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
DOT urges FAA to review medical certification process
The Transportation Department’s inspector general told the House aviation subcommittee in July that possible extensions to the durations of medical certifi
Regulations and Government
Kentucky Crash Spawns NTSB Recommendations
As a result of the Comair Flight 5191 crash in Lexington, Ky., the NTSB issued five safety recommendations to the FAA this week in an effort to mitigate ai
Regulations and Government
Time runs short for Congress to agree on FAA funding plan
With Congress out of town for its “summer district work period,” there was little action on the FAA’s reauthorization bill, and the nagging question of how
Regulations and Government
Special Conditions for A700 Fire Bottles
The FAA issued a special condition fire-extinguishing requirement for the Adam Aircraft A700.
Regulations and Government
New Elevator Trim AD
Inconsistencies between the Mitsubishi MU-2B elevator trim indicator scale dial and the elevator trim mechanical stop have prompted the FAA to issue an air
Regulations and Government
Alphabets Ask for No FAA Recess
In an unusual display of harmony, leaders of 18 aviation associations signed a letter to President Bush asking that he appoint a new FAA Administrator to t
Regulations and Government
FAA Amends Appendix C in Icing Regulations
The FAA last month released a final rule governing certification of transport-category (Part 25) airplanes for operation in icing conditions.
Regulations and Government
FAA Releases Risk-assessment Tool
A new Information for Operators dealing with risk assessment was released last month, specifically focusing on how it relates to a safety-management system
Regulations and Government
NextGen Press Obscures ATC Woes
The head of the 14,000-member air traffic controllers union said last month that the FAA is trumpeting the Next Generation Air Transportation System (NextG
Regulations and Government
FAA Wins a Battle, Loses Another
The Federal Labor Relations Authority (FLRA) has dismissed all of natca’s charges of unfair labor practices related to the negotiation and implementation o
Regulations and Government
House Bill Boosts NASA Aeronautics
An appropriations bill approved by the House of Representatives shortly before Congress adjourned for its summer recess contains increases for NASA aeronau
Regulations and Government
Congressional Observer: September 2007
• Pushing hard to wrap up business before they took their customary August break, lawmakers devoted a good deal of time to deciding what to do about the Ir
Regulations and Government
Alphabets Coalesce in New FAA Leader Request
In an unusual display of harmony, leaders of 18 aviation associations signed a letter to President Bush asking that he appoint a new FAA Administrator to t
Regulations and Government
Communities getting lost in Essential Air Service shuffle
Each year the Bush Administration tries to slash funding for the Essential Air Service (EAS) program, and each year it fails, thanks in no small part to ad
Regulations and Government
Blakey’s Exit Strategy Is Spelled AIA
The Aerospace Industries Association (AIA) announced yesterday that FAA Administrator Marion Blakey will become the trade group’s president and CEO when sh
Regulations and Government
Congress Passes New Travel Restrictions
As part of what they called their duty to the American people, Congressional democrats were able to pass S.1, the Honest Leadership and Open Government Act
Regulations and Government
FAA Amends Appendix C in New Icing Regulations
The FAA yesterday released a final rule governing certification of transport-category (Part 25) airplanes for operation in icing conditions, effective Octo
Regulations and Government
User-fee Debate Takes Another Step in House
The House Ways and Means Committee, which oversees appropriations in the lower chamber, heard from a number of players in the user-fee debate yesterday, br
Regulations and Government
FAA Clarifies Electronic Chart Policy
The FAA recently issued Advisory Circular (AC)
Regulations and Government
FAA Proposes Cabin Certification Alternatives
The FAA unveiled a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking last month that addresses airworthiness standards related to cabin interiors for transport-category airpla
Regulations and Government
FAA Switches to All-Electronic AD Format
The FAA last month made good on a longstanding promise to provide Airworthiness Directives (AD) and Special Airworthiness Information Bulletins (SAIB) only
Charter & Fractional
Part 135 operators brace for FAA OpSpec review
Continuing its efforts to crack down on loopholes in its oversight of Part 135 charter operators, the FAA is conducting mandatory special emphasis inspecti
Aircraft
G150 Nabs EASA Certification
Gulfstream’s first metamorphosis of an IAI aircraft received EASA certification last week.
Regulations and Government
Safety Board recommends new substance-abuse rules
As a result of a number of accidents in which the pilots omitted information or lied about substance and/or alcohol dependence during medical evaluations,
Regulations and Government
NATA Says SAFO Should Not Be Mandatory
The National Air Transportation Association (NATA) said in a letter to the FAA last month that its Safety Alert for Operators (SAFO) should not be mandator
Regulations and Government
Future FAA funding uncertain as legislators debate the details
With stark differences between House and Senate versions of FAA reauthorization bills working their way through Congress, some industry and congressional i
Regulations and Government
Board members' letter reveals strife at NTSB
NTSB members are strongly dissatisfied with the way in which Board chairman Ellen Engleman Conners is attempting to curb their activities.
Regulations and Government
Initiative aims to clear the ‘Aire’
While the debate continues to swirl on both sides of the Atlantic over the European Union’s scheduled imposition of a carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions tradin
Regulations and Government
Congressional Observer: August 2007
• The Senate by a vote of 53-46 rejected new laws pertaining to immigration.
Regulations and Government
Spotlight Shining on NextGen
Several recent developments have begun to allay concerns that the FAA’s NextGen ATC modernization effort was stagnating because of lack of direction and se
