Business aviation officials are welcoming the deal on a global system to limit aviation emissions, agreed to on Oct. 4 at the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Assembly in Montreal, saying it provides a pathway toward a single global standard. Approved on the closing day of the Assembly, held once every three years, the resolution commits ICAO to determining the details of a global system of market-based measures (MBM) by 2016, for implementation from 2020.

The business and general aviation community has already begun to feel the ripple effects from the U.S. government shutdown, with a range of critical services coming to a standstill – from FAA’s registration branch to an accident investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board. Not only have more than a dozen new aircraft transactions been delayed, but an investigation of one major business aviation accident has been halted.

The National Transportation Safety Board is calling for the FAA to release its enforcement investigative reports (EIRs) to parties appealing emergency enforcement actions. The notice of proposed rulemaking, released recently, expands on requirements of the Pilot’s Bill of Rights (PRIA) that was passed last year and designed to provide pilots greater protections during enforcement actions.

The Department of Transportation is considering a proposal to strengthen consumer protections for the use of charter brokers and charter transportation.

The Aeronautical Repair Station Association (ARSA) is urging the Small Business Administration (SBA) to weigh in on FAA’s proposed airworthiness directive (AD) calling for inspections and replacement of Engine Components Inc. (ECi) and Airmotive Engineering “Titan” cylinders found on 6,000 Continental 520 and 550 model reciprocating engines.

Rep. Henry Waxman (D-Calif.) is hoping the investigation into the Sept. 29 crash of a Cessna Citation CJ2+, N194SJ, at Santa Monica Airport (SMO) will lead to a much larger look at the safety of the airport’s layout. SMO critics have long pushed for curbs on the use of the airport or closure of it altogether, arguing that the layout does not provide enough safety buffers to protect neighboring residents.

Brazilian airframer Embraer believes the next notable pickup in the market will be for midsize jets, but cautions that improvement will require consumer confidence to grow. Embraer, which keeps a rolling forecast of the market, sees a shift, with midsize jets playing a much greater role in the next few years than they have recently.

Atlantic Aviation is facing a few mostly procedural hearings as the company continues its effort to halt development of a Signature Flight Support fixed-base operation at Mineta San Jose Airport in California. The two sides are meeting Sept. 27 for a settlement conference required under California law when a petition is filed citing the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). The Santa Clara County Court on Oct. 3 will then follow with a hearing on objections to the lawsuit.