Aviation authorities are moving to improve the accuracy and reliability of satellite navigation by enabling aircraft in the future to simultaneously rely on separate orbiting systems run by the US and Europe. Such proposed changes, recently endorsed by the US FAA’s top outside technical advisers, set the stage for major shifts in how pilots will use space systems for precise position data and flight routes. The upshot would be safer skies because of more exact information about locations of planes and reduced likelihood of gaps or hacking of signals by making more satellites available to users. For the first time, formal plans envision airliners, business jets and even some private planes processing signals at the same time from both GPS satellites operated by the US Air Force and Europe’s still-unfinished Galileo constellation. <br/>
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Sukhoi Civil Aircraft has obtained approval from EASA for the Sukhoi Superjet 100 Long Range (SSJ100LR), which has 50% more range than the basic version. The type certificate changes provide for the increase in take-off weight and flight range. “This approval will make it possible for foreign customers to purchase the aircraft with a flight range of up to 4,578 km, along with the previously available aircraft with flight range of 3,048 km,” SCAC said. Moscow-based Gazpromavia, Yakutsk-based Yakutia and Salekhard-based Yamal airlines operate aircraft with the increased flight range. Sukhoi said the SSJ100LR performance allows foreign customers to have a more flexible approach to their route network development. The SSJ100LR has been operated in Russia since 2014 and makes up a 25% of Sukhoi’s delivery volume. <br/>
On one of the busiest days of the winter season, dozens of flights have been delayed, diverted or cancelled because of fog at Heathrow and London City airports. The “flow rate” of arrivals has been reduced for safety reasons. More than 20 short-haul services to and from Heathrow have so far been cancelled. Most are with British Airways, which has the majority of operations at Heathrow. Poor visibility is also affecting services at Gatwick and London City — where 6 early morning arrivals have been diverted. Flights from Amsterdam, Antwerp, Dusseldorf, Zurich and 2 from Luxembourg landed instead at Southend or Stansted. Departures to Glasgow and the Isle of Man were cancelled. With few spare seats on flights so close to Christmas, the number of cancellations is a concern. Around 3,000 passengers have so far been affected. <br/>
Chinese carriers are expected to transport 480m passengers this year, up 11% over 432.4m in 2015, according to CAAC. Cargo traffic volume is predicted to reach 6.64m tonnes. The regulator said Chinese carriers took delivery of 270 aircraft from January to November. It is noteworthy that Chinese carriers made a rapid international expansion this year as domestic airlines opened 260 new international routes in the same timeframe. Available seats on international routes increased 22.2% while passenger boardings were up 23.4% on international routes. Available seats on domestic LCCs grew 19.4% while passengers transported by Chinese LCCs increased 21.4%, according to CAAC. The CAAC said Chinese carriers expect to carry 536m passengers in 2017, up 10.8% over 2016. <br/>