WASHINGTON, D.C. — The FAA has proposed to substantially raise the qualification requirements for first officers who fly for U.S. passenger and cargo airlines. The proposed rule would require first officers to hold an Airline Transport Pilot (ATP) certificate, requiring 1,500 hours of flight time. Currently, first officers are required to have only a commercial […]
FAA
General aviation user fee civility
User fees have reared their head in President Obama’s fiscal year 2013 proposed budget. Longtime General Aviation News columnist Charles Spence wrote about a letter 100 mayors sent to President Obama regarding the budget’s potential $100-per-flight fee. The comments that follow are interesting. Commenter “gbin” says: “I wonder how many of the mayors who signed […]
GAO: NextGen over budget and behind schedule
WASHINGTON, D.C. — After causing the FAA to limp along on 23 temporary funding extensions, Congress finally passed a four-year authorization last month. A question now facing FAA watchers is: Will this steadier funding mean a smoothing of the turbulence the agency has seen in developing the Next Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen)? A report […]
FAASTeam approves latest CFI forum
The Society of Aviation and Flight Educators (SAFE) recently delivered another in its series of 12 Seminar-in-a-Box products to the FAA Safety Team (FAASTeam), this one focusing on Takeoff and Initial Climb. The seminars are designed to facilitate discussion among instructors, examiners, and FAASTeam members on topics related to flight training and accident prevention, as […]
FAA bill allows fuel reimbursement for volunteer pilots
Buried in the long-term authorization for the FAA is a provision that will make pilots who fly charitable medical flights happy. The provision allows a pilot to accept reimbursement from a volunteer pilot organization for the fuel costs associated with a flight to provide transportation for an individual or organ for medical purposes. The bill […]
NextGen contracts over budget, behind schedule
More than one-third of the 30 contracts critical to building the Next Generation Air Transportation System, commonly known as NextGen, are over budget, while half are delayed, according to a Bloomberg BusinessWeek story on a new Government Accountability Office report. The GAO report notes that 11 of the 30 contracts exceed projected costs by a […]
Death knell for LightSquared?
WASHINGTON, D.C. — After long and detailed — and often contentious — efforts to work out a safe way for LightSquared to build a network of about 40,000 land-based towers in the U.S. for high-speed wireless transmissions without interfering with GPS, the battle seems to be nearing a satisfactory conclusion for general aviation and others […]
Gleim maintenance courses approved for AMT awards program
All of the online courses for aviation mechanics and IAs offered by Gleim have been approved for the FAA AMT Awards Program. The program is designed to help pilots and mechanics maintain currency and proficiency and therefore become safer in accomplishing their respective duties, according to officials. The AMT Awards Program encourages ongoing training by […]
President signs long-term FAA bill
For the first time since 2007, the FAA has the certainty of long-term authorization to operate the air traffic control system, build up airport infrastructure, and develop the air traffic control system of the future. According to a report at AOPA.org, President Barack Obama signed the FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012 Feb. 14. […]