Category: FAA

US FAA Names WestJet Official as New Aviation Safety Chief

WASHINGTON—The Federal Aviation Administration said on Thursday it has tapped a Canadian airline safety official to head the agency’s aviation safety organization. Billy Nolen, who has most recently been vice president for safety, security, and quality for WestJet Airlines in Canada, will begin early next year as the FAA’s associate administrator for aviation safety, leading…


US Former Officials Urge ‘Speedy’ Resolution of 5G Wireless Aviation Dispute

WASHINGTON—Six former chairs of the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) on Monday urged the Biden administration to quickly resolve a dispute over the planned use of 5G wireless spectrum that the aviation industry says poses an air safety risk. Former FCC chairs Ajit Pai, Tom Wheeler, Julius Genachowski, Michael Copps, Michael Powell, and Mignon Clyburn…


US Airlines Warn 5G Wireless Could Cause Havoc With Flights

WASHINGTON—Major U.S. air carriers warned on Wednesday that plans by AT&T and Verizon Communications to use spectrum for 5G wireless services could be highly disruptive to air travel and cost air passengers $1.6 billion annually in delays. Trade group Airlines for America (A4A) said if a new Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) directive for addressing potential…


FAA: No More Commercial Astronaut Wings, Too Many Launching

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla.—Heads up, future space travelers: No more commercial astronaut wings will be awarded from the Federal Aviation Administration after this year. The FAA said Friday it’s clipping its astronaut wings because too many people are now launching into space and it’s getting out of the astronaut designation business entirely. The news came one…


US FAA Finds No Blue Origin Safety Issues After Review

WASHINGTON—The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration said on Friday it had found no safety issues after investigating allegations made against Blue Origin’s human spaceflight program. The FAA said in September it would review safety concerns raised by former Blue Origin employees. The FAA said on Friday it was closing its investigation after finding “no specific safety…


Boeing, Airlines: ‘Significant Time’ Needed to Resolve 5G Spectrum Issue

WASHINGTON—The aviation industry told the White House on Tuesday it will take “significant time” to ensure it is safe for major U.S. wireless companies to use C-Band spectrum for 5G communications. In a letter sent to the White House, Boeing Co, Airbus SE, U.S. airlines, pilots, and others said they need the Biden administration and…


US Aviation Regulator Warns of Potential Interference From 5G Spectrum Plan

WASHINGTON—The Federal Aviation Administration said on Tuesday it had issued a special information bulletin alerting manufacturers, operators, and pilots that action may be needed to address potential interference with sensitive aircraft electronics caused by the use of 5G telecommunications technology. The FAA has been in discussion with the Federal Communications Commission about its air safety…


FAA Lacks Effective Oversight of American Airlines Maintenance Issues: Audit

WASHINGTON—The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) lacks effective oversight controls to ensure that American Airlines’ corrective actions for maintenance issues address root causes, a government watchdog report said on Friday. The Transportation Department Inspector General’s office said in 171 of 185 of cases sampled, FAA inspectors accepted root cause analyses by American Airlines “that did not…


FAA Dismisses Claims Weekend Flight Cancellations Were Related to Vaccine Mandates

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced the numerous flight cancellations at Southwest Airlines and other airlines over the weekend were not related to vaccine mandates. “To be clear: None of the information from Southwest, its pilots union, or the FAA indicates that this weekend’s cancellations were related to vaccine mandates,” the FAA said early Tuesday…


FAA to Deploy Software to Reduce Airport Delays

WASHINGTON—The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said Tuesday it plans to deploy a new software capability to reduce taxi times and ramp congestion for flights at 27 major U.S. airports. The FAA and NASA said the new software was tested for four years that calculates gate pushbacks at busy hub airports “so that each plane can…