US President Joe Biden intends to nominate David Pekoske to serve another term as head of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), the White House said on Friday. Pekoske was first nominated by former President Donald Trump in 2017. Pekoske's five-year term as head of the TSA began in August 2017. The TSA, created by Congress in November 2001 after the Sept. 11 attacks, is responsible for security operations at 430 US airports and is the lead federal agency for security of highways, railroads, mass transit systems and pipelines. Pekoske led the TSA's operations during the COVID-19 pandemic and the agency's enforcement of mask requirements at US airports that were only lifted last month when a judge declared the mandate unlawful. A total of 35 TSA employees died of COVID and 23,468 were infected with the virus since the beginning of the pandemic through early May, the TSA said. Pekoske said in June 2021 that since the start of the pandemic there had been over 85 physical assaults on TSA officers. The White House in March said it wants to boost the number of TSA officers by 2,540 as it forecasts a faster return to pre-COVID US air travel levels. The White House seeks to boost the number of TSA budgeted security officer positions by about 5% and add $242.6m.<br/>
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Mexico's transport ministry pledged on Friday to insure safety for planes crossing the country's skies, responding to a recent report of risky incidents issued by a pilots association as the capital's new airport gears up. A safety bulletin issued by the IFALPA international pilots association on Wednesday reported "several incidents" involving aircraft arriving in Mexico with low fuel, ground proximity warning system alerts in which one crew almost collided unintentionally with terrain, as well as what it described as flights arriving with excessive delays. The association pointed to the March opening of the capital's Felipe Angeles commercial airport, build on land once belonging to an adjacent air force base, as a possible factor. "It would appear that with the opening of this newly converted airport, air traffic control has apparently received little training and support," the bulletin said. In its statement, the transport ministry defended its oversight performance and pointed to what it described as proper handling of its only reported safety incident from last June. It added that it would immediately convene officials to further evaluate the bulletin's assessment.<br/>
Israel said on Sunday it was ending mandatory COVID-19 testing for arrivals at Tel Aviv's Ben Gurion airport, but foreigners would still have to test negative overseas before boarding a flight to the country. The health ministry said testing at Ben Gurion would no longer be required as of May 20. It cited a drop in daily infection numbers, from more than 6,000 to fewer than 2,000 over the past month, for the decision. As of Tuesday, foreigners can opt to take a rapid antigen test within 24 hours of departure for Israel, rather than a PCR test, within 72 hours of travel, currently required, the ministry said. Since March 1, Israel has not required its citizens to test overseas for COVID-19 before boarding a flight home. At Ben Gurion, all arriving passengers, Israelis and foreigners, are now directed to PCR testing stations in a corner of the main terminal normally reserved for airline check-in counters. Under the existing rules, arrivals must self-isolate for at least 24 hours, or until a negative PCR result is received, usually within 12 hours. The government has been under public pressure to end the airport testing, which has added to passengers' travel costs and limited check-in space, causing long lines.<br/>
Nigerian airlines have suspended plans to ground all local flights due to the soaring cost of jet fuel just hours before the move was due to take effect, the airline operators association said on Sunday. The Airline Operators of Nigeria has been under pressure from the government, consumer protection bodies and customers to shelve the planned shut down since it was announced on Friday. read more Airlines are complaining about paying for jet fuel upfront in cash at 700 naira ($1.69) per litre, a price that has more than doubled this year, partly as a result of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, increasing their operating costs by around 95%. Dollar shortages in Nigeria and a weaker local currency have worsened the woes for the sector, which also faces the country-wide challenges stemming from double-digit inflation, slow growth and mounting unemployment and insecurity. The aviation ministry said earlier on Sunday that local airlines have faced unfavourable global oil market dynamics but efforts are ongoing to find a "lasting solution to the perplexing issue of aviation fuel availability and affordability". Fuel shortages and high debts caused some carriers to suspend local flights indefinitely in 2016. Though the government has intervened with financial assistance to support the sector. Nigeria subsidises imported petrol to keep pump prices low. But with the rise in global oil prices, the country has endured soaring costs in order to avert strikes, especially in the run-up to presidential elections next year.<br/>
A great deal of progress has been made in technology for electric aircraft, boosting prospects for a new era in commuting believed to be coming between 2023 and 2026. A fully electric small aircraft from Rolls-Royce has broken two world speed records, demonstrating the viability of the aircraft for fast, short-distance transportation. Rolls-Royce is partnering with aerospace companies to develop airplanes and vehicles powered by its electric propulsion systems. In autumn 2021, the company's single-seat, electric-powered propeller plane, Spirit of Innovation, smashed the zero-emission speed record, hitting an average of 555.9 kph over 3 km. The average speed broke the existing record by 213.04 kph. The plane also flew at a record average speed of 532.1 kph over 15 km, maxing out at 623 kph. The two records were ratified in January by Federation Aeronautique Internationale, or World Air Sports Federation, which certifies aeronautical and astronautical records. Rob Watson, head of Rolls-Royce's electric aircraft business, says the company has built a solid foundation for realizing its vision of commercial electric aviation. The first commercial electric aircraft will be small and designed for high-speed commuter transport. An electric aircraft is powered by one or more motors typically supplied by batteries. Technological challenges in developing commercially viable electric aircraft include reducing the weight of core parts like batteries and motors while enhancing power. Electric planes are expected to have a cost advantage over traditional planes when traveling short distances with a limited number of passengers. Story has more.<br/>