With the need to authorize the FAA before Sept. 30, 2017, a number of general aviation association leaders joined together to send letters to House and Senate transportation leaders underscoring “real and long-standing concerns” about a concept being pushed by some airlines regarding air traffic control. Specifically, the GA organizations cited concerns over a proposal to create “a new […]
FAA
Debate over privatizing ATC: Us vs. Them?
In the space of one week in February, a report calling for sweeping changes to Air Traffic Control, including taking control of ATC from the FAA and putting it in the hands of a non-profit organization funded by user fees, was released, just days after a survey was released showing that most voters oppose privatizing […]
Court motion challenges deal to close SMO
The National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) joined with five other aviation stakeholders to file a motion March 6, 2017, before the U.S. Court of Appeals, District of Columbia Circuit, requesting a stay against the FAA and an injunction against the city of Santa Monica, California, preventing any further actions to reduce the length of the runway […]
Senators oppose privatizing ATC
Senate Appropriations Chairman Thad Cochran (R-Mississippi) and Vice Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vermont), as well as Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development and Related Agencies Chairman Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Ranking Member Jack Reed (D-Rhode Island), recently sent a letter to the leadership of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation opposing privatizing the […]
FAA to hold airspace workshops in Denver
The FAA will hold 11 public information workshops in April and May 2017 on proposed airspace improvements in the Denver Metro Area. The improvements are part of the Denver Metroplex project, which proposes to use streamlined satellite navigation to move air traffic more safely and efficiently through the Metro Area, according to agency officials. Existing […]
Lawmakers to explore state of America’s airports
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The House Subcommittee on Aviation will hold its second hearing of the new Congress March 1 as part of its preparations for developing an FAA reform and reauthorization bill later this year. The subcommittee will continue to explore how the federal government should best direct its efforts to ensure America has a modern […]
Privatizing ATC: What could go wrong?
The airlines are terrible at running their businesses, so let’s turn air traffic control over to them, says Andrew Schmertz, the CEO of Hopscotch Air, and a contributor to the Huffington Post. “What could go wrong?” he asks with tongue in cheek in a recent post. He notes that the airlines have decades of losses […]
Fly Safe: Developing your personal minimums
As part of an ongoing campaign by the FAA and the GA community’s #FlySafe campaign to prevent Loss of Control accidents and save lives, each month the FAA focuses on best practices for GA pilots. This month’s focus: Personal minimums and how to integrate these safety measures in your flight planning. Aeronautical Decision Making (ADM) is a […]
Sun Flyer to benefit from Part 23 reform
DENVER – The recent release of the revised Part 23 airworthiness standards for the Federal Aviation Regulations will “significantly” streamline the process of certifying the Sun Flyer, according to officials with the company developing the electric flight trainer. The FAA released a final rule in December 2016 for the new Part 23, which enables a more […]