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News and Updates – FAA to Hold Workshops for Denver Metroplex Project

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DenverThe Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) will hold 12 public workshops between April 29, 2019 and May 16, 2019 in and around Denver about proposed airspace improvements over the metropolitan area.

The proposed improvements are part of the Denver Metroplex project, which would use cutting-edge satellite navigation to move air traffic more safely and efficiently through the area. Satellite-based routes that would allow for more direct and efficient routing of aircraft into and out of Denver and surrounding airports; enhancing aviation safety and efficiency, and potentially reducing flight delays.

The Denver Metroplex project is a federal action under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and the FAA is conducting an Environmental Assessment (EA) in keeping with NEPA. The FAA is scheduled to release the Draft EA on April 22, 2019.

As part of this review, the FAA will hold 12 public workshops at multiple locations around the Denver Metro area. The workshop dates will be Monday through Thursday over a three-week period: April 29-May 2; May 6-9; and May 13-16.The workshops will take place from 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., and will be an open-house format, where people can attend any time during the posted times to learn about the project. They will take place in the following areas: Aurora, Brighton, Broomfield, Boulder, two in the Centennial area, Denver, Erie, Green Valley Ranch, Greenwood Village, Longmont and Parker. The FAA will announce the workshop locations when the agency releases the projects Draft EA. People can submit written comments on the Draft EA at the workshops and online during a 45-day public comment period that will run from April 22, 2019 through June 6, 2019.The FAA will consider all applicable comments we receive.

The FAA will post the Draft EA and updates on the Denver Metroplex project website.

News and Updates – FAA to Hold Workshops for Las Vegas Metroplex Project

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Las VegasThe Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) will hold three public workshops on April 9, 10 and 11 in and around Las Vegas about proposed airspace improvements over the metropolitan area.

The proposed improvements are part of the FAA’s Las Vegas Metroplex project, which would use cutting-edge satellite navigation to move air traffic more efficiently through the area. The project includes McCarran International Airport, North Las Vegas Airport, Henderson Executive Airport and Nellis Air Force Base. It is one of 11 Metroplex projects nationwide.

While the airspace around Las Vegas is very safe, its not as efficient as it could be. The FAA proposes to address the inefficiencies by implementing new routes that are more direct, automatically separated from each other, and have efficient climb and descent profiles. The potential benefits of these routes can include reductions in pilot-controller communications, miles flown, fuel burn and CO2 emissions.

The FAA has drafted preliminary designs for new satellite-based routes for the Las Vegas area. The upcoming workshops will feature informational videos and poster boards that show existing and proposed routes and explain the inefficiencies in the current system. FAA representatives will be available to answer questions, and people can submit written comments at the workshops and online for 30 days afterward.

The workshops will run from 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. They will be an open-house format, where people can attend any time during the posted times to learn about the project. Free parking will be available at all locations.

The workshop dates and locations are as follows:

Tuesday, April 9
Henderson Executive Airport
3500 Executive Terminal Dr.
Henderson, NV 89052
North/South Meeting Rooms

Wednesday, April 10
North Las Vegas Airport
2730 Airport Dr.
North Las Vegas, NV 89032
Grand Canyon Conference Room

Thursday, April 11
Clark County Government Center
500 S Grand Central Pkwy
Las Vegas, NV 89115
Pueblo Room

The FAA will consider all applicable comments we receive at the workshops and during the comment period in developing the Draft Environmental Assessment (EA) for the Las Vegas Metroplex project. When the FAA completes the Draft EA, the agency will hold additional workshops so people can comment on that document.

The FAA will consider all applicable comments from the Draft EA workshops and associated public comment period in developing the final EA for the project. The FAA will conduct additional workshops to inform the public about any final routes.

To learn more about the project, please visit our Las Vegas Community Involvement website.

News and Updates – FAA Video on Licensing Commercial Space Transportation Operations Now Available

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More and more U.S. citizens and companies want to know about the exciting and growing field of commercial space transportation. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) now has a new video on obtaining an FAA-license to conduct a launch, reentry, and even operate a spaceport.

An FAA license is required to conduct any commercial launch or reentry, the operation of any launch or reentry site by U.S. citizens anywhere in the world, or by any individual or entity within the United States. However, an FAA license is not required for a space-related activity the government carries out for the government, such as some NASA or Department of Defense launches.

The video also goes through the pre-application process, where the FAA sits down with potential commercial space operators to discuss what licensing requirements applicants might need to conduct their specific space-related activity.

Once the FAA issues a license or permit, the agency works with operators to make sure they are meeting the requirements to conduct launches and reentries. This includes having FAA safety inspectors monitor licensed activities. However, as a federal regulator the FAA has the authority to suspend or revoke any license or issue fines when a commercial space operator is not in compliance with statutory or regulatory requirements.

So, if you are thinking about obtaining a license from the FAA Office of Commercial Space Transportation, please view the video. You also may find additional information in the PowerPoint presentation associated with video and the fact sheet.

News and Updates – FAA Sets Public Workshops for South-Central Florida Metroplex

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The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has scheduled public workshops on proposed new air traffic control procedures developed under the South-Central Florida Metroplex. The project aims to replace dozens of existing flight procedures with satellite-based routes, enhancing safety and efficiency of flights over the state.

The South-Central Florida Metroplex proposes new procedures for Miami (MIA), Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood (FLL), Orlando (MCO) and Tampa (TPA) where operational efficiency directly affects flights throughout the National Airspace System (NAS). The project also proposes changes for St. Pete-Clearwater (PIE) and Palm Beach (PBI) and several satellite airports. For more information, view our videos in English and Spanish.

The workshops will be an open house format where FAA experts will share preliminary designs of the air traffic procedures and answer questions. The agency will accept written comments at the workshops and through a link posted on this webpage: South Central Florida Community Involvement. We will accept comments on the proposals for each location for 30 days from the date of the last meeting in that city.

The sessions will be from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at these locations:

Orlando April 15-18, 2019

  • April 15 Lake Nona High School, 12500 Narcoossee Road, Orlando, 32832
  • April 16Orlando Executive Airport, 365 Rickenbacker Dr., Orlando, 32803
  • April 17Florida Hotel and Conference Center, 1500 Sand Lake Road, Orlando, 32809
  • April 18 -Winter Park Community Center, 721 W. New England Ave., Winter Park, 32789

Palm Beach April 18, 2019

  • Hilton Palm Beach Airport, 150 Australian Ave., West Palm Beach, 33406.

Fort Lauderdale April 22-25, 2019

  • April 22 Old Davie School, 6650 Griffin Road, Davie, 33314
  • April 23 Anne Kolb Nature Center, Mangrove Hall, 751 Sheridan St., Hollywood, 33019
  • April 24 Signature Grand, 6900 State Road 84, Davie, 33317
  • April 25 David Posnack JCC, 5850 S. Pine Island Road, Davie, 33328

Miami April 29-May 2, 2019

  • April 29Police Substation, 3719 NW 97th Ave., Doral, 33178
  • April 30 Florida International University, Wolfe University Center, Rooms 221 and 223, 3000, NE 151 St., North Miami Beach, 33181
  • May 1 Marriott Miami Airport, 1201 NW 42nd Ave., Miami, 33126
  • May 2 Glenn Curtiss Mansion, 500 Deer Run, Miami Springs, 33166

Tampa Bay April 29-May 2, 2019

  • April 29 Clarion Inn & Suites, 20967 US-19, Clearwater, 33765
  • April 30 Tampa Airport Marriott, 4200 George J. Bean Pkwy., Tampa, 33607
  • May 1 Carrollwood Cultural Center, 4537 Lowell Road, Tampa, 33618

This session will be from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.:

  • May 2 Jan Platt Library, 3910 S. Manhattan Ave., Tampa, 33611

TheNational Environmental Policy Act of 1969(NEPA) requires the FAA to identify and publicly disclose any potential environmental impacts of the proposed procedures. The agency plans to begin the environmental review in summer 2019. We will offer the public the opportunity to comment on the proposals again during the environmental process. The FAA anticipates completing the environmental review in 2020, and expects to implement the new procedures in 2021 to the extent supported by the environmental findings.

News and Updates – Updated FAA Statement on Boeing 737 MAX

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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.