WASHINGTON, D.C. — Reauthorization of the FAA is one of the main concerns for the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee in the House of Representatives, according to its new chairman, Rep. John Mica (R-Fla.).
WASHINGTON, D.C.—“Private Plane, Public Menace” is the title of a feature article written by Jeffrey Goldberg for The Atlantic magazine. How did an article with such a title appear in such a prestigious magazine?
As the magazine is published here in Washington, I decided to try to determine why. Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Although he is no longer chairman of the House Aviation Subcommittee, Rep. Jerry Costello (D-Ill.) is still active in seeking elimination of user fees for general aviation. He is circulating a letter urging President Obama not to include general aviation user fees in the budget for Fiscal year 2112.
Washington, D.C. — We learn from history that we learn nothing from history. But having been born just 19 years after the Wright brothers made the first controlled flight, personal experience might help in the current attempts to gain greater acceptance for aviation. (Note the word “general” is not included.)
In the 1960s when William Piper, Sr., was alive and active in aviation, he commented to me that it would take many years before the public would understand and accept what was then called “general” aviation. “After all,” he said, “it took the public 50 years to learn that highways should be routed around communities and not pass through the main streets of cities.”
WASHINGTON, D.C. — When Charles Dickens wrote “A Tale of Two Cities,” he might have forecast general aviation in the year 2011 with the comment, “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.” Next year has the potential for being a productive growth period, but the challenges to be met might be insurmountable.
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Next Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen) needs to implement more efficient performance-based navigation procedures, clarify third-party rules, and assure that Required Navigation Performance (RNP) procedures can be used at congested airports. That was the gist of findings in a study by the Inspector General’s office of the Department of Transportation.
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The FAA stays in business with another three-month authorization extension after the Senate passed the bill during its weekend session. The House had passed the extension Dec. 2. This is the 17th extension for the FAA, a record number for any government agency. The agency has not had full reauthorization since 2007.
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA) and the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) announced support for the comprise tax agreement working its way through Congress after the aviation groups participated in a telephone conference with the White House.
WASHINGTON, D.C. — “We’re all in this together.” That was the message from James Coyne, president of the National Air Transportation Association (NATA), Nov. 30 when he met with news media for a look at the issues facing GA in the coming months. Coyne noted that in spite of the many problems general aviation now faces, he is “cautiously optimistic” that most will be resolved, but solutions will require the industry working as a group.
One of the major issues to be faced, he said, is reauthorization of the FAA, which has been operating on 17 temporary extensions. If another temporary extension is passed, it will set a new record for the Guinness Book of Records for the number of extensions any agency has had to endure.
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The FAA has issued a Notice of Proposed Rule Making to require photos on pilot certificates. But did you know that this isn’t the first time photos were on pilot certificates?
The General Aviation Airport Coalition has initiated a petition on the White House website that, if signed by 25,000 people or more by May 16, 2012, will elicit...
Air Racers 3D, the first IMAX movie devoted to the Reno Air Races, is rolling out across the country at select IMAX theaters, including the Naval Aviation Mus...
Really? Are there only 3,035 general aviators out there who are against paying a $100 per flight user fee? Click here to sign the petition. If you’re not a...
This May 2010 accident report is provided by the National Transportation Safety Board. Published as an educational tool, it is intended to help pilots learn fro...
This May 2010 accident report is provided by the National Transportation Safety Board. Published as an educational tool, it is intended to help pilots learn fro...
