Safety Bulletin IFALPA: Operations at Non-Towered Airports due to ATC Zero Conditions
As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to impact flight operations ALPA, International have issued an Operations Bulletin concerning temporary reduced controller staffing or shut down at ATC facilities. The status of the facility during a closure is known as “ATC Zero.” When an Air Traffic Control Tower (ATCT) is ATC Zero, the airport remains open, but the airport reverts to non-towered operations and the airspace usually becomes Class G (uncontrolled) airspace.
Safety Bulletin: (update) Winter Conditions at Northern Finland Airports
Please note: this paper supersedes 19SAB12 – Winter Conditions at Northern Finland Airports. Safe winter operations normally require special procedures by airline maintenance, engineering, ground crew, and de-icing personnel. In Finland, FINAVIA and TRAFICOM publish an annual Safety Bulletin on winter conditions. This bulletin focuses on operations in northern Finland but the content is relevant to other locations subject to similar weather. It provides excellent guidance for both flight crews and operators.
Safety Bulletin IFALPA: Auckland (NZAA) Unplanned Runway Closures
The Auckland Airport runway 23L/05R has been deteriorating over the past few years. The maintenance required to keep the runway surface in a usable condition has increased significantly, however, this has not kept up with the rate at which the runway is deteriorating. As a result, there have been over 15 short notice unplanned runway closures. One, on 24 January 2020, resulted in the runway being closed for 40 minutes and causing the diversion of 9 aircraft, including a wide body international arrival.
Safety Bulletin IFALPA: Ninoy Aquino International Airport (MNL), the Philippines
This Operational Notice from IATA alerts airlines of the on-going risk to aircraft operations at MNL due to unaddressed deficiencies on the airfield.
Safety Bulletin IFALPA: New Approaches for Haneda
Due to the upcoming Olympics in Tokyo, Japan, there is a requirement to increase throughput at Tokyo’s Haneda airport. In order to achieve this throughput, it is necessary to introduce approaches to the previously unused approach Runways 16L&R. These runways have not been used for approaches previously due to noise concerns for the public. In order to appease the local public regarding the noise pollution, the JCAB (Japan Civil Aviation Bureau) has created RNP approaches and ILS approaches to runways 16L&R.
Safety Bulletin: Suvarnabhumi International Airport (BKK)
This reissued Operational Notice alerts airlines of the on-going 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.
Safety Bulletin: Winter Conditions at Northern Finland Airports
Safe winter operations normally require special procedures by airline maintenance, engineering, ground crew, and de-icing personnel. In Finland, FINAVIA and TRAFICOM publish an annual Safety Bulletin on winter conditions. The attached bulletin focuses on operations in northern Finland but the content is relevant to other locations subject to similar weather. It provides excellent guidance for both flight crews and operators.
Safety Bulletin – Loss of GPS signal at Ben Gurion Airport, Tel Aviv, Israel (LLBG)
25 June 2019 - IFALPA has received many reports from pilots that they have experienced loss of GPS signal in the vicinity of the Ben Gurion International Airport (LLBG) in Tel Aviv, Israel.
Safety Bulletin – Loss of GPS signal at Guanajuato International Airport (MMLO)
3 April 2019 - IFALPA has received several reports from pilots that they have experienced a loss of the GPS signal in the vicinity of the Guanajuato International Airport (MMLO) in Central Mexico that affects the RNAV arrivals and departures.
Safety Bulletin – APPROACH Procedures and Restrictions to Tokyo Haneda RJTT/HND
2 April 2019 - This Safety Bulletin describes runway approach operations and precautionary measures according to different wind directions and the time of the day, including the difficult approach to fly VOR-A to RWY 16L.