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.

News and Updates – Leading the World and Beyond in Commercial Space Transportation

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Le Bourget, France Before an aerospace industry Commercial Space Panel at the Paris Air Show today, Acting Federal Aviation Administration(FAA) Administrator Daniel K. Elwell told participants that the Department of Transportation is building a regulatory framework to retain United States leadership and enable the limitless potential and possibilities of commercial space.

We look forward to working with commercial space innovators and within agencies throughout the Administration to maintain American competitiveness and safety in this critical industry, said Elwell.

Elwell credited much of the success of the United States in commercial space transportation to the administrations approach to make sure regulatory requirements do not hamstring industry. Recently, the FAA put forward a proposed rulemaking to streamline and get rid of rules that have outlived their usefulness, are duplicative, or unnecessarily burdensome. Two more rulemakings are being prepared to improve how FAA oversees spaceports and provide better access and interaction with commercial space and air traffic operations.

The Acting Administrator reasserted that safety remains the agencys primary mission and has led to a record, that to date, has resulted in no public injuries or fatalities in the more than 370 FAA-licensed commercial space activities.

Elwell cited ever-increasing launch activity as evidence in the vibrancy and growth of the commercial space sector:

  • 23 successful launches in 2017;
  • 33 successful launches in 2018, a new record; and,
  • As many as 41 launches are on the calendar for this year.

The Acting Administrator also highlighted recent milestones and success:

  • In December and February Virgin Galactic successfully completed two more crewed commercial launches going above 50 statute miles, adding five new Commercial Space Astronauts to the rolls, including the first woman, Beth Moses;
  • SpaceX and Boeing plan to carry astronauts to the Space Station on FAA-licensed launches in the near future;
  • In April, America and world saw the first commercial payload launched by SpaceXs Falcon Heavy Rocket; and,
  • Earlier this month, the FAA supported three commercial launches within three days (Rocket Lab in New Zealand, Blue Origin in Texas, and SpaceX in Florida).