WASHINGTON, D.C — Congress is taking a look at the FAA’s plans and efforts to consolidate air traffic control facilities and the controllers’ union says it supports the changes, but only if safety, efficiency, and service are improved. Paul Rinaldi, president of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association, told the House Aviation Subcommittee that facility […]
Capital Comments
FAA study: GA airports a national asset
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Nearly 50 years ago I wrote a magazine article titled “Airports are for people who DON’T fly.” The FAA’s recently released 18-month study of GA airports has information documenting that claim, which people who don’t fly should know. The study tells of the many different functions at these airports that advance the […]
Whistleblowers highlight safety issues
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The FAA has the highest per employee whistleblower count in government. This startling statistic was sent to the President and Congress in a letter from the Office of Special Counsel, the agency responsible for protecting government employees who report problems where they work. Carolyn Lerner, the attorney who drafted the report, said […]
Sharing our airspace with drones
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Have you seen any drones flying around you recently? More are in the sky than you might realize. Information about where they are and where they might be was recently released by the FAA responding to a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit from the Electronic Frontier Foundation. The Mail newspaper, in London, […]
An ally in the fight for general aviation
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Since 2007, the Alliance for Aviation Across America has been spreading the word about general aviation to elected officials, the media and, to some degree, the general public. It is proving to be a strong part of general aviation’s continuing struggle to gain recognition and to prevent burdensome regulations, taxes, and restrictions […]
Could NextGen ground GA?
WASHINGTON, D.C. — When good developments are made, most people are delighted and few consider the secondary effects. These, however, are often significant. Take the unintended consequences of NextGen. It has been said a secondary effect of the development of the cheap transistor radio was important in bringing turmoil in the Middle East. Prior to […]
Questions abound about user fees
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Over the past few years, several reports have been written about suggestions, proposals, and announcements that new fees would be placed on aviation. Most recent of them refer to a fee of $100 per landing for jet aircraft introduced in the President’s budget for 2013. Following published stories of these reports and […]
FAA cites continued aviation growth at forecast meet
Aviation in the U.S. is expected to pause in growth this year, but over the next 20 years to show significant growth, with general aviation’s demand for products and services to be mainly in new business jets and Light-Sport Aircraft. These were the primary issues discussed at the FAA’s annual forecast conference, held in Washington, […]
Indiana governor names March General Appreciation Month
March is “General Aviation Appreciation” month throughout the state of Indiana after Governor Mitchell Daniels joined a growing list of governors who publicly recognize the importance of general aviation to their states. According to the Indiana Department of Transportation, general aviation contributes more than $4.9 billion in economic activity to the state, supporting more than […]