Irregular procedures, delays, and consistency problems in FAA’s programs to certify aircraft, aviation equipment and systems can inflate costs, lose production time, and put U.S. firms at a competitive disadvantage, according to a study by the Government Accountability Office (GAO). The study says there is a lack of uniform standards and evaluation criteria with FAA […]
Smile! Proposal to put photos on pilot licenses expected by end of year
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Smile, you might soon see your face on your pilot certificate. The FAA says before the end of this year it will issue a Notice of Proposed Rule Making to require photos on pilot certificates. This follows years of prodding by Congress and others after a bill requiring photos on IDs in […]
Controller errors up 51%
Errors by air traffic controllers increased a record 51% this past fiscal year, according to a report in The Washington Post. The newspaper said this increase represents only a portion of the errors, as not all mistakes are recorded. For three years the FAA has encouraged controllers to voluntarily report errors and be shielded from […]
‘Sitting on our assets’
A Congressional committee that oversees the Department of Transportation says billions of dollars of taxpayer money can be saved by making a few changes. In a report titled “Sitting on our Assets,” Republican members of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee cite areas where there is the potential for savings of a quarter of a […]
Europe delays action on “Third Country” regulations
The European Union Commission (EUC) decided in a closed-door meeting to delay action on the European Aviation Safety Agency’s (EASA) recommendations to restrict acceptance of pilot and aircraft certificates issued by third countries. This gives persons living in Europe but operating on certificates issued by other countries, including the FAA, at least three more months […]
Runway incursions down
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Over recent years, the FAA has been actively working to reduce the number of serious runway incursions — and that work has paid off. In fiscal year 2010, runway incursions dropped 50% from 2009, the second year in a row this type of potential accident was cut in half. Serious runway incursions […]
A lot at stake for GA in mid-term elections
WASHINGTON, D.C. — General aviation has a big stake in the outcome of the coming mid-term elections, both at the federal and state levels. At the federal level a full reauthorization of the FAA might hang on whether Democrats continue to control both houses of Congress or whether there is a lame duck session with […]
European proposals could severely affect U.S. pilots
Proposals offered two years ago by the European Aviation Safety Agency are about to be acted on and, if adopted, will mean severe aviation regulation changes in all European nations and virtually eliminate the acceptance of pilots and aircraft licensed in the United States. Changes affecting the U.S. are in the section involving third country […]
Another 3-month extension for FAA
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Both houses of Congress passed bills Sept. 23 giving the FAA another temporary extension. A joint bill is expected to be passed easily this week. This will be the 15th temporary funding measure the agency has had since 2007. The three-month extension will give the political body time to again try to […]