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
User fees: Even Washington can’t decide whether user fees make sense
After promising that a new system for funding the FAA would be announced by late last spring, the White House admitted this summer that internal disagreeme
Regulations and Government
New A380 Wake Turbulence Recommendations
The Airbus A380 Wake Vortex Steering Group recently issued new recommendations for A380 wake turbulence spacing.
Regulations and Government
NATA Says Reimbursement Process Daunting Task
The proposed procedure for reimbursing FBOs and other providers of general aviation ground-support services at five airports in the Washington, D.C.
Regulations and Government
Congressional Observer: November 2006
• Congress closed up shop on September 29, and November 13 was set as the date for what might be a lame-duck Congress to reconvene.
Regulations and Government
UK likely to issue new rules for offshore registrations
British authorities are expected to decide by mid-February how and when to apply new operating rules to business aircraft registered in the UK’s overseas t
Regulations and Government
Europe pushescommercialE-IMC to 2010
More than 15 years after the publication of initial proposals, commercial single-engine operations under instrument meteorological conditions (SE-IMC) coul
Regulations and Government
Debate continues: will small jets overburden FAA resources?
The Government Accountability Office (GAO) and the Transportation Department Inspector General are questioning whether the FAA’s safety inspectors and air
Charter & Fractional
Europeans frustrated by DOT access restrictions
European charter operators are expressing increasing frustration about what they have come to regard as anti-competitive restrictions on their ability to f
Regulations and Government
Comments sought on an age 65 rule
On November 23 the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) will adopt an amendment to increase the age limit for airline pilots to 65, provided an
Regulations and Government
Comment period moved on LGA NPRM
The comment period on a proposal to continue the reservation and slot program under the high-density rule at New York La Guardia Airport (LGA) has been ext
Regulations and Government
Sentences Handed Down for Errant Pilots
Former Flight Options pilot Franklin Rodriguez last month was sentenced to 17.5 years in prison after pleading guilty last May to smuggling into the U.S.
Regulations and Government
Age 60 rule comes under new scrutiny
With the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) poised to raise the age limit for commercial pilots to 65 effective November 23, the FAA has conv
Regulations and Government
Refuse A Drug Test, Lose Your License
The FAA is proposing to amend airman medical standards so that refusing to submit to a required drug or alcohol test carries the same penalty as failing a
Security
Operators Question GPS Shutdown Police
Since it was disclosed late last month that President Bush has directed the Department of Defense to draw up plans for temporarily disabling the
Regulations and Government
International ELT Rules Clarified
Recent input from NBAA and new ICAO documents help clarify international ELT requirements.
Charter & Fractional
European agency studies changes to frax regulation
On behalf of the European Civil Aviation Conference (ECAC), two separate task forces are tackling the vexed issue of regulating fractional ownership operat
Accidents
C208 Accidents Lead to NTSB Concern
The NTSB is recommending that pilots of Cessna 208 Caravans approved for flight into known icing conditions be required to undergo annual training for grou
ATC
Eurocontrol reduces its ATC charges
Operators will see en route ATC charges for most of Europe reduced by an average of 7 percent starting this month.
Regulations and Government
Most Support SIC Pilot Type Rating
Most of more than 35 respondents supported the FAA’s notice of proposed rulemaking–as is or with a few changes–to permit pilots serving as second-in-comman
Regulations and Government
Congress Tightens FAA Budget
The $388 billion omnibus spending bill Congress passed late last year cut the FAA’s budget for Fiscal Year 2005 to $13.6 billion, $219 million less than in
Regulations and Government
Medevac Opponent's Employee Gets a Helicopter Ride
The New Jersey State Police would like to permanently relocate one of the state’s medevac helicopter units to Somerset Airport (SMQ), near the middle of th
Regulations and Government
House Panel Backs Aerospace Training
The House Education and Workforce Committee endorsed a proposal calling for the Labor Department to establish a government program for aerospace workforce
Regulations and Government
Congressional Observer: May 2005
• Before Congress took a couple of weeks off beginning on March 20, there were 687 bills introduced in the Senate and 1,454 in the House of Representa
Safety
UK wants to change ‘polished frost’ rule
The UK’s Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) is recommending that the FAA change its regulations to make it illegal for aircraft to take off with so-
Regulations and Government
Special routes for ‘quiet’ aircraft over Grand Canyon?
The FAA has issued a final rule establishing a class of “quiet technology” aircraft to fly commercial tours over Grand Canyon National Park (GCNP).
Regulations and Government
ERA pushes back hardon pax compensation regs
Regional airlines in Europe last month lodged a formal protest alleging that civil servants had misrepresented legislation about passenger compensation for
Regulations and Government
Pama Urges Day to Wright Brothers' Mechanic
The Professional Aviation Maintenance Association (PAMA) is asking the entire aviation community to call their Congressional representatives and ask for th
Regulations and Government
Congressional Observer: December 2005
• In view of the enormous funds allocated for hurricane relief ($62 billion to date with more to come) and a mounting budget deficit, President Bush and le
Regulations and Government
NBAA rallies troops for fight against user fees
The nation’s major airlines have declared war on business aviation and, as the weapon to win that war, they intend to push for ATC user fees to be levied u
Safety
AOPA asks FAA to retain some NDBs
In response to an FAA proposal to eliminate 479 “redundant” NDB approaches as a cost-saving measure, AOPA has given the agency a list of 57 NDB approaches
