FAA

With HP recently recalling 50,000 laptop computers over worries their lithium ion batteries could ignite, fires that might erupt in flight are certain to remain front page news this year. The FAA recently published InFO 17021 to clarify the use of potentially mislabeled fire containment kits and bags, as well as the procedures to deal […]

U.S. Secretary of Transportation Elaine L. Chao on Friday named the FAA’s Deputy Administrator Daniel K. Elwell to serve as Acting FAA Administrator now that Michael Huerta’s term has ended. Elwell assumed the Deputy role in June 2017. If asked to serve permanently and if approved by the Senate, Elwell’s term would last five years. […]

Ground collisions have thankfully been few and far between over the past few years. However, the FAA is taking no chances and continues to raise awareness of the risk of runway incursions between aircraft and vehicles operating on airports of all sizes. The agency said the majority of incursions occur in the first two-thirds of […]

As we do at the end of each year, the editors of Flying have compiled a list of the most important, compelling and industry-shaping news stories to emerge in the preceding 12 months. As always, the year was jam-packed with major news stories, from the political battles that gripped Washington to new airplane introductions and […]

There’s nothing guaranteed to make steam pour from the ears of a GA pilot quite like a discussion about the price of fuel and services at some airports. But that’s just what the AOPA did earlier this year. They began asking questions about pricing and airport access and conferenced in the FAA. The result was […]

In about two weeks, Santa Monica Municipal Airport (SMO) will close to allow for the planned shortening of Runway 3-21. Operators of many airplanes that are based at and frequent the nearly 100-year-old airport will have to find new alternatives. Since the runway-shortening project began on October 23, the airport has been closed nightly from […]

Possession of an instrument rating opens the door to airports when the weather is below basic VFR, provided the aircraft is properly equipped and that someone has a copy of the appropriate instrument approach plate — either electronic or paper — for guidance. Anywhere and in any weather… almost. There are roughly 40 U.S. airports […]

Aircraft operating under part 91K, 121, 125, or 135, that use an electronic flight bag as a replacement for carrying required paperwork such as instrument approach plates or aircraft manuals, will want to spend some time with the guidelines in FAA’s recently updated AC 120-76D. The new version clarifies the definition of an EFB as […]

The NBAA has asked the FAA to “hit the pause button” on decommissioning old circling approaches, as well as those with circling minima, until the agency evaluates recent glitches in some FMS and navigational databases. The FAA said new area navigation technologies have fostered a doubling of usable approach procedures in the past decade and […]

Secretary of Transportation Elaine Chao’s office sent out a memo announcing new information about the FAA’s state program to allow state and local governments to control their own drone regulations. It will also allow them to partner with private sector entities such as UAS operators or manufacturers to accelerate safe UAS integration. “Entities that wish […]