Despite growing opposition and a bill pending in Congress, the Federal Air Surgeon is staying on course with his plan to require pilots and controllers with a body mass index (BMI) of at least 40 to undergo testing for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and seek treatment, if necessary.

Honeywell is in hot pursuit of a new family of cockpit aids to help airline pilots better manage the takeoff and landing phases of their flights. The avionics maker is close to rolling out a takeoff-roll acceleration-monitor software upgrade as part of its enhanced ground proximity warning system (Egpws), and is in the midst of researching a more comprehensive landing-and-takeoff performance monitor upgrade that will include a dedicated display area on the primary-flight or navigation displays.

A major development project has been launched at Honolulu International Airport that will add capacity and allow Hawaiian Airlines to dramatically improve the efficiency of its main hub. The multi-phase project involves the construction of new cargo and heavy-maintenance facilities for Hawaiian Airlines, with their relocation allowing for taxiways to be widened. This in turn will improve access for larger aircraft to a new passenger terminal that will be built when the other facilities are finished.

Guy Hachey is President and Chief Operating Officer of Bombardier

China Southern wants part of China Eastern's Kunming action

Aggressive intra-European expansion planned

In simulator centers worldwide, training providers are coming up with clever and creative ways to boost the relevance of virtual flight-training scenarios, where pilots experience and respond to unusual circumstances like upsets. The trick will be to keep the pilots from trumpeting their experiences on social media and alerting pilot colleagues of what awaits them in the simulator.

The global airline industry is notorious for losing money. But for various reasons, 2014 looks set to be the most profitable year ever. That is the International Air Transport Association's (IATA) upbeat forecast and it applies to profits in absolute numbers. While the figure may look impressive, it only corresponds to a margin of 2.6%; the industry has had some better profit margins, most recently in 2010.