FAA chief Steve Dickson has invited about 50 aviation safety regulators from around the world to an informal briefing in Montreal next week on the status of the grounded Boeing 737 MAX. The FAA has been reviewing proposed software and training changes from Boeing for the plane that has been grounded since March. Dickson said the FAA is working to provide regulators with "useful information as you make your individual decisions on safely returning your fleets to service." The meeting, to be held Monday, is taking place in connection with the ICAO World Aviation Forum. Boeing plans to revise the 737 MAX software to take input from both angle-of-attack sensors in the MCAS anti-stall system linked to the two deadly crashes. It is not clear when Boeing will conduct a key certification test flight. <br/>
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A new study of airlines' water quality suggests that the quality of water found in an airplane's tanks can vary considerably from one carrier to another. According to the 2019 Airline Water Study from DietDetective.com and the Hunter College NYC Food Policy Centre, to be perfectly safe, airline passengers should not drink coffee or tea served on-board. They should not wash their hands in the lavatory, but should bring along their own hand sanitizer instead. And passengers should never drink any water on-board a commercial flight unless it comes out of a sealed bottle. The federal govt regulates airline water quality under the 2011 Aircraft Drinking Water Rule, which is supposed to be enforced by the EPA, although the researchers also found that the EPA "rarely levies civil penalties to airlines in violation of the ADWR." <br/>
Airline customer-service agents say they often get verbal threats from passengers, and sometimes they turn into physical confrontations. The agents say alcohol, airline fees and long lines can anger passengers. The Govt Accountability Office reported Tuesday that more than half the 104 agents it surveyed reported threats or other harmful action by customers in the past year. About 10% say they were physically assaulted. The congressional investigative agency says comprehensive figures on passenger assaults are hard to find. Airlines, airports and law enforcement say current laws are adequate to deter confrontations, and most say they have resources to deal with the problem. <br/>
Gatwick has become the UK's first airport to confirm it will use facial-recognition cameras on a permanent basis for ID checks before passengers board planes. It follows a self-boarding trial carried out in partnership with EasyJet last year. The airport said the technology should reduce queuing times but travellers would still need to carry passports. Privacy campaigners are concerned. Tuesday, a spokeswoman for Gatwick said it had taken the decision after reviewing feedback from passengers in the earlier test. "More than 90% of those interviewed said they found the technology extremely easy to use and the trial demonstrated faster boarding of the aircraft for the airline and a significant reduction in queue time for passengers," she said. <br/>
Partially edible, plastic-free in-flight meal trays have been designed to reduce airline waste and encourage businesses and travellers to address the issue. The tray which is made from used coffee grounds, also comprises a side dish lid made of algae or banana leaf, and a spork - which replaces single-use knives, forks and spoons - made from coconut wood. Instead of plastic containers for milk or sauces, edible pods made from soluble seaweed are included. Design studio PriestmanGoode, who developed the trays, said they are currently in discussions with airlines and rail companies, and the “dream” would be to turn their concept into reality across the industry. It is estimated around 5.7m tonnes of cabin waste, including single-use plastic, earphones and food waste, is generated on passenger flights every year. <br/>