News and Updates – New Safety Data Tool Available on FAA.gov Website

WASHINGTON The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is making it easier to research aviation safety guidance material from the Office of Aviation Safety (AVS).

The Dynamic Regulatory System (DRS) combines more than 65 document types from more than a dozen different repositories into a single searchable application. This comprehensive knowledge center centralizes the FAAs aviation safety guidance material from the Flight Standards Information System (FSIMS) and the agencys Regulatory Guidance System (RGL).

Each guidance document includes a link to the Code of Federal Regulations provision on which the document is based. DRS contains more than 2 million regulatory guidance documents, which can be browsed or searched. A search engine allows for basic or advanced searches and different ways to sort and view the results. The system includes pending and current versions of all documents along with their revision history. Information in the DRS is updated every 24 hours.

The DRS exceeds the requirements of the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018 (Public Law 115-254), to establish a centralizedsafety database. DRS is constantly evolving, and in the future will provide even more features, functionality and document types. It will allow the agency to eventually sunset legacy systems such as FSIMS and RGL. Subject matter experts across the global aviation community collaborated on this project.

The tool represents a giant step forward in providing consistency and standardization of regulatory interpretation by expediting research of aviation regulations and related documents. In the past, complex research projects could sometimes take days. DRS has consolidated all of this information so projects can be completed in minutes.

News and Updates – Super Bowl LV Flight Requirements for GA Pilots

General Aviation pilots who want to fly around Tampa, Fla., Feb. 3 9, 2021 will need to check out the FAAs Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) for air traffic procedures for the area. Super Bowl LV is Sunday, Feb. 7, at Raymond James Stadium. Game time will be at approximately 6:30 p.m. EST.

The FAA has published a webpage with information for Tampa, Fla. area airspace and airports. The Agency will update the webpage as additional information becomes available.

As a designated National Security Special Event, additional unmanned aircraft restrictions will be in place before, during and after the Super Bowl. Learn more here: Super Bowl LV is a No Drone Zone.

A reservation program to facilitate ground services at the following Tampa Bay area airports will be in effect Feb. 3 9, 2021. Pilots should contact the Fixed Base Operator (FBO) at their airport to obtain reservations and additional information.

  • Tampa International Airport (TPA)
  • Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport (SRQ)
  • Lakeland Linder International Airport (LAL)
  • St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport (PIE)

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

  • Tampa International Airport (TPA)
  • St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport (PIE)
  • Lakeland Linder International Airport (LAL)
  • Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport (SRQ)
  • Brooksville-Tampa Bay Regional Airport (BKV)
  • Tampa Executive Airport (VDF)
  • Clearwater Airpark (CLW)
  • Pilot Country Airport (X05)
  • Albert Whitted Airport (SPG)
  • Zephyrhills Municipal Airport (ZPH)
  • Peter O. Knight Airport (TPF)
  • Tampa North Aero Park (X39)
  • Plant City Airport (PCM)
  • Bartow Executive Airport (BOW)
  • Winter Haven Regional Airport (GIF)
  • South Lakeland Airport (X49)
  • Venice Municipal Airport (VNC)

Arrival and Departure Route Requirements:
The NOTAM includes specific arrival and departure 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

Arrival and Departure Route Requirements:
The NOTAM includes specific arrival and departure 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

Special Event TFR for Super Bowl Sunday February 7, 2021
The FAA will publish a Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) for Super Bowl LV centered on Raymond James Stadium. At this time, the TFR is expected to be active from 5:30 p.m. EST (2130z) until 11:59 p.m. EST (0459z) on Sunday, February 7. The TFR will have a 10 nautical mile inner core and a 30 nautical mile outer ring.

The TFR is for general aviation and drone pilots. Pilots should continually check https://tfr.faa.gov/ for updated information on the time and details of this TFR.

The TFR will not affect regularly scheduled commercial flights flying in and out of Tampa International Airport (TPA). 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 depiction of the Super Bowl LV TFR later in January.

News and Updates – FAA Seeks Public Comment on Aviation Noise Effects and Mitigation Research Portfolio

WASHINGTON The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced plans to seek public comment on the existing noise research portfolio, including the Neighborhood Environmental Survey, and additional areas recommended for investigation. The notice is available on FAAs website.

The FAA is sharing information on its aircraft noise research programs that includes a portfolio of research initiatives related to the effects of aviation noise impacts on the public, efforts to mitigate such noise exposure, and research regarding public perception of aviation noise. The public comment period opened today and the notice is published in the Federal Register.

Included in this posting are the results 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 over 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.

Successfully addressing noise requires continued and increased collaboration among all aviation stakeholders. In this regard, FAA has an important role to play in addressing noise issues, including continuing to improve the understanding of how airport noise impacts 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 FAAs approach on the relationship between aircraft noise exposure and the well-being of people living near airports and communities served by airports throughout the country.

FAA continues decades-long efforts to work with airport authorities, aircraft manufacturers, airlines, state and local governments, and communities to address noise concerns. FAA also collaborates with airport authorities and community groups to implement noise abatement procedures safely when operationally feasible. Todays civilian aircraft are quieter than at any time in the history of powered flight, and FAA continues to work with manufacturers and air carriers to reduce noise at the source.

FAA works with local governments to encourage responsible land planning that avoids building residential housing in areas that will be exposed to significant airplane noise. 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% reduction. During the same period, the number of annual passengers increased from around 200 million per year to over 900 million per year. This demonstrates a decrease in the number of people exposed to significant noise while showing an increase in the number of passengers travelling in the aviation system.

News and Updates – FAA Announces New Airport Grant Program

$2 Billion in funds will provide economic relief to airports around the country during COVID-19 public health emergency.

News and Updates – FAA Issues Restrictions on UAS Operations at DOD Facilities

Washington The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) today announced Unmanned Aircraft Systems(UAS) airspace restrictions over additional national security sensitive locations, effective December 30.

In cooperation with its federal partners, the FAA will restrict UAS operations in the airspace over two locations. The first facility is Rock Island Arsenal located between Davenport, Iowa and Rocks Island, Illinois. The second facility is Biometric Technology Center in Clarksburg, West Virginia. Restrictions on these Department of Defense facilities are to address concerns about drone activity over security sensitive facilities. Information on the FAA Notice to Airmen (NOTAM), FDC 0/5116, can be found on the FAAs UAS Data Delivery System (UDDS) website. This website contains the text of FDC 0/5116 (click on UAS NOTAM FDC 0/5116 on scroll bar along the top of the page).

UAS operators are strongly advised to review these NOTAMs on FAAs UDDS website, which defines these restrictions, and all of the currently covered locations. Further down the page is an interactive map (Map of FAA UAS Data) displaying restricted airspace throughout the U.S. Zooming in will enable viewers to click on the new DOD locations and see the specific restrictions. Each of the locations are in yellow since the restrictions are pending until the Dec. 30 effective date, at which point they will become red.

The restrictions will also be included in the FAAs B4UFLYmobile app.

UAS operators who violate these flight restrictions may be subject to enforcement action, including potential civil penalties and criminal charges.

The FAA considers requests by eligible federal security agencies for UAS-specific flight restrictions using its authority under 14 CFR 99.7. The agency will announce any future changes, including additional locations, as appropriate.