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☆ Airline collision close calls are on the rise partly because there's not enough people working the high-paid, high-stress job that prevents them
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-22 | by ( Juliana Kaplan | Hannah Towey | Taylor Rains | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

Part of that can be chalked up to the air traffic controller labor shortages. A government audit released in June found that 77% of critical air traffic control facilities in the US are staffed below the recommended threshold. Staffing shortages "have placed a tremendous amount of strain on air traffic controllers," Rich Santa, president of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association, said in a statement to Insider. "Air traffic controllers are doing an exemplary job in a very difficult situation, but this is not sustainable." In May, Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg told CNN that air traffic control needed 3,000 more workers to be fully staffed.

Persons: Rich Santa, Transportation Pete Buttigieg Organizations: New York Times, Service, Southwest Airlines, FAA, Cessna, Times, NASA, Air, National Air Traffic Controllers Association, Transportation, CNN, California TRACON, htowey Locations: Wall, Silicon, San Diego, what's, California, Jacksonville

☆ United CEO says climate change is going to make massive delays more common
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-14 | by ( Hannah Towey | Associated Press | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

United CEO Scott Kirby says climate change will cause even more flight delays in the future. The airline canceled thousands of flights in a six-day meltdown leading up to July 4 weekend. United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby hasn't hesitated to point fingers when it comes to flight delays, from criticizing airport infrastructure to slamming the FAA for staffing shortages. Garth Thompson, a United pilot and union chair, similarly highlighted internal issues at the airline as a driving factor behind the flight delays in late June. "While Scott Kirby attempts to deflect blame on the FAA, weather and everything in between, further flight delays are a direct result of poor planning by United Airlines executives," Thompson told Insider at the time.

Persons: Scott Kirby, Kirby, Scott Kirby hasn't, Kirby —, —, United, United's, Pete Buttigieg, Garth Thompson, Thompson Organizations: United Airlines, Politico, Hurricanes, Independence, United, New, Transportation, FAA, CNN Locations: New York, Newark, New York City

☆ Alef CEO Jim Dukhovny talks FAA's approval of Alef's flying car
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-13 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailAlef CEO Jim Dukhovny talks FAA's approval of Alef's flying carJim Dukhovny, Alef co-founder and CEO, joins 'Last Call' to talk his company's recent FAA certification for its flying car.

Persons: Jim Dukhovny Organizations: Email

☆ US watchdog to review FAA efforts to prevent runway incursions
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-06 | by ( David Shepardson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

WASHINGTON, July 6 (Reuters) - A U.S. government watchdog will review Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) efforts to prevent airport runway incursions after a series of incidents where airplanes came dangerously close to each other. The U.S. Transportation Department Office of Inspector General (OIG) said it was opening its audit to assess FAA processes for analyzing data, identifying risks and preventing and mitigating runway incursions. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is investigating six runway incursion events since January including some near catastrophes. In March, the FAA said it was taking steps to improve air traffic control, convening a safety summit and issuing a safety alert. In April, it named an independent safety review team and in June announced $100 million for 12 airports to make improvements to taxiways and lighting to reduce runway incursions.

Persons: Jennifer Homendy, OIG, David Shepardson, David Gregorio Our Organizations: U.S, Federal Aviation Administration, FAA, U.S . Transportation Department, National Transportation Safety Board, OIG, FedEx, Southwest Airlines, Boeing, FedEx plane's, Delta Air Lines, American Airlines, Thomson Locations: Austin , Texas, Boston , Florida, New, JFK

☆ Critical US air traffic controller facilities face serious staffing shortages -audit
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-23 | by ( David Shepardson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

WASHINGTON, June 23 (Reuters) - Critical U.S. air traffic control (ATC) facilities face staffing challenges and the Federal Aviation Administration "lacks a plan to address them," a government audit released on Friday found. The Transportation Department Office of Inspector General said the staffing issues pose risks to the continuity of air traffic operations. The report said the FAA has made limited efforts to ensure adequate controller staffing at the busiest air traffic control facilities, adding that 77% of critical ATC facilities are staffed below the FAA's 85% threshold. The center in busy Florida has had 300 staffing triggers - events when workforce issues require reducing air traffic, the report said. The Transportation Department in May sought $117 million to hire 1,800 air traffic controllers next year, in addition to 1,500 being hired this year.

Persons: General, York TRACON, David Shepardson, Chizu Nomiyama, Matthew Lewis Organizations: Federal Aviation Administration, Transportation Department, FAA, National, Jacksonville, The Transportation Department, Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, Washington National, New, ., Thomson Locations: U.S, Florida, New York JFK, LaGuardia, Newark, New York, York, Miami, Washington

☆ Critical US air traffic controller facilities face serious staffing shortages, audit says
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-23 | by ( David Shepardson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

☆ Archer Aviation hires former acting FAA administrator
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-13 | by ( David Shepardson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

WASHINGTON, June 13 (Reuters) - Air taxi maker Archer Aviation (ACHR.N) said on Tuesday former Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) acting administrator Billy Nolen had joined the company as chief safety officer. California-based Archer said in May it had completed final assembly of its first "Midnight" electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft. In March, Denver International Airport CEO Phil Washington withdrew his nomination to serve as FAA administrator after Republican criticism. Last week, the U.S. Transportation Department announced Deputy Secretary Polly Trottenberg was taking over as acting head of the FAA. She is also retaining her role as USDOT but focused on FAA, a department spokesperson said.

Persons: Billy Nolen, Archer, Billy, ” Adam Goldstein, Nolen, Phil Washington, Polly Trottenberg, Joe Biden, Katie Thomson, Bradley Mims, David Shepardson, Aishwarya Nair, Anil D'Silva, Emelia Organizations: Air, Archer Aviation, Aviation Administration, FAA, Reuters, Denver International, U.S . Transportation Department, Thomson Locations: California, Washington, Bengaluru

☆ Thick smoke pouring from Canadian wildfires snarls air travel in and out of NYC
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-07 | by ( Jake Swearingen | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Wildfire smoke has prompted ground stops and delays at Newark and LaGuardia airports in New York. "The FAA has taken steps to manage the flow of traffic into the New York City area due to reduced visibility from wildfire smoke," FAA spokesperson told Insider. The smoke was from huge wildfires encompassing more than 420 fires across Canada, including massive blazes in northern Quebec. Weather conditions carried the smoke hundreds of miles into the U.S., blanketing cities across the northeast from New York to Maryland in a thick haze. According to the National Weather Service, visibility was reduced to 5 miles Queens and a little as 4 miles in Newark.

Persons: John F, CTtVi76QXh — Daniel Susser Organizations: National Weather Service, Morning, FAA, LaGuardia Airport, Newark Liberty International, New, Newark, LaGuardia, Kennedy International Locations: Newark, LaGuardia, New York, Queens, Canada, U.S, New York City, Quebec, Maryland

The FAA downgraded Mexico's aviation safety rating to Category 2 in 2021, citing safety deficiencies and blocking Mexican carriers from adding new U.S. flights. Since Mexico lost the rating, the FAA has conducted a series of audits on the local civil aviation authority and its compliance with international safety standards. Mexican newspaper El Financiero had earlier reported that Mexico had already recovered the safety rating, citing government sources, but a short time later backtracked on the initial report. In the two years since the FAA dropped Mexico to Category 2, the country has revamped its aviation standards, replacing officials and most recently overhauling its civil aviation law. Asked to comment on Mexico's air safety rating, an FAA spokesperson would only say the agency continues "to provide assistance to Mexico's civil aviation authority."

Persons: El Financiero, Andres Conesa, Kylie Madry, Adriana Barrera, Carolina Pulice, Ana Isabel Martinez, Brendan O'Boyle, David Alire Garcia, Diane Craft Organizations: MEXICO CITY, U.S . Federal Aviation Administration, FAA, El, U.S, Thomson Locations: MEXICO, Mexico, United States

An aerial view of a Starship prototype stacked on a Super Heavy booster at the company's Starbase facility outside of Brownsville, Texas. Elon Musk's SpaceX is set to join the Federal Aviation Administration as a co-defendant to fight a lawsuit brought by environmental groups following the company's first test flight of Starship, the world's largest rocket, which ended in a mid-flight explosion last month. The lawsuit seeks for the FAA to conduct an environmental impact statement (EIS) — a lengthy and thorough procedure that would likely sideline SpaceX's Starship work in Texas for years. The company also wrote in the motion that "the FAA does not adequately represent SpaceX's interests" in the lawsuit, since it's a government agency. The FAA in a statement to CNBC said it "does not comment on ongoing litigation issues."

☆ FAA sued over SpaceX Starship launch program following April explosion
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-01 | by ( Lora Kolodny | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

The SpaceX Starship explodes after launch for a flight test from Starbase in Boca Chica, Texas, on April 20, 2023. The groups argue that the FAA should have conducted an in-depth environmental report, known as an environmental impact statement (EIS), before ever allowing SpaceX to move ahead with its Starship Super Heavy plans in Boca Chica. Later, "based on SpaceX's preference," the lawyers wrote, the federal agency settled on using "a considerably less thorough analysis," which enabled SpaceX to launch sooner. The exact impacts of the launch on the people, habitat and wildlife are still being evaluated by federal and state agencies, and other environmental researchers, alongside and independently from SpaceX. Boca Chica land and wildlife there, namely ocelots, are also sacred to the Carrizo-Comecrudo tribe of Texas.

☆ Environmental groups are suing the FAA over SpaceX's failed Starship rocket launch over Texas
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-01 | by ( Associated Press | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Environmental groups are suing the FAA over SpaceX's giant rocket launch in April. Debris from the Starship explosion was hurled thousands of feet from the launch pad, officials said. SpaceX's Starship rocket exploded over the Gulf of Mexico on April 20 after soaring 24 miles (39 kilometers) into the sky. The launch pad is on a remote site on the southernmost tip of Texas, just below South Padre Island, and about 20 miles from Brownsville. It was the first launch of a full-size Starship, with the sci-fi-looking spacecraft on top the huge booster rocket.

"We could add maybe 85 or 90 destinations depending on the aircraft deliveries," Qatar Airways CEO Akbar Al Baker told reporters. Airbus in March reinstated an order for 73 aircraft from Qatar Airways which it had revoked during a major legal dispute over damage to the surface of grounded A350s. Qatar Airways is also experiencing delayed delivery of Boeing 787 and 777X planes, Al Baker added. He later told reporters that Qatar Airways could pursue codeshares or exchanges of technical assistance with the new airline. High energy prices have not dented passenger demand for travel at Qatar Airways, where load factors, a measure of capacity utilisation, are in the "high 80s" Al Baker told reporters.

☆ Boeing just sold hundreds of Dreamliners — now it just needs to figure out how to consistently deliver them
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-01 | by ( Taylor Rains | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

This is not the first time Boeing has had to stop 787 deliveries. Despite the latest pause, Boeing said it didn't "anticipate a change to our production and delivery outlook for the year." Henry Harteveldt, travel analyst and president of Atmosphere Research Group, told Insider the Boeing 787 is favorable due to its fuel efficiency, versatility, and passenger comfort. Boeing told Insider it will "continue to produce at a slow rate as we increase back to five per month." "In the case of the 787, you've got components coming in from many countries around the world," he told Insider.

☆ US FAA awards Verizon $2.4 bln contract for telecom network infrastructure
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-30 | by ( David Shepardson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Verizon will design, build and operate the FAA’s new next-generation communications platform. The telecom company said it will "build the FAA a dynamic, highly available and secure enterprise network to support all of the agency's mission critical applications across the National Airspace System." Verizon Business CEO Kyle Malady said the project would help lead the FAA through "a telecommunications infrastructure transformation that utilizes the latest advances in technology and networking solutions." He added the it would provide "dynamic services and bandwidth provisioning, to improved insight and visibility into network service configuration and operation." A 2021 Transportation Department Office of Inspection General report repeatedly cited challenges in the FAA's multi-billion dollar Next Generation Air Transportation System infrastructure project.

☆ FAA's Bill Nolen: We are hiring as aggressively as we can
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-29 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailFAA's Bill Nolen: We are hiring as aggressively as we canBill Nolen, FAA acting administrator, joins 'Squawk Box' to discuss fears around the New York City airline congestion, whether the FAA is having trouble hiring air traffic controllers, and more.

☆ Exclusive: Biden nominee to head FAA withdraws after Republican criticism
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-26 | by ( David Shepardson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

WASHINGTON, March 25 (Reuters) - U.S. President Joe Biden's nominee to head the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is withdrawing his nomination after Republican criticism that he was not qualified to serve as the top aviation regulator. Last year, Biden nominated Denver International Airport CEO Phil Washington to serve as FAA administrator. A White House official had earlier told Reuters "politics must not hold up confirming an administrator to lead the FAA, and we will move expeditiously to nominate a new candidate for FAA administrator." Some industry officials think the White House could name acting FAA Administrator Billy Nolen as a new nominee. Nolen, who was named head of the FAA's aviation safety office, has been the acting FAA administrator since April 2022 and has received backing from many Republicans in Congress.

☆ Exclusive: Biden nominee to head FAA withdraws after Republican attacks
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-26 | by ( David Shepardson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Last year, Biden nominated Denver International Airport CEO Phil Washington to serve as FAA administrator. One of the sources, a White House official, told Reuters that "an onslaught of unfounded Republican attacks on Mr. Washington’s service and experience irresponsibly delayed this process, threatened unnecessary procedural hurdles on the Senate floor, and ultimately have led him to withdraw his nomination today." The White House official added "politics must not hold up confirming an Administrator to lead the FAA, and we will move expeditiously to nominate a new candidate for FAA Administrator." Some industry official think the White House could name acting FAA Administrator Billy Nolen as a new nominee. Nolen, who was named head of the FAA's aviation safety office, has been the acting FAA administrator since April 2022 and has garnered wide support from Republicans in Congress.

☆ FAA launches new plan to avoid flight delays in NYC, DC this summer
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-22 | by ( Leslie Josephs | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

The agency said it will reduce flight requirements for airlines' take off and landing rights to avoid congestion. Airline executives have repeatedly complained about air traffic control shortfalls contributing to flight disruptions as air travel sprang back from pandemic lows in the past few years. Airlines last summer also reduced their schedules to avoid delays as they dealt with their own staffing issues and other strains. The FAA said it expects increased delays in the New York City area this summer compared with last year, projecting a 45% rise in delays with operations growing 7%. Later this month, the FAA will hold a summit with airlines about other ways it can ease disruptions in the area.

☆ Beta Technologies lands orders for fixed-wing electric aircraft
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-14 | by ( Valerie Insinna | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

WASHINGTON, March 14 (Reuters) - Beta Technologies is pursuing Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) certification for a fixed-wing electric airplane after receiving orders from three customers, the company announced Tuesday. The privately-held, Vermont-based startup sees certification of the CX 300 – a conventional takeoff and landing version of its Alia 250 electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft - as a path to introduce an electric aircraft into U.S. airspace under existing regulations, Chief Executive Kyle Clark told Reuters. Bristow Group, a helicopter service provider that has previously ordered eVTOL aircraft from Beta, has placed an order for up to 50 CX 300 electric planes, Beta said. As the air transport industry works to lower carbon emissions, electric "air taxis" are seen as a potential gamechanger that would allow airlines and other companies to shuttle people and goods by air over short distances. If successful, Beta can reuse much of the data to certify its eVTOL Alia aircraft, which uses the same airframe, batteries and propulsion system, Clark said.

☆ USDOT defends 'fully qualified' Biden aviation nominee
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-10 | by ( David Shepardson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

WASHINGTON, March 9 (Reuters) - The Biden administration told Congress on Thursday its pick to head the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is fully qualified and does not violate a law requiring civilian leadership. Republicans question whether Denver International Airport Chief Executive Officer Phil Washington has the required aviation experience needed to serve as top U.S. aviation regulator. Cruz said on Wednesday that Washington was "unable to answer basic safety questions about the 737 MAX crashes, aircraft certification, and how a pilot might react when a system malfunctions." "Surveying the leadership of the aviation field supports this fact overwhelmingly. Washington this week won backing of three former FAA administrators and the chief executive of Frontier Airlines (ULCC.O).

☆ FAA clears Boeing to resume deliveries of 787 Dreamliners after weekslong pause
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-10 | by ( Leslie Josephs | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

An American Airlines Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner approaches for a landing at the Miami International Airport on December 10, 2021 in Miami, Florida. Boeing can resume deliveries of its 787 Dreamliners as early as next week, the Federal Aviation Administration said Friday, after a data-analysis issue halted deliveries of the wide-body jetliners. Boeing earlier Friday said it completed the work needed to resume deliveries of planes to airlines and other customers. "The FAA will determine when 787 ticketing and deliveries resume, and we are working with our customers on delivery timing." On Feb. 23, Boeing paused deliveries of the planes, after a data-analysis error was detected related to the aircraft's forward pressure bulkhead.

☆ Investing in Space: Launch jitters
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-09 | by ( Michael Sheetz | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

CNBC's Investing in Space newsletter offers a view into the business of space exploration and privatization, delivered straight to your inbox. Even today's private U.S. launch leaders, SpaceX and Rocket Lab , had their share of failures when first gunning for orbit. "In a launch vehicle, you have lots of different complex systems … and traditionally, we've been talking about expendable launch vehicles. "We're finally transitioning to a reusable launch vehicle mentality, and I think you're going to see more and more of that kind of testing," Nield said. But even with one-off rockets, Nield remains "very bullish" on the launch market.

☆ US Senate panel to hold March 8 hearing on FAA reform efforts
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-02 | by ( David Shepardson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

WASHINGTON, March 2 (Reuters) - The U.S. Senate Commerce Committee on Thursday said it would hold a March 8 hearing on efforts by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to reform how it certifies new airplanes after two Boeing 737 MAX crashes killed 346 people. Congress in 2020 passed sweeping reforms to address FAA certification efforts after the fatal crashes in 2018 and 2019 raised safety questions about the agency's airplane certification program. The FAA in January named a panel to review Boeing’s safety management processes and how they influence the company's safety culture. The FAA in September finalized a policy to protect aviation employees who perform government certification duties from interference by Boeing and others. The FAA continues to subject Boeing to enhanced oversight, inspecting all new Boeing 737 MAXs and 787s before they can be delivered.

☆ FAA wants to fine SpaceX $175,000 for failing to submit data before a launch
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-17 | by ( Michael Sheetz | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

The Federal Aviation Administration seeks a $175,000 fine against Elon Musk's SpaceX, alleging the company failed to submit required data ahead of a Falcon 9 launch last year. The proposed civil penalty comes from a mission carrying Starlink satellites that SpaceX launched on Aug. 19. The FAA says the company failed "to submit launch collision analysis trajectory data directly to the FAA prior" to the mission, which is required at least seven days in advance, per federal regulations. "Launch collision analysis trajectory data is used to assess the probability of the launch vehicle colliding with one of the thousands of tracked objects orbiting the Earth," the FAA noted in a press release. The mission was one of 61 launches that SpaceX conducted in 2022, which set a new annual record for the company.

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