IT & Distribution-July 27, 2018

The US Senate on July 24 confirmed the nominations of Bruce Landsberg and Jennifer Homendy to serve on the US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), returning the board to full strength at five members.

Airbus has launched an ab initio pilot training program as the airline industry faces the prospect of a growing deficit of trained flight deck personnel in coming years.

JetBlue pilots, represented by the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA), have ratified a four-year contract, the New York-based LCC confirmed.

The UK government has announced its latest series of proposals to clamp down on irresponsible or reckless use of small drones, or unmanned air vehicles (UAVs).

Tension between Ryanair and its workforce has ratcheted up another notch, following the Irish pilots’ union’s decision to strike for a fourth day on Aug. 3.

Rep. Bill Shuster (R-Pennsylvania), chairman of the US House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, stressed the urgency of passing long-term legislation reauthorizing the FAA, and repeatedly called on the Senate to pass its version of the bill at a July 24 meeting of the Aero Club of Washington DC.

The European Union (EU) has published new rules including provisions to support the mental fitness of air crew, psychological screening and drug and alcohol testing in response to the 2015 Germanwings tragedy.