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
Airworthiness Action Expanded for Cessna 441s
A May 1 AD (2003-09-09) extends the provisions of an earlier airworthiness directive calling for a one-time inspection to check for chafed or damaged wirin
Regulations and Government
GA groups outraged over DHS advisory, more TFRs
General aviation interests expressed consternation over a May 1 Department of Homeland Security (DHS) advisory warning the GA community against planned Al-
Regulations and Government
Tax Act increases depreciation for aircraft
President Bush planned to sign legislation that will increase from 30 percent to 50 percent the first-year depreciation allowance for capital goods, includ
Regulations and Government
Australia To Revamp Civil Aviation Authority
The structure of the Australian Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) is undergoing a major overhaul as the government responds to constant pressure from
Rotorcraft
NYPD Buys Bell…Again
Displaying the sort of brand loyalty most manufacturers only wish for, the New York City Police Department aviation unit has taken delivery of yet another
Accidents
Bell Helicopter Goes To Court over Crash Deaths of Paramedics
Bell Helicopter must face trial over the deaths of three paramedics killed in a 1998 helicopter crash in Los Angeles, after the California Supreme Court de
Rotorcraft
Air Methods Pilots and Employees OK Union
A marginally sufficient 55 percent of the 540-strong force of eligible employees at aeromed operator Air Methods recently voted to approve representation b
Rotorcraft
Do as you say, insists helo op
They say that turnabout is fair play, and that’s evidently what a proactive North Carolina tobacco grower thought he was doing when he sued a local high sc
Security
9/11 helo aftermath: ‘normal’ but not quite
It has been just over two years since four hijacked jetliners stopped the world in its tracks on what was for residents of the New York City and Washington
Regulations and Government
News Note: Massachusetts Institute of Technology to be the lead partner in a Center of Excellence program
The FAA selected the Massachusetts Institute of Technology to be the lead partner in a Center of Excellence program on aircraft noise and emissions mitigat
Regulations and Government
Washington Report: NTSB Revises “Most Wanted” List
In one of her first acts as chairman of the NTSB, Ellen Engleman vowed to take a fresh look at the Board’s safety advocacy programs, including its “Most Wa
Regulations and Government
Congressional Observer: October 2003
Keeping with custom, Congress deserted Washington for the dog days of August with some small sense of accomplishment.
Regulations and Government
Congressional Observer: June 2002
The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) has raised its estimates of budget deficits.
Regulations and Government
California Enacts Frax Tax
According to the National Air Transportation Association (NATA), a law recently approved by the California State Assembly would assess all fractional owner
Regulations and Government
Frax rules rekindle FAA-JAA dispute
Next month’s scheduled adoption of the final fractional operation rules–Part 91 Subpart K–will likely reignite the controversy between the FAA, JAA and som
Charter & Fractional
Cheers and some wary eyes greet new frax regs
In the first few days after the new FAR on fractional ownership hit the street last month, the aviation community was reacting with tempered optimism.
Airports
Teterboro operator vows to fight weight proposal
It started several years ago when Boeing began selling its BBJ in numbers that the airline manufacturer never expected (25 in the first year, 82 overall si
Regulations and Government
Raytheon SEC probe focuses on Beech 900D
RAYTHEON SEC PROBE FOCUSES ON BEECH 1900D
• The Securities and Exchange Commission probe of Raytheon’s commuter aircraft (Beech 1900
• The Securities and Exchange Commission probe of Raytheon’s commuter aircraft (Beech 1900
Airports
Second operator sued over VNY noise ban
XtraJet, a Santa Monica, Calif.,-based charter firm, has become the second operator to be sued by the Los Angeles Board of Airport Commissioners for allege
Regulations and Government
GAO says operational error stats suspect
FAA data indicates that a very small number of ATC “operational errors” (a reduction in standard separation distances) occur in any given year (about 6.7 e
Airports
FAA strikes down Naples Stage 2 ban
In what is being hailed by general aviation as a landmark decision, the FAA has ruled that the ban on Stage 2 aircraft at Naples Municipal Airport (APF), F
Regulations and Government
Mach number: True or false
Business aircraft crews are being urged to ensure they are using true Mach numbers in all airspace where the Mach number technique (MNT) is applied for lon
Aircraft
Repaired Learjet 45s Return to the Air
Bombardier said its Learjet 45 replacement horizontal stabilizer actuator received FAA approval on September 10 and shipments started immediately at a rate
Aircraft
Embraer Legacy Will Be India’s Air Force One
Last month the Indian Government signed for five Embraer Legacy Executives for head-of-state use.
Regulations and Government
Influx of Non-U.S. Aircraft Prompts DOT IG Audit
The DOT’s office of inspector general is auditing the FAA’s parts certification and surveillance procedures to determine the effect of the increasing U.S.
Regulations and Government
Italian government takes 20-percent stake in Piaggio
Sviluppo Italia, the Italian government industrial investment agency, has bought more than 20 percent of Piaggio Aero Industries, parent company of Piaggio
Regulations and Government
FAA Urging Pilots To Change Certificate Numbers
To help prevent “identity theft,” the FAA is urging pilots who hold an airman certificate that uses their Social Security number (SSN) as their certificate
Regulations and Government
FAA harassment lawsuit downed by federal judge
A federal judge in Kansas City, Mo., dismissed a $1 million lawsuit against the FAA over the 1999 fatal crash of a Cessna CitationJet.
Avionics
Patco Is Alive if Not So Well
In 1981 President Reagan fired virtually all aircraft traffic controllers and banned them from reapplying for controller jobs after their union, the Profes
Safety
NTSB wants more data on Part 135 ops
Perhaps as an example of the NTSB moving forward on long-outstanding issues, it has asked the FAA to require nonscheduled Part 135 operators to report acti
