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News and Updates – FAA Grant to Support Aviation Maintenance Careers

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The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) today announced the Aviation Maintenance Technical Workforce Development Grant Program to increase interest and recruit students for careers in aviation maintenance. The goal is to provide grants to academia and the aviation community to help prepare a more inclusive talent pool of aviation maintenance technicians, to inspire and recruit the next generation of aviation professionals.

Congress appropriated $5 million in Fiscal Year 2020 to fund projects to address the projected shortages of aviation maintenance technical workers in the aviation industry. Eligible groups may apply for grants from $25,000 to $500,000 for any one grant in any one fiscal year. Potential applicants may visit the website for more information.

The FAA posted the announcement in the Federal Register today and will accept public comments until Sept. 23, 2020.

News and Updates – U.S. Transportation Secretary Elaine L. Chao Announces More Than $1.2 Billion in Airport Grants

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Grants awarded to 405 airports in 50 states and 6 territories.

News and Updates – FAA Releases Draft EIS for Burbank Terminal Project

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The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) today released the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the proposed replacement passenger terminal project at Hollywood Burbank Airport.

A 45-day public comment period for the Draft EIS begins today. The FAA will host two virtual public workshops on the document on Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2020, and a virtual public hearing on the proposal on Thursday, Sept. 24, 2020.

The Burbank-Glendale-Pasadena Airport Authority is proposing to build a new, 14-gate passenger terminal in the northeast section of the airport. It would replace the existing, 14-gate passenger terminal in the southeast section of the airport which does not meet current FAA safety standards because of its proximity to the taxiways and runways.

The existing passenger terminal would be demolished and parallel Taxiways A and C would be extended full length to the ends of Runways 15-33 and 8-26, respectively. The project also would include building a 45,900-square-foot aircraft apron, public parking structure, airline cargo building, passenger terminal access road, Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting station, central utility plant, and other infrastructure. A number of structures and facilities would be removed or demolished.

The proposed project that the Draft EIS evaluates does not involve changes to any airspace procedures.The FAAs proposed amendments to two existing Hollywood Burbank Airport departure procedures are an independent project that is undergoing a separate federal environmental review.

The Draft EIS public workshops will run from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. and from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 23. FAA representatives will present information about the proposed project and the Draft EIS. Members of the public will be able to submit written questions, which FAA representatives will answer live following the presentation.

The public hearing will run from 6:00 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 24. The public will be able to provide comments on the proposed project live during the public hearing, on the project website, and by mail. The FAA will respond to all substantive comments in the Final EIS.

The FAA will provide details about the workshops and public hearing, including how to register and participate, on the project website.

News and Updates – FAA to Test and Evaluate Unmanned Aircraft Detection & Mitigation Equipment at Airports

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The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced today that it plans to evaluate technologies and systems that could detect and mitigate potential safety risks posed by unmanned aircraft. The effort will be part of the agencys Airport Unmanned Aircraft Systems Detection and Mitigation Research Program.

The FAA plans to test and evaluate at least 10 technologies or systems. The evaluations are expected to begin later this year and will initially occur at the FAAs William J. Hughes Technical Center, located adjacent to the Atlantic City International Airport in New Jersey.

After the initial testing and evaluation in New Jersey, the agency expects to expand the effort to four additional U.S. airports. Those selections will be made at a later date.

Interested manufacturers, vendors, and integrators of drone detection and/or mitigation technologies/systems will have 45 days to respond to the FAAs announcement.

The FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018 requires the agency to ensure that technologies used to detect or mitigate potential risks posed by unmanned aircraft do not interfere with safe airport operations.

The FAA expects to issue another solicitation in the coming weeks for airport operators interested in hosting the additional research and testing.

News and Updates – FAA Releases LaGuardia AirTrain Draft Environmental Review

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The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) today released the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for the proposed LaGuardia Airport Access Improvement Project (AirTrain). The agency also opened a 45-day public comment period for the DEIS today. It ends on October 5, 2020.

The DEIS is available for review on the project website. The website also has information about how residents can comment for the record by U.S. Mail, email, and through a web comment form. The FAA notified the Queens Public Library that branches can download the document for residents who are not online.

The FAA will host virtual online workshops and hearings on the DEIS September 22, 23 and 24, 2020. Workshops will be on September 22 and 23 and hearings will be on September 22, 23 and 24. Residents can learn about the study during the workshops and can comment for the record during the hearings. People can register for the workshops and hearings on the project website starting today. Workshops and hearings will be livestreamed on the FAAs Facebook and YouTube channels. Residents without internet access can call the project hotline at (855) 542-3479 to submit formal comment on the project and/or receive a dial-in number to listen to the workshop or hearing of their choice.

The Agency will not hold in-person workshops and hearings due to the COVID-19 public health emergency.

The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PANYNJ) is the project sponsor. The AirTrain is an automated people mover that would provide a reliable transit alternative for travelers and employees at LaGuardia Airport. The proposed project would include passenger stations at LaGuardia Airport that would connect with the Long Island Railroad and the New York City subway system.

The FAA is conducting the EIS because the PANYNJ plans to request funding for the AirTrain under the Passenger Facility Charge (PFC) program. The agency is conducting the EIS 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 project.