Subscribe to Print Edition | Wed., July 16, 2008 Tamuz 13, 5768 | | Israel Time: 02:43 (EST+7) web haaretz.com   Back to Homepage Rosner's Domain Diplomacy Defense Jewish World Opinion National Print Edition Car Rental Books Peres Conference Business Real Estate Easy Start Travel Week's End Anglo File

Israeli jets could be barred from U.S. if facilities fail inspections By Zohar Blumenkrantz Tags: Israel The Civil Aviation Authority says the United States could curtail the activities of Israeli airlines in the U.S. after the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration inspects the aviation sector here next week. Concerns have also been raised over a possible blow to Israel's standing in the international aviation sector. The FAA inspection will last four days and examine the flight-safety performance of the Civil Aviation Authority, one Israeli airline, and Ben-Gurion International Airport. The Civil Aviation Authority will be the main focus. Inspectors will see if the authority appropriately regulates flight safety, including planes' technical levels, their maintenance and pilots' skills. The FAA hopes to avoid accidents at U.S. airports involving Israeli airlines. If the inspectors find local safety levels to be inadequate, the FAA could limit or altogether block landings of Israeli airlines in the United States. Advertisement The public committee appointed to examine air safety in Israel, headed by a former Israel Air Force commander, Maj. Gen. (Ret.) Amos Lapidot, published dire findings last year. The Lapidot Committee pointed to a number of serious problems in Israeli aviation; it particularly criticized the establishment of a new, more powerful Civil Aviation Authority to regulate the sector. The committee's report cited "the Civil Aviation Authority's very inadequate performance, anachronistic and irrelevant aviation law, and haphazard and insufficient ordinances." The report found that Ben-Gurion Airport suffers from flaws and limitations. It also warned that the joint airspace used by both military and civil aviation is "very crowded, and not appropriately defined." Lapidot resigned more than a month ago as head of the joint transportation and defense ministry committee established after the Lapidot panel published its findings. Lapidot said that not enough is being done to implement his recommendations on the issue. Brig. Gen. Israel Shafir has been appointed by Transportation Minister Shaul Mofaz to replace Lapidot to head the committee. Transportation Ministry Director General Gideon Siterman has ordered that efforts to promote aviation safety continue. Bookmark to del.icio.us   Hezbollah's pleasure For Israelis, the release of Kuntar is a form of self-inflicted torture. Exchange timeline How the prisoner exchange with Hezbollah will be carried out.   1.   GOOD NEWS FOR FLIGHT SECURITY 12:40  |  Robert 15/07/08   2.   About time 12:41  |  George 15/07/08   3.   I can understand Ben Gurion Airport. But.... 12:50  |  Stephen. 15/07/08   4.   authorities themselves get fined by the cameras 13:17  |  Helm of Chelm 15/07/08   5.   Helm of Chelm 14:07  |  wibism 15/07/08   6.   US LYING GOVERNMENTAL COWARDS HAVE TAKEN YOUR LAND AND GIVEN IT 17:26  |  glenna 15/07/08

Read & React VIDEO: Olmert, Assad dodge unwanted handshake in Paris Responses: 63 Obama camp slams New Yorker cover of him in Muslim garb, wife as terrorist Responses: 175 Ahmadinejad: Direct U.S. talks possible in 'near future' Responses: 108 Cabinet okays Hezbollah prisoner swap, exchange set for Wednesday Responses: 110 More Headlines 00:00 Peres pardons Kuntar, says 'no forgiveness in my decision' 23:59 Mother of Kuntar victim: How can you pardon him? 23:56 Lebanon declares state holiday marking return of prisoners 22:52 TIMELINE: How the prisoner exchange will be carried out 23:40 Anti-terror unit warns Israelis in Sinai face danger of abduction 02:21 Olmert questioned over never-repaid $75,000 loan from Jewish-American businessman 01:24 Holocaust survivors in need of long-term hospital care strapped for funds 02:26 Joint secular-observant Jewish school system approved 23:37 Talansky: Olmert's lawyers won't break me in cross-questioning 17:07 Bradley Burston/ The pleasure that Hezbollah takes in torture 21:05 Blair nixes Gaza visit in light of Shin Bet warning of attack 20:37 Obama campaign slams New Yorker cover showing him in Muslim garb, wife as terrorist 02:02 Justice Dept. seeks to revoke citizenship of man accused of serving in Nazi unit 20:56 Key witness in Olmert graft probe silent under questioning Previous Editions Select Day 15 jul 14 jul 13 jul 11 jul 10 jul 09 jul 08 jul 07 jul 06 jul 04 jul 03 jul 02 jul

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