The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration estimates that revised wake turbulence separation standards applied for the first time at Memphis International Airport last November have produced a 15-percent increase in flight-handling capacity at the airport.
Federal Aviation Administration
February 4, 2013 - 6:00am
The FAA proposed two civil penalties totaling $633,000 against Bridgeton, Mo.-based Trans States Airlines last month for alleged maintenance violations involving two Embraer ERJ145s.
In the first case, the FAA alleges Trans States improperly installed replacement radio altimeter antenna cables on two airplanes and then operated the noncompliant airplanes on 268 revenue flights. Inspectors found the new cables lying unsecured to the airframe inside each aircraft’s large aft wing-to-fuselage fairing rather than mounted to the walls. The violation would carry a fine of $322,000.
February 4, 2013 - 1:20am
Prompted by a scathing audit report by the Transportation Department inspector general about the ineffective implementation of its wildlife hazard plans, the FAA is analyzing comments it received on three draft advisory circulars. One of the ACs is new, but the other two are revisions of existing ACs.
February 1, 2013 - 1:05am
With the start of a new year comes time for reflection on the old year and my hopes for the new one. In aviation, the past year held many memorable moments; for a former NTSB member like myself who has been on site after many fatal crashes the best part was the continuing accident-free record for U.S. airline flights.
January 31, 2013 - 3:26pm
NBAA has warned the FAA of the “specter of additional oversight and regulation of business aircraft operations” stemming from the agency’s proposal to allow Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) oversight of aircraft cabin workplace safety issues.
January 30, 2013 - 12:30pm
The Aeronautical Repair Station Association (Arsa) has launched a new survey to measure the impact of the ban on new foreign repair station certificates. The ban is the result of the U.S. Congress prohibiting the FAA from acting on foreign repair station certificate applications submitted after Aug. 3, 2008, because the Transportation Security Administration had not finalized repair station security rules.
January 21, 2013 - 2:18pm
The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Office of Inspector General (IG) issued a self-initiated report on Dec. 19, 2012, about the FAA’s en route automation modernization (Eram) program’s (flight) information security controls. Unfortunately, the IG did not make the report public online due to security requirements to protect the information crews might care about.
January 21, 2013 - 12:35pm
A new Reason Foundation study argues that U.S. passenger airports could support themselves and fund capacity improvements with user fees and long-term financing, eliminating the need for government grants from the Airport Improvement Program (AIP). The study by the libertarian research organization also proposes spinning off the FAA’s Air Traffic Organization (ATO) into a separate federal entity that charges users for ATC services.
January 17, 2013 - 3:40pm
Aviation alphabet groups praised the appointment of Rep. Frank LoBiondo (R-NJ) to serve as the new chairman of the aviation subcommittee of the U.S. House of Representatives’ Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure during the 113th Congress. The subcommittee has jurisdiction over civil aviation in the U.S., including most aspects of the FAA, TSA and NTSB.
January 16, 2013 - 7:05pm
Text of the statement released by the FAA late today.
