The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and the International Air Transport Association (IATA) recently announced they were working together to combat incidents of GNSS spoofing and jamming. The two organisations said interference with satellite-based services that provide information on the precise position of an aircraft can pose significant challenges to aviation safety. Mitigating these risks requires short-, medium- and long-term measures, beginning with the sharing of incident information and remedies. “GNSS systems offer tremendous advantages to aviation in increasing the safe ..read more

The year started badly for aviation in Asia and elsewhere in the world with two accidents coming in the span of one week. Despite the fact that the loss of life was low in the first accident and zero in the second, both incidents are a stark reminder that, as has been said, aviation safety is paid for with the blood of dead passengers. In the first case, a Japan Airlines (JAL) plane landing at Tokyo’s Haneda Airport on 2 January collided with a Japan Coast Guard aircraft that had incorrectly entered the runway being used by the JAL plane. While no one on the passenger jet died, five people on ..read more

The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has slapped Boeing with restrictions on its production of 737 MAX airplanes following the 5 January near-disaster on an Alaska Airlines flight in which a so-called “door plug” blew off the plane. The incident grounded 171 MAX -9 models for inspections by carriers flying the model. United Airlines and Alaska Airlines, which account for most of the carriers using that model, reported finding loose bolts on the grounded planes and are expressing their displeasure, in public, with Boeing and its manufacturing processes. “The (5 January) Boeing 737-9 M ..read more

Embattled plane maker Boeing said it has named former Admiral Kirkland Donald as special advisor to Boeing President and CEO Dave Calhoun. The appointment is effective immediately and comes as Boeing is desperately searching for a way to rehabilitate its public image in the aftermath of a “door plug” failure on an Alaska Airlines flight recently. Donald and a team of outside experts will conduct a thorough assessment of Boeing’s quality management system for commercial airplanes, including quality programs and practices in Boeing manufacturing facilities and its oversight of commercial supp ..read more

The US Federal Aviation Administration announced it has ordered the grounding of some Boeing 737 Max 9 jets after part of one plane fell off during an Alaska Airlines flight. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said the inspections would affect 171 planes. On Friday the Alaska Airlines flight had to make an emergency landing after take-off from the US state of Oregon. United Airlines says it has carried out the inspections required by the FAA on some of its 79 Boeing 737 Max 9 planes. Removing some of the aircraft from service is expected to cause about 60 cancellations on Saturday ..read more

A passenger plane collided with a Japanese coast guard aircraft and burst into flames on the runway of Tokyo’s Haneda Airport on Tuesday, officials said. NHK TV reported that all occupants of Japan Airlines flight JAL-516, believed to total 379 people, got out safely before the plane was entirely engulfed in flames. The Japanese coast guard said the pilot of its plane had escaped but five crew members are missing. Local TV video showed a large eruption of fire and smoke from the side of the Japan Airlines plane as it taxied on a runway. The area around the wing then caught fire. Video aired ..read more

Joshua Ng Asian Aviation Editor Matt Driskill is In Conversation with Joshua Ng, a director at Alton Aviation based in Singapore. The two discuss advanced air mobility (AAM) and what the future holds for aviation in Asia. Ng brings nearly a decade of experience in the aviation and aerospace industry with significant expertise in business strategy development, market demand forecasting, supply chain management, operational performance improvement, and financial modelling. Ng advises clients across the aviation value chain – from airlines to MROs to industry ..read more

Francois Piolet Asian Aviation Editor Matt Driskill is In Conversation with Francois Piolet, the vice president and general manager for Thales Aviation Global Services (AGS) in Asia Pacific and China. Driskill and Piolet discuss the maintenance, repair and overhaul business in Asia and its latest developments. Appointed to this role in May 2020, Piolet is responsible for the strategy, development and growth of Thales’ ambitions to be the preferred MRO  supplier in the region. With over 30 years of experience in the aerospace industry and a background in aeronautical ..read more

Aviation analyst Brendan Sobie. Asian Aviation Editor Matt Driskill is In Conversation with independent aviation analyst Brendan Sobie, the founder of Sobie Aviation. The two discuss the state of the industry globally and drill down into the situation in Asia-Pacific countries. Sobie has been working in the aviation industry for over 20 years as a writer, analyst and consultant. He is currently working as an independent analyst and consultant, having established in 2019 the Singapore-based firm Sobie Aviation. He previously served as chief analyst for CAPA ..read more

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) marked the first 20 years of the IATA Operational Safety Audit (IOSA) at the IATA World Safety and Operations Conference taking place in Hanoi, Vietnam. “Over the past two decades, IOSA has made a major contribution to improving safety, while reducing the number of redundant audits. While it is a condition of membership in IATA, more than 100 non-IATA member airlines also see the value of participating and we welcome others. Likewise, while more than 40 governments use or are intending to use IOSA in their safety oversight programs, many more ..read more