FAA, Daedalean Study Machine-Learning In Avionics

By Graham Warwick May 24, 2022
Joint research by the FAA and Swiss AI startup Daedalean is expected to help shape certification requirements for the use of machine-learning in safety-critical avionics.
Safety, Ops & Regulation

Boeing Reiterates Risk In 737-10 Alerting Addition

By Sean Broderick May 24, 2022
Facing a deadline that would require major changes to uncertified 737 MAX variants, Boeing continues to argue the status quo—and keeping the family as similar as possible—is the safer course of action.
Safety, Ops & Regulation

FAA Clears Return To Service For 52 United 777-200s

By Ben Goldstein May 17, 2022
The FAA issued final paperwork clearing the return to service of 52 Pratt & Whitney-powered Boeing 777-200s operated by United Airlines, ending a grounding that has constrained the carrier’s widebody capacity over the last fifteen months.
Safety, Ops & Regulation

Boeing Confident In 737-10 Certification Without Alerting System

By Sean Broderick May 11, 2022
Boeing will not get the 737-10 certified in 2022, but it is confident that a looming deadline that would require a major flight-deck change will not apply to the largest 737 MAX variant.
Safety, Ops & Regulation

Boulter To Serve As Top FAA Aviation Safety Executive

By Sean Broderick May 03, 2022
FAA Flight Standards Service executive director David Boulter will take the agency’s top civil-service safety job when current acting associate administrator for Aviation Safety Chris Rocheleau leaves government service at the end of May.
Safety, Ops & Regulation

Washington Dulles Seeks FAA Funds To Build New Regional Concourse

By Aaron Karp Apr 26, 2022
Washington Dulles is proposing the construction of a new 14-gate concourse for regional airline flights.
Airports & Routes

General Atomics Demonstrates UAV Detect-And-Avoid Capability To FAA

By Garrett Reim Mar 29, 2022
The “mature” detect-and-avoid technology could enable beyond-visual-line-of-sight operations for UAVs within the U.S. National Airspace System, the company says.
Aircraft & Propulsion

Proposed FAA Budget Boosts Spending 3.3%, Continues Certification Reform

By Sean Broderick Mar 28, 2022
FAA’s fiscal 2023 baseline budget request of $18.6 billion includes $17.5 million to support aircraft certification reform mandates, including funds for adding more than 50 positions.
Safety, Ops & Regulation

FAA Outlines Process For $1B In Airport Grants

By Sean Broderick Feb 23, 2022
The Airport Terminal Program's goals are to “upgrade, modernize, and rebuild our nation’s airport terminals and sponsor-owned” air traffic control towers, FAA said.
Airports & Routes

Former FAA Executive Joseph Del Balzo Dies

By Sean Broderick Feb 14, 2022
Joseph M. Del Balzo, whose 36-year FAA career included time as acting administrator, passed away at age 85 Feb. 11 in Philadelphia.
Safety, Ops & Regulation

FAA Releases Draft Flight Path Management Guidance

By Sean Broderick Feb 02, 2022
New draft guidance on flight path management represents a major milestone in FAA’s years-long effort to address shortcomings in training and operational procedures linked to how pilots ensure aircraft are moving safely and under control. 
Safety, Ops & Regulation

New Wireless Concessions Buy More Time To Quantify 5G Aviation Safety Risks

By Sean Broderick Jan 18, 2022
AT&T and Verizon Wireless have agreed to limit deployment of their new 5G C-band services around some of the busiest U.S. commercial airports, acquiescing to a last-minute plea by major airlines so that aviation stakeholders can further quantify potential safety risks to radio altimeters and related systems. 
Safety, Ops & Regulation

U.S. Airlines Warn 5G Safety Risks Go Beyond Altimeters

By Sean Broderick Jan 17, 2022
Just days from AT&T and Verizon Wireless beginning the already twice-delayed initial 5G rollout, many questions remain unanswered.
Safety, Ops & Regulation

Experts Say Many Radalts May Need To Be Retrofitted

By Bill Carey Jan 16, 2022
Many of the radio altimeters currently installed on aircraft likely will have to be retrofitted with filters or replaced to protect against potential 5G interference, experts say.
Safety, Ops & Regulation

Airlines Petition FCC To Halt 5G Services

By Bill Carey Dec 31, 2021
Airlines for America petitioned the FCC to stop pending 5G wireless deployment until aviation industry concerns resolved.
Safety, Ops & Regulation

U.S. Senate Report Underscores FAA Oversight Shortcomings

By Sean Broderick Dec 13, 2021
Input from whistleblowers underscore the need for reform of FAA product certification oversight, with emphasis on ensuring company-employed experts working on behalf of the agency remain free of undue pressure. 
Safety, Ops & Regulation

Salt Air Exposure Led To CRJ-1000 Engine Failure

By Sean Broderick Dec 13, 2021
Corrosion from prolonged exposure to salty air set the stage for a part to crack and trigger a recent inflight engine shutdown on a Bombardier CRJ-1000, an FAA airworthiness directive confirms.
Safety, Ops & Regulation

FAA Certification Reforms Advancing, Dickson Tells Lawmakers

By Sean Broderick Nov 03, 2021
The FAA’s compliance with recently enacted aircraft certification reforms is progressing, the agency’s top official said, underscoring that required changes combined with other agency initiatives are changing how the regulator works with companies, notably Boeing.
Safety, Ops & Regulation

FAA Not Expecting ‘Significant’ Staff Losses Linked To Vaccine Mandate

By Sean Broderick Nov 03, 2021
FAA Administrator Steve Dickson is not anticipating “significant” agency staffing issues linked to workers not complying with a broader COVID-19 vaccine mandate, and reassured lawmakers that contingency plans are in place to handle potential disruptions.
Safety, Ops & Regulation

FAA Alert Highlights 757, 767 Mode Activation Risk

By Sean Broderick Oct 25, 2021
A new FAA safety alert spotlights the risk of inadvertently activating the go-around mode on Boeing 757s and 767s, urging operators and training providers to make sure pilots are aware of the scenario and its role in the 2019 fatal accident of an Atlas Air 767.
Safety, Ops & Regulation

Inspector General Report Faults FAA Maintenance Oversight Process

By Sean Broderick Oct 22, 2021
The FAA plans to implement new training and several revised processes that ensure issues flagged by its maintenance inspectors are both accurately identified and properly addressed through safety systems.
Safety, Ops & Regulation

Former Boeing 737 MAX Chief Technical Pilot Charged With Hiding Design Changes

By Sean Broderick Oct 15, 2021
A U.S. federal grand jury has indicted former Boeing 737 MAX chief technical pilot Mark Forkner, alleging he intentionally withheld crucial information about flight control software changes from FAA officials during the model’s certification, helping set the stage for two fatal accidents linked to the software.
Safety, Ops & Regulation

Boeing Proposes Phase-In Of 777 Nacelle Modifications

By Sean Broderick Oct 13, 2021
Boeing is developing a series of nacelle improvements for grounded Pratt & Whitney PW4000-powered 777s and wants FAA’s blessing to phase them in as they are finalized, instead of delivering a complete, compliant nacelle structure as required by the agency’s certification rules.
Safety, Ops & Regulation

Lawmakers Push FAA On Part 147 Update

By Sean Broderick Sep 30, 2021
U.S. lawmakers eager to see the FAA wrap up a long-awaited rework of aviation technician education standards are pressuring the agency to meet its latest scheduled release date, which is months after the deadline set by law. 
Aircraft & Propulsion

FAA Says Progress In Bad Passenger Conduct Needs To Continue

By Lori Ranson Sep 24, 2021
The FAA is citing some headway in unruly passenger incidents since implementing its zero-tolerance policy, but much work remains to be done to combat the rise in defiant passenger behavior. 
Safety, Ops & Regulation