Sea-Tac Airport is in the midst of both Federal (NEPA) and State (SEPA) environmental reviews of the Sustainable Airport Master Plan (SAMP). These reviews will determine by how much, if any, the airport can safely expand in the coming years. A key factor in this review is the airport’s ability to manage an increasing number
Exclusive: US FAA to slow arrivals at Reagan National Airport to reduce risks after crash
Summary FAA reduces Reagan National arrivals to 26 per hour for safety NTSB and FAA brief Senate on crash investigation Transportation Secretary Duffy reconsiders air traffic control staffing rules The FAA told airlines late Wednesday that the reduction from a maximum rate of 28 to 26 arrivals per hour would reduce risk but also increase
Musk sets sights on aviation reform
Jason Lalljee Elon Musk and the U.S. Department of Transportation will “remake” U.S. airspace, Transportation secretary Sean Duffy said at an event on Wednesday. Why it matters: The collision last week between an American Airlines passenger jet and a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter became the deadliest aviation disaster in the U.S. in more than 20 years, leading to renewed scrutiny
In ‘incredibly tight’ D.C. airspace, small errors risk major tragedies
By Dominic Gates Seattle Times aerospace reporter Investigators are gathering evidence to determine the cause of the tragic midair collision between a U.S. Army helicopter and a passenger jet in Washington, D.C., early Wednesday night. Already a key focus is whether the helicopter was flying higher than permitted. As the American Airlines jet made a
Certain college grads can now be air traffic controllers immediately
The FAA air traffic control tower at Orlando International Airport. Phelan M. Ebenhack/AP The Federal Aviation Administration says that graduates of two college air traffic control programs can now bypass the agency’s backlogged training academy. The new announcement is the FAA’s latest move to tackle air traffic controller shortages that have plagued the air travel
FAA still short about 3,000 air traffic controllers, new federal numbers show
The air traffic control tower at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) in Atlanta, Georgia, US, on Monday, Oct. 2, 2023. Elijah Nouvelage/Bloomberg/Getty Images Gregory Wallace, CNN Updated 3:38 PM EDT, Tue May 14, 2024 Despite a surge in hiring last year, air traffic control stations nationwide are still about 3,000 controllers short, according to new
How a series of air traffic control lapses nearly killed 131 people
By Sydney Ember and Emily Steel New York Times On a foggy Saturday morning in February, an air traffic controller cleared a FedEx cargo plane to land on Runway 18L at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport in Texas. A Southwest Airlines jet was on the same runway, but the controller said it would take off before FedEx’s
What is a TRACON?
The area from 6-50 miles will affect you with or without a second airport. It’s an FAA acronym. Terminal Radar Approach Control. And if you live in any of the areas considered for a Second Airport, including Enumclaw or Pierce and Thurston Counties, keep reading. TRACONs are FAA facilities that house air traffic controllers who
FAA Order JO 7110.65Z – Air Traffic Control
This order prescribes air traffic control procedures and phraseology for use by personnel providing air traffic control services. Controllers are required to be familiar with the provisions of this order that pertain to their operational responsibilities and to exercise their best judgment if they encounter situations not covered by it. Effective: May 19, 2022 Change:
Air Route Traffic Control
Knowing the ATC system structure provides insight into its effective use. Rose Marie Kern The boundaries of the 22 ARTCC system are the result of historical traffic growth and population. In 22 facilities across the U.S., thousands of air traffic controllers actively watch the skies over their assigned sectors. Each Air Route Traffic Control Center