Boeing is working through the final steps before asking US regulators to review an update for anti-stall software linked to two fatal 737 Max accidents, an early milestone to lifting a global grounding of its best-selling jet. But there are many steps in the FAA’s assessment of the proposed fix, and that process could stretch well into June even if there are no complications, said a person familiar with the matter. Boeing must also convince authorities from Beijing to Brussels that the plane is safe. Canada has already signalled it won’t follow an FAA panel’s recommendation against requiring additional simulator training for pilots. Boeing has completed its engineering trial of the updated software, and its technical and engineering leaders were on board the final flight test earlier this week, CE Dennis Muilenburg said Wednesday. <br/>
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The Department of Homeland Security says it expects to use facial recognition technology on 97% of departing passengers within the next 4 years. The system, which involves photographing passengers before they board their flight, first started rolling out in 2017, and was operational in 15 US airports as of the end of 2018. The aim of the system is to offer “Biometric Exit,” which gives authorities as good an idea of who’s leaving the country as who’s entering it, and allows them to identify people who have overstayed their visas. Since the introduction of the current system, facial recognition identified 7,000 passengers who overstayed their visas on the 15,000 flights tracked. The US Customers and Border Protection estimates that over 600,000 people overstay their visas every year. <br/>
European regulators have listed large civil aircraft and helicopters among potential targets of trade countermeasures aimed at US exports, following the US govt’s plans to introduce tariffs on Airbus jets. The EC has opened a consultation on the measures, publishing an 11-page preliminary list of products which could fall under the new regime, featuring increased customs duties of up to 100%. It includes aircraft with an unladen weight above 15t as well as helicopters both above and below 2t. “The proposed action will only apply to new non-military aircraft,” the Commission has clarified in the list. The Commission is responding to proposed US govt tariffs on a range of products put forward in the context of a long-running transatlantic dispute over subsidies for large civil aircraft programmes. <br/>
Fixing Europe’s ATC problems will be a test not only of the continent’s technical abilities, but its resolve to combat global warming, according to Europe’s airport trade association. Airports Council International Europe was reacting to the April 15 report by the “wise persons” group on Europe’s ATC shortcomings. The airport group noted that “the report takes stock of the failures of the Single European Sky and of the need for reform, because of the impact of current air traffic management inefficiencies on the traveling public and airspace users. “While ATM inefficiencies also impact airports at various levels, ACI Europe is especially concerned with their impact on the environment and, in particular, climate change. Last year, these inefficiencies led to an additional +5.2% of CO2 emitted by aircraft in Europe,” the group said. <br/>
A start-up wants to weigh airplane passengers before boarding, in an effort to reduce fuel use and costs. Fuel Matrix CE Roy Fuscone said the move isn't about fat-shaming, or even charging based on weight - it's all about saving fuel. "It's critical to know the actual weight an airline is carrying to ensure the correct fuel uplift." His company wants to provide software to airlines to manage passenger weight. He's suggesting this be collected through discreet weigh stations at airports and is already talking to some in the UK about introducing pressure pads at bag drops or during a full-body scan. Fuscone says data on passengers' weight will be held securely and protected using the same technology that protects facial recognition technology used at airports. <br/>
France's main pilot union, the SNPL has warned the govt it will call a strike from May 6 to May 11, which could affect all airlines operating in France, if a new law threatens to diminish its powers of representation. The union fears that a transport law being discussed in parliament could group them with other larger trade unions in the sector in negotiations with legislators or employers, drowning out their voice particularly on issues that concern pilots, La Tribune newspaper reported Thursday. The newspaper said the union has sent a nationwide strike notice to prime minister Edouard Philippe, transport minister Elisabeth Borne and labour minister Muriel Penicaud. The strike could affect all airlines operating in France including Air France, Aigle Azur, Corsair, XL Airways, Easy Jet and Vueling. <br/>