Pilots flying in the Minneapolis area Jan. 31-Feb. 5, 2018, should familiarize themselves with the FAA’s air traffic procedures NOTAM for the area on those dates. Super Bowl LII takes place on Sunday, Feb. 4, at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, with kick-off set for 5:30 p.m. (CST). Reservations will be required for arrivals and departures […]
FAA
Tracking drones in flight
The FAA has released a report from its Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Identification and Tracking Aviation Rulemaking Committee (ARC) on technologies available to identify and track drones in flight. The ARC’s 74 members included aviation community and industry member organizations, law enforcement agencies and public safety organizations, manufacturers, and researchers. According to FAA officials, the […]
FAA restricts drone operations over Department of Energy facilities
At the request of U.S. national security and law enforcement agencies, the FAA has restricted drone operations over seven Department of Energy (DOE) facilities. The FAA and DOE have agreed to restrict drone flights up to 400 feet within the lateral boundaries of these sites: Hanford Site, Franklin County, Washington; Pantex Site, Panhandle, Texas; Los […]
Holiday lights can be a pilot hazard
The FAA has issued a warning to those who decorate the outside of their houses with holiday lights, including laser-light displays. “Each holiday season for the past several years, the FAA has received reports from pilots who said they were distracted or temporarily blinded by residential laser-light displays,” officials said in a prepared release. The […]
EAA chief receives multiple honors from FAA, NAA and Kansas Aviation Hall of Fame
EAA AVIATION CENTER, OSHKOSH, Wisconsin — Jack J. Pelton, CEO and chairman of the Experimental Aircraft Association, received multiple honors in November 2017 from the National Aeronautic Association, FAA, and the Kansas Aviation Hall of Fame. Pelton was named one of six 2017 recipients of NAA’s Wesley McDonald Distinguished Statesman of Aviation Award. The award […]
Defense Bill would reinstate drone registration
A defense funding bill now on its way to the White House for President Trump’s signature includes a provision that would reinstate mandatory registration for recreational small unmanned aircraft systems (sUAS) weighing less than 55 pounds. Passed by the Senate on Nov. 16, 2017, the National Defense Authorization Act includes language that would overturn a […]
FAA seeks public input on drone design standards
For the first time, the FAA is seeking public comments on proposed airworthiness criteria for an unmanned aircraft system, more popularly known as a “drone.” The Federal Register notice asks for comments on proposed design standards needed for the FlightScan Corporation Camcopter S-100 to fly safely in U.S. airspace. The ultimate goal of this, and […]
Drone restores Puerto Rico cell service
The FAA has approved the first unmanned aircraft operation of its kind to help restore cellular service in Puerto Rico in the wake of Hurricane Maria. The Flying COW (Cell on Wings) drone, developed by AT&T, functions like a cell tower in the sky, restoring voice, data and internet service. It flies up to 200 […]
Deadline looms for General Aviation Award nominations
The deadline for submitting names of CFIs, FAA Safety Team Representatives, and Aviation Maintenance Technicians for the General Aviation Awards Program is Nov. 30, 2017. The awards are a cooperative effort between the FAA and more than a dozen aviation organizations to recognize aviation professionals for their exemplary service and contributions to the general aviation community. […]