Britain’s security minister Ben Wallace has claimed that the country should no longer be worried about the threat of drones days after disruptions at London’s Gatwick airport which exposed a massive security loophole in the country’s aviation system. Wallace said Tuesday that security forces were now able to detect drones anywhere across the UK through equipment which he did not specify. The announcement came just 3 days after a paralysis at Gatwick, where around 1,000 of flights were cancelled due to recurrent sighting of drones near or above the runway. Wallace also said that those who wanted to copycat the Gatwick drone-flying should expect the harshest of punishments. <br/>
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Hundreds of passengers have been arrested on suspicion of being drunk on a plane or at an airport in the last 2 years, figures reveal. At least 273 people were held in 2017 and 2018, police statistics show. The figures come as the govt considers scrapping round-the-clock drinking in airport bars by extending high street licensing laws, which would mean no alcohol before 10am. Under current rules, drink sales beyond security gates at international airports in England and Wales are not regulated by these laws. The Home Office launched the review Nov 1, with a 3-month call for evidence. A spokesman for Airlines UK said: “The problem of disruptive behaviour has got progressively worse over a number of years, despite the best efforts of industry to tackle it." <br/>
An Israeli technology company says its anti-drone system is drawing major interest after rogue unmanned aircraft sowed chaos at London Gatwick last week. The company Skylock is among a growing industry specialising in detecting and downing intruder drones by "jamming" them, or disrupting their frequencies. The company said Tuesday it saw a 40% spike in inquiries into its product since the Gatwick episode. Product manager Asaf Lebovitz said the company, which emerged to target militant drone use in Syria, has shifted focus to commercial applications and has been approached by airports in North America and Europe. Noam Milstein, drone operations chief for Israel's Civil Aviation Authority, said such systems are "obviously becoming crucial to prevent drone incursions from those who don't care about the regulations in place." <br/>
A Parliamentary panel has suggested that heavy penalties should be imposed on unruly airline staff, as well as strictest possible action be initiated against them. Besides, the Department-related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Transport, Tourism and Culture has called for putting in place a proper monitoring system to check the behaviour of employees of airlines. In a report tabled in Parliament last week, the panel noted that despite mechanisms put in place, the Civil Aviation Ministry's role in containing the discourteous, rude, arrogant and aggressive behaviour of airlines staff with passengers is far from satisfactory. "Almost all airlines have introduced a 'No-Fly' list for the unruly passengers, but when it comes to the turn of airlines to contain their unruly staff, they escape from their responsibility," it said. <br/>
The centre of gravity for global airline sector is inexorably shifting towards eastwards, particularly over South Asia by 2036, according to IATA. Its head of Policy Analysis, James Wiltshire said the growth in South Asia market has been attracting more commercial airlines to offer more services. He said North Atlantic market has been historically been at the heart of global aviation. However, countries in the region would have to work harder to continue growing. He ruled that there would be competition to make the most of the enormous potential in Asia for markets that want to connect to this emerging region. “Many of the markets where connectivity has grown fastest unsurprisingly are in Asia. Aviation is a major enabler of economic activity and social cohesion. <br/>
A Brazilian judge overturned a previous ruling, Dec 21, that suspended the Embraer-Boeing deal, in response to a request from Brazil’s solicitor General, as the previous injunction would hurt the emerging Brazilian economy. A Brazilian court suspended a ruling, that previously had suspended the sale earlier this week. The Brazilian judge’s decision came as a response to a request from Brazil’s solicitor General. The proposed agreement required an approval from the Brazilian govt, as it was holding a so-called golden share in Embraer, which gave the govt a veto power over the strategic decisions and any alternations regarding controlling interest. The proposed sale of 80% of Embraer to Boeing is expected to happen within next 30 days. <br/>