Airworthiness Newsletters
Why can’t we just have one global certification standard? This month, Eelco Bakker explores the dream (or illusion?) of universal Type Certificates for aviation, and what’s holding it back.
Also in this issue:
- The secondary cockpit barrier to prevent intrusions into the cockpit is now flying on a Southwest 737 MAX 8.
- And: an FAA safety alert on passengers grabbing bags during emergency evacuations. Long overdue?
Read the September edition of the ADSE Airworthiness Newsletter of September 2025
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Newsletter Archive
Finally, some positive airworthiness news. This month, Eelco Bakker looks at a few milestones worth noting:
- Two tilt-rotor eVTOLs made public airport-to-airport flights in the UK and US, showing real-world integration is possible.
- Baykar’s acquisition of Piaggio gives Turkey a foothold in Europe’s aerospace sector.
- And Brexit, has surprising consequences for Type Certificate Data Sheets of UK-designed aircraft.
Quiet summer? Not in aviation safety. July brought a wave of investigation updates:
- The preliminary report on the Air India 787 fuel cutoff incident:
unsettling cockpit dialogue, no conclusions yet.- The final report on the Alaska Airlines MAX 9 door plug separation:
design flaws, human-factor gaps, and a call for stronger safety culture.- Plus, the interim update on Jeju Air’s bird strike crash:
families of the victims criticized focus on bird strikes and pilot error.
Ambition alone won’t get sustainable aviation off the ground.
This month, Eelco Bakker reflects on the Dutch government’s new SAF Roadmap, and the abrupt halt of the planed SAF plant in Rotterdam. A familiar pattern: bold ambition meets harsh reality.
More importantly, he shares a report written by ADSE that uncovers the regulatory roadblocks that are slowing down innovation in sustainable aviation. Testing restrictions, approval hurdles, fragmented rules, and more.
What happens after you file an occurrence report? Spoiler: often less than you would expect.
In this month’s Airworthiness Newsletter, Eelco Bakker zooms in on a critical but underappreciated part of aviation safety: reporting culture. He reflects on a recent aircraft/helicopter collision near Washington DC and explains why incomplete occurrence reports remain a blind spot, not just for operators, but also for maintenance teams.
Reporting matters. Culture matters more.
This month marks the 75th edition of the Airworthiness Newsletter — a solid milestone!
In this issue, Eelco looks at a new chapter in aviation: Chinese eVTOL manufacturer EHang has been granted the world’s first Air Operator Certificate for autonomous air taxis from the Chinese aviation authorities. This means commercial, passenger-carrying air taxis are now a reality!
Also: a reminder why penguins and helicopter cockpits don’t mix. Read this and more in the 75th edition of the ADSE Airworthiness Newsletter!
Energy versus Aircraft Noise. A strange combination? Not in The Netherlands! On the approach path to Runway 18 Right of Amsterdam Airport Schiphol, a new solar park is being built. And suddenly, pilots are complaining that the sun is reflecting from those panels into their flight deck on certain moments of the day.
The reason for these problems, and the proposed solution will surprise you.
What a month in Aviation it has been! It was filled with several bizarre incidents and accidents. The formal investigation reports will undoubtedly serve as learning opportunities for the industry.
This month was also filled with great advancements in aviation. Boom Supersonic XB-1 successfully broke the sound barrier without producing an audible boom at ground level. And Safran has certified the first SC E-19-compliant electric engine.
This month’s newsletter is going to be GREAT, the greatest newsletter you have ever read. Some say this is by far the best newsletter of 2025 up to now! Better than any other newsletter you have ever seen before. So don't miss this opportunity to learn from the best, and read the ADSE Airworthiness Newsletter.
Let’s Make the Aviation industry Great Again in 2025 with -as always- Safety First!
This month, find out more about the ‘EU Flight Emissions Label’, a publication of the European Commission for more informed and sustainable travel. Eelco also summarizes the upcoming EASA events, and much more!
Have a great holiday period. And fly safely! ★
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It's November 2024 and autonomous flight is coming towards us at a staggering speed. It is an industry that is maturing fast and that's here to stay. And aviation authorities around the world are trying to keep up with the rapid developments.
Poor yourself a hot drink and find out everything you need to know in the ADSE Airworthiness Newsletter.
It's October already and we are getting close to the start of 2025! What will it bring in terms of the aviation design and production work? Well, SMS takes effect under EASA rules (7 March 2025), the design, production and maintenance of high-risk unmanned aircraft systems will go live (1 May 2025), and you may ask the question how alive will Boeing be in 2025…
If you were born after, let's say, 1980, you will remember. It was on October 2nd 1992, when a Boeing 747 Cargo from El Al crashed into the Bijlmermeer, on the outskirts of Amsterdam. It killed the three-man crew, and 39 people on the ground.
It's now 22 years ago, and this accident still resonates today. Read about the personal story of Eelco Bakker, and a newly launched website that's dedicated to the accident investigation of this crash. It's all in our monthly Airworthiness Newsletter.
Also, Eelco summarizes the latest news from aviation authorities around the world. For instance about EASA's final report on the toxicity of cabin air on-board large transport aircraft.
The summer has been far from slow when it comes to aviation news this year! Next to incidents with the B787 and B777, Boeing agreed to plea guilty in the aftermath of the 737 MAX investigation. And we had the sad crash of the Voepass ATR-72, killing all 58 passengers and 4 crew members.
We also had a passenger who could not wait to get out of the plane and decided to open the emergency exit.
And, oh yeah! Have you ever seen a dancing nose gear!?!
This month, Eelco revisits the accident with the overheated galley oven. Was there maybe another human factor at play that that wasn't mentioned last month?
This month, Eelco explains the connection between Swiss Cheese and an overheated galley oven.
He also shares the first ‘Easy Access Rules’ for U-Space, the highly automated air traffic control for Drones. And Eelco updates you about the new EASA Special Condition for small-category VTOL aircraft. And much more!
This month, Eelco takes you back to 1958, when Canadian Pacific Air Lines Flight 301 ended in tragedy. Of the 31 souls on board, only 20 survived. What did we learn from this accident?
He also updates you about the latest news and regulations for Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS). As we embrace the future of aviation, including airborne package delivery services, a forward-thinking safety culture is crucial.
Read about EASA proposals for new certification specifications, consultation papers on production deviations and flight data monitoring, and equivalent safety findings. We'll also update you about workshops and conferences on artificial intelligence, additive manufacturing, and safety management. And we're covering the latest developments on sustainable aviation at the Dutch Ministry.
This month, read about EASA's concept paper on Artificial Intelligence. Among other things, it addresses 'Human-AI Teaming' (HAT), setting the stage for AI systems that automatically take decisions under human oversight. Follow the link below for more! In addition, Eelco updates you about the upcoming EASA events.
The saga of the missing bolts that blew off a fuselage panel of the Alaska MAX 9 jet continues. Also, the European Parliament published a report on electric aviation, called: “a solution for short and mid-range flights”.
From January 2024, ADSE will publish monthly updates about initial-, continued- and continuing airworthiness. And the best thing: It's free! The Airworthiness Newsletter is carefully put together by our Head Office of Airworthiness, Eelco Bakker. Stay informed with all the important news from EASA, the FAA and other aviation authorities around the globe.
More information?
Interested in what we can do for you? Feel free to contact our Business Development Manager Aerospace.
Jenny van der Pols
Head of Design Organisation