Air traffic control

The FAA is more than two years behind schedule for commissioning equipment designed to improve runway surveillance to reduce incursions. Congress wants to know why and what can be done about it and asked the DOT Inspector General to launch an audit into the matter. While the FAA has procured 36 out of 38 Airport Surface Detection Equipment-Model X (ASDE-X) systems, it has commissioned only three for operational use.

Pilots will have several more months to comply with the new second-in-command (SIC) type rating rule. Published on August 4, the rule had an effective date of September 6, after which pilots serving as second-in-command would have to have an SIC type rating when flying to international destinations. However, at press time the FAA was preparing a notice that would establish a compliance deadline of March 6 next year.

Federal legislation (H.R. 3465) has been introduced that would levy a fine of between $10,000 and $100,000 and impose a certificate suspension of at least two years against a pilot who violates the D.C. flight-restricted zone. A maximum of $5,000 would be assessed against a pilot who enters the D.C. air defense identification zone without a clearance.

There are more than 35,000 people living and working offshore in the Gulf of Mexico, supported by nearly 650 helicopters flying as many as 9,000 flights each day. HAI worries about limited radio contact with air traffic controllers below 5,000 feet in areas where the minimum en route altitude is 1,500 feet. Also of concern is a lack of access to current weather data, which prevents IFR operations to several major Gulf oil platforms.