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 Reauthorization Bill Still No Closer
Congress last month once again extended the FAA’s current authorization and aviation taxes until December 14, making it increasingly unlikely that the ques
Airports
State aviation directors’ creative solutions feted
State aviation directors across the country face myriad airport problems, including some that directly affect users, the future of airports and airport ope
Regulations and Government
Bonus depreciation spurs bizjet sales
At the NBAA Convention last month, credit for a recent increase in used aircraft sales was frequently given to the bonus depreciation benefit that is part
ATC
Contract-tower issue stalls FAA reauthorization
Although Congress passed a continuing resolution in late September that was to keep the FAA operating until October 31, the political firefight over contra
Regulations and Government
FAA adding EVAS to its entire fleet
For years, the marketers of the Emergency Vision Assurance System (EVAS) have been asking the FAA to require the product.
Regulations and Government
FAA Seeks Input on Existing Regs
The FAA last month issued a notice of proposed rulemaking requesting comments to identify regulations currently in effect that should be amended, removed o
Regulations and Government
FAA Wants Your Input on Existing Regs
The FAA today issued a notice of proposed rulemaking
Regulations and Government
Washington Report: ICAO Program Aims To Reduce Emissions
The International Civil Aviation Organization agreed at its fall meeting in Montreal to create a new group of senior government officials to recommend an a
Regulations and Government
Congressional Observer: November 2007
• By a vote of 404 to 14, the House of Representatives passed a stopgap funding bill that would keep government agencies running until November 16.
Regulations and Government
Bizav bests airlines on RVSM compliance
The surprisingly high number of business aircraft that now comply with reduced vertical separation minimums (RVSM)–and the number of service centers that a
Regulations and Government
Final rule solidifies January 2055 DRVSM
DRVSM will commence as proposed on Jan.
Charter & Fractional
Association Meets With French on Fractional Issues
During a meeting last month with French aviation officials, the National Air Transportation Association reiterated its position that regardless of how Fran
Regulations and Government
Manufacturers Ask FAA To Update SST Flight Rules
The FAA’s rules are a “barrier to the development and application of supersonic technologies in advanced general aviation aircraft,” said the General Aviat
Airports
2nd suit filed in VNY noise dispute
XtraJet, a Santa Monica, Calif.-based charter firm, has become the second operator to be sued by the Los Angeles Board of Airport Commissioners for alleged
Regulations and Government
NTSB Wants Visibility Limits on Position and Hold
The NTSB has asked the FAA to “explicitly prohibit” position and hold clearances at the intersections of active runways during low-visibility conditions an
Security
9/11 Panel To Subpoena Documents from the FAA
The commission investigating the 9/11 terror attacks is subpoenaing documents it says the FAA has withheld.
Maintenance and Modifications
FAA Wants Pitot Probes Replaced on Hawker 800XP
A proposed AD would mandate replacing the pitot probes on nearly 160 U.S.-registered Hawker 800XPs because of reports that they have frozen above FL290, ca
Regulations and Government
User Fees a Hot-button Topic at NBAA’07
Not surprisingly, talk of user fees dominated at NBAA’07 as aviation leaders laid out their strategy for countering airline tactics aimed at shifting more
Regulations and Government
User fee debate may run into next year or beyond
“In Washington, D.C., no bad idea ever dies,” National Association of State Aviation Officials president and CEO Henry Ogrodzinski said of aviation user fe
Regulations and Government
FAA awaits new funding authorization
While many NBAA members were in Atlanta partaking of the association’s recent convention, senior vice president of operations Steve Brown was in Washington
Regulations and Government
GA requests more time for comments on customs rule
While AOPA seeks an extension on the comment period for new security rules for private aircraft arriving and departing the U.S., NBAA released the “U.S.
Regulations and Government
Association Challenges Notam Language
AOPA has expressed alarm about new notam language that says pilots could be subject to criminal penalties for violations of TFRs and other security airspac
Regulations and Government
Bill proposes to detangle fuel-tax collection system
The Senate Finance Committee has approved a bill that would repeal the onerous “fuel fraud” provision enacted into law as part of the 2005 Highway Bill.
Regulations and Government
Sturgell nominated to head FAA
Industry reaction has been mostly positive to President Bush’s nomination of acting FAA Administrator Bobby Sturgell to a five-year term to lead the agency
Regulations and Government
Will FAA Bill Pass This Year? Flip a Coin…
“In Washington, D.C., no bad idea ever dies,” National Association of State Aviation Officials president and CEO Henry Ogrodzinski said of aviation user fe
Regulations and Government
FAA, Natca Differ On Controller Staffing Stats
The ink was scarcely dry on an FAA press release about successfully hiring new controllers when the National Air Traffic Controllers Association (Natca) sa
Regulations and Government
FAA Orders Better Bird Ingestion Tolerance for Turbines
Beginning next month, engine manufacturers seeking FAA type certification for new turbine designs with inlet areas greater than 2.5 square meters (roughly
Regulations and Government
Simultaneous Runway Use Circular Released
The FAA has released Advisory Circular 90-98, “Simultaneous Closely Spaced Parallel (SCSP) Operations at Airports Using Precision Runway Monitoring (PRM) S
Regulations and Government
More Than 615 Comments on License-Yanking Rule
More than 615 comments–the great majority negative–were submitted on rules adopted in January that permit the FAA to immediately suspend or revoke the airm
