WASHINGTON, D.C. — General aviation might be sluggish in the United States during these economic slow periods, but in the Asia-Pacific area, GA flying is getting a lot of attention — but not always for the most positive reasons. China, particularly, is flexing its muscles for all general aviation. Of course, there are many challenges, […]
Pilots have new appeal rules
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Pilots appealing to the National Transportation Safety Board about certificate enforcement will have new rules under which to conduct their efforts as the NTSB announced on Friday, Sept, 20, a final rule to implement several changes in their procedures. The new rules are based on public comments received by the NTSB as […]
NextGen moves closer to reality
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Next Generation Air Transportation System — known as NextGen — moved two steps closer to reality in late August when new programs became operational. The FAA deployed a new system called Time-Based Flow Management (TBFM), a scheduling tool that meters aircraft through all phases of flight in order to deliver the […]
Congress returns to busy schedule
After its August vacation, Congress returns to Capitol Hill Sept. 9 with a full plate of issues, some of which will directly affect general aviation. As usual in Washington, money is on top of the plate. Sequestration appears again; the U.S. must raise its debt limit — again — to keep borrowing money; and that […]
Taking the reins at AOPA
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association has a new president: Mark Baker. Rumors of the appointment were rampant at EAA AirVenture in Oshkosh, but the official announcement wasn’t made until Aug. 20. Baker is only the fifth person to be president of AOPA. Actually, he is the sixth. The first was T. […]
Proposed AD could have devastating effect on GA
WASHINGTON, D.C. — From the 1940s to the 1970s, Max Karant was a senior vice president of the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) who tirelessly and fearlessly fought for the interests of GA. Even though he frequently was blunt and sometimes vicious in his discussions with — and about — the FAA, most people […]
Small airplane revitalization act passes Senate committee
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Senate Commerce Committee’s voice vote passage Tuesday, July 30, of the Small Airplane Revitalization Act moved the bill closer to passage by the full Congress, requiring the FAA to put into effect changes to Part 23 that would make available less expensive and more practical products for general aviation airplanes. The […]
FAA makes certification rule change proposals public
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The FAA has released to the public the 335-page report of the Aviation Rule Making Committee set up to recommend broad changes in the certification of general aviation aircraft in an effort to increase the safety of GA and reduce the costs of producing planes and parts. After years of striving to […]
NextGen still facing unresolved issues
WASHINGTON, D.C.—The FAA’s program for the Next Generation Air Traffic Control system (NextGen) has made some progress, but still lacks major planning decisions and actions that can both delay implementation and substantially increase the cost. At a Congressional hearing Wednesday, July 17, the Inspector General of the Department of Transportation said the FAA has taken […]