Aviation News Updates - Aviation Era

GAGAN is GPS Aided GEO Augmented Navigation (GAGAN) based LPV Approach Procedures. This is a great achievement and major milestone in field of Air Navigation Services (ANS) in the history of Indian Civil Aviation. India is the first country in Asia Pacific Region to achieve such a landmark. LPV (Localizer Performance with Vertical Guidance) permits aircraft guided approaches that are operationally nearly equivalent to Cat-I ILS, without the need for ground-based navigational infrastructure. The service relies on the availability of GPS and GAGAN Geo Stationary Satellites (GSAT-8, GSAT-10 and GSAT-15), launched by ISRO. GAGAN is an Indian Satellite Based Augmentation System (SBAS) jointly developed by AAI and ISRO. It is the first such system developed for India and neighboring countries in the equatorial region. GAGAN System was certified by DGCA in 2015 for Approach with Vertical Guidance (APV 1) and en-route (RNP 0.1) operations. There are only four Space-Based augmentation systems a...

ICAO has mandated the use of Halon replacements in fire extinguishers used on civil transport aircraft. The Halon replacement cut off dates in ICAO SARPs contained in Annex 6 and 8: Lavatory fire extinguishing systems - 31 Dec 2011 Portable fire extinguishers - 31 Dec 2018 Engine and APU fire extinguishing systems - 31 Dec 2014 Cargo compartment fire extinguishing systems - 28 Nov 2024 Halon still remains one of the most effective fire extinguishing agents available. However, there is no new production. Halon is considered a clean agent by The National Fire Protection Association because it’s electrically non-conducting and does not leave a residue. Halon has an extremely high potential to deplete the ozone layer and contribute to global warming. On January 1, 1994, Halon production ceased in compliance with the Montreal Protocol and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The ozone layer is a region of the upper atmosphere containing relatively high concentrations of ozone (O3) mo...

Proper aircraft maintenance is essential for any aviation business. A fully functioning and focused maintenance team ensures that the aircraft is properly serviced. Lives onboard the aircraft depend on the work your maintenance technicians do, which means they need the proper tools, equipment, and a bulletproof maintenance plan. Only by fine-tuning your maintenance routine can you protect your technicians and your aircraft to the fullest. Follow risk management practices, Follow the appropriate procedures, Use safety signs, Use proper personal protective equipment, Use proper aircraft maintenance equipment, Ensure team communication is effective, Prepared for the worst situation, Maintain first aid box ready to use, Use the right tools, Ensure daily work limits, Limit the number of night shifts, Ensure proper breaks, and Communicate with your team/employee.

2022 Edition IATA Manuals Reflecting Vital Industry Standard Updates now Available IATA has completed the annual revision of its air transport industry manuals for cargo, ground handling, and operations. 2022 Edition IATA Manuals now available. The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has completed the annual revision of its air transport industry manuals for cargo, ground handling, and operations. These provide guidance to all companies in the aviation value-chain to ensure compliance with the latest state and airline regulations, industry trends as well as best practices. More than 350 updates have been made to the 2022 editions of the various manuals to reflect the changes and incorporate the modifications brought about by COVID-19. Key stakeholders in the aviation value chain – such as airlines, airports, ground service providers, freight forwarders, shippers, and manufacturers among others – rely on the IATA guidelines to ensure robust and efficient operations. The IATA ...

New Solar Arrays to Power NASA’s International Space - As the International Space Station orbits Earth, its four pairs of solar arrays soak up the sun’s energy to provide electrical power for the numerous research and science investigations conducted every day, as well as the continued operations of the orbiting platform. Boeing have increased the International Space Station (ISS) power supply by providing two new, advanced solar arrays. European astronaut Thomas Pesquet and NASA astronaut Shane Kimbrough installed them during three spacewalks on June 16, 20 and 25. The new arrays contain stronger solar cells that are also more efficient than their predecessors. Measuring 61 feet long and 20 feet wide, they generate twice the power in half the space of the original arrays that they partially cover. Boeing provided the new arrays to NASA, with solar cells from Spectrolab and a structure from Redwire that allowed the arrays to be rolled tight for launch and unroll with their own energy i...

The European Union Aviation Safety Agency published a proposal to update the regulatory framework applicable to all-weather operations (AWOs) and flight crew training to allow the application of latest technological advancements. This proposal would increase the number of medium-sized aerodromes which are accessible for flight operations. The concept of all-weather operations refers to the ability of aircraft to take off and land in an airport under low visibility conditions. In such circumstances, technological support can ensure safe operations in situations that would otherwise pose safety challenges. While large aerodromes are, for the most part, already equipped for such operations, medium-size or regional airports had typically so far been unable to afford the investment required. “This Opinion is innovative in certifying the use of technologies that are already available to increase safety, while at the same time broadening the commercial network by increasing the accessibility ...

FAA announced today that the Government of Mexico does not meet ICAO safety standards. Based on a reassessment of Mexico’s civil aviation authority, the FAA has downgraded Mexico’s rating to Category 2 from Category 1. While the new rating allows Mexican air carriers to continue existing service to the United States, this prohibits any new service and routes. U.S. airlines will no longer be able to market and sell tickets with their names and designator codes on Mexican-operated flights. The FAA will increase its scrutiny of Mexican airline flights to the United States. The FAA is fully committed to helping the Mexican aviation authority improve its safety oversight system to a level that meets ICAO standards. To achieve this, the FAA is ready to provide expertise and resources in support of the Agencia Federal de Aviacion Civil's (AFAC) ongoing efforts to resolve the issues identified in the International Aviation Safety Assessment (IASA) process. Both AFAC and FAA share a commitm...