News and Updates – FAA Seeks TRUST Administrators for Drone Pilot Test

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The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) today opened the application period for entities interested in serving as test administrators for The Recreational UAS Safety Test (TRUST). Potential test administrators must submit their applications by March 31, 2021.

The FAA will designate qualified third parties to administer the test and make it accessible to all recreational drone flyers. Entities involved with recreational pilots such as educational institutions, manufacturers and aeromodelling organizations are encouraged to apply.

Interested parties are encouraged to review the selection criteria on the FAA website. The FAA will announce selected test administrators in June 2021 and expects selected test administrators to begin offering the test to recreational drone pilots at that time.

TRUST will provide recreational drone flyers with information on best practices and educational resources to ensure safe drone operations.

The test was developed with input from the drone community in response to requirements included in the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018 that required development of a test to demonstrate a recreational flyer’s understanding of aeronautical safety knowledge and rules for operating unmanned aircraft.

As drones become more popular and accessible, the FAA is committed to ensuring that the public is aware of regulations and how to operate safely in the nations airspace.

News and Updates – U.S. DOT Announces $76 Million in Airport Improvement Grants

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DOT announces first three grants for infrastructure projects through the FAA’s FY 2021 Airport Improvement Program.

News and Updates – FAA to Implement Las Vegas Metroplex Project

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The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) will implement the Las Vegas Metroplex projecton Feb. 25, 2021.

The comprehensive project will use satellite navigation to move air traffic more safely and efficiently through the area. New routes forMcCarran International Airport, Henderson Executive Airport, and North Las Vegas Airportwill bemore direct, automatically separated from each other and have efficient climb and descent profiles.It is one of 11 Metroplex projects nationwide.

Community involvement was a critical part of the projects environmental process. TheFAA conducted a thorough environmental review and extensive public engagement for the project, including 11 public workshops in 2017 and 2019.The agency also held four public comment periods totaling more than 120days,and evaluated and responded to more than 140comments.

After the FAA implements the new procedures, some flight track dispersion will continue to occur as it does today. Additionally, air traffic controllers will continue to sometimes direct aircraft off published routesfor safety or efficiency or to reroute them around weather systems.

The FAA issued theFinding of No Significant Impact-Record ofDecision(FONSI-ROD)for the Las Vegas Metroplex project in July 2020. Theagencys initial plan to implement the new routes in November 2020 was delayed by theCOVID-19 public health emergency.

After issuing the FONSI-ROD, the FAAmade minor adjustmentsto five procedures that are part of the project. The agency conducted athorough review of the changesand confirmed they did not warrant a supplement to the final Environmental Assessment, consistent with FAA environmental policy.

The Las Vegas Metroplex environmental website includes Google Earth features that enablethe publicto viewhistoricand projected flight paths associated with the project, as well as the noise analysis theFAA conducted at more than 172,000 grid points throughout the projected General Study Area.

News and Updates – U.S. DOT Announces Nearly $2 Billion Grant Program for COVID Relief to Airports

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Funds will protect the health of travelers and workers and keep our airport operations and small businesses running.

News and Updates – FAA to Hold Webinar on Aviation Noise Effects and Mitigation Research Portfolio

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WASHINGTON The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) will hold a public webinar to present its recently-released Noise Research Portfolio and Neighborhood Environmental Survey on Monday, Feb. 22, 2021, at 6:00 p.m. ET.

The webinar will provide an overview of the agencys noise research program, including the survey, followed by a live question and answer session. It will be held on the Zoom platform and livestreamed across social media on the FAAs Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and LinkedIn accounts. You can register to attend the webinar on www.faa.gov.

The FAA is sharing information on its aircraft noise research programs that include initiatives related to the effects of aviation noise impacts on the public, efforts to mitigate such noise exposure, and research on public perception of aviation noise. This information includes theresults of the Neighborhood Environmental Survey, a multi-year research effort to review and improve FAAs understanding of community response to noise. The survey included responses from more than 10,000 people living near 20 airports across the country, and the results show an increased level of reported annoyance due to aircraft noise in contrast to earlier surveys.

The FAA is seeking public comment on its noise research program, including the Neighborhood Environmental Survey and any additional areas recommended for further investigation. The public comment period opened January 13, 2021, and the notice is published in theFederal Register. A link to the notice is also available onthe FAAs Noise Aviation Noise website.

Successfully addressing noise requires continued collaboration among all aviation stakeholders. In this regard, the FAAs research programs provide important insight into the relationship between aircraft noise exposure and the well-being of people living in communities surrounding our nations airports. As part of FAAs broader research on aircraft noise, this survey data and the research related to noise abatement will be used to inform the collaborative efforts to address noise issues.

The FAA actively engages with airport authorities, aircraft manufacturers, airlines, state and local governments and communities to address noise concerns.Its decades-long effort with these partners includes collaboration with airport authorities and community groups to implement noise abatement procedures safely when operationally feasible. The agency also works with local governments to encourage responsible land use planning that avoids building residential housing in areas that will be exposed to significant airplane noise.

Todays civilian aircraft fleet is quieter than at any time in the history of jet-powered flight, and FAA continues to work with manufacturers and air carriers to reduce noise at the source. In fact, over the last four decades, the number of Americans exposed to significant aviation noise near airports has been reduced from 7 million to just over 400,000more than a 94 percent reduction. During the same period, the number of annual passengers increased from around 200 million per year to more than 900 million per year.