 were brought to emergency rooms in serious condition, according to Honolulu Emergency Medical Services. Hawaiian Airlines said in its statement on Monday that it was conducting a thorough inspection of the Airbus A330 aircraft before returning it to service.

☆ U.S. approves conditions for Airbus A321XLR to address fire risks
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-08 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

WASHINGTON/PARIS Dec 8 (Reuters) - The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration said it has approved special conditions for the Airbus (AIR.PA) A321XLR after concerns were raised that a novel type of fuel tank could pose fire risks in its newest narrow-body jet. Rival planemaker Boeing (BA.N) told European regulators in 2021 the architecture of a fuel tank intended to increase the A321XLR's range "presents many potential hazards". The FAA said in a filing it will require that the lower half of the A321XLR fuselage, spanning the longitudinal area of the tank, be resistant to fire penetration to protect passengers. Reporting by David Shepardson in Washington and Tim Hepher in Paris; Editing by Himani SarkarOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Volaris sees Mexico regaining aviation rating by end of next year
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-06 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

MEXICO CITY, Dec 6 (Reuters) - Mexican low-cost airline Volaris (VOLARA.MX) expects the country to regain its U.S. aviation rating by the last quarter of 2023, it said in a presentation published ahead of its investors' day on Tuesday. The airline said in the presentation it had planning in place to move should Mexico recover the U.S.-issued Category 1 rating earlier, noting that Mexican government authorities had forecast that it could recover the rating as soon as April. The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) downgraded Mexico's aviation safety rating in May 2021, saying it fell short of regulating its air carriers "in accordance with minimum international safety standards." The move bars Mexican carriers from adding new U.S. flights and limits the ability of airlines to carry out marketing agreements with one another. In October, Mexico's foreign ministry said it aimed to complete an action plan in December as part of its bid to recover the rating.

☆ Explainer: Why U.S. airline pilot wages are outpacing global rises
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-05 | by ( Jamie Freed | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

U.S. domestic demand was only 0.8% below than 2019 levels in October, while globally, domestic travel demand was 22.1% lower. REGIONAL PILOT SHORTAGEThe steep pay rise on offer to Delta pilots follows a series of large increases at U.S. regional airlines that serve as feeders to major carriers. Uniquely among world markets, the United States requires pilots even at regional airlines to have a minimum of 1,500 hours of flying experience. Faced with growing shortages of entry-level pilots and rapid attrition of more experienced ones to major airlines, U.S. regional carriers have lifted pay rapidly. The increases put pressure on major airlines to ensure their entry-level pay attracts joiners from regional carriers to cover retirements and planned fleet growth.

☆ U.S. proposes rules to advance flying taxi operations
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-21 | by ( David Shepardson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Nov 21 (Reuters) - The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on Monday proposed new rules that would help pave the way for commercial air taxi operations by around the middle of the decade. Electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft (eVTOL) have been touted as flying taxis that could be the future of urban air mobility. The FAA issued a proposal to update its air carrier definition to add "powered-lift" operations to regulations covering other commercial operations like airlines, charters and air tours. The FAA is separately developing a powered-lift operations rule for certifying pilots and operating requirements to fly eVTOLs. The FAA expects to issue an implementation plan next May that will help it meet the industry's ambitious growth plans, he added.

☆ Boeing urges air taxi safety standards be as strict as for commercial jets
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-08 | by ( Allison Lampert | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

"We have to unify around the importance of bringing all advanced air mobility vehicles and operating systems to market with airliner levels of safety, with air transport levels of safety, with commercial levels of safety," he said at ICAO's Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS) Symposium. "There is of course significant risk that in an event involving any one of these vehicles that the whole category of advanced air mobility will be subject to penalty." Allen said regulators must approach advanced air mobility on safety in the same manner as commercial transport if air taxis are to fly over crowded, urban areas. But he added that some air taxis are being lumped into categories such as general aviation where smaller aircraft have different stringencies than larger jetliners. "To us, the more important thing is consensus on commercial safety standards," he said.

☆ Mexican carrier Aeromexico expands routes to Europe, Asia
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-07 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

MEXICO CITY, Nov 7 (Reuters) - Mexican airline Aeromexico (AEROMEX.MX) is expanding its flights to Europe and reestablishing a route to Asia, the company said on Monday. Beginning March 25, the airline will launch a new route to Rome from Mexico City, offering three weekly flights and expanding to five by June 1, it said in a statement. The additions will increase the airline's flights to Europe by 20% over the 2022 summer season, the company said. The carrier said it will begin flying daily to Tokyo on March 25, after having discontinued the route three years ago. Restoring the Category 1 rating would allow Mexican carriers such as Aeromexico to add new flights to the United States.

☆ Elon Musk's SpaceX expects first Starship launch to orbit this year -NASA
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-31 | by ( Joey Roulette | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] Starship prototypes are pictured at the SpaceX South Texas launch site in Brownsville, Texas, U.S., May 22, 2022. Billionaire Elon Musk's SpaceX has sought for years to send its towering next-generation rocket system into orbit from the company's private launch facilities in Texas, where it has only launched prototypes of Starship's upper half some 6 miles (10 km) high to demonstrate landing attempts. The December mission will test the entire system for the first time, involving the company's 230-foot (70-meter) Super Heavy booster to lift the 160-foot (50-meter) Starship spacecraft into orbit. NASA in 2021 picked SpaceX's Starship to land humans on the moon around 2025 for the first time since 1972. That mission, under a roughly $3 billion contract, requires several spaceflight tests in advance that could delay the 2025 moon landing mission.

MEXICO CITY, Oct 28 (Reuters) - Mexico is making progress towards recovering its Category 1 aviation rating, but the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has not yet approved its plan as claimed earlier by the Mexican government, a source familiar with the matter told Reuters on Friday. Mexico's foreign ministry said earlier in a statement that U.S. authorities approved Mexico's government plan to recover its Category 1 aviation rating, revoked roughly a year and a half ago. Mexico expects to complete its action plan in December as part of its bid to recover the U.S.-issued aviation rating, the statement said. It added the FAA will visit Mexico and set a final audit date in January, in order to recover the Category 1 status before mid-2023. The FAA downgraded Mexico's aviation safety rating in May 2021, saying it fell short of regulating its air carriers "in accordance with minimum international safety standards."

☆ Archer Aviation plans to build 250 air taxis in 2025
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-24 | by ( Aishwarya Nair | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Adam Goldstein (R) and Brett Adcock, co-founders and co-CEOs of flying taxi company Archer Aviation, pose for a picture as they rehearse for the unveiling of their all-electric aircraft from a facility in Hawthorne, California, U.S. June 8, 2021. REUTERS/Mike BlakeOct 24 (Reuters) - Archer Aviation Inc (ACHR.N) said it aims to make about 250 battery-electric air taxis in 2025 and scale up production in the following years, after setting a goal of getting its aircraft certified by the end of 2024. "In our first year, we will build 250 aircraft, our second year will build 500 aircraft, our third year will build 650 aircraft and then we scale it up to around 2,000 aircraft per year," CEO Adam Goldstein told Reuters in an interview. Archer aims to certify its pilot-plus-four-passenger aircraft, 'Midnight', by end-2024, though the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is still in the process of drawing up certification rules for these futuristic aircraft. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com Register"In terms of aircraft production, we have estimated in our Archer model ~20 units in 2025," JPM analyst Bill Peterson said.

☆ Toyota-backed flying car firm Joby seeks Japan air certification
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-18 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

TOKYO, Oct 18 (Reuters) - Joby Aviation Inc (JOBY.N), a U.S. air taxi startup backed by Japanese automaker Toyota Motor Corp (7203.T), said on Tuesday it has applied to Japan's transport ministry for aircraft certification as it prepares to launch urban transportation services. Joby, in which Toyota has invested $394 million, designs and builds all-electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft. The startup in May received certification from the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) allowing it to begin commercial air-taxi operations with conventional aircraft. The California-based startup has more regulatory hurdles to clear in the United States before its five-seater eVTOL aircraft can fly passengers. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com RegisterReporting by Mariko Katsumura; Editing by Christopher CushingOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

REUTERS/Joshua Schneyer/File PhotoOct 14 (Reuters) - Hyundai Motor Co's (005380.KS) air taxi unit has picked aerospace supplier Honeywell International Inc (HON.O) to develop avionics systems for its eVTOL (electric vertical take-off and landing) aircraft, the companies said, ahead of an announcement next week. "We want to see the FAA come out with its set of certification rules, quickly. Honeywell's collaboration with Supernal is its first with an air taxi firm established by an automaker. The company, which is a big supplier to Boeing Co (BA.N) and Airbus SE (AIR.PA), also has investments in other eVTOL firms - Lilium, Vertical Aerospace and Volocopter. The company expects the overall market for air taxis to be about $120 billion per year by 2030, Fymat added.

☆ FAA denies Republic Airways bid to reduce co-pilot training hours
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-19 | by ( David Shepardson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Lucy NicholsonRegister now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com RegisterWASHINGTON, Sept 19 (Reuters) - The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said on Monday it had denied a request by Republic Airways to allow the regional airline to reduce the number of hours needed to become a co-pilot. The FAA said it disagreed with the airline's argument for allowing only 750 hours of flight experience instead of 1,500 hours. Several unions had opposed Republic's request, with some arguing that a reduction in flight hours and relaxation of standards "would jeopardize safety and result in inexperienced pilots," the FAA said. The regulations to boost flight hours for co-pilots stemmed in part from the February 2009 crash of Colgan Air Flight 347 in upstate New York that killed 50 people. [nL1N2Z61D4[Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com RegisterReporting by David Shepardson; editing by Jonathan Oatis and Leslie AdlerOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

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