Regulations and Government
News about bills, laws, regulations and other governmental decisions affecting aviation and aerospace. Topics include FAA re-authorizations, taxes on fuel and aviation activities, environmental legislation, ICAO decisions, governmental mediation of labor conflicts and World Trade Organization disputes and decisions.
Regulations and Government
NBAA Warns of FAA Enforcement for PRD Noncompliance
The FAA this month released a notice providing guidance for inspections and enforcement for compliance with pilot records database requirements.
Regulations and Government
Nav Canada Adding Aviation Weather Information Resource
A new aviation weather resource from Nav Canada aims to merge operational and meteorological information.
Environment
GAO: Govt Should Monitor SAF Grand Challenge Progress
The GAO says government departments should develop performance measures for reaching sustainable aviation fuel goals.
ATC
Philippine Senate Calls for Legislative Changes after ATC Outage
Legislators have adopted findings and recommendations stemming from a committee probe into Manila’s January 1 air traffic control (ATC) power outage.
Regulations and Government
CBAA To Offer Alternate Way to Meet New Fatigue Rules
New pilot fatigue risk management system regulations do not work for unscheduled commercial operations, according to the Canadian bizav group.
Regulations and Government
Lawmakers Aim To Make Aviation Programs Eligible for 529 Plans
A bipartisan group of lawmakers has introduced a bill to make commercial pilot and aircraft maintenance schools eligible for 529 plans.
Finance, Taxes, Insurance
AIAC Refutes Government Report on Canada’s Luxury Tax
The Aerospace Industries Association of Canada claims a government report underestimates the negative effects the new luxury tax will have on aviation.
Regulations and Government
Bizav Advocates Call on Operators To Ready for New EU Entry Requirements
The EU is transitioning this year to electronic passenger entry requirements, and bizav groups caution that operators should begin to prepare for them.
FBOs
Vero Beach FBO To Add U.S. Customs Facility
Corporate Air, an FBO at Florida's Vero Beach Regional Airport, will break ground on a dedicated U.S. Customs facility.
Regulations and Government
Phil Washington Withdraws from FAA Administrator Consideration
Phil Washington, whose nomination as FAA administrator faced a barrage of Republican opposition, withdrew his name for consideration for the post.
Aircraft
Boeing 737 Max AD Sheds Light on Factory Errors
Improper torquing of fasteners by Boeing factory mechanics in Max jets’ engine anti-ice exhaust ducts results in FAA airworthiness directive.
Regulations and Government
NBAA Roundtable Advocates for AAM in FAA Reauthorization
NBAA's Advanced Air Mobility Roundtable marks legislative progress and continuing goals for 2023.
Regulations and Government
EASA Staff Flies Leonardo AW609 Tiltrotor
EASA and FAA staff have flown the Leonardo AW609 civil tiltrotor in run-up to formal type inspection test flights.
ATC
ICAO Adopts Multi-constellation Standards for GNSS
The International Civil Aviation Organization considers the rollout of new dual-frequency multi-constellation standards a ‘major milestone’.
Regulations and Government
FAA Aviation Safety Alert Is a ‘Call for Action’
Several recent near-collisions of aircraft operating in the airport environment prompted the FAA to issue a safety alerts for operators.
Regulations and Government
NTSB's Graham: Scalable SMS a Must for Smaller Aircraft Ops
NTSB member Michael Graham stressed the importance that all small Part 135 operators adopt SMS, but said the program must be scalable.
Accidents
NTSB: Spatial Disorientation Caused Fatal Citation Crash
According to the NTSB, pilot spacial disorientation caused the May 2021 fatal crash of a Cessna Citation 501 near Smyrna, Tennessee.
Regulations and Government
Senate Commerce OKs Notam Improvement Bill
A Senate panel passed a bill that would set a Sept. 30, 2024 deadline for notam system upgrades and call for a task force report on improvements.
Regulations and Government
Commerce Committee Delays Vote on Washington Nom for FAA
Senate Commerce Chair Maria Cantwell promised "we will have this debate" as the committee decided to delay a vote on the Washington nomination.
Accidents
Fatal King Air Crash Occurred as Wx Rapidly Worsened
The pilot of the Beechcraft King Air 350 that crashed on climout from Little Rock airport received three low-level wind shear advisories before departure.
Airlines
Ryanair Decries Continuing French ATC Strikes
Europe’s largest low-cost airline launched a petition calling for the European Commission to allow overflights when French controllers stage a strike.
Regulations and Government
FAA To Require 25-hour Cockpit Voice Recorders
Following a rebuke from NTSB chair Jennifer Homendy, the FAA moves to establish rulemaking committee for 25-hour CVR capacity.
Regulations and Government
Senate Commerce Eyes Aviation Workforce Initiatives
Senate Commerce Committee Eyes means to boost the aviation workforce as it crafts an FAA reauthorization bill.
Accidents
Communications Lost Soon after Ill-fated PC-12 Departed
An NTSB preliminary report says the crew of the Pilatus PC-12 that broke up in flight on February 24 made their last radio call 8 minutes after takeoff.
Aircraft
Report Highlights Need for Crosswind Training in Globals
A UK AAIB report on a wingtip-strike incident involving a Global 6000 in gusty conditions highlights the need for more crosswind training in the type.
Regulations and Government
Canada TSB Urges Updates to Medical Examiner Guidelines
The Transportation Safety Board of Canada is again recommending that Transport Canada improve the civil aviation medical examiners’ guidelines.
ATC
DOT IG Initiates Another Audit of FAA NextGen Program
The DOT Office of Inspector General has initiated another audit of the FAA's NextGen airspace modernization program.
Airports
NATA Responds to AOPA Ramp Proposal
NATA looks to counter a legistlative proposal from AOPA and others calling for the establishment of GA ramps at public use airports.
Avionics
EASA Warns of Increase in GPS Signal Outages
The European Union Aviation Safety Agency is warning operators of an increase in jamming or spoofing of global navigation satellite systems, including GPS.
Regulations and Government
Lawmakers Stress Support for Investing in General Aviation
House aviation subcommittee chair Garret Graves calls for improving general aviation investments while T&I chair Sam Graves seeks more advocacy.
