Joint Industry Statement on the Misuse of International Aeronautical Emergency Frequency 121.5 MHz
The Civil Air Navigation Services Organisation (CANSO), the International Air Transport Association (IATA), the International Federation of Air Line Pilots' Associations (IFALPA) and the International Federation of Air Traffic Controllers' Associations (IFATCA) have come together to issue this critical joint statement addressing the misuse of the International Aeronautical Emergency Frequency 121.5 MHz. This frequency, reserved exclusively for emergency communications, is vital to ensuring swift responses to distress situations. The inappropriate use of this frequency may pose a serious risk to flight safety, delaying critical assistance to those in need. We urge all aviation stakeholders to carefully consider the importance of safeguarding this frequency and to take immediate steps to ensure it is used strictly for its intended purposes.
La Ligne 699 de février 2024 est disponible
En ce mois de février, nous lançons une toute nouvelle rubrique avec pour ambition de mieux vous faire connaître le travail de ceux, élus et bénévoles, qui ont choisi de s’engager pour le métier au sein de nos commissions, cellules et groupes de travail. Au moyen d’interviews croisées, nous confrontons leurs expériences et leur vision de l’évolution de la profession. Nous débutons ce mois-ci avec deux membres de la Cellule Emploi Formation (CEF), issus de deux générations différentes de pilotes. L’un a directement contribué à la création de la Cellule au moment de la crise Covid, l’autre vient de l’intégrer. Nous avons en outre posé quelques questions au nouveau coordinateur de la CEF afin d’en savoir plus sur le travail, présent et futur, de la Cellule au profit des aspirants pilotes et de nos collègues en recherche d’emploi. Comme en janvier, nous sommes également allés à la rencontre de l’un des permanents du SNPL afin de vous le présenter et de mieux vous faire connaître son travail (...)
Joint Safety Bulletin IFALPA-IFATCA : Unlawful Communication Interference within the Mogadishu FIR
IFALPA and IFATCA have been made aware of aircraft experiencing a critical communication issue while en-route over Somalia, within the Mogadishu FIR. Crews were presented with instructions coming from "fake controllers" via the regular ATC frequency, with the apparent intention of diverting the flight from is planned route.
La Ligne 697 de décembre 2023 est disponible
Ce dernier numéro de l’année 2023 est plus particulièrement tourné vers l’international. Nous y revenons notamment sur les sujets abordés lors de la Conférence de l’European Cockpit Association (ECA) : le RCO/e-MCO bien sûr, mais également les suites de l’étude sur les conditions de travail des pilotes européens qui avait été menée au printemps 2022, les projets de l’ECA pour 2024 ou encore les élections au Board. De technique, il est aussi question dans ce numéro de décembre. La Cometec (Commission Technique) revient, entre autres, sur les Comités Analyse Accident (AAP) et ATS de l’IFALPA (...)
Position Paper IFALPA/IFATCA: Disruption of Satellite-Based Signals
This paper supersedes 21POS07, of the same name. Modern air traffic relies heavily on the internal accuracy of aircraft systems and the aircraft's ability to monitor its own reliability. Satellite-based Communication, Navigation and Surveillance (CNS) services have been playing a growing part in the overall ATM system and aircraft are becoming more reliant on space-based signals (...)
IFALPA Briefing Leaflet: Effects of Manipulated GNSS Signals on Aircraft and Mitigation Measures
Recent reports show that various civil aircraft have been subject to altered GNSS signals in Azerbaijan, Iran, Iraq, and Turkey. Manipulated GNSS signals can compromise aircraft navigation systems, potentially leading to complete navigation loss, with severe safety implications (...)
Safety Bulletin IFALPA: GPS Spoofing
IFALPA has been made aware of potential spoofing activities reported by various civil air operators in Iraq and Azerbaijan. Such activities can pose a significant risk to flight safety. IFALPA recommends that pilots operating in these Regions check local NOTAMs, put additional emphasis on maintaining continuous communications with appropriate ATC authorities, and monitor aircraft equipment performance closely for any discrepancies or anomalies. Pilots should also be prepared to operate without GPS navigational systems.
Safety Bulletin IFALPA: APPROACH Procedures and Restrictions at Tokyo Haneda
Tokyo Haneda Airport is located only 5nm south of Metropolitan Tokyo and is partially a landfill airport on Tokyo Bay. The airport’s history dates to the World War II era. Since then, the airport has made several expansions as the economy of Tokyo, and all of Japan, grew quickly. This rapid expansion resulted in airport modifications which are noncompliant with ICAO standards, and has created many complicated taxiways and operational limitations for the operators (...)
Safety Bulletin IFALPA: Communication Interference by Military Warships in the Pacific Region
IFALPA has been made aware of some airlines and military aircraft being called over 121.50 or 123.45 by military warships in the Pacific region, notably South China Sea, Philippe Sea, East of Indian Ocean. In some cases, the flights were provided vectors to avoid the airspace over the warship. We have reason to believe there may be interferences to GNSS and RADALT as well (...)
Safety Bulletin : Navigational Errors on the North Atlantic
The ICAO North Atlantic Systems Planning Group (NAT SPG) has issued an Oceanic Errors Safety Bulletin1 (OESB) concerning deviations observed on the North Atlantic Tracks (...)