State of the Union: Aviation safety – one pilot or two on an airplane?

When Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán travelled to Russia and China on a self-described “peace mission” lately, he ought to have identified that he would threat a backlash amongst his colleagues within the European Council.

And so it occurred.

On the International Affairs Council, the EU’s high diplomat delivered a blistering rebuke in opposition to Orbán and accused the newly minted rotating Council president of disloyalty.

Borrell confirmed the following casual international ministers assembly can be held in Brussels, successfully kicking a beforehand deliberate assembly in Budapest off the agenda.

“We have now to ship a sign, even when it’s a symbolic sign that being in opposition to the prime coverage of the European Union and disqualifying the coverage of the European Union because the social gathering of warfare has to have some penalties, properly formal penalties,” Borrell stated.

Whether or not the Hungarian authorities will use to summer season weeks to ponder a couple of completely different strategy stays to be seen.

One particular person dies of AIDs each minute

Elsewhere, researchers, medics and politicians gathered on the twenty fifth Worldwide AIDS Convention in Munich this week to spice up efforts to search out methods to remedy the epidemic.

Round 40 million individuals worldwide live with the illness – nonetheless an terrible quantity regardless of all of the medical progress that has been remodeled the a long time.

Whereas AIDS has just about dropped off the radar in rich international locations, the combat continues in most of the world’s poorer elements.

A combat that wants not solely cash and analysis, but additionally empathy.

“One particular person dies of AIDS each minute. One particular person each minute! That’s one thing we should change. Our widespread objective is to finish the epidemic by 2030,” stated German chancellor Olaf Scholz addressing the convention.

“We’d like extra analysis, higher prevention, people-centered info and thorough testing. However what we actually need to hold engaged on is the combat in opposition to discrimination and stigma.”

Is there a second pilot on this airplane?

Talking of a hazard to well being… The European Cockpit Affiliation of business pilots launched an advert marketing campaign in Brussels Airport bogs this week to boost consciousness of what they consider to be an enormous security threat.

A proposal by plane producers and airways to have one pilot on the controls solely – and never two.

The thought has sparked huge resistance amongst pilots and is at the moment being evaluated the European Aviation Security Company.

We talked to Tanja Harter, Technical Affairs Director on the European Cockpit Affiliation, who’s a pilot herself, for extra on the problem.

Euronews: Why do we’d like two pilots on an airplane?

Harter: Two pilots on an airplane are there for a motive. We do have all of the programs, every thing on an plane at the least twice. That features the pilots. Pilots have very distinctive roles. They work collectively very carefully, talk on a regular basis. And that is how they clear up issues and function the flight. So, it is all the time two which are doing this and serious about what’s forward and what what the problems are.

Euronews: The ECA, your organisation, in addition to 1000’s of pilots worldwide have been advocating in opposition to the “prolonged Minimal Crew Operations” for fairly a while now – why is it clearly so troublesome to persuade the trade?

Harter: Apparently it’s a very tempting situation for varied causes. One is likely to be known as a cost-cutting train, the opposite is likely to be the problem of presumed or perceived pilot scarcity. All of those points are coming our approach and are used for a causes. What we have not heard is a extremely urgent security situation.

Euronews: We all know that plane producers and airways are those who’re pushing for flights with one pilot – how will the aviation authorities and regulatory our bodies react?

Harter: Airbus as one of many producers – apparently pushed by the shoppers, the operators – has positioned a request for certification of such an plane to the European regulator. And they’re wanting into the problem and the certification course of is underway. (…) The decision for consultants has been out and we’re ready for the rulemaking to start out.

Euronews: Lastly, when can we count on this situation to be settled as soon as and for all?

Harter: Effectively, that could be a excellent query. The rulemaking is meant to start out within the fall. In the event you take a look at the European plan for aviation security, which is the timeline we’re working with, they need to put it into operation as quickly as 2027.

A little bit birdie instructed me

It is likely to be mandatory as of late to inform pilots a couple of gorgeous phenomenon in Cyprus.

There the small group of Mesana has been swarmed by tens of 1000’s of migrating swallows.

The birds are resting on utility poles and high-voltage traces. Why the swallows collect there solely between six and eight within the morning after which scatter, is a thriller.

They repeat this course of religiously for 2 summer season months till they fly to Africa in early September.

In accordance with consultants, the birds relate to one another and start journey plans. It may also be a approach of organising their giant group, nobody is aware of for sure.

Native lore has it that it brings unhealthy luck to those that attempt to anger the birds.