WASHINGTON, D.C. — Will the current chairwoman of the National Transportation Safety Board become the next Secretary of Transportation? The answer is “yes” if the head of the Senate committee that must approve the next nominee has his way. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood announced Tuesday (Jan. 29) that he was leaving his post. Senator Jay […]
Changing the way the FAA does business
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Michael Huerta, the new administrator at the FAA, sees challenges ahead for all aviation, which creates the need for government and the private sector to work together to resolve those challenges “to achieve the opportunities the next five years will bring.” “We must all be mindful of our respective roles,” he said. […]
Time to get familiar with NextGen
WASHINGTON, D.C. — It has been said by FAA officials that moving from the present air traffic control system to a satellite-based one is like trying to replace a flat tire on a car while it is speeding down the highway. And while implementation of the Next Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen) may be behind […]
New chairs for House Aviation Committees
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Convening of the 113th Congress Wednesday, Jan. 16, brought new congressmen to the chairmanships of the primary committees with jurisdiction over most aviation matters. Rep. Bill Shuster (R-PA) was confirmed as chair of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and Rep. Frank LoBiondo (R-NJ) was named chair of the Aviation Subcommittee. Both […]
Make way for the drones
WASHINGTON, D.C. — You will be sharing the airspace with unmanned aerial vehicles more and more in the coming year and ahead. Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) — more commonly called drones — have been operating in various parts of the nation since 1990. Since then, the FAA has authorized limited use for missions in the […]
Huerta approved as FAA administrator
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Washington aviation groups were quick to announce their approvals for the Senate confirmation of Michael F. Huerta as FAA administrator. He was named acting administrator following the resignation of Randy Babbitt on Dec. 6, 2011. He was deputy administrator under Babbitt. The General Aviation Manufacturers Association was first out with congratulations. Pete […]
What should GA expect in 2013?
WASHINGTON, D.C. — What can general aviation expect in the coming year? That question has aviation-focused personnel in Washington wondering. Uncertainty is not limited to aviation. The grim financial situation of near $17 trillion debt and political debates on what to do about it bring uncertainty to a point where “but what if” is tempering […]
NextGen months behind schedule, fiscal cliff could push it even farther
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Next Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen) is months behind schedule and FAA management faces many challenges before the massive project completes its movement from the planning stages to implementation. Meanwhile, industry representatives are concerned that the effort might not deliver all the desired benefits since the FAA has focused on limited […]
NATCA warns against sequestration
WASHINGTON, D.C. — General aviation will feel the heavy impact of the mandated 8.2% sequestration funding cut for the FAA if Congress doesn’t act to avert the across-the-board cuts. A report from National Air Traffic Control Association (NATCA) says the cut would cause furloughing between 2,000 and 2,200 air traffic controllers. This is about 12% […]