Position Paper IFALPA: Carriage of Persons on Cargo Aircraft
Reference is sometimes made to Dangerous Goods Regulations to determine which persons are allowed onboard commercial transport aircraft (both passenger and cargo). This determination is not the role of the DG regulatory structure and goes well beyond its scope. The final decision to accept any persons onboard should be left to the pilot-in-command (...)
Press Release IFALPA on Aircraft Accident at Japan’s Haneda Airport
The International Federation of Air Line Pilots’ Associations (IFALPA) is closely monitoring the developments related to the accident involving Japan Airlines flight 516, an A350 aircraft from Sapporo (CTS) to Tokyo Haneda (HND) and a DHC-8 aircraft. Our thoughts are with the friends and families of the five crew members that were onboard the DHC -8 aircraft (...)
Position Paper IFALPA: Protection of All Cockpit Recordings
Although ICAO Annex 13 para. 5.12 has clear provisions for the protection of "cockpit voice recordings, airborne image recordings and any transcripts from such recordings", there are no ICAO definitions of "cockpit voice recordings" and "airborne image recordings", which leaves it to the States to decide which recordings should fall under these provisions and which should not (...)
Position Paper IFALPA: Use of Flight Recorders
This paper is an update to, and supersedes 23POS11, of the same name. IFALPA acknowledges the contribution of Flight Recorders to accident and serious incident investigation, conducted by the relevant State Investigation Authorities in accordance with ICAO Annex 13. These investigations have formed the foundation of the current high level of aviation safety (...)
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 (...)
Position Paper IFALPA: Flights Into and Over Conflict Zones
Due to the dynamic political situation across the world, conflict zones persist and change, sometimes suddenly and/or unpredictably, exposing civil aviation to the risk of collateral damage or targeted attack. According to ICAO regulations, it is the responsibility of Member States to close any airspace over their territory in which the safety and security of air traffic cannot be guaranteed. Unfortunately, Member States do not adhere to this obligation in many cases (...)
Safety Bulletin IFALPA: Operating Aircraft with Deactivated Brakes
Recently, IFALPA has become aware that some aircraft are intentionally being operated with deactivated brakes or without a fully operational braking system. This Safety Bulletin highlights the potential safety consequences of these types of operations and presents some recommendations.
Position Paper IFALPA: Unapproved Techniques
It has been discovered that in past events, Operators have introduced techniques which were not in agreement with the Manufacturer’s recommendations. In one example, the NTSB determined1 "that the probable cause of this accident was the in-flight separation of the vertical stabilizer as a result of the loads beyond ultimate design that were created by the first officer’s unnecessary and excessive rudder pedal inputs (...)
Position Paper IFALPA: Preflight Checks
Thorough preflight checks are crucial for flight safety to eliminate possible threats. The list given by ICAO covers significant items, but it is missing two essential subjects: The purity of fuel and the cover of pitot tubes and static ports.
Position paper: Individual Flotation Devices
Some Regulators allow seat cushions instead of life vests as individual flotation devices. This includes takeoffs and landings at coastal or near-coastal airports. When in water, especially when cold or turbulent, it is much more difficult to hold on to a cushion for an extended period than to keep floating with a life vest.