The FAA issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) yesterday that seeks to update, modify and clarify Parts 61 and 141, the sections devoted to pilot and flight instructor training and certification. The majority of the more than 200 proposed changes are minor, though there are more significant changes, such as the addition of night-vision-goggle training requirements, as well as changes to instrument currency requirements.
Rulemaking
February 1, 2007 - 5:53am
As the result of requests to extend the deadline for comments on the FAA’s proposal to establish regulations governing flights that go beyond certain distances from an adequate airport (extended operations, or ETOPS) by multi-engine airplanes, the FAA has expanded the comment period. The notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) was published on November 13, and comments were due by January 13. The new comment period extends to March 15.
February 1, 2007 - 5:50am
Revisions to the service difficulty reporting (SDR) requirements in FAR Parts 121, 135 and 145 (air carriers and repair stations) set to have gone into effect on January 16 have been delayed until Jan. 30, 2006. As a result of several unresolved issues raised by the industry, the agency has delayed the effective date of the revisions on four separate occasions since the final rules were adopted on Sept. 16, 2000.
January 31, 2007 - 11:40am
Proposed amendments were adopted to clarify the FAA’s anti-drug and alcohol-misuse regulations pertaining to testing requirements; reasonable cause for testing; periodic drug testing; the anti-drug program approval process; and drug- and alcohol-abuse prevention programs.
January 30, 2007 - 10:05am
The FAR Part 135 Aviation Rulemaking Committee (ARC) delivered a long-awaited briefing on its research and a preview of the coming notice of proposed rulemaking. The committee’s two-year charter comes to a close this month, and the committee met for the last time in late February.
January 30, 2007 - 10:04am
The FAA announced today that it intends “later this year” to issue a formal notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to increase the mandatory airline pilot retirement age from 60 to 65. The planned proposal follows several other recent related actions.
January 30, 2007 - 6:07am
Concerned by its findings between 1998 and 2003 involving airline pilots, the FAA late last year proposed to amend airman medical standards so that a refusal to submit to a required drug or alcohol test would result in revocation or disqualification of an airman medical certificate. Only about 20 comments were submitted.
January 26, 2007 - 10:19am
In an advance notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) published today, the DOT is seeking input from interested parties on a 2006 NTSB recommendation calling for air taxi’s to be required to disclose operational control information to customers. The recommendation stems from the Safety Board’s investigation into the crash of a Challenger 600 at Montrose, Colo., on Nov. 24, 2004.
January 23, 2007 - 10:04am
Beginning today, all U.S. citizens and nonimmigrant aliens from Canada, Bermuda and Mexico entering the U.S. from within the Western Hemisphere at airports of entry will be required to present a valid passport. In lieu of a passport, U.S. citizens have been permitted to present a variety of documents to establish their identity and citizenship and right to enter the U.S.
January 19, 2007 - 10:30am
The final report of the FAA/industry rulemaking age-60 committee is now posted on the agency’s Web site. The committee was unable to reach consensus on whether to increase the mandatory retirement age of 60 for airline pilots. The report can be viewed and downloaded at www.faa.gov/media/Final_Age_60_ARC_Report_11_29_2006.pdf.
