Regulations and Government
News about bills, laws, regulations and other governmental decisions affecting aviation and aerospace. Topics include FAA re-authorizations, taxes on fuel and aviation activities, environmental legislation, ICAO decisions, governmental mediation of labor conflicts and World Trade Organization disputes and decisions.
Regulations and Government
FAA reveals five-year plan
A five-year plan–four-fifths of which FAA Administrator Marion Blakey could actually see through to fruition–was laid out in draft form in late July for th
Regulations and Government
Washington Report: GA runway incursions drop in FY 2002
Runway incursions at the 35 busiest general aviation airports decreased slightly in fiscal year 2002, according to a new report by the FAA Office of Runway
Regulations and Government
Washington Report: NBAA takes issue with USA Today
In a letter to USA Today, NBAA president Shelley Longmuir said the newspaper’s August 5 article on corporate aviation ignored the “demonstrated an
Regulations and Government
Washington Report: Thanks for safe oysters, Mr. Secretary
Tongue firmly in cheek, National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA) president John Carr thanked Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta for the Bus
Regulations and Government
Congressional Observer: September 2003
As the Senate and the House of Representatives neared adjournment for August, both parties in the Senate were patting themselves on the back for their pres
Regulations and Government
Leading Edge: The new face of safety at NTSB
You said recently that the NTSB could become more proactive if it investigated incidents, as well as accidents.
Airports
California Legislature Reignites SMO Ban Controversy
The California state legislature added to the debate about the safety of large jet operations at Santa Monica Airport (SMO) by passing a bill that asks the
Regulations and Government
Operators give the DGAC an 'F' on aircraft registration reform
The prospect of mandatory French registration for all aircraft based in France appears to be fading following a recent census of foreign-registered aircraf
Regulations and Government
TSA boss admits blunders
In testimony before Congress in June, Admiral James Loy, head of the Transportation Safety Administration (TSA), stated that 1,208 of the airport passenger
ATC
Media is better source for TFR areas
Warning that TFRs should be expected for any Presidential and Vice Presidential visits, NBAA is encouraging its members to monitor media reports of planned
Regulations and Government
FAA drafts a plan for the future
Saying aviation faces the “one-two-three punch” of terrorism, ATC modernization requirements and tenuous global economic conditions, the FAA has drafted an
ATC
FAA roadmap calls for gradual introduction of Rnav and RNP
The FAA has released a “roadmap” for performance-based navigation that would enable pilots to use Rnav and RNP (required navigation performance) procedures
Regulations and Government
NBAA and FAA have online sources for notams
In addition to Flight Service Stations and some private providers of flight-planning services, notams are also available online from NBAA and the FAA.
Regulations and Government
FAA's airspace redesign is being DOT audited
The DOT’s office of inspector general (IG) last month opened a cost-oriented audit of the FAA’s airspace redesign program.
Regulations and Government
Congressman decries DRVSM
Charter operators and flight departments that are still searching for ways to cope with the FAA’s proposal to implement domestic reduced vertical separatio
Regulations and Government
FAA pulls several rulemaking notices
The FAA has withdrawn several previously published rulemaking proposals because the planned actions have been overcome by events, are no longer relevant or
Aircraft
Proposed FAA policy appears to support BBJs
A story in The Bergen Record, a Northern New Jersey newspaper, opened a floodgate of protests from residents of communities surrounding Teterboro Airport.
Regulations and Government
FAA weighs in on runway specs
The comment period closed last month on an FAA notice of proposed policy making on airport weight-bearing restrictions (www.gpoaccess.gov/fr/index.html&
Regulations and Government
Washington Report: Costs, delays still plague FAA projects
Even though Congress exempted the FAA from standard procurement rules in 1996, the agency remains mired in cost overruns and schedule slippages on many of
ATC
Washington Report: NATA questions domestic RVSM costs
The National Air Transportation Association said in a letter to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) that the FAA has failed to take into account the
Regulations and Government
Congressional Observer: August 2003
Although the presidential elections will not take place until November next year, the voting public can expect the Bush Administration and members of Congr
Regulations and Government
FAA's goal-setting go-getter: a look at Blakey's first year
On September 13, FAA Administrator Marion Blakey will have completed the first year of her five-year tenure in the position.
Regulations and Government
NTSB wants Part 135 air taxis to report data
Claiming that Part 135 air taxi activity data is inadequate, the NTSB has asked the FAA to require air taxi operators to supply annual data on total hours
Regulations and Government
Unmanned aircraft get airspace approval
The FAA on August 15 granted the U.S.
Regulations and Government
European Aviation Safety Agency activated
The new European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) officially starts work on September 28.
Airports
Battle lines drawn in weight-bearing conflict
The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey is making a highly public issue of battling the FAA’s proposed policy on defining airport weight-bearing capa
Airports
Anti-noise program for Witham Field under review
The FAA is reviewing a proposed noise-compatibility program for Florida’s Witham Field and is expected either to approve or disapprove the program by next
Regulations and Government
Revised SIFL rates are in effect
The current standard industry fare level (SIFL) rates in effect from July through December 31 are: 0 to 500 sm–$0.1896; 501 to 1,500 sm–$0.1445; and more t
Regulations and Government
VFR transition route through LAX Class B revised
Operators using the VFR transition route through the Los Angeles Class B airspace can expect a Christmas gift from the FAA in the form of AOPA-backed impro
Regulations and Government
Aviation lawyer group still critical of Hoover Law
Nearly three years after publication of an interim rule, the NTSB has published the final rules of the so-called “Hoover Law.” Although there are a couple
