WACO, Texas — FreeFlight Systems is now offering a $500 rebate on its ADS-B and WAAS/GPS solutions. FreeFlight Systems’ Bridge Rebate Program offers customers cost savings on these products today, allowing them to take advantage of ADS-B benefits immediately, instead of waiting for the FAA’s ADS-B Rebate Program, company officials note. FreeFlight Systems’ Bridge Rebate Program covers […]
FAA
Air Traffic Controller hiring, staffing and training focus of Congressional hearing
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The House of Representatives Subcommittee on Aviation, chaired by U.S. Rep. Frank LoBiondo (R-NJ), will hold a hearing Wednesday to review the FAA’s air traffic controller hiring, staffing, and training plans and related issues. The Department of Transportation Inspector General has recently reported on the challenges the FAA continues to face in ensuring enough […]
Updated analysis shows drop in UAS sightings
MUNCIE, Ind. – The Academy of Model Aeronautics (AMA) has released an updated analysis of the FAA’s drone data which finds a month-by-month decline in unmanned aerial systems (UAS) sightings since peaking in August 2015. The apparent decrease in monthly sightings is remarkable as it comes despite an influx of nearly 700,000 to 1 million new devices sold […]
Aviation alphabet groups urge Congress to pass FAA reauthorization
Officials from 14 of GA’s advocacy organizations have sent a letter urging the U.S. House of Representatives to pass an FAA reauthorization bill that can be signed into law before the agency’s current funding extension expires July 15. “We need to get this done so the FAA can get on with important modernization and reform […]
FAA offers rebate for GA aircraft owners to equip for ADS-B
The FAA has launched a rebate program that will help general aviation pilots equip their aircraft with NextGen technology. “To further demonstrate our commitment to NextGen, we will soon offer some general aviation aircraft owners a $500 rebate to help defray some of the cost for purchasing ADS-B Out avionics,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony […]
FAA, air traffic controllers reach tentative agreement
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The FAA and its largest union, the National Air Traffic Controllers Association, AFL-CIO (NATCA), have reached a tentative agreement on a new collective bargaining agreement (CBA) covering the air traffic control specialists assigned to the terminal and en route options, traffic management coordinators/specialists, air traffic controllers assigned to the flight service option, and […]
FAA releases drone registration location data
The FAA has posted a large database showing the city, state and zip code of each registered drone owner. Release of the database responds to a number of Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests submitted since the new unmanned aircraft registration system began operating on Dec. 21, 2015, according to FAA officials. The FAA is not […]
Back to the drawing board in Salem
If you doubt one person can make a difference, doubt no more. Salem, Oregon pilot Chuck West watched as Salem’s NcNary Field (KSLE) airspace was re-drawn, and re-drawn again. There was a problem. Portions of the instrument approaches were no longer protected and that violated FAA Order 8260.26F. Chuck found that a pilot flying inbound from […]
FAA tests FBI Drone Detection System at JFK
The FAA is expanding research on ways to detect “rogue” drones around airports. The FAA is collaborating with its government, industry and academia partners to evaluate drone detection technology at John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) in New York. Over the last two years, the FAA has received numerous reports from pilots and residents about unmanned aircraft […]