The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has issued regulations restricting the use of certain hydrofluorocarbon sprays and their transportation in specific sectors or subsectors of industry, potentially including airframe manufacturing, aircraft maintenance, and air transportation. The new regulations also establish a process for submitting technology transition petitions and describe the recordkeeping and reporting requirements; Compliance dates for these restrictions vary depending on the subsector ranging from Jan. 1, 2025, to Jan. 1, 2028.
Australia’s Civil Aviation Safety Authority is seeking feedback on a draft advisory circular covering safety management systems (SMS) for airports. The updated AC is intended to provide guidance and information to operators of large and/or busy certified airports, including international facilities. This AC provides guidance to all operators of certified airports seeking to obtain the safety benefits of establishing an SMS. Guidance is provided on: general requirements of an SMS; SMS structure; safety policy and objectives; safety risk management process; safety assurance; and safety promotion.
Business aviation operators of large airplanes (more than 12,500 pounds mtow) planning flights to Athens International Airport (LGAV) should prepare for significant operational, slot, parking reservations, and fee changes that take effect starting March 30, 2025. These changes will impact a wide range of aircraft operators, including private, air taxi, and ferry/tech stop flights, as well as those flying under IFR and VFR. The new procedures contain additional coordination requirements for certain VFR flights.
Australia’s Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) has released compliance timelines for certain Part 133 public, ambulance, and rotorcraft operators to transition their training and checking systems to recently adopted new flight operations regulations. Helicopter operators must ensure that CASA has a current copy of their proposed training and checking systems manual no later than March 31, 2025. A key change to the transition approach is a self-assessment by operators. It’s aimed at ensuring the accountable person is confident that the training and checking requirements have been properly addressed in operational procedures. Rotorcraft operators have until July 1, 2025, to implement their systems.
Hong Kong is scheduled to start rolling out its Advance Passenger Information System (APIS) program in the third quarter of 2024. To allow time for airlines and general aviation operators to connect to the APIS and to ensure the smooth and orderly running of the system, a transitional period of about 12 months will be adopted, during which the application of offenses and penalties from non-compliance with the requirements will be suspended. However, according to business aviation flight planning organization OpsGroup, general aviation operators will have to start using the system on April 1, 2025.
Air passenger duty (APD) taxes of between about $105 and $875 per passenger, depending on the length of the flight, are part of the UK’s latest proposed federal budget plan. The new rates, planned to start on April 1, 2025, apply only to corporate jets having a mtow of more than 44,000 pounds with 18 or fewer passenger seats. However, in late 2024, the UK issued a proposal for comments that would make the APD applicable to all business jets.
Changes have been made to the fee and payment structure associated with U.S. Department of Agriculture inspections that apply to commercial vessels, including aircraft. One of the most significant revisions is to eliminate the user fee exemption previously applied to commercial aircraft with fewer than 64 seats. After April 1, 2025, previously exempted aircraft will have to follow the FDA’s food and plant inspection and guideline requirements. The revised rules go into effect Oct. 1, 2024, for all other operators.
The FAA will require individuals with foreign addresses and no U.S. physical address on file with the agency who hold or apply for certain certificates, ratings, or authorizations to designate a U.S. agent for service of related documents. The U.S. agent will receive FAA document service on the certificate holder or applicant's behalf. According to the agency, “This rule facilitates the FAA's ability to accomplish prompt and cost-effective process and service of other safety-critical or time-sensitive documents to individuals abroad through their U.S. agents.” The compliance date is April 2, 2025, for certificate applicants and July 7, 2025, for certificate holders.
The Minnesota Metropolitan Airport Commission is seeking comments on a 20-year draft plan for the continued operation and development of Flying Cloud Airport. Completion of project proposals are grouped in three phases: near-term (within the first five years), mid-term (six to 10 years), and long-term (11 to 20 years). Near-term plans include relocating the control tower. Included in mid-term and long-range goals are safety improvements to, and relocation of, specific taxiways and runways. Comments on the draft plan are due by April 4, 2025.
Plans to reinstate visa requirements for Australian, Canadian, and U.S. citizens (including flight crews) have been delayed one year—until April 10, 2025. According to international business aircraft flight planning service Universal Weather and Aviation, travelers should apply online at least 15 days before their intended arrival to account for the approximately five-day processing period. Universal advises travelers to carry two printed copies of the electronic visa. The visa fee is $80.90 with a 10-year validity.