Flight Safety | GPS Outages In Europe As A Result Of The Russia-Ukraine Conflict

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• The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has just published a Safety Information Bulletin warning of the increase in the probability of issues with the use of Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) or Global Positioning Systems (GPS).

• Side effects don’t just affect waypoint navigation. They can cause other issues, such as terrain and “pull up” warnings, inability to fly RNAV approaches, loss of wind shear warnings, and airspace infringements or lateral deviations caused by unreliable position data.

• The bulletin explains that spoofing and jamming of navigational services have intensified in the following geographical areas - the Kaliningrad region (surrounding Baltic sea and neighboring States), Eastern Finland, the Black Sea, and the Eastern Mediterranean area (including airspace in proximity to Cyprus, Turkey, Lebanon, Syria, Israel, and Northern Iraq).

• “Air operators should ensure that flight crews promptly report via air report to air traffic control any observed interruption, degradation, or anomalous performance of GNSS equipment (jamming and possible spoofing) or related avionics.”

• The bulletin recommends that the crew verify the aircraft’s position using conventional navigation aids when flights are operated in the proximity of the affected areas. They should also check that the navigation aids are serviceable and remain prepared to revert to a conventional arrival procedure.

Simple Flying

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Ongoing Information | What Is Known About The Fatal Air China Flight 5735

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• None of the 132 people on Air China Flight 5735 survived after the Boeing 737-800 plummeted into the Guangxi mountain region.

• The aircraft abruptly left 29,000 feet and reached a peak rate of descent of around 20,000 feet per minute before impacting terrain.

• The plane’s sudden dive occurred near a point in the route where it would typically begin its initial descent, according to Flightradar24’s records.

• “The aircraft was severely damaged in this accident, and the investigation is very difficult,” said Zhu Tao, the director of aviation safety at the Civil Aviation Administration of China. “With the information currently available, it is still impossible to make a clear judgment on the cause of the accident.”

• Investigators recovered both flight data recorders from the wreckage.

The New York Times

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Security | EASA Turns Its Focus To Conflict Zones, Launches New Information Sharing Platform

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• On March 3rd, the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) launched the European Information Sharing and Cooperation Platform on Conflict Zones.
  This platform will allow EASA member states and operators to conduct risk assessments and make decisions based on the most reliable and up-to-date data.

• Despite the current Russia-Ukraine conflict, this initiative was triggered back in 2014 by the tragic shootdown of MH17 over Eastern Ukraine.

• “That means operators need the best information available on time to make their risk assessments. EASA is confident that continuous, dynamic, comprehensive information sharing through this platform will increase situational awareness and enhance flight safety and security. We are excited to launch this platform, which is a world first.”

• If your organization is eligible and you would be interested in joining the platform, you can apply here.

European Aviation Safety Agency

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Regulators | Steve Dickinson, FAA Administrator, To Resign At The End Of The Month

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• At the end of March, Steve Dickson, the administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration, will be resigning to  "devote my full time and attention" to his family.

• “Although my heart is heavy, I am tremendously proud of everything we have accomplished together over several years," he said. "The agency is in a better place than it was two years ago, and we are positioned for great success. It has been the privilege of a lifetime to serve alongside you."

• Dickson is a graduate of the Air Force Academy and a former Delta Air Lines pilot and executive. He became the agency’s administrator when the scandal that followed the crash of two Boeing 737 Max jets damaged the FAA’s reputation. Shortly after, a pandemic struck that upended the aviation system.

• The resignation comes halfway through his term. The agency has not revealed who his replacement will be.

CBS News
Reuters