Safety Bulletin IFALPA: Re-entry of Rocket Long March 5B
Eurocontrol has warned of the unexpected re-entry into atmosphere of the large space object Rocket Long March 5B (CZ 5B), launched by China on 31 October 2022. Some of the projected trajectories could affect the southern European airspace. The European Organisation for the Safety of Air Navigation issued the Safety Information Bulletin to raise awareness and considered it a major risk (...)
Safety Bulletin IFALPA: GNSS Outage Leading to Navigation/Surveillance Degradation
17 March 2022 - The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has issued the attached safety bulletin. Please review and share where applicable.
Safety Bulletin IFALPA: GNSS Interference on Aircraft
GNSS signal interference (whether intentional or unintentional) can occur at any time, with or without prior notice. Flight Crews should be aware of the potential risk and plan for alternative procedures as necessary.
Position Paper: Commercial Space Operations
22 December 2021 - IFALPA believes that whether an industry is emerging or well established, it should comply with the development of safety risk mitigations that would limit the impact to users. Freedom of navigation and equality of use must be maintained.
Safety Bulletin IFALPA: Aircraft Operations and Radar Altimeter Interference from 5G
This Safety Bulletin was created using the ALPA-International Safety Alert of the same name. Radar altimeter interference from 5G signals can take the form of loss of radar altitude information, or worse, incorrect radar altitude information unknowingly being generated. There have been fatal accidents associated with incorrect radar altitude, most recently Turkish Airlines flight 1951 in Amsterdam in 2009. The FAA have issued an Airworthiness Directive (AD) intended to cover all transport category aircraft which will require an Airplane Flight Manual (AFM) revision effective 5 January 2022.
Position Paper IFALPA: Disruption of Satellite-Based Signals
Modern air traffic relies heavily on the internal accuracy of aircraft systems and the aircraft's ability to monitor its own reliability. In recent years, satellite-based Communication, Navigation and Surveillance (CNS) services have been taking a growing part in the overall ATM system and aircraft are becoming more reliant on space-based signals (...)
Position Paper IFALPA: Loss of Communication with ATC
The tragic events of 11 September 2001 have drastically changed the way in-flight security incidents are managed. National Security Agencies are more reactive to any indication that could lead to security concerns, such as the prolonged loss of radio communication with ATC, also known as COMLOSS, but there is no consistency worldwide in the way these occurrences are addressed. In some countries, COMLOSS events have resulted in unnecessary interceptions of aircraft and/or administrative sanctions against the pilots involved, which will not solve the problem. In today’s complex radio communications environment, COMLOSS can be triggered by a number of factors, and these should be fully taken into account prior to any State reaction.
Safety Bulletin IFALPA: 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.
Press Release: IFALPA calls on Albania to adhere to International Regulations and free three air traffic controllers
Press Release: IFALPA Calls for Immediate Release of Russian Air Traffic Controllers
The International Federation of Air Line Pilots’ Associations (IFALPA) was extremely disappointed to learn about the final verdict passed by a Court of the Russian Federation where three Air Traffic Controllers were sentenced to 5, 5 1⁄2 and 6 years imprisonment in the aftermath of the take-off accident of a Unijet Falcon 50 at Moscow- Vnukovo airport on 20 October 2014.