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. […]
GAMA and NBAA welcome tax agreement
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. GAMA’s President and CEO Pete Bunce said, “We support this agreement because it contains […]
NATA chief: ‘We’re all in this together’
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 […]
Photos on pilot certificates not new
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? Details of the proposal are now being studied by various aviation groups, with the deadline for comments set for Feb. 17, […]
Senators push for lame-duck passage of FAA reauthorization
The FAA might get reauthorization after all this year if two powerful senators of the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation have their way during this lame-duck session of Congress. Senators John (Jay) Rockefeller (D.-W.Va.), chairman of the full committee, and Byron Dorgan (D.-N.D.), chairman of the aviation subcommittee, say the FAA has been without […]
FAA proposes photos on pilot certificates
The FAA wants your opinion on whether photos should be on pilot certificates. The FAA announced the proposal Thursday, Nov. 18, and set a deadline of Feb. 17, 2011, for submitting comments. Under the current proposal, a new pilot certificate would cost $22 and be valid for eight years. At the end of that time […]
Security measures must constantly change, TSA administrator tells senate panel
Transportation security is constantly evolving and aviation can expect more changes as terrorists probe for ways to cause destruction and technology perfects ways to keep ahead of them, John Pistole, administrator of the Transportation Security Administration, told a Senate Committee Wednesday, Nov. 17. The possibility of more security actions affecting general aviation became apparent early […]
Aircraft shipments dip again in third quarter
Factory shipments of general aviation aircraft dipped again in the third quarter of the year with business jets dropping 20.3% from last year while pistons declined only 6.6% below 2009, according to figures released by the General Aviation Manufacturers Association. In the first nine months of 2010, total general aviation airplane shipments fell 14.5%, from […]
Oberstar’s defeat stuns aviation community
After 36 years in the House of Representatives, Rep. James Oberstar (D-Minn.) went down to defeat and his congressional seat will be taken over by a former airline pilot, an event that has members of Washington’s general aviation community shaking their heads in disbelief. A Democrat, he was swept away by what he termed “a […]