Support is growing to prohibit the use of Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) data to collect fees from pilots — in Congress, where the Pilot and Aircraft Privacy Act (PAPA) is gaining cosponsors, in state capitols across the country, and among top aviation safety officials.
FAA
After the Accident
A pilot who did everything right but was still in an accident shares the lessons he learned in its aftermath, from dealing with the NTSB, FAA, and insurance companies, to handling the Seven Stages of Grief.
Laser Strikes on Aircraft Drop for Second Year In a Row
Pilots reported 10,994 laser strikes to the FAA in 2025 — a 14% decrease from the year before — but still too high, say agency officials.
GA Survey Launches
The FAA’s 48th annual General Aviation and Part 135 Activity Survey (GA Survey) has launched, with the agency asking general aviation aircraft owners to report on their operations during the calendar year 2025.
The Sky is Getting Crowded — And It’s Only Going to Get Worse
The GAO warns the FAA must set clear milestones for drones to detect and avoid manned aircraft as the number of drones sharing the National Airspace System is expected to near 4 million by 2029.
New Weather Observation System Proves its Worth in Alaska
The Montis Weather Observation System (MWOS) debuted in 2024 and already is at 15 locations across Alaska, as well as several in the Lower 48, with plans to increase that to 100 by the end of 2026.
GA: Doing More With Less
The latest annual General Aviation and Part 135 Activity Survey shows a slight dip in the number of GA aircraft flying, but a jump in the number of hours flown.
FAA Cracks Down on Drones in 2025
The FAA levied fines ranging from $1,771 to $36,770, as well as suspended or revoke drone pilot certificates.
Mandatory Reporting: Fact vs. Fiction
Justin, a private pilot in Texas, writes: “There’s a lot of chatter online about Air Traffic Control Towers “having to” report any mechanical issue a pilot has to the FAA and pilots having to follow up on incidents with the FSDO. Is this new? Where does this come from? What rises to the level of being reported? And what should you do if the FAA calls or writes?”