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
Changes Made to Candidate-transportation Rules
The Federal Election Commission (FEC) last month adopted proposed changes to its rules governing the legal rates and timing of travel payments by political
Regulations and Government
ETOPS Proposal Deadline Pushed to March 15
As the result of requests to extend the deadline for comments on the FAA’s proposal to establish regulations governing flights that go beyond certain dista
Safety
Operators Must Replace Certain Fire Extinguishers
Kidde portable fire extinguishers that have been determined to be faulty must be replaced in some 39,000 aircraft, according to a recent AD.
Safety
NTSB Calls for Cockpit Image Recorders
The NTSB, which has long called for the FAA to require cockpit voice recorders on smaller turbine airplanes, is now calling for the installation of so-call
Regulations and Government
FAA Told Not To Weaken on Grant Enforcement
AOPA supports proposed changes to streamline the process of awarding airport improvement program grant assurances, but also told the FAA that it must “main
Regulations and Government
Alcohol and Drug Testing Rates To Remain Unchanged
The minimum percentage rate for substance-abuse testing for next year will remain at 25 percent of covered aviation employees for random drug testing and 1
Regulations and Government
AIA: White House needs to boost aerospace infrastructure
Last year’s slump in commercial aircraft sales and employment was not as sharp as predicted and not nearly as deep as the industry experienced 10 years ago
ATC
Public-private co-op could lower AFSS costs
Members of the National Association of Air Traffic Specialists (NAATS), the labor union that represents more than 2,700 FAA employees who staff the agency’
Regulations and Government
Complex STC proposal might have wide effect
The FAA is proposing a “Policy for Complex Supplemental Type Certificates (STC) 1” that will change FAR 21.31 (type design) and 21.53 (statement of conform
Regulations and Government
FAA: expect no new regs from crashes
A meeting late last month between the FAA’s top regulatory officials and business aviation interests will likely result in renewed emphasis on new and exis
Regulations and Government
Tyler execs plead guilty to money laundering
Two top executives of Tyler Jet L.L.C.
Regulations and Government
Get well soon
On March 22 comments are due on draft AC 145-RSTP (Repair Station Training Program).
Regulations and Government
Proposed FAA budget slashes agency funding
Last year, the Bush Administration unveiled its proposed “next generation air transportation system” and then cut the FAA’s facilities and equipment (F&E)
Regulations and Government
As major U.S. carriers suffer, so too does the FAA's budget
by John Sheridan
Last month, FAA COO Russell Chew told a standing-room-only audience at the annual conference of the U.S.
Last month, FAA COO Russell Chew told a standing-room-only audience at the annual conference of the U.S.
Regulations and Government
New Guidelines for Preflight CVR Testing
The FAA recently issued revised guidance for daily preflight checks of cockpit voice recorders to ensure that the system is functioning properly.
Regulations and Government
Rule Would Ease Foreign Aircraft Ops
A proposed rule would allow non-commercial operations of U.S.-registered aircraft owned by a company not considered a U.S.
Safety
NTSB Wants Flight-check Failure Limits
The NTSB has asked the FAA to limit the number of times a pilot can fail a checkride and questioned whether the existing requirements of providing addition
ATC
Eurocontrol postpones deadline for ELS mode-S implementation
Europe’s ambitious program to introduce mode-S surveillance datalink technology has once again been rescheduled to account for operational and technical di
ATC
Will ADS-B be the next big FAA equipment mandate?
When the idea was initially being explored a number of years ago, FAA planners saw a use for automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast (ADS-B) only in Ala
Regulations and Government
Taiwan to lift ownership Ban
Taiwan’s government is expected to lift a long-standing prohibition of private aircraft ownership in the first quarter of next year.
Airports
Comments due on JAC’S noise program
The FAA plans to rule on the noise-compatibility program proposed for Wyoming’s Jackson Hole Airport (JAC) by May 17.
Regulations and Government
Unpopular ski-country STMP now in effect
Pilots flying into Colorado’s ski-country airports are already aware of the controversial special traffic-management program (STMP) for filing for slots in
Regulations and Government
JOBS Act limits corporate deductions
While general aviation interests hailed the tax law that extended the deadline for the 50-percent accelerated bonus-depreciation allowance for business air
Regulations and Government
FAA proposes SIC pilot type rating
Pilots serving as second-in-command (SIC) would be eligible to apply for an SIC type rating without any additional training required, under an FAA notice o
Regulations and Government
GAO Criticizes FAA Designee Oversight Efforts
Inconsistent and incomplete FAA oversight of its designee programs limits the agency’s ability to ensure designees perform their work according to federal
Regulations and Government
Working group to address Grand Canyon noise issue
In 1987 the National Parks Overflights Act mandated substantial restoration of “natural quiet” at Grand Canyon National Park.
Regulations and Government
Washington Report: NATCA and FAA Sign Contract Extension
Following an acrimonious battle between the FAA and the National Air Traffic Controllers Association over the recently passed FAA reauthorization bill and
Regulations and Government
Washington Report: FAA Names New CFO Bloom
Former Pentagon official Thomas Bloom has been named CFO of the FAA, overseeing the agency’s $14 billion operating budget, as well as the development and F
