Galileo is back on track - On Friday 27, the launch of satellites 7 and 8

Last week, the European Space Agency (ESA) announced that two more satellites for Europe’s Galileo satellite navigation will be launched on 27 March 2015. Galileo satellites 7 and 8 are scheduled to lift off from Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana on top of a Soyuz rocket and they are expected to become operational by mid-2015. This launch, scheduled for late last year, was delayed due to the Soyuz launch anomaly of Galileo satellites 5 and 6 which took place in August 2014.

Cyprus Airways ceases operations after an order to repay state aid - but is it over?

Last week, Cyprus Airways, the island’s national carrier, was shut down after a European Commission decision ordered the company to repay more than 65 million euros it received in illegal state aid.   On Wednesday, the state’s Council of Ministers approved a proposal tabled by the Ministry of Finance, to proceed with acquiring the services of advisors in order to set up the new airline, which will use the logo and name of Cyprus Airways.

Travellers and insolvency: Developments in the EU - part 1 IATA agreement

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) announced a new voluntary agreement among its members to help repatriate passengers flying to, from or within the EU, who had booked their ticket with an airline that in the meantime filed for bankruptcy and stopped its operations.

Independent Enquiry Board announces causes for failed Galileo Launch

Last week, the Independent Inquiry Board (“the Board”), entrusted with the task to examine the exact causes that led to the orbital injection anomaly of Galileo satellites 5 and 6 on August 22, announced its definite conclusions. The Board reported that the anomaly occurred during the flight of the launcher’s fourth stage, the Fregat. Its main cause was a deficiency in the system thermal analysis performed during the design stage.

EU Commission to regulate civil RPAS

The EU Commission announced the intention to develop standards on the use in civilian airspace of Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS), commonly known as “drones”. The standards will include safety, privacy and data protection, security, liability and insurance, and streamlining of Research and Development (R&D).