The U.S. House of Representatives voted Tuesday to provide $15.7 billion to the FAA in fiscal year 2015, representing a slight increase from the current $15.6 billion funding level. Significantly, the bill prohibits the imposition of aviation user fees and also fees for digital navigational charts, according to officials at the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association […]
FAA
House committee to hold hearing on NextGen’s effect on GA pilots
WASHINGTON, DC – On Wednesday, June 11, the Small Business Committee, under the chairmanship of Rep. Sam Graves (R-MO), a pilot who also co-chairs the House General Aviation Caucus, will conduct a hearing titled FAA’s 2020 NextGen Mandate: Benefits and Challenges for General Aviation. In an effort to modernize the nation’s aviation surveillance system, as part of […]
FAA approves first commercial UAS flights over land
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The FAA has given approval for energy corporation BP and unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) manufacturer AeroVironment to fly an AeroVironment Puma AE for aerial surveys in Alaska — the first time the FAA has authorized a commercial UAS operation over land. “These surveys on Alaska’s North Slope are another important step toward broader commercial […]
Nevada UAS test site now operational
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The FAA announced today that the State of Nevada’s unmanned aircraft systems test site is ready to conduct research vital to integrating UAS into the nation’s airspace. Nevada is the third of six congressionally mandated test sites to become operational. “Nevada has been on the leading edge of aerospace flight testing for almost […]
What kind of pilot runs out of gas?
Avemco Insurance Co. Vice President Mike Adams will present “What Kind of Pilot Runs Out of Gas?” at the Rochester, N.Y., Safety Stand Down Saturday, June 14. Adams will illustrate how a flight’s fuel looks right, until it isn’t. The course content has been approved for the FAASTeam Pilot Proficiency Program (commonly known as WINGS) and […]
NextGen progressing, FAA tells Congress
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The FAA is making progress in the next generation air traffic control (NextGen) program, Deputy Administrator Mike Whitaker said in a report to the Congress. Whitaker was appointed Chief NextGen Officer a year ago. In his report, Whitaker said the FAA has “strengthened our partnerships with key stakeholders, coming to an agreement […]
FAA to consider exemptions for commercial UAS movie and TV production
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The FAA reports that seven aerial photo and video production companies have asked for regulatory exemptions that would allow the film and television industry to use unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) with FAA approval for the first time. If the exemption requests are granted, there could be economic benefits as the agency begins to address […]
Helping general aviation take off
General aviation is a homegrown American industry that is responsible for 1.2 million jobs and pumps more than $150 billion into our nation’s economy. But it’s also an industry that’s being held back by an antiquated regulatory system that is painfully unresponsive and out of touch, according to U.S. Rep. Todd Rokita (R-Ind.), who is also a […]
Safety focus of international conference
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Each year representatives from the FAA and other nations gather for an international aviation safety conference. This year the meeting will be held in Bethesda, Maryland, a suburb of the nation’s capital. The importance of the meetings is expressed by the FAA in its statement on this year’s meeting: “In a rapidly […]