Single European skies: functional airspace blocks - delays and responses

This article considers the ‘Functional Airspace Blocks’ (FAB’s) – which are part of the European initiative for a Single European Sky (SES). The primary objective of the transport policy has been to complete the internal market for transport and facilitate the free movement of persons, good and services. Yet the significance of the transport policy to the wider objectives of the EU is often overlooked. Whilst deregulation of the air transport sector in the EU has created the world's largest and most successful example of regional market integration and liberalization in air transport – the industry remains hampered by disjointed skies, which standard to compromise safety and impact upon economic development. And, whilst the FAB should have been completed – ‘by’ December 2012 - it is still not a reality. The research identifies the aims and advantages of a common European airspace and reviews the delays and consequences of implementation, specifically commenting on the use of the infringement process (or non-use) against Member States regarding the implementation of the FAB’s

BREXIT: A bolt from the blue! – Red sky in the morning?

After membership in the EU lasting more than forty years, the United Kingdom held a referendum in June 2016 to decide whether to remain in the EU or to leave. While the result was close, the majority of the voting population opted to leave. This paper reflects upon the possible consequences to U.K. airlines and the traveling public in order to consider whether, after the exit, there will be “red skies at night” after the initial “red skies in the morning” – warning, which undoubtedly is the current indicator level. In considering the possible rationale and reasoning for the decision, the research considers crucial related aspects such as sovereignty and governance – linked to nationality and borders – issues that have undeniably affected aviation development. This paper explores the relationship of the EU and UK and the advancement of air transport in the EU, of which the UK has been a significant part – questioning what is next for the UK after Brexit. Consideration is given to low cost carrier development in the UK and the metamorphosis of British Airways during the aviation policy development and liberalization process in the EU, both internally and externally. Whilst considerable uncertainty exists – for the UK and, indeed, the EU – the underlying concern remains for the impending risk to aviation advancement as a result of Brexit. Time cannot be turned back, but the future of aviation may see regression rather than progressio

The U.K.’s ‘Appetite’ for Space: An Increased Craving!

Launching into space was once the pursuit of super-power nations, who, during a period of international tensions, competed to be the first—the first into space and the first to the Moon. While the United Kingdom (U.K.) had a similar appetite it never achieved a space launch from its national soils, often thwarted by political and economic constraints. This said, the U.K. has played a key role, working alongside other nations in technological advancements related to space. This paper revisits the historical legacy of the U.K.’s space ventures and its space policies before comment is made to the current strategy and future vision. The approach is interdisciplinary and factors in semi-quasi case studies, particularly factoring in the European Space Agency. The findings are that the U.K. is returning to its original goal, with a renewed appetite to be a global leader in space launches, while also aiming to protect national interests which have necessitated closer alignment of the civil and defense space strategies

An analysis of vegetation pattern and its relationship to NDVI data in the Namaqualand area, South Africa

The Namaqualand area in the North Western Cape, South Africa is unique in comparison to other similar semi-arid areas of the world. It has a high biodiversity and endemism and is consequently an area of interest for a growing number of conservation initiatives. Climate plays an important role in influencing the phenology and growth of the vegetation in the area. Remote sensing techniques were used to reveal the vegetation patterns in the greater Namaqualand area and to relate them to climatic variables. To do this we used the normalised difference vegetation index (NDVI) to relate biomass to altitude, rainfall and vegetation type. Each vegetation type in the area had a unique temporal signature and the climatic variables influencing the summer rainfall and winter rainfall vegetation types differed significantly from each other. Mean annual NDVI was significantly correlated to precipitation and potential evapotranspiration (PET) (r = 0.60, -0.63 respectively). A multiple regression model explained 52% of the variance when Mean Annual NDVI was related to climatic variables. Mean NDVI in August (the month of maximum NDVI in most of Namaqualand) was significantly related to PET and the current plus two previous months of precipitation (r = -0.72 and 0.74 respectively). A multiple regression model for mean NDVI in August and climatic variables explained almost 58% of the variance. The results suggest that NDVI can be used successfully as a measure of growth and phenology in the Namaqualand area and that NDVI could be used in climate models, drought prediction, desertification predictions and a number of other applications in the future

Past Events: in hindsight! 20 years after - 9/11

This year, 2021, marks the 20th anniversary since 9/11, recorded as the ‘day that changed the world.’ Yet ironically, this year (and last) the world and aviation has faced another battle – a pandemic. The starting premise of this research, is that, while there have been concerted efforts over the last two decades (since 9/11), it was undoubtedly the earlier failure at an international level, to appreciate such risks, that compounded the vulnerable position that the sector found, and arguably still finds, itself in. In doing so, the method applied is to revisit ‘the past.’ Reflection is given to key events, in the form of case studies, and comparison analysis is given to the USA and the EU responses to terrorism and other security challenges as a result of 9/11. The findings are that nations inherently cling on to sovereignty in the form of control and that this impacts on a willingness to coordinate, coupled with this, there remains difficulties in sharing information and data, which invariably provides a risk to aviation

Impacts of a South African coastal golf estate on shrubland bird communities

Golf courses and estates are one form of development threatening coastal vegetation in South Africa's Cape Floristic Region. They occupy substantial tracts of land, fragmenting indigenous vegetation. This study investigates the effects on bird community structure and function of replacing natural Strandveld vegetation with a 170-ha golf estate in which 46 ha of Strandveld vegetation was retained in conditions ranging from pristine to moderately degraded. Bird assemblages of the remaining Strandveld patches in the golf estate were compared with those of an adjacent Strandveld conservation area. Field work was conducted during the birds' breeding season, in October and November 2005. The golf estate was more species rich overall, but many species were uncommon, several were present only as a consequence of the creation of new habitats, and species were not evenly distributed across the remaining Strandveld fragments. Bird diversity and abundance were significantly higher in the adjacent conservation area. It is estimated that more than 8500 individual birds were displaced by construction of the golf estate and four Strandveld species were not represented at all within the estate. Within the estate, species richness rose with increasing Strandveld patch size and the minimum area of continuous pristine vegetation required to maintain the natural species assemblage was estimated at 51 ha. The golf estate was characterized by a high proportion of generalist and granivorous species, but at the cost of reduced numbers of frugivores and nectarivores. Energy flow through the bird communities in the two areas was thus markedly different, and pollination and fruit dispersal potential within the golf estate were reduced substantially. Golf courses and golf estates inevitably will not substitute for the natural habitats they have replaced, but careful design with input from ecological theory can reduce the adverse effects of fragmentation

Past Attacks, Future Risks: Where Are We 20-years After 9/11?

This year, 2021, marks the 20th anniversary since 9/11, recorded as the ‘day that changed the world.’ Security remains an area where governments and airlines are continuously struggling to stay ahead, but since 9/11 there have been other challenges to the air transport industry – not least Covid-19. This research primarily critically reviews the actions taken in the aftermath of 9/11 from the US and EU perspective, before consideration is given to the current/present situation, the new, and emerging challenges being faced. The research is undertaken through a legal/ policy perspective. The findings are that internationally and regionally, society is not prepared for another attack and that there remain a number of challenges that stand to impact aviation; ultimately, more collective action is needed to mitigate for such risks going forward

Saving all the freaks on the life raft : blending documentation strategy with community engagement to build a local music archives.

Louisville, Kentucky, has a rich musical heritage, including an underground scene that influenced the sound of not only punk, indie, and hardcore, but also popular music regionally, nationally and internationally. In 2013, faced with the loss of several members of this scene over the course of twelve months, archivists in the University of Louisville Archives and Special Collections launched a project to document this important slice of Louisville\u27s musical culture. The Louisville Underground Music Archive (LUMA) Project successfully applies documentation strategy, paired with a strong community engagement component, to address the gap in the historical record related to this culture