Message from Eastern Region Administrator Carmine Gallo
A belated Happy New Year. We have had a busy 2017 so far, reaching out to local communities as we develop more efficient technology and procedures in the National Airspace System. We’ve been engaging with communities, listening to their concerns and making an earnest effort to find workable solutions to their issues with aircraft noise.
The New York Community Aviation Roundtable finalized its bylaws in February. They create two standing subcommittees, one for LaGuardia Airport and one for John F. Kennedy International Airport. The new roundtable joins two other area roundtable groups, the Newark Liberty International Airport Aviation Roundtable and the Teterboro Airport Users Group. The FAA will participate in these roundtables in an advisory role. Local aviation roundtables such as these provide an opportunity for citizens and other stakeholders to discuss aviation concerns including noise complaints.
The Maryland Aviation Administration (MAA) also announced plans to form a roundtable for Baltimore-Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI). The FAA encouraged MAA to establish a noise roundtable to bring together a broad representation of people from local communities, the airport and the airlines. Maryland residents have expressed concerns about aircraft noise around BWI, and the roundtable will provide them with a forum to discuss those concerns.
We hosted a Congressional Briefing for staffers who work for U.S. Representatives for Upstate New York, Southern New Jersey, Delaware and Pennsylvania and the State Aviation Directors. We provided attendees with information and facilitated discussions about a variety of FAA initiatives.
Each year we are invited to participate in the airports conference hosted by Northeast Chapter of the American Association of Airport Executives (NEC/AAAE) and Pennsylvania State University. The conference provides a remarkable group of subject matter experts who discuss a wide range of interesting aviation topics. They provide attendees with the latest information on airport programs and policies, and share practical experience of airport management, consultants, and others in the airport industry.
Our annual Airports Conference in Hershey, PA, in late March also was on our community outreach agenda. We welcome your participation in these events. Contact my office anytime at 718-553-3000 for more information.
Data Comm @ NY/NJ Airports
Data Comm, the NextGen technology that enhances safety and reduces delays by dramatically improving the way air traffic controllers and pilots talk to each other, is up and running at five airports in the New York metropolitan area: JFK, LaGuardia, Newark, Teterboro and Westchester. These airports were among the first to receive the critical system upgrade.
The Future of Flight Service
New national flight service functions will leverage automation to save time and enhance safety.
FAA Forecasts Continued Growth in Air Travel
The FAA Aerospace Forecast 2017-37 is developed to support budget and planning needs of the FAA. The forecasts are developed using statistical models to explain and incorporate emerging trends of the different segments of the aviation industry. This year's document contains updated forecasts for US airline traffic and capacity, FAA workload, General Aviation activity and pilots, as well as Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) fleet and remote pilots.
NextGen Arrives for UPS
UPS pilot Capt. Gregg Kastman describes the benefits his company is experiencing as a result of NextGen.
ADS-B 101
With the approaching January 1, 2020 deadline to equip with ADS-B Out, pilots and owners are looking for more information. Learn more about what it is, and how it will benefit the general aviation community.
True Stories of Air Traffic Control
Listen to a pilot’s grateful words after a recent close call in Fort Worth Center airspace.
U.S. Helicopter Accidents Decrease
The U.S. helicopter accident rate and the fatal helicopter accident rate have fallen for the third consecutive year, according to Federal Aviation Administration data.
FAA Issues General Aviation Medical Rule
The FAA has issued a final rule that allows general aviation pilots to fly without holding an FAA medical certificate as long as they meet certain requirements outlined in Congressional legislation. Beginning May 1, pilots may take advantage of the regulatory relief in the BasicMed rule or opt to continue to use their FAA medical certificate.