The FAA Reauthorization passed another major hurdle May 9th, and the prospects of final approval by the end of next week look good. The full Senate voted 88-4 to approve the “bicameral, bipartisan” compromise bill worked out...more
This is the week the FAA’s Remote ID requirement for drones went into full effect in the United States. “Wait a minute . . .” I can hear you saying. “The Remote ID rules went into effect back in September last year, didn’t...more
The lights will stay on at the FAA, at least for now. Last night, the Senate passed the House bill extending authorization for FAA funding through March 8, 2024. The stop-gap measure had been held up since late last week by...more
It appears that the FAA Reauthorization effort will take an unusual detour in the Senate this week. As readers are no doubt aware, the FAA will lose its legal authority to operate on Sunday unless the 5-year reauthorization...more
The FAA has just updated its policy statement regarding the legal considerations applicable to state and local regulation of Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS). Originally issued in 2015, the FAA “fact sheet” was intended to...more
Early this morning, the House of Representatives passed its version of the FAA Reauthorization, also known as the Securing Growth and Robust Leadership in American Aviation Act (H.R. 3935), with a largely bipartisan vote of...more
The U.S. House of Representatives is poised this week to begin consideration of the FAA Reauthorization bill. The legislation, known as the Securing Growth and Robust Leadership in American Aviation Act (H.R. 3935), would...more
The FAA Reauthorization Act is starting to take shape, with welcome news coming out of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee. According to a press release, they have produced a bipartisan bill that...more
It’s that time again. Every five years, the Congress has to “reauthorize” the Federal Aviation Administration to keep it up and running. Congress uses this important event as an opportunity to provide new funding, guidance,...more
We are fast approaching the date when unmanned aircraft flown in the United States will have to be equipped for remote identification. One of the few exceptions to this requirement applies to UAS operated within...more
The FAA continues its slow march forward in dealing with 5G issues. Last week, the FAA released a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) to address helicopter radio altimeter interference issues.
Currently, the...more
In the wake of several high profile “close calls” and increased scrutiny from Congress, acting FAA Administrator Billy Nolen has issued a safety “call to action” memorandum for the FAA. The memorandum acknowledges that we...more
On January 11, 2023, the FAA posted a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) asking for comments on its proposed solution to the ongoing problem of 5G interference with aircraft radio altimeters. The NPRM’s comment period has...more
Late last week, the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas sided with the government and Boeing and refused to block the deal reached over charges of criminal conspiracy arising out of the crashes of ...more
Will the FAA’s NOTAM system disaster turn out to be a blessing in disguise for the Agency? If the FAA plays its cards right, the answer will be, “Yes.” On January 11, 2023, the FAA was forced to take the unprecedented step...more
The Government Accountability Office (GAO) has just released a 55-page report containing a series of recommendation for improving the FAA’s integration of drones into the National Airspace System (NAS). In conducting this...more
The day when Urban Air Mobility will transition from dream to reality is fast approaching. A number of eVTOL aircraft are in the final stages of certification. Designs for vertiports are being finalized, and the supporting...more
For the past ten years, Congress has attempted to establish a framework for how model aircraft and recreations flyers of unmanned aircraft should operate in the national airspace system. Through the FAA Reauthorization Act...more
The FAA’s remote identification rules for unmanned aircraft (Remote ID) are back on track. The United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit has just rejected the last serious challenge to the...more
Counter-drone technology is being developed and deployed by governmental agencies at an increasing rate. In light of this, the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and its Subcommittee on Aviation requested...more
Routine Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) operations for unmanned aircraft took a major step forward yesterday, with the release of the long-awaited report from the Aviation Rulemaking Committee (ARC) tasked with making...more
Now that the UAS flight over people and remote ID rules are in effect, the pathways are opening up for more complex, and potentially dangerous, UAS operations. The FAA, however, is not the only governmental body concerned...more
There can be little doubt that the FAA is no longer going to tolerate the disruptions caused by drunken and unruly passengers. Yesterday, the FAA announced large civil penalties against another four travelers for misconduct...more
As we originally reported back in 2019, the FAA has been working on a new set of rules defining an air carrier’s responsibilities to its passengers in the event of a tarmac delay. That process has finally ended, with the...more
As we reported last month, the FAA is finally taking strong enforcement action against unruly passengers who disrupt air travel. Today, the FAA announced three new cases involving stiff penalties against such individuals. ...more