Spaceflight Now reports that the three companies that “have flown people to space and back, Blue Origin, SpaceX and Virgin Galactic, joined two experts at a Congressional hearing to press for regulatory improvements, warning the US risks losing its lead in spaceflight.” The 1.5-hour-long hearing “before the US Senate Subcommittee on Space and Science was mainly focused on a regulatory framework called ‘Part 450,’ which was designed to help streamline the process of issuing launch licenses under the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Office of Commercial Space Transportation, which goes by the acronym AST.” The five witnesses “argued that not only is the current regulatory framework not achieving its ideal goals, but it is stifling growth and innovation in the commercial launch market.”
Full Story (Spaceflight Now)
Tag: regulations
FAA Proposes Regulation Changes Clearing Runway for Electric Aviation
Aviation Week reports that the FAA “is proposing changes to the regulations for light-sport aircraft (LSA) that would allow electric propulsion systems and simplified flight controls, in a move intended to increase their suitability for flight training and personal flying.”
Full Story (Aviation Week)
FAA Seeking to Balance Rocket Launches with Air Traffic
USA Today reports that the Federal Aviation Administration “announced new guidelines for space launch approvals to ensure that air traffic controllers aren’t stretched too thin,” as private space launches are increasing and the FAA continues to deal with staffing issues. The FAA said in a statement, “The agency will rely on a set of objective factors to better balance the needs of launch licensees, as well as airlines, general aviation and the military to minimize disruptions.” USA Today adds, “With many space flights taking off on the Eastern Seaboard, an already-crowded sector of the airspace for commercial flights, those closures can create major headaches for air traffic controllers.”
Full Story (USA Today)