Speech – Back to the Future: The Winged Gospel

Administrator Stephen Dickson
Washington, DC

Remarks As Delivered

Good afternoon everyone, and thank you for attending today.

You know, watching that video makes me appreciate all the progress weve made in aerospace in a relatively short few years, and how fast were moving into the future.

It occurs to me that children born today, when they become teenagers, will think that getting their prescriptions or pizza dropped off at the house by a small delivery drone, is just the way its always been.

And when commuting into the city, or across town, theyll do what they think folks have done foreverorder up an autonomous electric flying taxi on their smart phone, and hop in without a care in the world for their safety.

Same goes for one day booking a regional flight on an ultra-efficient hybrid-electric passenger plane, taking a supersonic airliner to Europe, or perhaps a suborbital commercial flight to Singapore.

What well see as amazing progress, theyll write off as the everyday travel grind.

But thats a good thing! If you can thoughtfully and safely integrate new forms of transportation into the national aerospace systemand hardly anyone takes noticethat is great news.

We as regulators, however, have to notice everything. That transportation futurewhich we know is no longer just in the realm of science fictionkeeps us awake at night. Theres so much promise from innovation and technology, but at the same time, so much potential for problems if we dont get it right. So we have no choicewe need to get it right.

Our job at the FAA is to strike the right balance. We have to integrate these fast-moving, sometimes breathtaking, technologies that are transforming the aviation sector in a way that meets our missionto provide the safest, most efficient aviation system possible for the American public, one the world will continue to hold up as the gold standard for safety.

Youll be happy to know that weve thought about this, deeply, and that we have many strategies in motion. At the 60,000-foot level, well succeed by sticking to our cores values of safety, through integrity, innovation, and our workforce. At the ground level, well be preachinginternally and externallya winged gospel about how to take safety to the next level by following best practices in Just Culture, Big Data, Global Leadership, and People.

I mention the phrase winged gospel as an homage to Robert Hinckley, a distinguished aviation regulator from the early 1940s. Hinckley was responsible for the Civil Aeronautics Authority and foresaw a great demand for what aviation could offer.

The government at the time was, in many ways, in the same predicament then that we at the FAA are in todayon the bow wave of innovation and new entrants that could rapidly transform how we travel. How would they ensure safety? Where would they find a new generation of skilled workers to propel its growth?

A staunch advocate himself, Hinckley is said to have preached a winged gospel that tapped into Americas near-religious enthusiasm for aviation. History has faced us with the plain alternative, he would say. Flyor perish! His solution? America had to become air-conditioned.

Now rest assured, we at the FAA are not looking to duplicate Hinckleys fly-or-perish marketing campaign. But I do see some potential in reviving his call for the nation to become air-conditioned. He defined it as a saturation of the American people in aviation skills and a general comprehension of the significance of aviation. Not a bad idea at all, in my humble opinion.

Our country, right now, is on the arc of an aerospace renaissance similar to that on which the government found itself in the early 1940s.

Our predecessors at the time had just seen the first flight of the Douglas DC-4 Skymaster and the Lockheed C-69, which later became the venerable Constellation.

These four-engine piston-powered transport planes would become the founding fathers of todays long-haul aircraft. Aviators then had also just witnessed the first flight of the Bell XP-59A, a wholly new type of aircraft a jet. We all know how that innovation turned out…

Fast forward nearly 80 years and think about the kinds of firsts we routinely witness on the technology front. Rocket boosters dropping vertically back to earth, thrusting to a halt on the launch pad; Beth Moses, the first woman to go to space on a commercially launched vehicleSpaceShipTwo; a drone delivering a human kidney, an angel flight that doctors described as One small hop for a drone; one major leap for medicine.

And lets not forget first flights of several new commercial airliners that offer double-digit fuel reductions over previous generations. We all know that cutting fuel burnand our carbon footprint is a major design concern for everyone going forward.

I think its fair to say government and industry have made groundbreaking progress in fuel economy through aircraft and engine design, as well as through our air traffic management modernization initiatives and the approval of six drop-in alternative fuels for commercial use. Consider that todays fleet of aircraft in the U.S. already has an average fuel efficiency of nearly 60 passenger-miles per gallon, on par with the Toyota Prius hybrid…but much faster.

Speaking of faster…airframers are eyeing a potential renaissance in supersonic civil aircraft, and startup civil space companies are looking to connect New York and Shanghai in less than 40 minutes. How many of those kids born this year will, in their lifetimes, take a suborbital ride, maybe as a 50th birthday gift, or heck, maybe even for their 21st! Its coming. Commercial space launch activity in general has ramped up tenfold in just a few years.

In the unmanned sector, its a pretty safe bet there are first flights every day. And Im not talking so much about novel aircraft, but first flights of new applications.

We are seeing these innovative applications in many cases through our Integration Pilot Program, which Secretary Chao launched in 2018.

Our operations-first strategy allows us to take the lessons learned from these initiatives and write better rules for integratingnot segregatingdrones into our nations airspace.

Of course, the FAA has to ensure that these new entrants are safe before they can take part in regular National Airspace System operations, and sometimes that does mean new regulations.

The FAA recently issued two notices of proposed rulemaking, one that will require drone operators to provide remote identification for their aircraft, and one that proposes how we will certify package delivery drones heavier than 55 lbs. We plan to finalize by years end, the remote ID rulea key enabler for beyond-visual-line-of-sight, or BVLOS, and the drone traffic management systems that weve been working on with NASA.

BVLOS is essential for Urban Air Mobility, or UAM, better known as flying taxis. According to my team, we are currently engaged with the builders of more than 15 electric vertical takeoff and landing UAM aircraft projects. In January, we saw North Americas first public demonstration of an autonomous two-seat flying taxian eHang EH216 taking flight in Raleigh, albeit with no passengers.

Were using a crawl, walk, run approach as we mature the aircraft technologies and air traffic management procedures to do this. And at this point, Ill note that were still in the crawling phase for both but making rapid progress.

Thats a lot of action, and were arguably far beyond what Mr. Hinckleys generation could have imagined. But just like back then, along with the promise, comes the potential challenges. Our job is to make sure that any aircraft or systems coming to market will meet the publics sky-high expectations for safety. If the public perceives a new entrant as unsafe, that business is simply not going to fly.

How do we meet those expectations? Along with sticking to the core value of safety, well be preaching the winged gospel of four themesJust Culture, Global Leadership, Big Data, and People.

Just Culture: Done correctly, a Just Culture will generate the data an operator or business needs to figure out whats really happening in their operation. If you know about safety risks you can mitigate the risks and fix the processes that led to those errors. Ill explain later in our Fireside Chat how Just Culture and other best practices will play a role in our work going forward beyond the Boeing 737 MAX.

Global Leadership: We at the FAA will lead globally by working with other authorities around the world to ensure we meet the publics expectations of the highest possible levels of safety.

Big Data: We must continue leaning into our role as a data-driven, risk-based decision-making oversight organization that prioritizes safety above all else.We do that in part by implementing Safety Management Systems supported by compliance programs.

And People: Its now time to show the next generation what incredible opportunities lie ahead for them in our field, both personally and professionally. Lets get them air-conditioned.

So thats my winged gospel for today. I look forward to working with everyone in this room and throughout the industry to bring to fruition the incredibly bright U.S. transportation future as safely, efficiently and sustainably as humanly possiblewhile remaining a model for the world to follow.

Thank you again for coming and listening, and now Ill answer some questions as we sit down for the Fireside Chat.

News and Updates – Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update

3/5/2020

Air travel plans may be affected by the virus. Check with your airline before heading to the airport.

The evolving Coronavirus (COVID-19) situation may impact your air travel plans. Many airlines have posted travel alerts for passengers on their websites and have instituted flexible travel policies. Please check with your airline about the status of your flight before you leave for the airport. The following links are to airline-specific flight status updates:


3/3/2020

CDC Recommends Travelers Avoid All Nonessential Travel to Italy

The State Department and CDC recommend avoiding all nonessential travel to Italy due to the Coronavirus (COVID-19).Travel advisories related to the virus now include the following countries:

  • Italy
  • South Korea
  • Japan
  • China
  • Iran

The CDC has established an interactive map with country-specific travel health information about the virus. Travelers can also sign up to receive email updates about the virus on this same CDC webpage.


2/23/2020

Travel Advisories for South Korea and Japan

The State Department and CDC recommend travelers exercise increased caution when traveling to South Korea and Japan due to the virus.

The CDC also recommends that high risk travelers to South Korea and Japan exercise special precautions.

Travelers should also enroll in the State Departments Smart Traveler Enrollment Program to receive alerts and updates while traveling.


2/2/2020

Guidance from the CDC on What the Public, Air Carriers and Crews Can Do

The current outbreak of 2019 novel coronavirus originated in China but has now spread internationally, impacting an increasing number of countries. In the coming days and weeks, we expect more confirmed cases in the United States, including more person-to-person spread.

The goal of an aggressive ongoing public health response is to prevent spread of this virus in the community in the United States. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) provide the following guidance to the public:

What You Should Do

  • Stay informed CDC is updating its website daily with the latest information and advice for the public. (www.cdc.gov/ncov)
  • Currently, there is no vaccine to prevent 2019-nCoV infection.CDC recommends routine preventive actions to help prevent the spread of respiratory viruses.These are everyday habits that can help prevent the spread of several viruses.

These actions include:

  • Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
  • Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
  • Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
  • Stay home when you are sick.
  • Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
  • Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.

CDC also has specific guidance for travelers.

The federal government has our best people working on this problem.And we have one of the strongest public health systems in the world.

What You Should Not Do

  • CDC does not currently recommend the use of facemasks for the general public. This virus is not spreading in the community. While it is cold and flu season, we dont routinely recommend the use of facemasks by the public to prevent respiratory illness and we certainly are not recommending that at this time for this virus.
  • We understand the recent recommendations including avoiding travel to China and the quarantine of U.S. citizens returning from Wuhan is concerning. The actions the federal government is taking are science-based and with the aim of protecting the health and safety of all Americans.
  • Please do not let fear or panic guide your actions. For example, please dont assume that just because someone is of Asian descent that they have this new coronavirus. There are about 4 million Chinese-Americans in the United States.

Guidance for Air Carriers and Crews

News and Updates – FAA: NCAA Final Four Information for GA Pilots

General Aviation pilots who want to fly around Atlanta between April 1 and 7, 2020, should check out the FAAs Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) for special air traffic procedures.

The 2020 Final Four will be played on the first weekend of April, with semifinals onSaturday, April 4,and the National Championship Game onMonday, April 6, at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. The FAA expects more than 1,000 additional take-offs and landings at Atlanta area airports that week.

Additional unmanned aircraft restrictions will also be in place the first week of April.

Special air traffic procedures to enhance safety and minimize air traffic delays will be in effect for the following airports:

  • Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL)
  • DeKalb-Peachtree Airport (PDK)
  • Fulton County AirportBrown Field (FTY)
  • Cobb County International Airport (RYY)
  • Gwinnett County Airport (LZU)
  • Newnan Coweta County Airport (CCO)
  • Paulding Northwest Atlanta Airport (PUJ)
  • Atlanta Regional AirportFalcon Field (FFC)
  • Henry County Airport (HMP)
  • Griffin-Spalding County Airport (6A2)
  • Covington Municipal Airport (CVC)

Arrival Route Requirements:
The NOTAM includes specific arrival route requirements for jet and turboprop aircraft.

FAA ATC Air Traffic Management Initiatives
Air traffic management initiatives may include:

  • Ground Delay Programs (GDP)
  • Airspace Flow Programs (AFP)
  • Time Based Metering
  • Miles in Trail
  • Airborne Holding
  • Ground Stops
  • Reroutes
  • Altitude Restriction
  • Gate Hold Procedures

Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) for NCAA Mens Final Four April 3 to 6
The FAA will publish multiple Temporary Flight Restrictions (TFRs) centered on Mercedes-Benz Stadium and other downtown Atlanta venues at various times between April 3 and 6. The TFRs will not affect regularly scheduled commercial flights at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL). Emergency medical, public safety and military aircraft may enter the TFR in coordination with air traffic control. The FAA will post the full text and graphic depictions of the NCAA Final Four TFRs later in March.

News and Updates – FAA Expands Weather Camera Program to Colorado

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is expanding its highly successful weather camera safety program to Colorado.

The FAA has entered into a cost-reimbursement agreement with the State of Colorado Division of Aeronautics to install weather cameras on 13 Automated Weather Observing Systems (AWOS) in mountainous areas, beginning in the spring of 2020.

These cameras will build on the success of a 20-year-old program in Alaska that has improved safety by providing near-real-time video to pilots from a network of more than 230 cameras across the state. In 1999, the FAA determined that pilots operating under Visual Flight Rules would benefit from actual views of the current weather conditions where they were destined and the FAA Weather Camera Program was born.

The 13 Colorado cameras will be the first to be integrated into the FAA Weather Camera Program outside of Alaska.In addition to the accurate weather information they receive from AWOS, pilots planning to fly above the Colorado Rockies will soon have the abilityto see real-time weather conditions along their routes before they depart their airports.

This effort is made possible through a $226,000 reimbursable agreement between the Colorado Division of Aeronautics and the FAA.Under this agreement, the FAA will assist the state with the camera installations, and the state will own and maintain the cameras. The FAAs weather camera website will display still images that each camera captures.

News and Updates – FAA Seeks Public Comment on Air Traffic Procedure Change at DCA

WASHINGTON The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is inviting comments until March 30, 2020 on a temporary air traffic procedure change at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) called HOLTB. The HOLTB amended a waypoint by moving it 784 feet southwest in order to move north-flow departing aircraft away from protected airspace while keeping aircraft over the Potomac River.

The FAA implemented the temporary change on January 30, 2020, to enhance national security by reducing the number of incursions from aircraft drifting into the prohibited area.

Based on the initial results of the temporary procedure, the FAA is proposing to permanently implement the amended waypoint for all north-flow departures at DCA.

The FAA is also inviting comments from the public on environmental concerns that should be considered as part of its environmental review for the implementation of the amended waypoint.

Please submit comments by March 30, 2020, using thesubmit comment form. Additional information about the FAAs temporary and proposed change including radar tracks and a noise screen can be found at the following website: https://www.faa.gov/air_traffic/community_involvement/dca_p56/