Relationships can make a difference on Capitol Hill WASHINGTON, D.C. — For persons representing general aviation before members of Congress, it is pleasant when the chair of the committee, or a few members of it, are knowledgeable about aviation. It is even more enjoyable when the person testifying is known personally by members of the […]
Capital Comments
What’s under the tree?
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Information leaks in this town are means of communications. The only times politicians click their tongues in shame are when the leakers get caught. Therefore, it should not surprise anyone that information was leaked to me about what certain individuals will be receiving for Christmas. True to my journalistic profession, I will […]
NTSB’s ‘most wanted list’ tackles runway incursions and deicing
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) recently reexamined its “”Most Wanted List”” of safety improvements and retained two items of importance to general aviation: runway incursions and icing. The board’s public hearing revealed there is an average of three operational errors a day at the nation’s towered airports and one severe incident […]
Feds get serious about security matters
Washington, D.C. — Recent developments in the Washington area demonstrate just how serious the government is about security matters. A major announcement was made about reopening Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport to general aviation after its closure following the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. The media carried stories about flights returning. The first general aviation flight […]
One bad apple can spoil it for the rest of GA
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Just as the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) was getting a leg up on security with the signing of a homeland security bill that includes a program called Transportation Security Administration Access Certificate (STAAC), up pops a corporate pilot who allegedly steals a Cessna Citation jet. This was just one of a […]
Bet on it: Washington ADIZ will become permanent
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Despite strong opposition from the general aviation community, I predict the proposal to make the ADIZ around the nation’s capital permanent will become official after the community has had an opportunity to comment. Deadline for submitting comments is Nov. 2. More than 2,000 comments had been received by press time, universally in […]
Will user fees be the issue that unites general aviation?
WASHINGTON, D.C. — After years of assurances from several FAA administrators that user fees were not an issue, the FAA recently informed the aviation community that the sky is falling with the aviation trust fund and new sources of revenue are needed when authority for collecting fuel taxes expires two years from now. Once again […]
Expect to keep a closer eye on the weather
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Pilots may have to study more weather and show proficiency in flying by reference only to instruments during a biennial flight review if recommendations made by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) are adopted by the FAA. Results of a study of weather-related accidents indicates a need for better testing of pilots, […]
Fight against user fees heats up
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Even though the members of Congress have been in their summer recess, this has not been a quiet period for the people here representing general aviation. They have been busy, and signs indicate they will be even busier. Despite long protestations that user fees were out of the question for GA, the […]