WASHINGTON, D.C. — On June 18, the national publication USA Today published an article titled Unfit for Flight. It painted general aviation as a dangerous activity and the manufacturers of aircraft as contributing to general aviation accidents. This is not new. Anti-general aviation material has been printed and broadcast in the past. Two things make this time different. […]
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Are you ready to share the sky with drones?
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Unmanned aerial systems (UAS), better known as drones, are moving fast in development. General aviation pilots are starting to delve deeper into the subject as FAA expects as many as 30,000 UAS to be flying in U.S. airspace by 2020. Here’s why pilots are looking at what they are sharing the airspace […]
‘Significant progress’ made on NextGen in last year
WASHINGTON, D.C. — It has been one year since FAA Deputy Administrator Mike Whitaker took over as Chief NextGen Officer. In his first report to Congress early in June, he noted that “significant progress” has been made. That optimism is not totally shared by others, however, most of whom have questions about equipment requirements and […]
Small airports important in national airport financing
WASHINGTON, D.C. — President Obama’s budget calling for a reduction in airport funding would have a serious effect on small airports, Dr. Gerald Dillingham of the U.S. Government Accounting Office told a congressional hearing Wednesday, June 17. Dillingham was one of two government witnesses appearing before the House aviation subcommittee, which held the hearing on airport […]
GA reluctant to jump on NextGen bandwagon
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The FAA needs to take speedier action, as well as assure pilots and aircraft owners that expenditures for equipment will not significantly change for general aviation to move ahead to prepare for the Next Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen), members of Congress were told in a hearing held Wednesday by the House Committee on Small […]
NextGen progressing, FAA tells Congress
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The FAA is making progress in the next generation air traffic control (NextGen) program, Deputy Administrator Mike Whitaker said in a report to the Congress. Whitaker was appointed Chief NextGen Officer a year ago. In his report, Whitaker said the FAA has “strengthened our partnerships with key stakeholders, coming to an agreement […]
Business flying ticks up
Speaking at the opening session of the European business aviation conference in Geneva, held May 19-21, Ed Bolen, president and CEO of the National Business Aviation Association, said he is pleased all indicators are up for business flying. Announcements of new products from Gulfstream and Dassault, Bolen said, are welcome signs of confidence of the […]
Safety focus of international conference
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Each year representatives from the FAA and other nations gather for an international aviation safety conference. This year the meeting will be held in Bethesda, Maryland, a suburb of the nation’s capital. The importance of the meetings is expressed by the FAA in its statement on this year’s meeting: “In a rapidly […]
Webinar to discuss effects of aviation noise
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The potential effects of aviation noise will be explored in a webinar May 29 conducted by the Transportation Research Board. An hour-and-a-half program will discuss noise concerns at airports. Issues include possible effects of aviation noise on hearing, sleep, health, annoyance, and learning environment. Although the subjects will deal primarily with airport noise, points brought […]