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.
Safety
NTSB: Severe Turbulence Calls for Severe Inspections
The NTSB has called on the FAA to require more extensive inspections of transport-category airplanes for possible structural damage after they encounter se
Maintenance and Modifications
New Repair Station Rules To Be Delayed–Again
For the second time since being adopted on Aug.
Aircraft
Inspection Required of GV Balance Weight Installation
A one-time inspection is required to ensure that all installation fasteners are in place for the left and right aileron balance weights on Gulfstream Vs, i
Airports
HPN Expansion Opposed Due To Reservoir Concerns
Bronx city councilman Oliver Koppell introduced a resolution into the New York state legislature calling for curtailing any plans to expand Westchester Cou
Airports
Customs Desertignates User-fee Airports
Williams Gateway Airport in Mesa, Ariz., and Roswell Industrial Air Center in Roswell, N.M., have been designated by the Customs and Border Protection Agen
Regulations and Government
MX Software eases working with regs
Aircraft Technical Publishers (ATP) has launched its newest software platform–Navigator V.
Regulations and Government
EASA springs to life, but it’s still in infancy
The new European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) came almost silently to life last month–as if echoing the muted expectations that many in the aviation indus
Regulations and Government
Bell to appeal dismissal of Able Engineering suit
On September 16 Bell Helicopter Textron officially filed its intent to appeal the dismissal of a lawsuit the OEM had filed against Able Engineering and Com
Charter & Fractional
Fired pilots and Flight Options settle lawsuit
A lawsuit in which four former Raytheon Travel Air pilots alleged they were fired because of their union-organizing activities when the company merged with
Regulations and Government
Got a flight returning from outside the U.S. with leftover non-packaged food items such as dairy products, beef, fruits and vegetables?
Be aware that the U.S.
Regulations and Government
DOT bashes Stars, calls on FAA to stem runaway cost
In a September 9 report to the FAA Administrator, the DOT’s inspector general called upon the agency “to reevaluate the costs of Stars [the standard termin
ATC
Washington Report: No Foul, but Was There Any Harm?
After investigating an allegation that the FAA destroyed an audiotape of six New York Center controllers’ accounts of the 9/11 attacks, Transportation insp
Regulations and Government
Washington Report: AIA Lauds Senator’s Floor Speech
Aerospace Industries Association president and CEO John Douglass commended Sen.
Regulations and Government
Congressional Observer: June 2004
Ah, yes, there is considerable trouble in River City, and it isn’t a pool hall like in the 1950s Broadway musical.
Regulations and Government
Signs of recovery tainted as EC wages regulatory assault
Two years on from the 9/11 terrorist attacks, Europe’s regional airlines are still struggling to recover from some of the toughest business conditions they
Airports
Dusseldorf imposes new slot fee
Germany’s Dusseldorf Airport is to introduce a new E160 ($176) “slot allocation charge” for each takeoff and landing, which operators have to pay even if t
Regulations and Government
Politics count more than need in PSO game
Local politics–not economic necessity or distance from commercial centers–might influence the administration of Europe’s public-service obligation (PSO) ai
Regulations and Government
FAA’s ASAP hasn’t flown with maintenance techs
The FAA’s Aviation Safety Action Program (ASAP) is designed to identify and correct dangerous operational situations that might not come to the attention o
Regulations and Government
NTSB Closes Docket On Repair Station Security
The Transportation Security Administration’s notice of public meeting and request for comments on “Aircraft Repair Station Security” (Docket No.
Airports
FAA seeks input on Burbank noise program
The FAA is reviewing a proposed revision to the approved noise-compatibility program that was submitted for Burbank Bob Hope Airport (BUR), Calif.
Regulations and Government
Florida DOT bundles grant program
A Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) grant to support building an airline terminal complex at Southwest Florida International Airport (RSW) in For
Regulations and Government
Senator calls for more R&D funding
The chairman of the Senate aviation subcommittee has called on his colleagues in Congress and the entire aerospace industry to make the restoration of fede
Regulations and Government
Washington Report: FAA Helps Cast a Wider WAAS Net
For the first couple of months this year, FAA Administrator Marion Blakey has been the most peripatetic agency head in recent years, making extended trips
Regulations and Government
Congressional Observer: May 2004
• Trillions, billions and chump-change millions appear to be the common denominations being bandied about in halls of Congress.
Regulations and Government
RAA attempts to decode mixed signals from feds
RAA director of technical affairs Dave Lotterer knows perhaps as well as anyone that good intentions at the FAA don’t necessarily translate into sound acti
Regulations and Government
ARC weighs in on new weight-and-balance AC
An aviation rulemaking committee (ARC) that includes five representatives from the regional airline industry has submitted the final draft of a proposal to
Rotorcraft
FAA Floats Special Rules for BA609 Certification
The FAA issued a request for comment on proposed airworthiness standards for certification of the Bell/Agusta BA609–“a multi-turbine-engine powered-lift ca
Regulations and Government
Who will succeed FAA Administrator Garvey?
After completing the first five-year term as FAA Administrator in history, Jane Garvey will step down on August 4–and there will likely be no deputy waitin
