Archive for category: News

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has posted the Draft Environmental Assessment (EA) for the South-Central Florida Metroplex project, the agencys plan to modernize air traffic procedures for four major air carrier airports and 17 additional airports in the southern half of the state.

A 60-day public comment period for the Draft EA begins today and ends on July 10, 2020. The agency expects to issue an environmental determination in September 2020, after it considers and reviews all substantive comments received during the comment period. The public can review the Draft EA and submit comments on this page.

The FAA will hold 12 virtual public workshops on the Draft EA during the first two weeks of June. Residents can view the schedule and register to attend a virtual workshop at Community Involvement South Central Florida. During the workshops, the FAA will provide an overview of the Draft EA, and environmental and air traffic control experts will be available to answer questions. Additional information about the project, including previous public outreach activities, also is posted on the webpage.

Many of the procedures for South-Central Florida are based on outdated technology. While safe, these older procedures are less precise and efficient than those based on satellite technology. The satellite-based routes proposed for the South-Central Florida Metroplex project will enhance safety and efficiency across the region.

Theagency conducted the Draft EA in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969(NEPA), which requires the FAA to identify and publicly disclose the potential environmental impacts of the proposed procedures.

WASHINGONThe Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) today announced a new Unmanned Aircraft Systems Collegiate Training Initiative (UAS-CTI) that allows educational institutions and the agency to work collaboratively with students who pursue careers in UAS.

Providing our nations youth with educational opportunities is a major commitment of this administration, said FAA Administrator Stephen M. Dickson. We see these institutions opening doors for students seeking careers in this exciting, growing field of aviation.

The FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018 required the agency to establish a UAS collegiate training initiative program. It also called for a process to designate an association of public, two-year institutions of higher education as Community and Technical College Centers of Excellence in Small UAS System Technology Training.

The eligibility guidelines for the institutions to participate are:

• School type: Not-for-profit, two- or four-year, post-secondary educational institutions.
• Accreditation: Must be institutionally accredited by an agency recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education.
• Degree/Certification: Schools must currently offer a bachelors or associates degree with a minor, concentration, or certificate in UAS.

Post-secondary institutions with UAS curricula seeking recognition as a UAS-CTI can now apply for this distinction. Once requests for participation are received, the FAA will send potential applicants an initial questionnaire to further evaluate their eligibility for the program. Review information on how institutions can apply.

Participating institutions will work with the FAA, other participants, general industry, local governments, law enforcement, and regional economic development entities to address labor force needs. This collaboration will ensure that UAS-CTI school graduates have the knowledge and skills needed to pursue a successful career in a UAS-related field.

In addition to advancing the FAA-UAS goals, these new UAS-CTIs move forward the agencys Science Technology Engineering and Math (STEM) efforts for students. The program also builds on the FAAs efforts to expand the aviation workforce.