General aviation proponents, national and local, are far more aggressive now than in the past seeking and getting favorable news reporting, giving many in the industry reason for optimism. Helping to get this more favorable reporting is the dedicated work of general aviation interests in rushing aid to Haiti for earthquake relief. General aviation is […]
Capital Comments
User fee decision only a breather
General aviation groups and many members of Congress gleefully commented on President Obama’s decision to not ask for general aviation fees in the 2011 budget, but all agree there is a need to keep their guards up to prevent the charges from being called for again in coming years. The Air Transport Association, which represents […]
Aviation security remains in the spotlight
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Confusion, confessions, and condemnation marked hearings by two Senate committees on the same day over aviation security and the Transportation Security Administration. Erroll Southers’ withdrawal of his name to be administrator of the TSA added to the uncertainty of government actions following the embarrassing failure to recognize and stop the terrorist boarding […]
Controllers want to know about FAA realignment of air control facilities
A special committee of the National Air Traffic Control Association wants to dissect and review the FAA’s plan to split and/or close Terminal Radar Approach Control (TRACON) facilities from their accompanying airport control towers in many locations and move those services to other locations. NATCA formed a committee last fall to meet with the FAA […]
GAO says FAA not doing enough for regional airport planning
The national airspace system will face serious congestion in the near future unless the Federal Aviation Administration does more to utilize regional airport planning to help address system delays, according to a report by the Government Accountability Office (GAO). Commenting on the report, Rep. John Mica (R-Fla.) said Next Gen “is not a silver bullet […]
GA responds to Haiti crisis
General aviation at all levels marshaled forces to take aid to the survivors of the massive earthquake that hit Haiti earlier this month. The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) went into action immediately, making contact with key government officials to arrange that emergency flights from anyplace in the U.S. could be taken to an […]
Southers withdraws from TSA nomination
President Barack Obama will have to look for a new person to nominate to be administrator of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) after Erroll Southers withdrew his name from consideration. Southers cited distractions caused by his position regarding possible unionization of TSA employees and other issues relating to his nomination. Southers had been nominated last […]
Confirmation of new TSA director delayed
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Errol Southers was nominated last August by President Obama to be director of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), but his confirmation has been delayed in the Senate, meaning the agency that deals directly with aviation security has been without a leader for nearly six months. Couple this with the security confusion following […]
FAA reauthorization hits another snag
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The FAA has had its problems getting reauthorization on track. To keep the agency in business, Congress has passed yet another temporary extension, something that has been going on for more than two years. Even some Senators are getting fed up with the delay, with 35 of them signing a letter to […]