From Aviation International News today
Brazilian Tragedy Sparks Int’l Ops Considerations
A week after the tragedy in Brazil that killed nearly 200 people when a TAM Linhas Aereas A320 went off the end of the runway at Congonhas airport in São Paulo, business aviation operators are reflecting on the safety of international operations, specifically in Brazil. Although the FAA has not issued any formal advisories for Brazil, David Solo, a trip planner at Universal Weather & Aviation, said that certain airports and runways are restricted and that the situation is still unsafe. “The unfortunate thing about the changes in Brazil is that there really haven’t been any,” he said. Although Universal is able to offer a range of services for international operators, Solo said that even with security and a proper airport assessment he still advises not traveling to Brazil unless it’s absolutely necessary. Meanwhile, the International Federation of Air Traffic Controllers’ Associations said last week that air safety is still compromised in Brazil.