The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has released a notification reiterating the potential risk posed to commercial aircraft operating under below 25,000 feet within Kenya. EASA highlighted a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) advisory that was issued to UK-based carriers in August 2016, regarding threats from dedicated anti-aircraft weaponry. Kenya is not currently listed as a conflict zone by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), however Kenya has since been re-categorised by EASA, due to the threats issued by terrorist organisations operating in the region.

Brussels International Airport will be the testing ground for a newly developed bird monitoring radar system. The US-built system will reportedly be capable of tracking and monitoring bird wild life at a range of 2.7 nautical miles (nm) and a height of 2 nm. The system will be operated for two weeks and aims to gather information regarding bird habits and behaviour in and around the airport’s airspace. This data will then be developed and implemented into the airport’s existing bird control strategies to reduce the risk of aircraft bird-strike occurrences.

Indonesia’s state carrier, Garuda, has reiterated its plans to launch flights to the United States, via Japan in 2017. Following Indonesia’s upgrade to a category 1 country within the Federal Aviation Administration’s IASA programme, all Indonesian carriers can now commence unrestricted flights to the US. Previously, carriers had been restricted from operating flights to the US due to a number of concerns regarding the safety of the aviation industry within Indonesia. The IASA programme examines critical aspects of a nation’s aviation industry including legislation, training, licensing, certification, airworthiness, security and maintenance.