Tag: FAA

FAA Reinstates Mexico’s Aviation Safety Rating to Highest Level

The AP reports that on Thursday, the FAA “returned Mexico’s aviation safety rating to the highest level two years after downgrading it.” The change will “allow Mexican airlines to add new routes to the United States, and U.S. airlines will once again be able to sell tickets on Mexican airline-operated flights.” In May 2021, the FAA “lowered Mexico’s rating because the country did not meet standards set by a United Nations aviation group.” The FAA “found that Mexico’s ability to oversee its airlines fell short of standards set by a U.N. group called the International Civil Aviation Organization.” Those standards “cover a broad range of issues, including the regulator’s technical expertise, inspection procedures and record-keeping.”
Full Story (Associated Press)

FAA to Hold Safety Meetings at US Airports Following Multiple Close Calls

Fox Business reports that the FAA “is expected to hold runway safety meetings at 90 major airports through September as part of its ongoing effort to prevent close calls between aircraft.” Several close calls earlier this year have spurred the decision. FAA Air Traffic Organization COO Tim Arel said, “Sharing information is critical to improving safety. These meetings, along with other efforts, will help us achieve our goal of zero close calls.” These meetings will involve representatives from the FAA and airports working “to identify unique airport-specific risks and develop plans to mitigate or eliminate them.” These discussions will “include representatives from the FAA air traffic organization, airlines, pilots and airport vehicle drivers.” Major airports hosting the meetings will include DCA, BWI, LAG, DFW, and CLE.
Full Story (Fox Business)

FAA Orders Inspections of 20 Pratt & Whitney GTF Engines

AP reported that “U.S. regulators are requiring immediate inspections and possible repairs to Pratt & Whitney engines on some Airbus passenger jets because of a manufacturing problem that could cause parts to wear out sooner than expected.” The FAA said it would “require ultrasonic inspections of 20 engines on U.S.-registered planes within 30 days. The same flaw affects 202 engines worldwide.” The new FAA rule “replaces a directive from October, which told aircraft operators to have the engines checked at their next shop visit, and followed a disclosure last month by Pratt that about 200 engines around the world would need quick inspections and potential replacement of engine disks.”
Full Story (Associated Press)

FAA Issues Safety Warning for 737 MAX Anti-Icing Systems

Economic Times (IND) reported that the Federal Aviation Administration is warning airlines to limit the use of an anti-icing system on Boeing’s 737 MAX jets in dry air to avoid overheating engine-housing components which could cause them to break away from the plane, with the finding affecting CFM International LEAP-1B engines used on all versions of the aircraft.

Aviation Industry Executives Split on Whether Energy Transition Goals Are Achievable

Reuters reports that the aviation industry “is split on whether it can meet its climate targets[,] with almost a third of its sustainability executives predicting it will miss a mid-century deadline, a survey commissioned by GE Aerospace suggested on Thursday.” Most “believe the industry will meet its objectives by 2055.” The industry “set a 2050 goal of net zero emissions in 2021,” and plans to rely on SAF to meet climate targets. Environmental critics “say the targets are unrealistic due to the low level of SAF available and argue the only way to reach them is to substantially reduce flying globally.” GE Aerospace VP of Commercial Programs Strategy Allen Paxson said the survey “is trying to show that this is ambitious, (but) it’s not going to be easy. … It’s a sign that people are taking it really seriously.”
Full Story (Reuters)

Wildfires Disrupt East Coast Flights: Incoming Planes Paused at LaGuardia, Newark and Philadelphia

Forbes reports that on Thursday morning, the FAA “paused all flights to New York City’s LaGuardia Airport, nearby Newark airport and Philadelphia International Airport on Thursday morning…after the agency reported low visibility as smoke from Canadian wildfires continues to affect the Northeast.” The FAA indicated that “reduced visibility from wildfire smoke” will “impact air travel throughout the Northeast, adding it will ‘likely’ need to ‘manage the flow of traffic’ in and out of airports surrounding New York City, Washington, D.C., Philadelphia and Charlotte.”
Full Story (Forbes)

FAA Publishes EVOTL Pilot Training Standards

Aviation Week reports that the Federal Aviation Administration “has published a long-awaited document outlining proposed pilot training and operating standards for electric vertical-takeoff-and-landing (eVTOL) aircraft, a key milestone that is intended to keep the agency on track to have operating rules in place by the end of 2024.”
Full Story (Aviation International News)

FAA Asks for Feedback on UAS

ExecutiveGov reports that the Federal Aviation Administration is asking for feedback from UAS industry members “on requests by four companies to fly uncrewed aerial vehicles beyond visual line-of-sight.” Aerial data acquisition services provider Phoenix Air Unmanned, UAS technology developer uAvionix and autonomous delivery companies UPS Flight Forward and Zipline “have sought permission to conduct BVLOS drone operations at or below 400 feet, the FAA said Tuesday.”
Full Story (ExecutiveGov)