FAA

The National Transportation Safety Board has asked helicopter manufacturers Bell, Airbus Helicopters, Leonardo Helicopter Division, MD Helicopters, Robinson Helicopter Company and Sikorsky to require visual and audio data recorders on commercial turbine-powered helicopters. Speaking directly to airframe manufacturers is a first for the NTSB regarding video image recorders and comes following the FAA’s refusal to […]

A proposed airworthiness directive stands to affect 6,586 Cessna 180, 182, and 185 models, driven by a report of cracks found in the tailcone and horizontal stabilizer attachment on a 185 that had displayed excessive play while undergoing maintenance. “After a detailed inspection, the tailcone reinforcement braces were found cracked on both sides of the […]

On January 29, 2019, a Bell 407 helicopter operating as an air ambulance flight by Batesville, Arkansas-based Survival Flight crashed near Zaleski, Ohio, killing the pilot, the flight nurse and the flight paramedic. The helicopter impacted heavily forested terrain just before 7 am local time in deteriorating weather while enroute to transfer a patient from […]

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) recently released an annual summary of reported laser strike incidents in 2019 showing there were 6,136 reports of people on the ground shining easily-obtained laser pointers at aircraft. According to the FAA, the availability of inexpensive laser devices for sale in stores and online is contributing to the problem, with […]

The FAA’s federal contract tower program consists of 254 facilities located in 46 states. The FCT program was created in 1982 in order to allow airports that would be unable to afford the price of a traditional FAA operated tower to enjoy the benefits of ATC services. Those towers and their 1,400 controllers manage 28 […]

The FAA will award $1.187 billion in airport safety and infrastructure grants, according to Department of Transportation Secretary, Elaine Chao. In a news release late last week, Chao said, “The total includes $731 million in Airport Improvement Program grants and an additional $455 million in Supplemental Discretionary grants. The money will be available for 100 […]

A Fact Sheet released recently by the FAA lists several National Transportation Safety Board safety recommendations, followed by the FAA actions being taken or considered. Of note is the record showing that NTSB and FAA “agree on a course of action about 80 percent of the time.” Here are some interesting points in the FAA/NTSB […]

Note: The FAA has temporarily unpublished the SFAR to make updates. The new ruling will be published on May 4. The FAA has published on April 29, 2020, a SFAR (special federal aviation regulation) regarding the extension of certain pilot and technician recency of experience, testing, and medical certification requirements in response to the international […]

Some 100 FAA control towers around the US will soon have their operational hours temporarily culled due to significant COVID-19-based reductions in local air traffic. The agency said in a news release, “Making these adjustments allows for continued safe operations throughout the national airspace system while minimizing health risks to our workforce.” The control towers […]

The National Business Aviation Association and a number of other alphabet groups last week participated in a conference call with senior Flight Standards officials to reiterate the importance of providing general aviation operators with regulatory exemption and accommodation in the face of the devastating industry effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Agency officials said they are […]