News and Updates – Travel Safely on July 4th

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As we celebrate Independence Day with family and friends, lets keep safety front and center.

While preparing your luggage for a flight, remember that fireworks are hazardous and are not allowed on aircraft. Fireworks are not allowed in carry-on baggage nor packed luggage. There are also other items that are used every day that are considered hazardous when brought on airplanes. For a Safe Start, Check the Chart!

Flying a drone?
While youre enjoying your drone during the holiday, know that it is not a great idea to capture firework activity with your drone.

There’s anew law(PDF)that describes how, when, and where you can fly drones for recreational purposes.

Here are general guidelines for people flying drones:

  • Dont fly your drone in or near fireworks
  • Dont fly over people
  • Dont fly near airports

To learn more about what you can and cant do with your drone go to faa.gov/uas or download the B4UFLY app for free in the Apple and Google Play store.

About those laser pointers
Its baffling but people actually point lasers at aircraft. That activity creates a serious safety risk to the pilot. It is illegal to shine lasers at aircraft and in many instances people can face federal charges. Save yourself the legal trouble and lose the laser. If you witness someone aiming a laser at an aircraft, youre encouraged to report the incident.

Enjoy the July 4th holiday weekend!

News and Updates – FAA Issues Reminder on GA ADS-B Rebate Rules

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WASHINGTON The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) wants to remind general aviation operators taking advantage of the agencys Automatic Dependent Surveillance Broadcast (ADS-B) rebate program that rebate reservations must be made within 90 days of the installation of the appropriate equipment.

If the 90 days passes without a reservation being made, the rebate expires and will be made available to others.

The FAA last month issued the last of 20,000 $500 rebate reservations offered to general aviation aircraft owners. Since then, returned or expired reservations are made available each Wednesday at 1 p.m. ET on a first-come, first-served basis.

For information on the FAAs ADS-B rebate program for general aviation, visit: https://www.faa.gov/nextgen/equipadsb/rebate/.

For more information on ADS-B, visit: https://www.faa.gov/nextgen/programs/adsb/.

News and Updates – U.S. Department of Transportation Announces $495M in Airport Infrastructure Grants

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The 358 grants will fund infrastructure projects at 327 airports around the country.

News and Updates – FAA and NASA Conduct Crash Test on a Regional Jet

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The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and National Aeronautics & Space Administration (NASA) performed a crashworthiness test on a Fokker F28 aircraft at the Landing and Impact Research Facility at NASAs Langley Research Facility in Hampton, VA on Thursday, June 20, 2019.

The Fokker F28 is a regional jet that is used on short to medium-haul flights to transport passengers from hubs to regional airports. A crashworthiness test was conducted to advance safety research on the structural performance of this style, design and materials for this size of aircraft.

NASA conducted a swing test and simulation of a narrow-body transport fuselage section of the Fokker F-28. The test simulated an aircraft crash onto a dirt surface. Data from the test are used by the FAA to develop guidance on how to determine crashworthiness of various aircraft. The data also help researchers ascertain how portions of the cabin interior and occupants of the aircraft react in a crash. Twenty-four test dummies ranging from small children to adults, one weighing approximately 273 pounds were used in this aircraft test.

Test results will also support the development of a new performance based rule that will simplify the certification process by eliminating or minimizing the use of special conditions to certify aircraft.

The FAA conducted the test in collaboration with NASA, the FAA Civil Aeromedical Institute, U.S. Army Test and Evaluation Command, and the National Transportation Safety Board. Reports from the test will be available to the public.

News and Updates – FAA Announces New Supersonic Rulemaking

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LeBourget, FranceToday in remarks at an Innovation Panel before Paris Air Show attendees, FAA Acting Administrator Dan Elwell said the U.S. will ensure and enable safer and more innovative technologies to enter new aviation segments.

As anexample,Elwell announced a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking(NPRM)thatmodifies and clarifiesexisting regulatory procedures to obtain FAA approval to testsupersonic aircraft.The NPRM is a first, necessarymilestonetoward the reintroducingcivil supersonic flight.

The U.S. Department of Transportation and the FAA are committed towardthe safe and environmentally-sound research and development of supersonic aircraft, said Elwell. We areconfidentin the next generationofaviation pioneers who want to open new opportunities for business, economic, and aviation growth.

With a number of supersonic aircraft projects currently under development in the U.S., Elwell highlighted this NPRM ensures that these companies have more accessible information and an efficient process to gain FAA approval to conduct flight testing.