general

The Transportation Safety Board of Canada made several recommendations after an investigation pointed to similarities in 27 runway incursions that occurred at Toronto Pearson International between June 2012 and November 2017. “Although the vast majority of incursions pose little to no risk, the [TSB] has identified a troubling pattern at Pearson International,” TSB chair Kathy Fox said Thursday, noting that on average 445 runway incursions have occurred in Canada annually over the past few years. The concerns lie with two southern parallel runways at the airport, she said, which are known as the “south complex” and used simultaneously in peak periods. These particular runway incursions posed a “substantial risk,” TSB briefing materials said. <br/>

The US FAA could grant Vietnam category 1 status in the coming weeks, setting the stage for direct services between the two countries. A Jan 31 report from Reuters cited sources as saying that category 1 could come “soon.” Last August, the CAAV announced a 4-person FAA delegation had visited the country, though the FAA declined to confirm or deny the activity. “To achieve a Category 1 rating under the FAA’s International Aviation Safety Assessment program, a country must adhere to the safety standards of ICAO,” said the FAA. Vietnam Airlines, Bamboo Airways, and VietJet Air have all previously discussed the potential for USA services. In De 2017, Vietnam Airlines executive VP Le Hong Ha said that the carrier hoped to launch USA services by the end of 2019. <br/>