Archive for Regulation

The FAA wants to limit access to bird strike data

From the April 4, 2009 posting at the respected AirSafe.com News titled Why the FAA Should Not Block Access to Bird Strike Data:

In March 2009, the FAA quietly made a stunning proposal to make it nearly impossible for the public to access a vital aviation safety resource. Since 1990, the FAA's National Wildlife Strike Database has been one of the most important tools for understanding bird and wildlife strike risks to aircraft. With over 100,0000 records, this database has the potential to benefit everyone who flies by giving the aviation safety community and the general public the opportunity to analyze that data in order to discover ways to reduce the threats to aircraft caused by birds and other wildlife. The FAA states several concerns about the database, but none of their arguments support their proposal to block public access to the data.

That post contains much more detail about the FAA's position and the opposing logic.  In the follow-on post of April 6, 2009 titled Send Your Comments to the FAA, AirSafe provides additional information, as well as instructions on how you can contact the FAA and submit your thoughts on this topic.

AirSafe is a great source for airline accident information, and is known to deal with facts, not early speculation.

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April 8, 2009 · Filed under Incidents, Regulation, Safety

FAR Part 91 tag cloud

Wordle: FAR Part 91

Click to see a larger version of the tag cloud, which visually shows the frequency of tag words in the FAR. Thanks to @jenniferwhitley for this.

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January 1, 2009 · Filed under Diversions, Regulation

ATA sues FAA

You could see it coming:

The FAA, citing the New York City airports as a significant cause of airport delays across the U.S., proposed an auction of take off and landing slots to reduce their number.

The Air Transport Association and the airport authority responded with harsh criticism for the idea, and even threatening to refuse landing to any flight on an auctioned slot.

The Government Accountability Office (GAO) announced that the Department of Transportation will not be allowed to auction takeoff and landing slots. (FAA Airport Slot Auctions Illegal. Now What?)

Then the DOT announced the auction will proceed. (US DOT: New York slot auctions to begin in January.)

Now, the ATA announces ATA Sues FAA to Invalidate Slot Auctions Rules:

ATA has sued FAA in federal court to invalidate two slot auction rules, one rule for LGA and another for both JFK and EWR. ATA’s law suit challenges FAA’s claim that slots are agency property that can be leased or otherwise disposed of under FAA’s general property management authority. ATA will seek a stay of the auction planned for early January. (October 14, 2008)

Look for this to play out in the coming months - probably largely in the press.

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October 14, 2008 · Filed under Airports, Regulation