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News and Updates – FAA Releases Aersospace Forecast

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WASHINGTON All safety, efficiency and economic indicators show that air travel in the United States is strong, according to the FAA Aerospace Forecast Fiscal Years (FY) 2019-2039. With aircraft operations expected to increase more than 25 percent over the next 20 years, the FAA is advancing major airspace modernization and infrastructure improvements to meet this tremendous projected growth.

The FAA forecasts U.S. airline enplanements (passengers) will increase from 743.9 million in 2017 to 780.8 million in 2018, a 5.0 percent increase. Enplanements for domestic mainline carriers, which primarily use aircraft with 90 or more seats, increased 5.4 percent while domestic enplanements for regional carriers, which primarily use aircraft with 89 or less seats, increased 3.4 percent. International enplanements are expected to increase from 9.6 million in 2017 to 99.6 million in 2018, a 2.8 percent increase. Mainline carrier international enplanements were up 2.9 percent while regional international enplanements decreased 1.8 percent.

Revenue passenger miles (RPMs) are the industry standard for measuring air travel demand. An RPM represents one revenue passenger traveling one mile. Domestic RPMs increased from 683.6 billion in 2017 to 720.2 billion in 2018, a 5.4 percent increase. Domestic mainline carrier RPMs increased 5.5 percent while domestic regional carrier RPMs increased 4.4 percent. International RPMs by U.S. carriers increased from 271.3 billion in 2017 to 280.6 billion in 2018, a 3.4 percent increase. Total system RPMs increased from 954.8 billion in 2017 to 1.00 trillion in 2018, a 4.8 percent increase. Total mainline carrier RPMs increased by 4.9 percent, while total regional carrier RPMs increased by 4.0 percent.

Underscoring this point, the FAA forecasts total operations (landings and take-offs) at air traffic control towers to increase from 51.8 million in 2018, at an average annual rate of 0.9 percent during the forecast period, reaching 62.0 million 2039.

The Department of Transportation (DOT) and the FAA are planning to meet this growth in air travel with robust infrastructure investments through the Airport Improvement Program. Satellite-based, air traffic modernization technologies and procedures being deployed by the FAA are enhancing safety while improving efficiency in the nations airspace system.

The forecast also highlights the phenomenal growth of Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS), often referred to as drones. The FAA projects the small model UAS fleet to grow from 1.2 million vehicles in 2018 to 1.4 million in 2023, an average annual growth rate of 2.2 percent. The commercial, small non-model UAS fleet is forecast to nearly triple from 277,386 in 2018 to 835,211 in 2023, an average annual growth rate of 24.7 percent.

In addition to UAS, another rapidly growing aerospace field is commercial space transportation. The FAA, which licenses and regulation this industry, projects that commercial space launch and re-entry operations will increase from 35 in 2018 to an estimated 56 in 2021.

The FAA aerospace forecast is the industry-wide standard of measurement of U.S. aviation-related activities. The agency uses data, trends and other factors to develop the forecast, including generally accepted economic projections, surveys and information sent by the airlines to the DOT. Additionally, the scope of the report looks at all facets of aviation including commercial air travel, air cargo and private general aviation.

To learn more about the projected growth in aviation, a fact sheet is also available

News and Updates – FAA Updates on Boeing 737 MAX

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4/16/2019 4:15pm Update

The FAA today posted a draft report from the Boeing 737 MAX Flight Standardization Board. The FSB reviewed only the training aspects related to software enhancements to the aircraft. The report is open to public comment for 14 days. After that, the FAA will review those comments before making a final assessment. Boeing Co. is still expected in the coming weeks to submit the final software package for certification.

4/12/19 4:20pm Update

FAA Statement on Boeing 737 MAX

The FAA convened a meeting today, April 12, at the agencys Washington, D.C. headquarters with safety representatives of the three U.S.-based commercial airlines that have the Boeing 737 MAX in their fleets, as well as the pilot unions for those airlines.

The approximately 3-hour meeting opened with remarks from Acting Administrator Dan Elwell and covered three major agenda items: a review of the publicly available preliminary findings of the investigations into the Lion Air and Ethiopian Airlines accidents; an overview of the anticipated software enhancements to the MCAS system; and, an overview of pilot training. Each presentation corresponding to the agenda, delivered by FAA subject matter experts, allowed for an open exchange between all participants.

In his opening remarks, Elwell characterized the meeting as a listening session for the FAA to hear from the participants for a fuller understanding of the safety issues presented by the Boeing 737 MAX. Elwell said that he wanted to know what operators and pilots of the 737 MAX think as the agency evaluates what needs to be done before the FAA makes a decision to return the aircraft to service. Elwell emphasized that the same level of transparency, dialog, and all available tools that have created aviations incomparable safety record also will apply to the FAAs ongoing review of the aircrafts return to service. Elwell said that the participants operational perspective is critical input as the agency welcomes scrutiny on how it can do better. As the meeting concluded, Elwell committed to the participants that the agency values transparency on its work toward the FAAs decisions related to the aircraft.

4/4/19 6:10pm Update

FAA Statement on Boeing 737 MAX

FAA letter to Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee Chairman Wicker available here.

4/4/19 8:30am Update

FAA Statement on Boeing 737 MAX

The investigation by Ethiopian authorities remains ongoing, with the participation of the FAA and the NTSB.We continue to work toward a full understanding of all aspects of this accident.As we learn more about the accident and findings become available, we will take appropriate action.

4/2/19 4:00pm Update

FAA Establishes Joint Authorities Technical Review (JATR) for Boeing 737 MAX

The FAA is establishing a Joint Authorities Technical Review (JATR). Chaired by former NTSB Chairman Chris Hart and comprised of a team of experts from the FAA, NASAand international aviation authorities, the JATR will conduct a comprehensive review of the certification of the automated flight control system on the Boeing 737 MAX aircraft. The JATR team will evaluate aspects of the 737 MAX automated flight control system, including its design and pilots interaction with the system, to determine its compliance with all applicable regulations and to identify future enhancements that might be needed.

4/1/19 4:00pm Update

FAA Statement on Boeing 737 MAX Software Update

The FAA expects to receive Boeings final package of its software enhancement over the coming weeks for FAA approval. Time is needed for additional work by Boeing as the result of an ongoing review of the 737 MAX Flight Control System to ensure that Boeing has identified and appropriately addressed all pertinent issues. Upon receipt, the FAA will subject Boeings completed submission to a rigorous safety review. The FAA will not approve the software for installation until the agency is satisfied with the submission.

3/20/19 5:00pm Update

Update on FAA’s Continued Operational Safety Activities Related to the Boeing 737 MAX Fleet

FAA issues newContinued Airworthiness Notification to the International Community on Boeing 737 MAX.

3/13/19 3:00pm Update

Statement from the FAA on Ethiopian Airlines

The FAA is ordering the temporary grounding of Boeing 737 MAX aircraft operated by U.S. airlines or in U.S. territory. The agency made this decision as a result of the data gathering process and new evidence collected at the site and analyzed today. This evidence, together with newly refined satellite data available to FAA this morning, led to this decision.

The grounding will remain in effect pending further investigation, including examination of information from the aircrafts flight data recorders and cockpit voice recorders. An FAA team is in Ethiopia assisting the NTSB as parties to the investigation of the Flight 302 accident. The agency will continue to investigate.

3/12/19 6:10pm Update

Statement from Acting FAA Administrator Daniel K. Elwell

The FAA continues to review extensively all available data and aggregate safety performance from operators and pilots of the Boeing 737 MAX.Thus far, our review shows no systemic performance issues and provides no basis to order grounding the aircraft. Nor have other civil aviation authorities provided data to us that would warrant action.In the course of our urgent review of data on the Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 crash, if any issues affecting the continued airworthiness of the aircraft are identified, the FAA will take immediate and appropriate action.

3/11/19 6:00pm Update

The FAA has issued a Continued Airworthiness Notification to the International Community (CANIC) related to the Boeing 737-8 and Boeing 737-9 (737 MAX) fleet.

3/11/19 3:15pm Update

An FAA team is on-site with the NTSB in its investigation of Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302.We are collecting data and keeping in contact with international civil aviation authorities as information becomes available.Today, the FAA will issue a Continued Airworthiness Notification to the International Community (CANIC) for Boeing 737 MAX operators. The FAA continuously assesses and oversees the safety performance of U.S. commercial aircraft. If we identify an issue that affects safety, the FAA will take immediate and appropriate action.

News and Updates – Outreach Helps Bring Laser Strike Numbers Down

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WASHINGTON Heightened public awareness of the serious safety risk posed by lasers reduced the total number of laser strikes for the second consecutive year, according to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

The FAA reported 5,663 laser incidents in 2018, down from 6,754 in 2017 and 7,398 in 2016. However, the substantial number of reported incidents clearly show that laser strikes on aircraft remain a serious threat to aviation safety.

The agency and law enforcement agencies are working hard to increase public awareness of the dangers posed by lasers. Please see our video about the dangers of lasers. For more information about lasers see our fact sheet.

Espaol

News and Updates – El alcance comunitario ayuda a reducir los nmeros de ataques de lser

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WASHINGTON Segn la Administracin Federal de Aviacin (FAA), el aumento de conocimiento pbico sobre el riesgo grave de seguridad que representan los lseres reduj el nmero total de ataques con lser por segundo ao consecutivo.

La FAA report 5,663 incidentes de lser en 2018, declinando en comparacin con 6,754 en 2017 y 7,398 en 2016. Sin embargo, el nmero sustancial de incidentes reportados muestra claramente que los ataques con lser en aeronaves siguen siendo una amenaza seria para la seguridad de la aviacin.

La agencia y las agencias de aplicacin de la ley estn trabajando arduamente para aumentar la conciencia pblica sobre los peligros que representan los lseres. Para ver un video sobre los peligros de los lseres, vaya al enlace al video. Para obtener ms informacin, consulte el enlace a la hoja informativa.

News and Updates – FAA Provides Aviation Careers to People with Disabilities

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The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) today announced a pilot program to help prepare people with disabilities for careers in air traffic operations.

A key focus for the FAAs Office of Civil Rights is to identify specific opportunities for people with targeted disabilities, empower them and facilitate their entry into a more diverse and inclusive workforce.

The FAA will enroll up to 20 people in the Aviation Development Program. They will train for up to one year at 10 Air Route Traffic Control Centers throughout the U.S. The following facilities will participate in the pilot: Minneapolis, Minn., Cleveland, Ohio, Boston, Mass., Denver, Colo., Fort Worth, Texas, Jacksonville, Fla., Seattle, Wash., Memphis, Tenn., Kansas City, Kan., and Salt Lake City, Utah.

The candidates in this program will receive the same rigorous consideration in terms of aptitude, medical and security qualifications as those individuals considered for a standard public opening for air traffic controller jobs. The training will prepare them for an opportunity to be appointed to a temporary air traffic control specialist position at the FAA Academy.

Candidates for the Aviation Development Program must meet the following criteria:

People who are interested in applying for the pilot program should follow the instructions on the Aviation Development Program website. The website also has a schedule for in-person information sessions.