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News and Updates – FAA Releases Scoping Report for SpaceX Environmental Assessment

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The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) today released a report summarizing the public comments received during the scoping period for an Environmental Assessment (EA) of the SpaceX facility in Boca Chica, Texas. SpaceX plans to launch its Starship/Super Heavy vehicle from that site. The agency received 321 public comments during the scoping period, which ended on Jan. 22, 2021.

The FAA is determining the scope of issues for analysis in the Draft EA and will consider comments received during scoping. The FAA will supervise SpaceXs preparation of the Draft EA with cooperating and participating agencies involved in its development. Once complete, the Draft EA will be provided for public review and comment.

The Draft EA will allow the FAA to determine the appropriate course of action: preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) because the proposed actions environmental impacts would be significant; issuance of a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI); or issuance of a Mitigated FONSI providing for mitigation measures to address the proposed actions environmental impacts.

If the FAA determines the potential environmental impacts of the proposed action would be significant based upon the Draft EA, and those impacts cannot be properly mitigated to less than significant levels, the FAA would publish a Notice of Intent to prepare an EIS and conduct additional public scoping. The FAA may make this determination regarding the course of action at any time, including after the Draft EA has been shared for public review and comment.

As part of the license application process to launch Starship/Super Heavy, SpaceX must complete a safety review and develop agreements in addition to the environmental review.

The SpaceX Starship/Super Heavy proposal falls outside of the scope of the existing Final EIS and Record of Decision for the Boca Chica launch site and requires additional environmental review under theNational Environmental Policy Act(NEPA).

News and Updates – Fly Safe Focus: WINGS Pilot Proficiency Program

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WASHINGTON-This months Fly Safe campaign topic looks at how pilots can maintain proficiency with the Federal Aviation Administrations (FAA) WINGS Pilot Proficiency Program.

Proficiency training is required for most professional pilots and plays a key role in aviation safety. Studies have shown that pilots who participate in regular proficiency training are much less likely to experience accidents. The FAAs WINGS Pilot Proficiency Program is one way for general aviation pilots to ensure they are competent, confident, and safe in their flight operations.

Read more on this important topic on the FAA blog, Cleared for Takeoff.

The FAA launched the #FlySafe national safety campaign in partnership with general aviation groups to help educate general aviation pilots and mechanics about safety topics. Topics are shared monthly with a goal of incorporating safety into every flight.

News and Updates – FAA Releases LaGuardia AirTrain Final Environmental Impact Statement

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The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) today released the Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) for the LaGuardia Airport Access Improvement Project (AirTrain). The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey is proposing to construct a rail system to provide a reliable transit option for air travelers and employees at LaGuardia Airport (LGA).

The FAA prepared the FEIS because the Port Authority plans to request funding for the AirTrain through the Passenger Facility Charge program. The program allows for the collection of fees added to passenger tickets, with those proceeds being used on certain qualifying airport projects, subject to FAA approval. Eighteen different federal, state and local agencies have provided input throughout the EIS process based on their expertise and authorities.

The AirTrain involves construction of an approximately two mile long elevated rail system with three stations: two on airport and one off airport. The stations connect with the New York City Transit Subway 7 Line and the Long Island Rail Road Port Washington Branch at Mets-Willets Point. There will also be passenger walkways connecting to the LGA Central Hall, which provides access to Terminal B and C, parking garages, public transportation, and ground transportation facilities.

The FAA prepared the FEIS in accordance with theNational Environmental Policy Act of 1969which requires the FAA to identify and disclose the potential environmental impacts of the proposed project. The agency looked at 47 alternatives, more than half of which were identified by the public during scoping for the EIS. The alternatives were evaluated to see if they met the purpose and need of the proposed action and if they would be reasonable to construct and operate.

The AirTrain Draft Environmental Impact Statement was released for public review in August 2020 and the FAA held two virtual public workshops and three virtual public hearings in September 2020. The meetings had a combined viewership of over 18,000 people and the public provided over 4,200 comments. The FEIS contains responses to the comments received.

The agency will publish its Record of Decision after 30 days. If the FAA approves the project, construction of the AirTrain is expected to begin in June 2021 and be completed in December 2025.

News and Updates – FAA Announces Effective Dates for Final Drone Rules

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The final rules requiring remote identification of drones and allowing some flights over people, over moving vehicles and at night under certain conditions will go into effect on April 21, 2021.

Remote identification (Remote ID) requires identification of drones in flight as well as the location of their control stations or takeoff point. It provides crucial information to our national security and law enforcement partners, and other officials charged with ensuring public safety. Airspace awareness reduces the risk of drone interference with other aircraft, people and property on the ground.

The Operations Over People rule applies to pilots who fly under Part 107 of the Federal Aviation Regulations. The ability to fly over people and over moving vehicles varies depending on the level of risk a small drone operation presents to people on the ground. The rule allows operations based on four categories, which can be found in the rules Executive Summary. Additionally, this rule allows operations at night under certain conditions. Prior to flying under the new provisions, a remote pilot must pass the updated initial knowledge test or complete the appropriate updated online training course, which will be available on April 6, 2021.

Part 107 currently prohibits drone operations over people, over moving vehicles and at night unless the operator obtains a waiver from the FAA. The new FAA regulations jointly provide increased flexibility to conduct certain small drone operations without obtaining a waiver.

The Operations Over People rule requires that remote pilots have their remote pilot certificate and identification in their physical possession when flying. It also expands the class of authorities who may request these documents from a remote pilot. The final rule replaces the 24 calendar month requirement to complete a recurrent aeronautical knowledge test with the requirement to complete updated online recurrent training that includes the rules new provisions.

The public can review both the Remote ID and Operations Over People Rule in the Federal Register.

For general inquiries on these new regulations and other UAS inquiries, please call 844-FLY-MY-UA or email the FAA.

News and Updates – FAA Extends Comment Period for Noise Research and Survey

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WASHINGTON TheFederal Aviation Administration (FAA)has extended the comment period for the existing noise research portfolio, including the Neighborhood Environmental Survey, and additional areas recommended for investigation to April 14, 2021. Both notices are available onFAAs website; in addition, you can review the first notice and read the comment extension notice at the Federal Register 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 on January 13, 2021.

Included in this posting are 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 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.