By KEVIN FIXLER McClatchy Washington Bureau WASHINGTON — Twice each decade, Congress approves a bill to fund and set the policies for the federal agency that oversees the nation’s air travel. This year, one airport was singled out in a standalone section marked “miscellaneous” in the Senate version of the Federal Aviation Administration Reauthorization Act.
Biden nominates a former Obama official to run the Federal Aviation Administration
By DAVID KOENIGThe Associated Press President Joe Biden on Thursday nominated a former Obama administration official to lead the Federal Aviation Administration after his first choice withdrew in March after running into opposition from Republican senators. The White House said Biden nominated Michael G. Whitaker, a former deputy administrator at the FAA. He is currently
Airline Close Calls Happen Far More Often Than Previously Known
FLIGHT RISKS By Sydney Ember and Emily SteelGraphics by Leanne Abraham, Eleanor Lutz and Ella KoezeAug. 21, 2023 On the afternoon of July 2, a Southwest Airlines pilot had to abort a landing at Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport. A Delta Air Lines 737 was preparing to take off on the same runway. The sudden maneuver avoided a possible collision by seconds. Near miss NEW
Close Calls and the New York Times: What You Need to Know
The U.S. aviation system is the safest in the world, but one close call is one too many. The FAA and the aviation community are pursuing a goal of zero serious close calls, a commitment from the Safety Summit in March. The same approach virtually eliminated the risk of fatalities aboard U.S. commercial airlines. Since 2009,
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
Wing walking flights in Sequim draw lawsuit and FAA investigation
By Dominic Gates Seattle Times aerospace reporter In Sequim, on the north coast of the Olympic Peninsula, you can sign up for a daring thrill ride available nowhere else in America: Mason Wing Walking will take you up in an airplane to about 3,500 feet where you can climb out of the open cockpit and
Wake Energy Retrieval
House passes air travel bill criticized by consumer groups, White House
By DAVID KOENIG and KEVIN FREKING The Associated Press WASHINGTON — The Federal Aviation Administration would get more money to hire air traffic controllers and the mandatory retirement age for airline pilots would be raised under a bill approved Thursday by the House. The measure seeks to improve air travel, which has been plagued by
FAA chief must be a watchdog independent from industry
By Justin T. Green Special to The Times The Federal Aviation Administration — a crucial part of ensuring passenger safety in our country — has been without a permanent leader for more than a year. Meanwhile, there have been repeated near collisions between airliners, and aviation disasters have only been narrowly averted. These close calls