Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Integration Pilot Program

"President Donald J. Trump directed U.S. Secretary of Transportation Elaine L. Chao today to launch an initiative to safely test and validate advanced operations for drones in partnership with state and local governments in select jurisdictions. The Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Integration Pilot Program implements a directive signed by President Trump today, and the results will be used to accelerate the safe integration of UAS into the national airspace and to realize the benefits of unmanned technology in our economy.

The program will help tackle the most significant challenges in integrating drones into the national airspace while reducing risks to public safety and security. The program is designed to provide regulatory certainty and stability to local governments and communities, UAS owners and operators who are accepted into the program. In less than a decade, the potential economic benefit of integrated unmanned aerial systems into the nation’s airspace is estimated to equal up to $82 billion and create up to 100,000 jobs.*

The program will help the USDOT and FAA develop a regulatory framework that will allow more complex low-altitude operations; identify ways to balance local and national interests; improve communications with local, state and tribal jurisdictions; address security and privacy risks; and accelerate the approval of operations that currently require special authorizations..."

U.S. Drones

FAA Releases Drone Registration Location Data

"The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) today posted a large database showing the city, state and zip code of each registered drone owner. Release of the database responds to a number of Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests submitted since the new unmanned aircraft registration system began operating on December 21, 2015.

The FAA is not posting the names and street addresses of registered owners because the data is exempt from disclosure under a FOIA exemption that protects information in agency files from a clearly unwarranted invasion of personal privacy..."

Drones

Unmanned Aircraft Operations in Domestic Airspace: U.S. Policy Perspectives and the Regulatory Landscape

"Unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), often referred to as “drones,” have become commonplace over the past few years. As UAS technology develops rapidly, the United States faces significant challenges in balancing safety requirements, privacy concerns, and economic interests.

The FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012 (FMRA; P.L. 112-95) required the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to develop and implement a comprehensive plan to integrate unmanned aircraft into the national airspace and issue regulations governing the operation of small unmanned aircraft used for commercial purposes. FAA has proposed regulations allowing routine operations of small commercial UAS weighing less than 55 pounds, but is still developing the guidelines and standards for federal, state, and local government agencies required by FMRA. Hundreds of thousands of small UAS are already being operated as recreational model aircraft and hobby drones that are permitted under a special rule for model aircraft established by FMRA. In addition, several hundred public agencies and more than 3,000 businesses have been granted approval to operate UAS on a case-by-case basis. Once regulations and guidelines are put in place, large growth in UAS operations is anticipated..."
Unmanned aircrafts

Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Registration Task Force (RTF) Aviation Rulemaking Committee (ARC)

"The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) chartered the Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Registration Task Force (RTF) Aviation Rulemaking Committee (ARC) (Task Force) to provide recommendations to the FAA “on registration requirements and process for small UAS, including those used for commercial purposes, and all model aircraft.”

Federal law (49 U.S.C. § 44101(a)) requires that a person may only operate an aircraft when it is registered with the FAA. An “aircraft” is defined as “any contrivance invented, used, or designed to navigate, or fly in, the air” (49 U.S.C. § 40102(a) (6)). In 2012, Congress confirmed that UAS, including those used for recreation or hobby purposes, are aircraft consistent with the statutory definition set forth in 49 U.S.C. § 40102(a)(6). See Pub. L. 112-95, §§ 331(8), 336. The FAA currently requires civil UAS operators who have been granted operational authority by exemption to register their aircraft. The FAA would also require registration for civil UAS that would be operating under the proposed rule titled Operation and Certification of small UAS (sUAS). See 80 FR 9544 (Feb. 23, 2015)..."
Drones

FAA hiring Air Traffic Controllers; Virtual Career Fair this Wednesday, February 12

"Today could be the day your dreams take flight. For the next two weeks, the Federal Aviation Administration is accepting applications for new Air Traffic Controllers for positions across the United States..."

FAA - air traffic controllers

FAA to Allow Airlines to Expand Use of Personal Electronics

"The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Administrator Michael Huerta today announced that the FAA has determined that airlines can safely expand passenger use of Portable Electronic Devices (PEDs) during all phases of flight, and is immediately providing the airlines with implementation guidance..."
Personal Electronics on Airlines

Quality in the Cockpit

The Federal Aviation Administration proposes new rules for pilots to log 1500 hours of flying time to become a co-pilot. 
Quality in the Cockpit

Laser Incident Information and Reporting

"Shining a laser into the cockpit of an aircraft is a serious safety risk and violates federal law. Many high-powered lasers can completely incapacitate pilots who are trying to fly safely to their destinations and may be carrying hundreds of passengers. Unfortunately, reported incidents of lasers aimed at aircraft are steadily increasing.

The FAA is working with law enforcement agencies across the country to pursue monetary civil penalties against individuals who purposely try to interfere with a flight crew by aiming a laser into an aircraft cockpit.."

New consumer protections for airline passengers take effect

"Here are some of the common-sense ways we're looking out for passengers under these new protections:

* If you are involuntarily bumped from an oversold flight, the new rules double the amount of money you are eligible for as compensation.
* DOT's successful ban on lengthy tarmac delays will now cover the international flights of foreign airlines at U.S. airports, and domestic flights at small-hub and non-hub airports.
* If your bag is lost, you are entitled to a refund of any fee for carrying that bag. Airlines are already required to compensate passengers for reasonable expenses for loss, damage or delay in the carriage of passenger baggage.
* Airlines must prominently disclose all optional fees on their websites, including but not limited to fees for baggage, meals, canceling or changing reservations, or advanced or upgraded seating."

Flight Delay Information - Air Traffic Control System Command Center
"The status information provided on this site indicates general airport conditions; it is not flight-specific. Check with your airline to determine if your flight is affected.Information on wait times at security checkpoints."

FAA Spaceport grants will strengthen America's commercial space industry
"...although the NASA Shuttle era has drawn to a close, the U.S. already has a commercial space transportation industry that is ready, willing, and able to meet the challenges of providing access to space for science, research, tourism, and other national needs. This industry is absolutely poised to take American space transportation to the next level.

And, since 1984, the FAA’s Office of Commercial Space Transportation has been in charge of regulating and promoting this dynamic sector. The new matching grants are just the latest example of that support.

The FAA has also issued licenses for more than 200 launches, licensed eight FAA-approved launch sites known as spaceports, and helped ensure that no loss of life or serious injury has been associated with these efforts..."

FAA National Wildlife Strike Database
"The FAA National Wildlife Strike Database contains strike reports that are voluntarily
reported to the FAA by pilots, airlines, airports and others. Current research
indicates that only about 20% of strikes are reported. Wildlife strike reporting is not
uniform as some organizations have more robust voluntary reporting procedures.
Because of variations in reporting, users are cautioned that the comparisons
between individual airports or airlines may be misleading."

WILDLIFE STRIKES TO CIVIL AIRCRAFT IN THE UNITED STATES, 1990–2007
"A mixed flock of blackbirds (red-winged blackbirds, common grackles, brown
-headed cowbirds) and European starlings descend into a wooded roosting area at dusk, less than 2 miles from a southern USA airport, 11 January 2007. Over 500 million blackbirds and starlings from Canada and the northern USA migrate to the southern USA each winter where they gather nightly in numerous roosts in marshes
and woodlots. Flight lines of birds entering to and departing from these roost
sites at dusk and dawn can pose a serious risk to aircraft at nearby airports. Airports should work with nearby communities to prevent large bird roosts from developing near airports. Photo, S. Stopak, USDA.

The most deadly civil (62 human fatalities, Massachusetts 1960) and military (34
fatalities, Netherlands 1996) bird strikes were caused by flocks of starlings."

FAA Takes Steps to Ensure Proper Reporting of Operational Errors
"The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) today announced steps to strengthen the reporting system designed to classify airspace errors, in response to a report by the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Inspector General (IG) that revealed the intentional misclassification of operational errors at the Dallas-Fort Worth Terminal Approach Control (TRACON).

In direct response to IG recommendations contained in a report issued today, the FAA removed both the facility manager and assistant manager at the Dallas-Fort Worth TRACON from their positions pending a final determination on possible further personnel actions; additional personnel actions may be taken. The Air Traffic Safety Oversight organization has implemented unannounced on-site audits at the TRACON, requiring monthly reports to the FAA’s acting administrator. Additionally, the FAA will accelerate deployment of the Traffic Analysis Review Program (TARP) — software that automatically detects losses of aircraft separation at terminal facilities — at Dallas-Fort Worth TRACON. The program will be implemented by the end of fiscal year 2008."

USE OF THE NATIONAL AIRSPACE SYSTEM
"This report presents the results of our audit of the use of the National Airspace System (NAS). The House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure requested this audit to provide policymakers with a common understanding of who uses the NAS as they consider how to finance the aviation system into the future. Disagreement among stakeholders regarding their use of the NAS makes it difficult to evaluate Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) financing alternatives.

Our specific objectives were to determine: (1) how different groups use NAS elements, (2) how that usage contributes to aviation congestion, (3) whether NAS users can be grouped in a meaningful manner based on their usage of the system, and (4) how good a proxy is jet fuel for use of FAA air traffic services."

FAA Adopts Upgrades for Aircraft “Black Boxes”
"The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has mandated significant upgrades to aircraft cockpit voice and flight data recorders — improvements that will enable investigators to retrieve more data from accidents and incidents requiring investigation...

Under the final rule, which affects manufacturers and operators of airplanes and helicopters with 10 or more seats, all voice recorders must capture the last two hours of cockpit audio instead of the current 15 to 30 minutes. The new rule also requires an independent backup power source for the voice recorders to allow continued recording for nine to 11 minutes if all aircraft power sources are lost or interrupted. Voice recorders also must use solid state technology instead of magnetic tape, which is vulnerable to damage and loss of reliability."