The proliferation of small, relatively inexpensive remotely piloted aircraft (RPA) has created a challenge for the FAA, which is why the agency has asked the law enforcement community to help identify people who don’t follow the rules of the air or who endanger the nation’s airspace. On Jan. 8, the FAA released some guidance to the law […]
FAA
FAA deputy administrator new pilot
FAA Deputy Administrator Michael Whitaker, who is responsible for helping to ensure the safe and efficient operation of the National Airspace System, recently took his private pilot checkride — and told officials with the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association that he “felt the pressure,” noting it “wouldn’t be acceptable” not to pass. In a blog […]
Pilots appointed to House Transportation Committee
Two more pilots are joining the powerful U.S. House of Representatives Transportation and Infrastructure Committee when the 114th Congress convenes in January. The Committee and its Aviation Subcommittee will play a vital role in setting long-term spending priorities for the FAA during the 2015 Reauthorization process. Rep. Todd Rokita, (R-Ind.), is among the 12 new committee […]
FAA grants five more commercial RPA exemptions
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The FAA has granted five regulatory exemptions for remotely piloted aircraft (RPA) to four companies. The four companies that received exemptions want to fly RPAs — known as Unmanned Aerial Systems by the FAA — to perform operations for aerial surveying, construction site monitoring and oil rig flare stack inspections. “Unmanned aircraft offer […]
New NOTAM search tool a boon for pilots
The FAA has rolled out its new NOTAM search capability. For pilots, NOTAM Search means that the days of rooting around trying to find applicable NOTAMs while planning for a flight are just about over, according to a report on the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) website. New functionalities are already in place that improve […]
FAA launches NextGen upgrade in Washington, D.C., airspace
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Just in time for the busy holiday travel season, the Washington, D.C. Metroplex is the first in the nation to have three, state-of-the-art, satellite-based highways in the sky running side by side by side, each dedicated to one of the three major airports in the region. While impacting airline traffic much more […]
FAA review of Chicago Center fire prompts series of changes
CHICAGO – After reviewing contingency plans and security protocols in the wake of a fire at the Chicago Air Route Traffic Control Center, the FAA is planning a series of changes that will lead to faster disaster recovery and more secure facilities and equipment. “We hope to never see an event like this again,” said […]
FAA reauthorization struggles begin
WASHINGTON, D.C. — FAA reauthorization is up for renewal next September and an indication of upcoming struggles over it was highlighted in a House of Representatives committee hearing in late November. A major disagreement will be over air traffic control (ATC). The airline industry is urging swift action to implement the Next Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen), a satellite-based system […]
GA stressed by outdated FAA regulations
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) President Mark Baker told lawmakers Tuesday that the the general aviation industry is under stress made worse by outdated and cumbersome FAA regulations and procedures. “The regulatory and certification processes used today may have been needed 30 or 40 years ago, but they simply cannot keep […]