An ATP corporate pilot who is a Gold Seal CFI and safety counselor is currently working on a rulemaking petition to allow pilots to accomplish the FAR 135.299(a) line operational evaluation in an approved level-C simulator in lieu of a line check in an aircraft.
Regulations and Government
News about bills, laws, regulations and other governmental decisions affecting aviation and aerospace. Topics include FAA reauthorizations, taxes on fuel and aviation activities, environmental legislation, ICAO decisions, governmental mediation of labor conflicts and World Trade Organization disputes and decisions.
September 20, 2006 - 7:14am
All the public uproar and the introduction of numerous bills seeking to control lobbying abuse prompted by the scandals involving one-time, big-time lobbyist Jack Abramoff and former Congressman Randy “Duke” Cunningham (R-Calif.), convicted of taking bribes from defense contractors, have produced what might be only watered-down results.
September 20, 2006 - 7:08am
Even though Ellen Engleman Conners vowed last December that she would serve out the remainder of her term on the NTSB as a member “and not be tied down as chairman,” she submitted her resignation to President Bush in April, effective May 31.
September 20, 2006 - 7:05am
Aircraft buyers and sellers, aviation attorneys, bankers and other lenders, brokers, aircraft and title insurance agents and everyone else involved in aircraft transactions are climbing a steep learning curve in their collective attempt to comply with the requirements of a new international aircraft registry that opened for business on March 1.
September 20, 2006 - 7:00am
The battle lines over FAA funding have been drawn, with general aviation on one side and the airlines on the other. The dueling began in earnest on March 8, with press conferences from both the Air Transport Association (ATA) and several GA groups.
September 20, 2006 - 6:01am
— Congress returned from a 10-day break over St. Patrick’s Day but scheduled another recess in mid-April for Easter. Looking ahead, Congress anticipates shutting down shop in October in preparation for the November elections. Time is running out fairly rapidly for the 109th Congress, and it appears that the second session will meet fewer than 130 days.
September 20, 2006 - 5:36am
The National Association of State Aviation Officials (NASAO) and the FAA signed a new memorandum of understanding (MOU) in late March on land-use planning around the nation’s airports.
September 20, 2006 - 5:35am
Testifying before the House aviation subcommittee on unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), FAA associate administrator for aviation safety Nick Sabatini called UAVs “the next great step forward in the evolution of aviation.” But he warned they must have numerous redundancies in case of loss of link and system failures.
September 19, 2006 - 2:18pm
Judging from the size of the audience–about 200 people–many charter operators sent personnel to the NATA show to attend the first FAA operational control briefing session. A number of participants were local FAA inspectors, a sign that the FAA is trying to make sure all parties are on the same page when it comes to understanding the operational control concept.
September 19, 2006 - 2:08pm
During a year when non-airline aviation is expected to continue growing to record levels, a number of challenges face those whose service businesses propel the general aviation segment.
