Simple Flying - Daniel Martinez Garbuno
The International Federation of Air Line Pilots’ Associations (IFALPA) released a safety bulletin noting its concerns around several incidents involving aircraft arriving at Mexico City Benito Juárez International (MEX).
Some airplanes have experienced low fuel states due to unplanned holding, diversions, and Ground Proximity Warning System (GPWS) alerts, with the association noting that one flight “almost had a Controlled Flight into Terrain.” IFALPA did not disclose which airline was involved in this incident. Let’s investigate further.
The opening of Mexico City’s new Felipe Ángeles International Airport (NLU) led to a reconfiguration of the airspace around the city.
Nevertheless, “it would appear that with the opening of this newly converted airport, ATC has apparently received little training and support as to how to operate this new configuration in the airspace,” said IFALPA on May 4.
According to the air traffic controllers union (or Sinacta), the number of incidents above Mexico City has skyrocketed, increasing by 300%, since Seneam implemented the airspace redesign.
