leadnews

After many months of meetings, the Transportation Security Administration has released a set of general aviation airport “security enhancements.” This document had the potential of being extremely onerous for GA and all who dwell therein … but almost surprisingly, it isnt. “This is not one-size-fits-all,” General Aviation Manufacturers Association VP of Government Affairs Brian Riley […]

Today and Tuesday, hundreds of air traffic controllers are in Washington for their annual show of lobbying strength, and their message this year is that a staffing crisis is fast approaching. In a news release, the National Association of Air Traffic Controllers (NATCA) says the controller shortage is an accepted reality throughout the federal agencies […]

System Puts ATC In The Cockpit… Most of us have heard about the potential for a staffing crisis in the air traffic control system as Reagan-era controllers reach retirement age, but could technology supply part of the solution? A few days after controllers mount their annual legislative conference and “Hill visits” in Washington, D.C., NASA’s […]

Of course, the people whose livelihood depends on flying these airplanes don’t agree with the reports and say they are needlessly being put out of business. “We have a maintenance program that exceeds the airlines,” Neptune Aviation CEO Mark Timmons told The Missoulian. “What we have here is a very shoddy research paper by the […]

This week’s controversy erupted from an April 23 NTSB report on the crashes of three air tankers (two C-130As and a PB4Y2 Privateer) in the 2002 firefighting season. It said “no effective mechanism currently exists to ensure the continuing airworthiness of these firefighting aircraft.” But an earlier report (finished in December 2002 and apparently ignored […]

New Law Might Put Tankers In The Air… Despite two reports saying that large air tankers may be unsafe to fly, federal and state representatives are mounting pressure on the FAA to get 33 grounded heavy fire-bomber aircraft in the air in time for the forest fire season. Rep. Greg Walden (R-Ore.) said Thursday he […]

Meanwhile, the affable Quebec native (he’s goalie for his recreational hockey team) assured AVweb that the test engine is “surpassing our expectations.” The V-300T has a little more than 300 hours on it now hauling around the big (3,500-pound) boxy Moose and Bombardier says it’s impressed the manufacturers (including six certified OEMs) who have flown […]

Bombardier Speaks Up… Next time, Bombardier Aircraft Engines might consider bringing a note. The upstart piston-engine division of the aerospace giant was a puzzling no-show at EAA Sun ‘n Fun a few weeks ago (even while Superior Air Parts was marching out its certified 180-hp submission to the mo-gas burning field) and that naturally set […]

Though inspired in part by a special investigation report by the NTSB it appears application of 11 safety recommendations has gone somehow askew. Wading through a steady tide of condemning comments from industry advocates, the trail of quotes left by the latest public meeting implies serious problems with the FAA’s administrative process. “The very foundation […]

Does Anyone Like This Rule?… Though proposed Oct. 22, 2003, and blasted with the majority of 2,225 written statements offered through two comment periods — including comments from the U.S. Small Business Administration, comments from AOPA and comments from EAA — it was last Tuesday that saw the first public meeting held by the FAA […]