A special committee of the National Air Traffic Control Association wants to dissect and review the FAA’s plan to split and/or close Terminal Radar Approach Control (TRACON) facilities from their accompanying airport control towers in many locations and move those services to other locations. NATCA formed a committee last fall to meet with the FAA […]
GAO says FAA not doing enough for regional airport planning
The national airspace system will face serious congestion in the near future unless the Federal Aviation Administration does more to utilize regional airport planning to help address system delays, according to a report by the Government Accountability Office (GAO). Commenting on the report, Rep. John Mica (R-Fla.) said Next Gen “is not a silver bullet […]
GA responds to Haiti crisis
General aviation at all levels marshaled forces to take aid to the survivors of the massive earthquake that hit Haiti earlier this month. The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) went into action immediately, making contact with key government officials to arrange that emergency flights from anyplace in the U.S. could be taken to an […]
Southers withdraws from TSA nomination
President Barack Obama will have to look for a new person to nominate to be administrator of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) after Erroll Southers withdrew his name from consideration. Southers cited distractions caused by his position regarding possible unionization of TSA employees and other issues relating to his nomination. Southers had been nominated last […]
Confirmation of new TSA director delayed
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Errol Southers was nominated last August by President Obama to be director of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), but his confirmation has been delayed in the Senate, meaning the agency that deals directly with aviation security has been without a leader for nearly six months. Couple this with the security confusion following […]
FAA reauthorization hits another snag
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The FAA has had its problems getting reauthorization on track. To keep the agency in business, Congress has passed yet another temporary extension, something that has been going on for more than two years. Even some Senators are getting fed up with the delay, with 35 of them signing a letter to […]
Homeland Security asked to review how pilots are vetted
A request to the Department of Homeland Security could bring about a closer look at holders of airman certificates to find possible security threats. Concerned that reports show people with connections to terrorism and other criminal activities hold valid airman certificates, four senators have asked the Inspector General of the Homeland Security Department to study […]
Turbulence ahead
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Make sure your seatbelt is fastened tightly as turbulence is expected in 2010. Once again the FAA will be working under a temporary extension. Presidential and Congressional interests have been focused on reforming healthcare, so subjects like reauthorizing a government agency are getting short shrift. When Congress does get around to the […]
Government study cites poor FAA morale
Declining morale at the FAA could affect the way programs move, such as development of the next generation air transportation system (NextGen), according to a study by the Government Accountability Office, which notes the low morale could pose obstacles to FAA’s efforts to retain its existing workforce and recruit people with needed skills. GAO’s study […]