Flight Safety Committee

IFALPA published a Safety Bulletin, regarding the operation of aircraft at Manila’s Ninoy Aquino International Airport (RPLL/MNL).

This IATA Operations Notice alerts airlines of the ongoing risk to aircraft operations at MNL due to unaddressed deficiencies on the airfield. The airport operator (NAIA) has implemented initiatives to address the deficiencies, however, current airline safety reports indicate ongoing issues such as surface conditions, charting, signage, marking and lighting.

We encourage you to take note of this important Safety Bulletin in case you operate at Manila’s  Ninoy Aquino International Airport (RPLL/MNL).

IFALPA published a Safety Bulletin, regarding the operation of aircraft at Bangkok’s  Suvarnabhumi International Airport (VTBS/BKK).

This Safety Bulletin is based on a recently revised IATA Operational Notice alerting airlines of the ongoing risk to aircraft operations at BKK airport due to soft ground conditions affecting the taxiways, taxi lanes, and aircraft stands. Soft ground conditions or “soft spots” have been encountered and reported by flight crews and ground service providers at BKK since at least 2008.

Please note, that this Safety Bulletin supersedes Safety Bulletin 19SAB14 -Suvarnabhumi International Airport (BKK) issued in 2019.

We encourage you to take note of this important Safety Bulletin in case you operate at Bangkok’s  Suvarnabhumi International Airport (VTBS/BKK).

IFALPA published a Safety Bulletin, regarding re-entry of large rocket booster into the earth’s atmosphere.

On April 28, 2021, China launched the core of its “Tianhe” space station. While the launch was successful, the booster stage of the launching Long March 5B rocket was designed for an “uncontrolled” re-entry, and therefore the exact time and location of its return is unknown.

As of Wednesday, May 5, the Aerospace Corporation (a defense think-tank) predicted the Long March 5B re-entry time to be 04.07Z on May 9, 2021, but with a ±24-hour window.

We encourage you to take note of this important Safety Bulletin, which is based upon a Safety Alert published by US ALPA.

IFALPA published a Safety Bulletin, regarding COVID-19 vaccines.

Vaccines against SARS-Cov-2 virus are beginning to be more widely available in many parts of the world and aircrews are being vaccinated. Vaccination should be voluntary, although it is strongly recommended. The risks of COVID-19 are considered to be greater than the risks of vaccinations. Pilots are encouraged to take any COVID-19 vaccine approved by their public health and/or aviation authority when it is offered to them.

We encourage you to take note of this important Safety Bulletin.

IFALPA published a Safety Bulletin, based on a Safety Alert issued by US ALPA, concerning operations in US class A airspace without ATC communications or ATC surveillance.

As part of its contingency planning for the closure of air traffic control facilities, also termed “ATC Zero” (ATC-0), the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is utilizing an airspace management strategy that allows operations during ATC-0 situations in Class A airspace.

The ATC-0 operations are conducted without the availability of air traffic control (ATC) services, including aircraft-to-aircraft separation, ATC surveillance, and air-to-ground communications with air traffic controllers at an ATC facility such as an Air Route Traffic Control Center (ARTCC). Flight crews will generally be on their own to maintain safety in ATC-0 airspace.

We encourage you to take note of this important Safety Bulletin in case you operate in US airspace.

IFALPA published a Safety Bulletin concerning the situation of ATC in the Tirana (LAAA) FIR.

Albanian airspace along with Tirana Airport was closed on 8 April 2021 due to a lack of ATC staff.

There is an ongoing dispute between ATC and the authorities which has resulted in three controllers being detained. Although the airspace has been re-opened, the Albanian controllers still working are under extreme pressure for their future employment. There are reports that controllers from other States have been brought in to replace the Albanian controllers, their status as to training and local ratings are unknown.

We encourage you to take note of this important Safety Bulletin in case you operate in the LAAA FIR.

EASA published a Safety Information Bulletin concerning the vaccination of aircrew, providing recommendations applicable to National Competent Authorities (NCAs), aircraft operators, aero-medical centres (AeMCs), aero-medical examiners (AMEs) and crew members.

The recommendations EASA issued in this Safety Information Bulletin affecting us as pilots directly are:

1. Due to their increased exposure, it is highly recommended for aircrew members to receive the COVID-19 vaccine as soon as they become available in accordance with the national COVID-19 vaccine roll-out plan.
2. Operators and aircrew members should consider a waiting period of 48 hours after each dose of COVID-19 vaccine, before aircrew members should be engaged in any flight-related tasks in accordance with the privileges of their flight crew licence or cabin crew attestation. This interval could be extended to 72 hours for aircrew members performing single crew operations.
3. Aircrew members are advised to consult with their AME in case side effects persist for more than 48 hours following the vaccination and, in consultation with the AME, extend the waiting period until the time when the side effects completely disappear.
4. Aircrew members are reminded to give proper consideration to the requirements of MED.A.020 Decrease in medical fitness and the corresponding GM1 MED.A.020.

We encourage you to take note of this important Safety Information Bulletin.

IFALPA published a Safety Bulletin concerning increasing drone and missile attacks on targets in Saudi Arabia.

These are a threat to operations for Saudi airports and overflights of the OEJD/Jeddah FIR. The most significant risk is in the south of the country along the border with Yemen, but OERK/Riyadh and OEJN/Jeddah airports have also been targeted. It is a dynamic situation with flight operations being regularly interrupted. The threat to civilian traffic arises not only from direct attacks on Saudi Arabia airports but also from falling debris coming from air defence activities.

We encourage you to take note of this important Safety Bulletin in case you operate in the NAT area.

IFALPA published a Safety Bulletin concerning a new NAT OPS Bulletin.

The purpose of this NAT OPS Bulletin is to provide background information and guidance material to North Atlantic (NAT) operators to prepare for FANS 1/A (CPDLC/ADS-C) operations in the NAT to include the use of CPDLC route clearance uplinks. 

The NAT OPS SEI (Special Emphasis Items) addresses CPDLC issues and sections 3 and 4 of this bulletin are particularly important to review and understand. 

ICAO NAT OPS Bulletin Serial Number: 2017-004 (Revision 01) was published on 23 February 2021 becoming effective on 23 February 2021. A list of all effective NAT OPS Bulletins can be found here.

We encourage you to take note of this important Safety Bulletin in case you operate in the NAT area.

IFALPA published a Safety Bulletin concerning a new NAT OPS Bulletin, addressing commonly observed operational errors.

ICAO NAT OPS Bulletin Serial Number: 2017-002 (Revision 03) was published on 20 January 2021 becoming effective on 29 January 2021. A list of all effective NAT OPS Bulletins can be found here.

We encourage you to take note of this important Safety Bulletin in case you operate in the NAT area.