Regulations and Government
News about bills, laws, regulations and other governmental decisions affecting aviation and aerospace. Topics include FAA re-authorizations, taxes on fuel and aviation activities, environmental legislation, ICAO decisions, governmental mediation of labor conflicts and World Trade Organization disputes and decisions.
Safety
DOT HAZMAT rules revised
The DOT last month issued a rule amending the requirements for the transportation of hazardous materials by aircraft.
Safety
Europe's ACAS II exemptions expire
On March 31 exemptions to ACAS II (TCAS II, Change 7) requirements in Europe were set to expire.
Regulations and Government
ICAO approves pilots over 60
The International Civil Aviation Organization adopted a “standard” to increase the upper age limit for airline pilots to age 65, effective November 23.
Charter & Fractional
Simulator line checks proposed
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.
Regulations and Government
Congressional Observer: June 2006
All the public uproar and the introduction of numerous bills seeking to control lobbying abuse prompted by the scandals involving one-time, big-time lobbyi
Regulations and Government
Former NTSB Chairman Resigns
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
ATC
Contract talks continue between FAA, controllers
With the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (FMCS) overseeing contract talks between the FAA and the National Air Traffic Controllers Association (
Regulations and Government
NTSB urges TAWS requirement for helos
The NTSB has recommended to the FAA that all U.S.-registered turbine helicopters certified to carry at least six passengers be required to have terrain awa
Regulations and Government
FAA gets earful from NTSB
The NTSB last month issued a scathing report highly critical of the FAA and the transport-helicopter industry for not embracing flight data recorders (FDRs
ATC
FAA mulls user input on permanent ADIZ
The comment period on the proposal to transform the Washington, D.C., air defense identification zone (ADIZ)–which covers 3,700 sq mi that closely follow t
Regulations and Government
Cabotage rules in Canada require special attention
For hundreds and maybe thousands of years, countries have sought to protect the transport trade within their borders from what they perceive as unfair comp
Regulations and Government
Cabotage, Then and Now
The practice of cabotage has its origins in early Portuguese history, in a time when Spanish ships sailing between northern and southern Spain would stop a
Regulations and Government
Proposed FAA budget leaves little funding for small airports
The Bush Administration rolled out its FY2007 budget plan early last month, calling for $13.75 billion for the FAA–down from the $14.31 billion for this fi
Regulations and Government
Fragmentation reigns in Europe’s regs
German executive charter firm Triple Alpha Luftfahrt has added a sixth Cessna CitationJet to its fleet.
Regulations and Government
New regulatory role for EASA might be delayed
The UK government is leading a campaign to delay the transfer of additional regulatory responsibilities to the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) until
Regulations and Government
UK Reconsiders Bizav Regulation
The UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) is conducting a strategic review of business and general aviation and how these industries should be regulated.
Security
European Security Rules Could Extend to Aircraft as Small as VLJs
Europe’s EC2320 requirement for full passenger and crew security screening could be extended to aircraft weighing as little as 2.7 tons (5,952 pounds), acc
Regulations and Government
Alphabet groups ready to wage user-fee battle
The battle lines over FAA funding have been drawn, with general aviation on one side and the airlines on the other.
Regulations and Government
Congressional Observer: May 2006
— Congress returned from a 10-day break over St.
Aircraft
UAVs ‘Next Great Step’ in Aviation
Testifying before the House aviation subcommittee on unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), FAA associate administrator for aviation safety Nick Sabatini called
Regulations and Government
SkyWest Subject of SEC Probe
The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has launched an investigation into the accounting of certain maintenance costs by St.
Regulations and Government
Aviation Industry Expo 2006: Taxation and regulation issues weigh heavily at NATA event
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
Aircraft
Hawker 4000 Certification ‘Just About There’
Raytheon Aircraft last expected to receive full FAA certification of the super-midsize Hawker 4000 Horizon in February, nearly five years later than the or
Regulations and Government
Cooperation is essential to SES implementation
The single European sky legislation, with its provision for the creation by groups of states of cross-border functional airspace blocks within which multip
Regulations and Government
FAA planners begin the task of identifying solutions to gridlock
With rare unanimity, aviation experts have agreed over the past few years on one thing: traffic will at least double, and perhaps even triple, by 2025.
Regulations and Government
FAA proposes imposing operational limitations for large aircraft
Manufacturers of Part 25 transport aircraft weighing more than 75,000 pounds, including business jet OEMs, will be required to develop operational limitati
Charter & Fractional
Aviation Industry Expo 2006: Charter Operational Control
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 b
Regulations and Government
NBAA Agrees with SEC Disclosure Proposal
NBAA’s response was one of more than 170 comments (mostly supportive) filed about the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) rulemaking proposal to requi
Regulations and Government
FAA, controller contract talks stall
The National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA) and the FAA walked away from the bargaining table on April 5, with the agency declaring an impasse
Regulations and Government
Airspace Flow Program Advisory Released
On May 1, the FAA implemented a new air traffic management initiative called the Airspace Flow Program (AFP).
