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

Cabinet changes in the cards

As anticipated, there have been numerous changes in the makeup of President Bush’s cabinet.
Regulations and Government

Congressional Observer: January 2005

Having missed the October 1 deadline for funding nine of the 13 government agencies that had been neglected, a lame-duck Congress made up for that lack of
Security

Intelligence act tightens corporate aviation security

With passage of the National Intelligence Reform Act of 2004, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) will be required to check the names of poten
Regulations and Government

NTSB: Lowest Number of ‘Open’ Recommendations

For the first time since 1975, the number of safety recommendations classified as “open” has dipped below 1,000, the NTSB said last month.
ATC

RVSM rules take effect in North America

Whether pilots notice any difference remains open to debate, but anyone cruising in the upper flight levels over North America should at least be aware tha
Regulations and Government

Comments Due on ETOPS Proposal

January 13 is the closing date for comments on the FAA’s proposal to establish rules covering extended twin-engine operations (ETOPS) applicable to Part 12
Regulations and Government

Alcohol, Drug Testing Rates Remain Unchanged

The FAA determined that the minimum percentage rate for substance-abuse testing this year will remain at 25 percent of covered aviation employees for rando
Regulations and Government

Aging Aircraft Airworthiness Rules Now in Effect

New interim final rules on a controversial aging-aircraft-inspection program for multi-engine airliners operating under Parts 121, 129 and 135 took effect
Regulations and Government

Devil’s in the details of FAA reauthorization

H.R.2115, the House of Representatives’ “Vision 100–Century of Aviation Reauthorization Act.”
Regulations and Government

Bills submitted to up age-60 rule to 65

Sen.
Regulations and Government

New Part 145 takes effect this month

Attention repair station operators! You now have less than a month to ensure compliance with the new Part 145, and the Aeronautical Repair Station Associat
Regulations and Government

DOT Seeks Comments on Air-taxi Disclosure Rules

In an advance notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) published today, the DOT is seeking input from interested parties on a 2006 NTSB recommendation calling
Regulations and Government

Public Being Asked To Comment on Numerous Issues

The DOT in its advance NPRM asks the public to comment on the following questions:

(1) How might customers and passengers benefit from the infor
ATC

Blakey ‘not amused’ by LAAS debacle

LAAS developer Honeywell and FAA LAAS program officials remain tight lipped about how the contract, awarded in April on the understanding that the system’s
Regulations and Government

EASA moves into new German headquarters

Relocated from temporary offices in Brussels to a new building across the Rhine in the city of Cologne, Germany, the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA)
Safety

Papua New Guinea court convicts crew for illegal landing

A court in Papua New Guinea (PNG) convicted Australian pilots Andrew Reid and Peter McGee of making an illegal landing in a Cessna Citation II at the disus
Regulations and Government

Congressional Observer: February 2007

The 110th Congress opened for business on January 4, with the Democrats in control of the Senate and the House of Representatives.
Regulations and Government

House Ethics Rules Ground Pilots

The comity promised by new House speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) lasted all of about 24 hours when the 110th Congress convened last month.
Regulations and Government

FAA Phasing Out Paper Certificates

The FAA issued a notice of proposed rulemaking last month that will require pilots to replace their paper certificates with upgraded, counterfeit-resistant
Charter & Fractional

New rules challenging for charter operators

In part because of a high-profile charter crash at Teterboro Airport (TEB) early in 2005 and several other accidents involving responsibility for operation
Regulations and Government

Europe considers extending emissions trading plan

The European Union’s new emissions trading requirements for aviation could be imposed on a much larger group of business aircraft than has been anticipated
Regulations and Government

Visas: ’Better Get It and Not Regret It’

Confusion about French visa requirements for U.S.
Regulations and Government

New Passport Requirements Go Into Effect

Beginning today, all U.S.
Regulations and Government

Speed rule made permanent at London Airports

The UK’s National Air Traffic Services (NATS) has introduced a permanent 250-knot speed restriction for standard instrument departures (SIDs) from London’s
Regulations and Government

Confusion reigns over French visas

Confusion over French visa requirements for U.S.
Regulations and Government

AOPA Fights ‘Terrorist’ Declaration

AOPA has requested that the state of Ohio remove a requirement that with their annual aircraft registration renewal aircraft owners in the state sign a dec
Regulations and Government

Slight Changes to Position and Hold

The FAA updated guidance (FAA Notice NJO 7110.456) to controllers for taxi into position and hold (TIPH) procedures, effective February 5.
Regulations and Government

FAA issues new rule for charter operators

In part because of a high-profile charter crash at Teterboro Airport (TEB) early in 2005 and several other accidents involving responsibility for operation
Regulations and Government

Part 125 Waiver Notice Revised

New FAA Notice N8000.345 provides revised guidance for obtaining Letters of Deviation Authority (LODA), applicable to operators of corporate jetliners (suc
Regulations and Government

Part 135 now under new ETOPS rule

The FAA last month issued a final rule on ETOPS (extended-range twin-engine operational performance standards) that allows operators of commercial aircraft
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