Flight Safety Information - April 8, 2025 No. 070 In This Issue : Incident: Delta B739 at Boston on Apr 6th 2025, cabin did not pressurize : Incident: Aeromexico B39M at Mexico City on Apr 2nd 2025, engine pod strike : Incident: JAL B738 at Tokyo on Apr 7th 2025, lined up with edge line for takeoff : Incident: American B738 near Cincinnati on Apr 6th 2025, engine shut down in flight : Incident: AirAsia A320 near Kuala Lumpur on Apr 6th 2025, loss of cabin pressure : 5 people injured as business jet crashes into water at end of runway : Korean Air fires pilot and co-pilot who got into fist fight over Yoon Suk Yeol’s martial law : Hong Kong's Cathay Pacific bans pilots, cabin crew from taking power banks on flights : New Boeing 787 Fault Leaves Unsuspecting Pilots Disconnected From Air Traffic Control : Singapore To Host Key Aviation Industry Stakeholders At The 2025 Asia Pacific Summit For Aviation Safety, Exploring Strategies For Building A Resilient And Inovative Safety Ecosystem : Two regional airlines announce plans to merge, avoid bankruptcy : Teamsters launch new billboard campaign blasting United Airlines for relying on China to fix its aircraft : New ICAO standards for future air navigation and safety : Calendar of Events Incident: Delta B739 at Boston on Apr 6th 2025, cabin did not pressurize A Delta Airlines Boeing 737-900, registration N811DZ performing flight DL-1439 from Boston,MA to Tampa,FL (USA) with 184 people on board, was climbing through FL200 out of Boston when the crew stopped the climb, donned their oxygen masks and descended the aircraft to 12000 feet advising they had lost cabin pressure. The aircraft returned to Boston for a safe landing on runway 33L about 45 minutes after departure. The rotation was cancelled. The aircraft is still on the ground in Boston about 20 hours after landing. https://avherald.com/h?article=52634006&opt=0 Incident: Aeromexico B39M at Mexico City on Apr 2nd 2025, engine pod strike An Aeromexico Boeing 737-9 MAX, registration XA-MFO performing flight AM-363 from La Paz to Mexico City (Mexico), landed on Mexico City's runway 23L but struck its left hand engine (Leap) onto the runway surface. The aircraft rolled out without further incident. The engine sustained scrape damage to its cover. The aircraft is still on the ground in Mexico City on Apr 7th 2025. https://avherald.com/h?article=52633cfc&opt=0 Incident: JAL B738 at Tokyo on Apr 7th 2025, lined up with edge line for takeoff A JAL Japan Airlines Boeing 737-800, registration JA322J performing flight JL-377 from Tokyo Haneda to Kitakyushu (Japan) with 80 people on board, was cleared to line up runway Haneda's 05 and cleared for takeoff, however, the crew lined the aircraft up with the left edge lights and commenced takeoff. The crew subsequently rejected takeoff after the aircraft collided with a number of edge lights. A replacement Boeing 737-800 registration JA335J reached Kitakyushu with a delay of about 5:10 hours. Japan's Ministry of Transport reported the aircraft collided with a number of runway lights during takeoff at about 19:11L (10:11Z) before rejecting takeoff. The runway needed to be closed for about one hour. The airline confirmed the aircraft began accelerating for takeoff and rejected. There have been no injuries. https://avherald.com/h?article=52633b67&opt=0 Incident: American B738 near Cincinnati on Apr 6th 2025, engine shut down in flight An American Airlines Boeing 737-800, registration N907AN performing flight AA-672 from Dallas Ft. Worth,TX to New York La Guardia,NY (USA), was enroute at FL370 about 125nm westsouthwest of Cincinnati,OH (USA) when the crew detected a problem with the right hand engine (CFM56). The aircraft diverted to Cincinnati, on approach the crew needed to shut the right hand engine down. While on approach, Cincinnati Covington Tower frequency was hit by a number of rogue transmissions including instructions to go around with no aircraft following such instructions, tower advised all aircraft accordingly to verify such instructions. The aircraft landed safely on runway 36R about 45 minutes after leaving FL370. A passenger reported: "Aircraft landed approximately 15 minutes after the engine was turned off. A/C stopped on the runway for inspection, and was then followed to the gate. Fire chief boarded the plane once the plane got to the gate and advised something regarding a loose part inside the engine and an oil leak." A replacement Boing 737-800 registration N915AN reached New York with a delay of about 5.5 hours. https://avherald.com/h?article=52632eb9&opt=0 Incident: AirAsia A320 near Kuala Lumpur on Apr 6th 2025, loss of cabin pressure An AirAsia Airbus A320-200, registration 9M-DAE performing flight AK-139 from Hong Kong (China) to Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia), was nearing Kuala Lumpur when the cabin pressure was lost, the passenger oxygen masks were released. The aircraft continued for a safe landing in Kuala Lumpur. The airline confirmed an abnormal cabin pressure, the crew worked the related checklists, passenger oxygen masks were automatically released. The aircraft is still on the ground in Kuala Lumpur about 28 hours after landing. https://avherald.com/h?article=52630ffb&opt=0 5 people injured as business jet crashes into water at end of runway The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating after a small jet went off the runway in North Bend, Oregon, and into the water, sending five people to the hospital. The HA-420, a business jet built by Honda, was flying from St. George, Utah to the Southwest Oregon Regional Airport,when it skidded off the runway around 6 a.m. local time Monday morning. The plane came to rest in the water about 100 feet past the end of the runway. All five people onboard, including the pilot, had minor injuries, and were taken to a local hospital by ambulance, the airport said in a statement. The plane was cleared for approach using radio signals to guide its landing, but the pilot never told controllers they were on the ground, according to air traffic control audio captured by LiveATC.net. This airport did not have a staffed control tower at that hour, so controllers located elsewhere called the airport to see if it had landed. “Just want to make sure they are on the ground,” the air traffic control center radioed. “That aircraft did not arrive at North Bend yet. I did hear them on the radio earlier … but I don’t see them on the ramp at all,” a worker at the airport replied. https://www.cnn.com/2025/04/07/travel/5-injured-as-jet-crashes-into-water/index.html Korean Air fires pilot and co-pilot who got into fist fight over Yoon Suk Yeol’s martial law ‘Unfortunate incident’ occurred when crew was resting in a hotel in Brisbane At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story. The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it. Korean Air dismissed two pilots who had got into a fist-fight reportedly stemming from a discussion over former South Korean president Yoon Suk Yeol’s impeachment, the airline confirmed. The “unfortunate incident” occurred on 19 December last year between a pilot and his co-pilot in Brisbane following a flight from Incheon, it said on Monday. The argument between the two pilots, identified as Captain A and First Officer B, did not take place while the flight was in air, but in a hotel when the two began talking about the martial law imposed by the former president on 3 December. The arguments escalated to physical assault, resulting in Australian police responding to the scene. Both the men were injured, requiring medical attention, reported the Korea Herald. While the captain was transported to a local hospital, the co-pilot sustained injuries. The airline’s disciplinary committee later fired both the pilots, citing safety and professionalism, while a third captain was suspended for three months. “An unfortunate incident occurred at the hotel where they were staying, but it did not affect the operations,” said the airline, according to news outlet Chosun Biz. “We have reiterated company guidelines and conducted internal training to prevent recurrence.” As they were incapacitated, the airline had to deploy alternative crew for the return flight that was scheduled for two days after. Meanwhile, the two pilots have moved a complaint to the regional labour commission, reported the Korea JoongAng Daily. Earlier on Friday South Korea’s constitutional court upheld president Yoon Suk Yeol’s impeachment and removed him from office. https://www.independent.co.uk/travel/news-and-advice/korean-air-pilot-brawl-yoon-suk-yeol-martial-law-b2729281.html Hong Kong's Cathay Pacific bans pilots, cabin crew from taking power banks on flights Hong Kong flag carrier Cathay Pacific Airways has banned its pilots and cabin crew from carrying power banks on board flights while on duty amid safety concerns, the South China Morning Post has learned, in a move aircrew decried as causing them significant inconvenience and a "double standard" compared with restrictions for passengers. In a notice to cabin crew last Thursday, a copy of which was seen by the South China Morning Post, the carrier said that "operating crew are prohibited from carrying power banks with them on duty", effective on Monday. The carrier added that the move was "to enhance safety" and applied to both flight crew and cabin crew. "We don't understand why there is a double standard on us when passengers are allowed to bring their power banks on board but the aircrew are forbidden from doing so," Brenda Cheng, vice-chairwoman of the carrier's Flight Attendants Union, said on Monday. "We are now in discussion with the company and hope that it can clarify this policy." The airline's notice to crew also announced the implementation of the Civil Aviation Department's new rule, which also came into effect on Monday, that passengers could not use power banks, or recharge them, or store them in overhead compartments during flights. Under the new regulations, passengers would have to keep power banks on them, or place them in the seat pocket in front of them, or in their hand luggage under the seat. Fliers would be allowed to charge electronic devices using USB ports built into seats, where available. Before and after boarding, passengers would be reminded to take out their lithium battery power banks and refrain from using or charging them, or storing them in the overhead compartments, the airline said. As the new rules came into effect on Monday, some Cathay passengers at Hong Kong International Airport expressed frustration at the regulations. "If you bring it on board but can't use it, it's really pointless," Raymond Yeung, who had booked a flight to Shanghai, said. "It's the same as not putting it in the overhead compartment and just holding it - it's still on the plane." He said power banks should either be banned altogether, or airlines should take steps to ensure the products had met certain safety requirements and allow them to be used on flights. Yeung, who had checked-in online and did not speak to counter staff, added he only learned of the new regulations from previous news reports, and did not notice further reminders from the airline. IT worker Dickson Chan, who was flying to Kuala Lumpur, described the new rules as "superfluous". "Assuming it's a long-haul flight, I think this is unreasonable … short-haul flights are OK," he said. Asked about previous on-board accidents related to power banks, Chan said: "These things didn't just start happening today, and safety measures exist. The current revisions just seem unnecessary." But other passengers, such as Liane Hui Yuk-lan, who was heading home to San Francisco, felt the new rules were reasonable. She said most flights had USB ports for charging phones, and understood power banks could not be placed in overhead bins because it would be harder to spot a fire that ignited there. "Safety should always be the first priority - whether it is convenient or not is up to people to feel and decide … but safety first," she said. But Hui added airlines should communicate such regulations and the reasoning behind them more clearly so that there would be better acceptance. "At the end of the day, we all just want to be safe and sound, and have a happy trip without any worries." While passengers were allowed to bring power banks onto planes if they adhered to the rules, aircrew were not and had to bring adaptor plugs instead to charge their devices, according to the company's notice. Flight Attendants Union leader Cheng said the ban on operating crew would cause aircrew great inconvenience during their layovers at overseas outports, and urged Cathay to find ways to meet crew members' phone-charging needs. She added the union was not aware of any other airline in Hong Kong that had placed such restrictions on operating crew. Cheng said aircrew understood the safety reasons but nonetheless needed to be able to use power banks to recharge their phones once they got off the flight, especially in the event of an accident such as earthquakes or power outages. "We need our power banks to keep our devices like mobile phones to remain functional for communication otherwise we will be unable to perform our duties effectively as we can't keep tabs on matters related to our job." She called for Cathay to consider other solutions such as allowing aircrew to keep their power banks in a box and storing them safely on the plane. In a letter to the company, the Hong Kong Aircrew Officers Association also said the ban was "unnecessary" and called for the carrier to keep the restrictions in line with those for passengers. "The justification regarding 'risk mitigation' is sound, however, the 'leading by example' is not consistent in our opinion," the association said. "If a complete prohibition is in fact maintaining the highest safety standards, then it would seem logical that this position would be reflected in the policy regarding carriage by passengers." The association also highlighted that aircrew were equipped with training and knowledge about battery fire risks and firefighting strategies, so they had a lower risk profile than that of passengers, who had less awareness of the risks involved. https://www.bangkokpost.com/world/2997604/hong-kongs-cathay-pacific-bans-pilots-cabin-crew-from-taking-power-banks-on-flights New Boeing 787 Fault Leaves Unsuspecting Pilots Disconnected From Air Traffic Control The Federal Aviation Administration's recent surge in controller applicants should tell anyone how vital air traffic control is needed to safely navigate a 250-ton plane from airport to airport. The federal agency warned airlines in late February that the Boeing 787 Dreamliner had a severe fault that caused very high frequency radio channels to transfer between active and standby windows of the plane's tuning control panel, which could lead to flight crew missing communications. Boeing released a software update. However, Qatar Airways reported that the patch doesn't fix the issue. While the unintended transfers can be corrected by attentive pilots, the proposed airworthiness directive from the FAA doesn't downplay the potential risks if the issue isn't fixed. Pilots could miss instructions to maintain safe separation from other aircraft, avoid mid-air collisions and prevent runway incursions. The agency is taking comments concerning the directive until April 14 and has already received a worrying statement from Qatar Airways: "However, even if all QTR B787 airplanes are post SB B787-81205-SB230051-00, Qatar Airways flight crew are still reporting similar issues from post-mod airplanes. QTR already reported the events to Boeing / Collins Aerospace for further investigation and root cause determination. Boeing / Collins already acknowledged the issue and FTD is updated with the same information." Yet Another Problem For Boeing To Tackle Boeing's quality control issues that plagued the 737 Max also impacted the 787 Dreamliner. In 2023, the FAA stated it received multiple reports of leaky lavatory faucets on the wide-body airliner. The issue might seem minor, but water flowed under the cabin door and into equipment bays. Boeing stated that the leak was caused by a faulty o-ring and was limited to a batch of aircraft. However, the FAA believed the leaks were more widespread and wanted every Dreamliner inspected. Problems for the 787 continued in 2024 as the FAA demanded that every Dreamliner be reinspected after to verify if Boeing employees falsified aircraft records. It was believed that some 787 planes rolled off the assembly line without having their wings inspected. At this point, it wouldn't be surprising if Boeing workers also rolled out a software update that didn't completely resolve the known radio frequency transfer issue. https://autos.yahoo.com/boeing-787-fault-leaves-unsuspecting-160921604.html Singapore To Host Key Aviation Industry Stakeholders At The 2025 Asia Pacific Summit For Aviation Safety, Exploring Strategies For Building A Resilient And Innovative Safety Ecosystem The Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) and the Flight Safety Foundation (FSF) will host the third Asia Pacific Summit for Aviation Safety (AP-SAS) from July 15 to 17, 2025, at the Suntec Singapore Convention and Exhibition Centre. This summit, themed “Future-Proofing Aviation Safety: Adapt, Innovate, Excel,” will bring together over 500 aviation professionals, experts, and regulators from across the Asia-Pacific region and beyond to address the rapidly evolving safety challenges facing the aviation industry. With air traffic in the region set to triple over the next two decades, the summit will focus on strategies to build a resilient, adaptive, and innovative aviation safety ecosystem, discussing key issues such as workforce preparedness, regulatory evolution, and technology advancements to meet future demands. The third Asia Pacific Summit for Aviation Safety (AP-SAS), organized by the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) and the Flight Safety Foundation (FSF), will take place from July 15 to 17, 2025, at the Suntec Singapore Convention and Exhibition Centre. With the theme “Future-Proofing Aviation Safety: Adapt, Innovate, Excel,” the summit will bring together over 500 aviation professionals, regulators, industry executives, and experts from across the Asia-Pacific region and beyond. The event will focus on addressing the evolving challenges in aviation safety as the air traffic in the region is expected to triple in the next two decades. Discussions will center around building a more resilient and secure aviation ecosystem. A highlight of the summit will be a keynote address followed by a significant panel discussion involving Transport Ministers. This session will focus on why aviation safety is critical and what strategies governments are implementing to foster public trust and confidence in the industry. Expert-led sessions will cover the development of a robust aviation safety ecosystem, with particular attention to: Ensuring that aviation professionals are both mentally and technically prepared for unforeseen events. Designing resilient technology to meet future industry needs. Evolving regulatory frameworks ahead of industry advancements. Implementing processes that prioritize threat and error management. Building safety management systems that can adapt to emerging complexities. Notable panel discussions will include: a. Right People, in the Right Place, at the Right Time As the aviation sector grows rapidly, leaders will discuss how to maintain a highly skilled workforce, including strategies for attracting top talent, nurturing future leaders, and adapting training methods to meet the expectations of a new generation—all while maintaining the highest safety standards. b. Strengthening Safety Fundamentals to Tackle Emerging and Persistent Risks In the wake of recent aviation incidents, this panel will explore the persistent safety challenges identified in ICAO’s Global Aviation Safety Plan. Experts will share how the industry can adapt its safety practices and introduce new layers of protection to manage critical risks like Loss of Control In-Flight, Runway Incursions, and Mid-Air Collisions. c. The Future of Safety Management Systems (SMS) Looking ahead, this session will examine how SMS programs will evolve to better address unforeseen safety challenges. Panelists will explore how interconnected SMS can improve information sharing, enhance autonomous risk identification, and develop predictive systems to help mitigate emerging threats in the aviation industry. d. Addressing Weather Hazards and Turbulence With turbulence being the highest non-fatal accident cause in the Asia Pacific region, this session will focus on strategies to address this issue, along with other weather-related challenges. Discussions will cover the importance of advanced weather forecasting, real-time communication improvements, and enhanced training for both flight and cabin crews. ICAO is expected to list turbulence as a global operational safety risk in its 2026-2028 Global Aviation Safety Plan. The 2025 Asia Pacific Summit for Aviation Safety, hosted by the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore and the Flight Safety Foundation, will bring together over 500 industry leaders to tackle emerging safety challenges and future-proof the aviation ecosystem. The summit will focus on innovation, adaptation, and resilience in the face of growing air traffic in the region. The AP-SAS is held annually, rotating between Singapore and another Asia-Pacific country. The inaugural summit in 2023 led to a groundbreaking regional data-sharing initiative between Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand, aiming to address shared safety concerns. The second summit, held in Beijing, China, focused on human capital in aviation, and resulted in a Memorandum of Understanding between CAAS and the Civil Aviation Flight University of China to enhance capacity building and training for civil aviation regulatory personnel in both Singapore and China. https://www.travelandtourworld.com/news/article/singapore-to-host-key-aviation-industry-stakeholders-at-the-2025-asia-pacific-summit-for-aviation-safety-exploring-strategies-for-building-a-resilient-and-innovative-safety-ecosystem/ Two regional airlines announce plans to merge, avoid bankruptcy The two combined could be the second-largest airline in the U.S. While the post-pandemic years have seen numerous airlines go under, many more escaped looming financial problems through M&As. A high-profile recent merger took place when, in September 2024, Alaska Airlines (ALK) completed its $1.9 billion acquisition of Hawaiian Airlines. While both carriers continue to fly under their separate names (island-bound travelers like seeing the name Hawaii rather than Alaska on their booking), Alaska nabbed the airline in its efforts to build out its reach in other parts of the country and cement its reputation for off-mainland destinations. 'A common mission to connect communities': CEO talks Republic and Mesa merger On April 7, two more regional airlines announced their plans to combine in an all-stock deal that could create the second-largest airline in the U.S. Based out of Indianapolis, Republic Airways was founded in 1976 and has a fleet of 240 Embraer (ERJ) 170 and 175 planes that it uses to fly to cities across the East and Midwest. Mesa Airways is an Arizona-based carrier that operates primarily in the Southwest but also offers flights to other parts of the U.S. and international destinations like Canada and the Bahamas. Mesa’s fleet includes 60 Embraer 175 aircraft; at the time the merger plans were announced, the carrier was running 250 daily flights. It currently runs all of its flights under the United Express brand sold by United Airlines (UAL) . Prior to 2023, it was also running flights for American Airlines (AAL) . "Republic and Mesa share a common mission to connect communities across America, and we believe that we can better achieve that mission together," Republic President and CEO Bryan Bedford said in a press statement. "With this combination, we are establishing a single, well-capitalized, public company that will benefit from the deep expertise of Republic and Mesa associates, creating value for all stakeholders well into the future." While the airlines' executives have not yet released the financial details of the deal, they said that a completed deal would result in Republic shareholders owning 88% of the combined company’s shares while Mesa shareholders would own between 6% and 12%. Mesa’s CEO and Chairman Jonathan Ornstein also called the merger as an "exciting next step" that "represents the best outcome for our shareholders, employees, and all of our stakeholders." Mesa Airways Mesa Airlines was founded out of Arizona in 1982. Both Republic and Mesa have filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in their pasts; Republic amid a pilot shortage in 2016 and Mesa as a restructuring measure amid falling revenue in 2010. It emerged from the bankruptcy a year later by securing a new codeshare agreement with U.S. Airways and reworking its fleet through new leases and refinancing. In December 2022, Mesa announced that it would stop working with American Airlines amid accusations that the latter "significantly raised regional pilot wages for their wholly owned subsidiaries to deter pilots from going to national carriers and attract pilots from the ever-shrinking pool of qualified pilot applicants." In the last 2024 quarter, Mesa reported a $19.9 million net loss or $0.48 per diluted share amid a rapidly deteriorating financial outlook. In March 2024, it was reporting debts of over $400 million amassed largely through unprofitable aircraft losses. https://www.thestreet.com/travel/republic-airways-mesa-merger Teamsters launch new billboard campaign blasting United Airlines for relying on China to fix its aircraft About 85% of United's heavy maintenance is outsourced to foreign repair companies, Teamsters say The International Brotherhood of Teamsters is launching a new billboard campaign blasting United Airlines for outsourcing their aircraft maintenance to China. The campaign will include billboards in Chicago at Willis Tower and O'Hare International Airport, as well as one at Newark International Airport and the United Airlines Flight Training Center in Denver. "Would you trust a majority Chinese-owned company with aircraft repairs?" the billboard ad questions. "United Airlines does." The campaign comes after 99.5% of Teamsters voted against a contract proposal last month from United that the labor union's leadership said would have outsourced more jobs to China. CHINA ‘RIPPING OFF’ AMERICAN BUSINESSES – BUT THE DOJ CAN FIGHT THEM, GOP LAWMAKER SAYS Teamsters launch new billboard campaign calling out United for outsourcing work to China. The billboards will appear at the Willis Tower, O’Hare International Airport, Newark International Airport, and the United Airlines Flight Training Center in Denver. (International Brotherhood of Teamsters) A February letter from the United Airlines Teamsters pointed out that approximately 85% of United's heavy maintenance is outsourced to repair companies in China and South America. "Teamsters at United Airlines are putting this company on notice: we will accept nothing less than an industry-leading contract that keeps jobs in America," Teamsters General President Sean M. O’Brien said following the union's rejection of United's proposal. "United’s greedy executives disrespected our members with an insulting, un-American proposal last month. It’s time for this company to stop playing games and put real proposals on the table — ones that don’t outsource jobs to China but deliver the dignity and respect our members have earned." The Teamsters Union represents over 10,000 United Airlines aviation maintenance technicians (AMTs) across the United States. In addition to calling for an end to the practice of outsourcing aircraft maintenance to other countries, United Airlines Teamsters are calling for better pay they argue is more in-line with industry standards and faster wage-progression. "United Airlines is one of the most profitable in the entire industry, yet it refuses to reward the workers responsible for those profits with a fair contract," Chris Griswold, Director of the Teamsters Airline Division, said following a Teamsters rally at Orlando International Airport on Friday. "We will continue to hold United’s feet to the fire until it recognizes the indispensable role United Airlines Teamsters play in the carrier’s success and the safety of the flying public." https://www.foxbusiness.com/politics/teamsters-launch-new-billboard-campaign-blasting-united-airlines-relying-china-fix-its-aircraft New ICAO standards for future air navigation and safety Montréal, 7 April 2025 – To ensure the safety and sustainability of aviation’s worldwide transformation and expansion, the Council of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) has updated the Annexes to the Convention on International Civil Aviation (Chicago Convention) with new standards for communication, navigation, airport and heliport operations, and aeronautical meteorological services. "At a time of unprecedented technological and operational innovation in aviation, the ICAO Council has adopted new standards that reflect the best of emerging technologies and promote its implementation," said ICAO Council President Salvatore Sciacchitano. "These standards provide the framework for the safe implementation of tomorrow’s technologies while strengthening our existing infrastructure today." The new standards introduce advanced satellite navigation monitoring (ARAIM), which help pilots navigate more precisely, particularly in areas where traditional navigation aids are limited. Importantly, these standards better support the implementation of performance-based navigation so pilots can select flight routes that minimize flight time, cost, and CO2 emissions 1. The security and reliability of aviation communications will also be enhanced through new and more cyber-resilient standards for air-ground data exchange2. They will facilitate a cost-effective transition to digital infrastructure, while encouraging the use of commercial off-the-shelf solutions, broadly contributing to a stronger foundation for information sharing between aircraft and air traffic control. Inside aircraft, new provisions will allow for wireless connections between safety systems3 – a change that reduces wiring and therefore weight, while maintaining reliability. "By cutting aircraft weight, we're helping reduce fuel use and CO2 emissions, without compromising safety," remarked ICAO Secretary General Juan Carlos Salazar. The modernization of airport4 and heliport5 operations will also be enabled by the new standards. New performance-based requirements for obstacle management at and in the vicinity of airports consider both aviation and non-aviation stakeholders, helping airports optimize land use while maintaining safety; enhanced visual aids will give pilots better situational awareness, particularly during temporary changes to movement areas. These include the introduction of runway distance remaining signs, visual aids to denote closed runway and taxiway, and unserviceability signs. Additionally, States must now regularly assess the impacts of ground handling on safety, which will help reduce accidents and incidents. For heliports, new certification requirements for international heliports, including mandatory safety management systems, will improve safety, regularity and efficiency of heliport operations. The updated standards will also help operators work safely in confined urban spaces by allowing for more flexibility in “obstacle rich environments.” Finally, new standards for aeronautical meteorological services6 will support safe and efficient aircraft operations by helping flight planning and real-time avoidance of adverse weather. These include enhancement of space weather and volcanic ash monitoring and forecasting capabilities, as well as the World Area Forecast System (WAFS), and introduction of new protocols for extended meteorological information exchange in digital form. “All of these new Standards will contribute directly towards ICAO’s vision to deliver safe and sustainable air connectivity to everyone, everywhere,” remarked President Sciacchitano. Technical Annex: New Standards Reference Guide 1 – Amendment 94 to Annex 10, Vol I Dual-frequency, multi-constellation Advanced Receiver Autonomous Integrity Monitoring (ARAIM) technical specifications Global Positioning System (GPS) and Galileo Standards and Recommended Practices (SARPs) alignment for ARAIM Distance Measuring Equipment (DME) coverage optimization requirements Frequency assignment planning updates for navigation systems 2 – Amendment 93 to Annex 10, Vol III Aeronautical Telecommunication Network/Internet Protocol Suite (ATN/IPS) technical protocols and architecture Internet Protocol Suite (IPS) mobility and addressing specifications Security requirements for data exchange System management transitions 3 – Amendment 91 to Annex 10, Vol V Wireless Avionics Intra-Communications (WAIC) frequency allocation technical requirements Radio altimeter protection specifications Frequency utilization for navigation systems 4 – Amendment 18 to Annex 14, Vol I Obstacle Limitation Surfaces (OLS) technical criteria Visual aids specifications Ground handling safety assessment 5 – Amendment 10 to Annex 14, Vol II Technical specifications for urban operations Heliport certification technical requirements Safety Management System (SMS) documentation requirements 6 – Amendment 82 to Annex 3; PANS-MET ) Digital information exchange requirements using ICAO Meteorological Information Exchange Model (IWXXM) Enhancement of Space weather information service Quantitative volcanic ash concentration information Enhancement of the World Area Forecast System (WAFS) Additional Related Amendments Amendment 50 to Annex 6, Part I Amendment 42 to Annex 6, Part II Amendment 26 to Annex 6, Part III Amendment 94 to Annex 10, Volume II Amendment 54 to Annex 11 Amendment 44 to Annex 15 https://www.icao.int/Newsroom/Pages/New-ICAO-standards-for-future-air-navigation-and-safety.aspx CALENDAR OF EVENTS · Air Charter Safety Foundation (ACSF) Safety Symposium April 7-9, 2025 · AIA Conference: The Aviation Insurance Association's annual conference in Orlando, Florida from April 25–28, 2025 . 70th annual Business Aviation Safey Summit (BASS), May 6-7, 2025, Charlotte, N.C., organized by Flight Safety Foundation in partnership with NBAA and NATA. · Sixth Edition of International Accident Investigation Forum, 21 to 23 May 2025, Singapore · Flight Safety Foundation - Aviation Safety Forum June 5-6, 2025 - Brussels . 2025 EASA-FAA International Aviation Safety Conference, 10 Jun 2025 to 12 Jun 2025, Cologne, Germany · The 9th Shanghai International Aerospace Technology and Equipment Exposition 2025; June 11 to 13, 2025 . 3rd annual Asia Pacific Summit for Aviation Safety (AP-SAS), July 15-17, 2025, Singapore, organized by Flight Safety Foundation and CAAS. . Asia Pacific Aviation Safety Seminar 2025; 10-11 September 2025; Manila, Philippines · ISASI ANNUAL SEMINAR 2025'September 29, 2025 – October 3, 2025, DENVER, COLORADO . 29th annual Bombardier Safety Standdown, November 11-13, 2025; Wichita, Kansas · CHC Safety & Quality Summit, 11th – 13th November 2025, Vancouver, BC Canada Curt Lewis