The FAA has granted 1,008 exemptions to unmanned aircraft operations. Companies and individuals from a broad spectrum of industries are taking advantage of the Section 333 exemption process, according to FAA officials. Many of the exemptions the FAA has issued allow aerial filming for uses such as motion picture production, precision agriculture and real estate photography. […]
FAA
FAA: Wildfires and drones don’t mix
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Responding to recent incidents in which remotely piloted aircraft (RPA) — also known as drones and unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) — interfered with manned aircraft involved in fighting fires, the FAA is supporting the U.S. Department of the Interior and U.S. Forest Service in a simple message to drone operators: If you fly, we can’t. “Flying a drone […]
FAA agrees to work with GA on charts
The FAA has agreed to work with officials from the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, as well as other GA stakeholders, regarding the future of world aeronautical charts (WACs). The decision follows an earlier announcement that the agency would stop producing the charts later this year. FAA officials claim publishing the WACs has become cost-prohibitive as […]
FAA extends SoCal Metroplex comment period
The FAA is extending the public comment period for its Draft Environmental Assessment (EA) of the Southern California Metroplex project to Sept. 8, 2015, to allow for a full 90 days of comment. The project is a comprehensive proposal to improve the flow of air traffic into and out of Southern California. It proposes to replace […]
Call to action issued over ATC privatization
GA advocates are sounding the alarm about a plan to create a privatized Air Traffic Control system funded by user fees. The plan was unveiled last month by House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee Chairman Rep. Bill Shuster (R-Pa.), when the Congressman said he intended to introduce legislation to create an independent ATC corporation that would […]
FAA reauthorization bill delayed
The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee has delayed plans to release its proposed FAA reauthorization legislation. That occurred after the House majority leader informed the committee that consideration of the FAA reauthorization bill has been moved to September. The current FAA authorization expires Sept. 30. It was put into place after an agonizing 23 short-term extensions that […]
FAA posts second video in new Safety Information Video Series
The FAA has posted the second video in its Safety Information Video Series. Titled “The 2015 Wildlife Hazard Management and Strike Reporting Update,” the video outlines the benefits of wildlife hazard strike reporting and how airport operators use the information to reduce wildlife strikes at airports.
Latest FAA Safety Briefing now online
The July/August 2015 issue of FAA Safety Briefing highlights the many unique opportunities that GA flying enables in all four corners of our nation. Articles in this issue help prepare pilots for what to expect when traveling outside their home airspace in terms of plan, pilot, and plane. Articles include Susan Parson’s “It’s About the […]
FAA streamlines approvals for RPA test sites
The FAA has made it simpler for the six remotely piloted aircraft (RPA) test sites to conduct research by giving them “blanket” authorizations to fly public aircraft operations throughout the National Airspace System at or below 200 feet. FAA officials said they expect this improved access for the test sites will provide more opportunities for […]