John Sheridan

Among the operational topics for the technical committee at the triennial ICAO Assembly were significant safety issues. One paper from the Russian delegation provided a description of extensive studies of wake vortices, and the development of a wake vortex safety system that would use outputs from ADS-B, Swim and two Aviation System Block Upgrades 1 elements, with pilot alerts transmitted over the anticipated datalinks in that period–that is, by 2018. The Russian presenter suggested that the uncertainty of wake turbulence today causes unnecessarily large longitudinal approach spacing that could be significantly reduced if real-time wake measurements could be provided to pilots, thereby increasing capacity and airport throughput. Better wake-turbulence forecasting at high cruise altitudes would also allow more flexibility in planning future trajectory operations. 
A separate Russian paper discussed training to prevent of loss-of-control accidents stemming from undetected high-altitude stalls caused by icing, IAS failure, incorrect weight entry or lack of angle-of-attack information, particularly during autopilot operation, where the classic symptoms of stick shaker, warning horns and buffet may actually lag the actual stall itself, with the aircraft already descending in a high pitch attitude and possibly rolling. Currently, according to the presenters, even advanced flight simulators cannot adequately simulate high-altitude stalls and are only moderately able to simulate “traditional” lower-altitude ones.

News about bills, laws, regulations and other governmental decisions affecting aviation and aerospace. Topics include FAA re-authorizations, taxes on fuel and aviation activities, environmental legislation, ICAO decisions, governmental mediation of labor conflicts and World Trade Organization disputes and decisions.

Ensuring Safe Operations

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

Curt Epstein

New developments and products in avionics, specifically about aircraft electronics in the cockpit.

News and issues relating to business, corporate and private aviation, primarily regarding turbine-engine-powered airplanes and helicopters. Subjects include aircraft, engines, maintenance, operations, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security, and training.

Coalition says upgrades will be burdensome 

NBAA Joins Industry Coalition on FAA Altimeter Mandate

Kerry Lynch

News and issues concerning general aviation, specifically airplanes and helicopters powered by piston and alternative engines (i.e., non-turbine powered aircraft). Subjects include aircraft, engines, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security and training.

Florida passed a similar bill and several states and airports are on board

AOPA Sees Momentum Build on ADS-B Privacy Bill

Gordon Gilbert

News and issues about aviation maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO), covering all segments of the aviation industry; and modifications for aircraft and engines. Subjects include product support of aircraft, engines and avionics, MRO company mergers, acquisitions, announcements and personnel, Airworthiness Directives, Supplemental Type Certificate approvals and other topics.

News and issues relating to international air transport and cargo carriers, national airlines and regional airlines, including aircraft, engines, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security and training.

FAA Reauthorization Act mandates audit series

 DOT IG Begins Third FAA Repair Station Oversight Audit

Hanneke Weitering

Charles Alcock

Filing alleges mislabeled imports and Chinese Communist Party ties

Archer Countersuit Targets Joby’s eVTOL Supply Chain

News, issues, personnel, equipment and developments about air traffic management.

News and issues relating to the aerospace industry that are related to the science, engineering and business of flight in space involving civil, industrial and military applications, and similar topics related to flight in the atmosphere of the Earth that are not covered more directly by other AINonline subject channels. In other words, both astronautical and aeronautical subjects, except for those aeronautical topics that are specifically covered elsewhere on this website.

FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford pledges to fix the National Airspace System in three years.

FAA and EASA Leaders Discuss the Future of Aviation Regulations at Verticon 2026

FAA Administrator expects some broken glass along the way.

FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford Pledges to Fix National Airspace System in Three Years

News and developments about airplanes, helicopters and unmanned air vehicles used in all varieties of operations, including airlines, military, business, commercial, general aviation and private.

More In Regulations and Government

NBAA Joins Industry Coalition on FAA Altimeter Mandate

Coalition says upgrades will be burdensome

AOPA Sees Momentum Build on ADS-B Privacy Bill

Florida passed a similar bill and several states and airports are on board

DOT IG Begins Third FAA Repair Station Oversight Audit

FAA Reauthorization Act mandates audit series

Archer Countersuit Targets Joby’s eVTOL Supply Chain

Filing alleges mislabeled imports and Chinese Communist Party ties

FAA and EASA Leaders Discuss the Future of Aviation Regulations at Verticon 2026

FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford pledges to fix the National Airspace System in three years.

FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford Pledges to Fix National Airspace System in Three Years

FAA Administrator expects some broken glass along the way.

DOT Selects Eight Projects for AAM Integration Trials

Archer, Wisk, Beta, Joby, and others to take part in nationwide trials

Another NTSB Board Member Prematurely Dismissed

Amid legal action, this marks the second NTSB leader to be axed

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