WASHINGTON, D.C. — Over recent years, the FAA has been actively working to reduce the number of serious runway incursions — and that work has paid off. In fiscal year 2010, runway incursions dropped 50% from 2009, the second year in a row this type of potential accident was cut in half. Serious runway incursions […]
Capital Comments
A lot at stake for GA in mid-term elections
WASHINGTON, D.C. — General aviation has a big stake in the outcome of the coming mid-term elections, both at the federal and state levels. At the federal level a full reauthorization of the FAA might hang on whether Democrats continue to control both houses of Congress or whether there is a lame duck session with […]
European proposals could severely affect U.S. pilots
Proposals offered two years ago by the European Aviation Safety Agency are about to be acted on and, if adopted, will mean severe aviation regulation changes in all European nations and virtually eliminate the acceptance of pilots and aircraft licensed in the United States. Changes affecting the U.S. are in the section involving third country […]
Another 3-month extension for FAA
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Both houses of Congress passed bills Sept. 23 giving the FAA another temporary extension. A joint bill is expected to be passed easily this week. This will be the 15th temporary funding measure the agency has had since 2007. The three-month extension will give the political body time to again try to […]
Does Obama recognize the value of aviation?
Charles Spence is GAN’s Washington, D.C., correspondent. Some Washington aviation groups are expressing cautious optimism over the President Obama’s proposed $50 billion stimulus plan, hoping that including aviation in the proposal could mean an indication of the administration’s greater recognition of the value of flight. The proposal would provide funds for roads, rail, and runways. […]
TTF gets Capitol Hill hearing
The huge divide between proponents and opponents to “through-the-fence” agreements at federally-funded airports boiled to the top at a hearing held by the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee of the House Wednesday, Sept. 22. Access to the airport, property values, limits or access to the airport for businesses and residents, value of property with access, local […]
Transportation Safety Board overrules staff to put VFR flight as cause of mid-air over Hudson River
After a five hour public meeting to discuss the mid-air collision between a Piper and a helicopter over the Hudson River, the National Transportation Safety Board overruled the recommendations of its staff and cited “inherent limitations of the see-and-avoid concept” and inattention of an air traffic controller as the probable cause of the accident, which […]
Working together pays off
WASHINGTON, D.C. — After years of operating in the shadows, general aviation is gaining, at last, some of the recognition it deserves through a new spirit of cooperation among many groups, organizations, businesses, elected officials, and charitable organizations. For years some GA leaders focused more on their own particular issues than on the common good. […]
New terminology from air traffic controllers coming Sept. 30
Pilots will hear new terminology from air traffic controllers as they wait for takeoff clearance beginning Sept. 30. Instead of “position and hold,” pilots will hear “line up and wait.” The new instructions were recommended by the National Transportation Safety Board and conforms to international terminology. The phrase “traffic holding in position” will continue to […]