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News and Updates – FAA Releases Spaceport Camden Final Environmental Impact Statement

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The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) today released theFinal Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) for the Spaceport Camden project in Camden County, Ga.

The Camden County Board of Commissioners is seeking an FAA license authorizing Spaceport Camden to support up to 12 small-lift commercial space launches per year. The site would include a launch pad, a control center complex and another facility with provisions for visitors to view the launches.

The FAA prepared the FEIS in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, which requires the agency to identify and disclose the potential environmental impacts of the proposed project. The Final EIS evaluated the Proposed Action along with a No Action Alternative.

The FAA anticipates publishing a Record of Decision for the project in mid- to late July 2021.

The FAA published a Draft EIS for public review and comment in March 2018 and held two public hearings in April 2018. The FAA received more than 15,500 public comments on the Draft EIS. The FAA considered all comments received in preparing the Final EIS.

News and Updates – Runway Safety Town Hall: Air Traffic Ramps Up This Summer

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As the summer approaches, we can expect a rise in airport traffic in the air and on the runways. With this in mind, the Federal Aviation Administration is redoubling its effort to offer guidance, resources and expertise to preempt any airfield errors by general aviation pilots, especially those who have spent a year away from the cockpit.

On June 16, the FAA is hosting a Runway Safety Town Hall for all General Aviation pilots. It will be a live online event that will offer best practices and a lively discussion from GA pilots, air traffic controllers and runway safety experts.

The focus of the Town Hall is to help pilots reduce the risk of airfield errors and lower the potential for accidents. Discussion topics by pilots and air traffic experts will include preflight preparation, situational awareness, focused and clear communications, knowledge of runway geometry and signage, and more.

The Runway Safety Town Hall for General Aviation pilots will run from 3:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Eastern Daylight Time on Wednesday, June 16. The event is free.

Pilots can register for the event here. Participants registered on the livestream will have the opportunity to ask questions of the panelists and will receive FAA WINGS credit for attending the entire event. The Town Hall also will be livestreamed on FAAs YouTube channel, but viewers on this channel will not be able to ask questions nor gain WINGS credit.

News and Updates – FAA Approves Renewal of Oklahoma Spaceport License

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After completing a comprehensive review, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) approved the renewal of the spaceport license for the Oklahoma Space Industry Development Authority.

Thelicense authorizes the Authority to operate a launch site at the Clinton-Sherman Industrial Airpark in Burns Flat, Okla., in support of FAA-licensed or permitted suborbital missions by reusable launch vehicles. The license is valid for five years.

There are currently 12 commercial FAA-licensed spaceports, located in Alaska, California, Colorado, Florida, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas, and Virginia (see map).

The FAAs top priority in regulatingcommercial space transportationis that launch and reentry operations are safe for the public.The agency protects public safety by licensing commercial launch and reentry activities and monitoring FAA-licensed operations to make sure all phases comply with the regulations. The FAA also issues safety approvals for launch and reentry vehicles, various safety systems and the personnel performing licensed activities.

AnFAA licenseis 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 person or entity within the United States.

Learn more about the FAA Office of Commercial Space Transportation.

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News and Updates – Don't Forget to Register for the 2021 FAA UAS Symposium

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There is still time to register for Episodes III and IV of the virtual FAA Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Symposium.

The theme for this years event is Above and Beyond and it will take place on June 9-10, 2021 and Sept. 14-15, 2021. This is a unique opportunity to have your drone questions answered from leaders in the industry, who will discuss future technologies and regulations that support the safe integration of drones into the national airspace system.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI) are co-hosting the symposium. Each episode will feature keynote presentations, expert panels, informational sessions with live Q&A, roundtable discussions and one-on-one meetings with experts from the FAA UAS Support Center. The full agenda and session descriptions for Episode III are available on the symposium website. The agenda for Episode IV will be posted in the summer.

Episode III keynote speakers:

  • FAA Administrator, Steve Dickson
  • FAA Office of UAS Integration, Executive Director, Jay Merkle
  • AUVSI President and CEO, Brian Wynne

Episode III (June 9-10) sessions will focus on:

  • Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Education
  • International standards
  • Public safety operations
  • Recreational community
  • Commercial operations

Episode IV (September 14-15) sessions will focus on:

  • Operational Advancements
  • Beyond Visual Line of Sight Operations
  • International Developments

Dont miss out on this exciting opportunity to learn and network-register now!

News and Updates – FAA Seeks Applications for Grants to Reduce Airports' Environmental Impacts

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The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is accepting pre-applications from airports for the Environmental Mitigation Pilot Program. The program will fund up to six projects that will measurably reduce or mitigate aviation impacts on noise, air quality or water quality at an airport or within five miles of the airport.

Public-use airport operators have until July 9, 2021, to submit a pre-application to the FAA. Projects submitted must be carried out by a joint team consisting of at least two of the following organizations:

  • private sector business;
  • public or private educational or research organization;
  • state or local government entities; or federal laboratories.
  • business must be incorporated in the U.S.; educational or research organizations and governments must be located in the U.S.

The pre-application must contain the scope of the project, describe the new environmental mitigation techniques or technologies that have been proven in laboratory demonstrations, and describe the roles and responsibilities of each entity involved in the program.

After reviewing all applications, the FAA will fund up to six projects in 2022 and 2023 that provide the greatest environmental benefits. The cost of each project cannot exceed $2.5 million. The federal share of the project cost is 50 percent with the selected airports providing the other 50 percent. Airports must complete projects within 24 months of receiving the grants.

Section 190 of the Reauthorization Act of 2018 required the FAA to create a pilot program for environmental mitigation. Grants are made from the noise and environmental set-aside of the Airport Improvement Program.