| Regulations & Government |
The potential impact of new environmental restrictions is high on the EBACE conference agenda here in Geneva this week. Today, in Meeting Room 1 of Hall 7 from 2 to 3 p.m., speakers will discuss how business aviation can respond to this challenge in a session entitled, “Setting the Standards.” Brian Humphries, president of the European Business Aviation...
moreAccording to the European Union’s CO2 emission trading scheme (ETS), each affected facility is allotted a certain number of CO2 emission permits, based on its past emissions. For example, if a facility emitted an average of 100,000 tons per year during a given period, it will be allotted (on a free basis) 90,000 tons per year for the next four years....
moreThe need to demonstrate environmental responsibility while remaining operationally viable has been identified as the biggest single challenge facing business aviation. This has prompted the business aviation industry to offer self-governing carbon-offset-based alternatives to the European Union’s CO2 emission trading scheme (ETS). However, the European...
moreIn a surprise move, the FAA announced late last week that it appointed ATO vice president of operations planning Vicki Cox to become senior vice president for NextGen and operations planning. While surprising, the step was not unwelcome, FAA and industry sources told AIN. For some time, there has been concern that NextGen and the Joint Planning and...
moreThe business jet market has continued its spectacular rise, while turboprop shipments grew modestly and piston deliveries dropped sharply, according to first-quarter aircraft delivery stats released today by the General Aviation Manufacturers Association. Industry billings increased 16.1 percent, to $5.3 billion, an all-time high for the first quarter,...
moreThe FAA today issued a notice of proposed rulemaking to remove wording in Parts 91, 125 and 135 allowing pilots to take off with frost on wings, stabilizers and flight controls “if the frost has been polished to make it smooth.” The polished frost rules are found in 14 CFR 91.527(a), 125.221(a) and 135.227(a). According to the FAA, 11 known crashes shortly...
moreThe Senate bill to reauthorize and fund the FAA is once again stalled on the tarmac because of procedural infighting between Republicans and Democrats. After a surprise compromise that would create no new user fees, lobbyists thought the Senate version of FAA reauthorization was on its way to quick passage. But senators quickly lined up with amendments to...
moreJohn Bruton, the European Union’s Ambassador to the U.S., received a decidedly undiplomatic reception while testifying on aviation emissions before the House aviation subcommittee on Tuesday. The ambassador got into a rancorous spat with Rep. Peter DeFazio (D-Ore.), who was designated acting chairman of the subcommittee at the time. What drew the...
moreThe U.S. Senate adjourned at 8:01 p.m. last night without voting on the FAA reauthorization bill, once again putting the legislation at risk of inaction as the clock ticks toward the June 30 FAA funding expiration. Senior advisors to President Bush are recommending that he veto the bill if it doesn’t include user fees and provide more airline control over...
moreAn agreement was recently reached between the International Brotherhood of Teamsters and the NetJets Association of Shared Aircraft Pilots (NJASAP), the latter of which seeks to break away from IBT Local 1108 to form an independent NetJets pilot union. The pact will “resolve the question of the NetJets preferred representative for collective bargaining by a...
moreDuring a House Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming hearing last month, Air Transport Association (ATA) president and CEO James May claimed that airline jets are five to six times more fuel efficient than corporate jets. “Carrying 200 people and cargo across the country in a single airplane burns a lot less fuel than 33 separate...
moreThe FAA has been under intense pressure from the U.S. Congress of late, and some believe that the reaction to Congressional pressure to tighten up FAA oversight of the aviation industry is a direct cause of the thousands of airline groundings last month. The problems that resulted in the groundings centered on compliance with FAA airworthiness directive...
moreThe FAA’s proposal to reduce airline delays by imposing peak-period pricing to reduce congestion at busy airports is a “bad idea with no positive consequences and the limitless possibility of unintended negative consequences,” according to NBAA. The National Air Transportation Association commented that “the proposed amendment is a short-term fix to a...
moreFor the second time in three years the international requirements for ELT equipage are changing, but this time the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) promises that while the new rules will ensnare more airplanes than previous requirements, implementing them will be easier than before.Starting on the rule’s effective date of July 1, private and...
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