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FAA News
Date: 04/16/2021 03:43 PM
Today's Air Traffic Report:
Thunderstorms could delay flights today in Dallas-Fort Worth (DAL, DFW), Houston (HOU, IAH) and Orlando (MCO). Denver (DEN) is recovering from overnight snow. Low clouds are expected in Boston (BOS), Los Angeles (LAX) and San Francisco (SFO).
Pilots: Check out the new Graphical Forecasts for Aviation (GFA) Tool from the Aviation Weather Center.
For up-to-the-minute air traffic operations information, visit fly.faa.gov, and follow @FAANews on Twitter for the latest news and Air Traffic Alerts.
The FAA Air Traffic Report provides a reasonable expectation of any daily impactsto normal air traffic operations, i.e. arrival/departure delays, ground stoppages, airport closures. This information is for air traffic operations planning purposes and is reliable as weather forecasts and other factors beyond our ability to control.
Always check with your air carrier for flight-specific delay information.
Date: 04/15/2021 09:06 PM
WASHINGTONThis months Fly Safe campaign topic looks at the importance of aircraft angle of attack awareness.
The General Aviation Joint Steering Committees (GAJSC) loss of control workgroup believes that a lack of awareness, with respect to angle of attack (AOA), has resulted in the loss of aircraft control and contributed to fatal GA accidents. The GAJSC also maintains that increasing a pilots awareness of the aerodynamic effects of AOA and available technology will reduce the likelihood of inadvertent loss of control.
Read more on this important topic on the FAA blog, Cleared for Takeoff.
The FAA launched the #FlySafe national safety campaign in partnership with general aviation groups to help educate general aviation pilots and mechanics about safety topics. Topics are shared monthly with a goal of incorporating safety into every flight.
Date: 04/09/2021 12:39 AM
4/8/2021
FAA Statement on Backup Power Control Unit Manufacturing Issue
Boeing notified the FAA late Thursday that it is recommending that operators of certain Boeing 737 MAX airplanes temporarily remove them from service to address a manufacturing issue that could affect the operation of a backup power control unit. The FAA is in contact with the airlines and the manufacturer and will ensure the issue is addressed. Passengers should contact their airlines about specific flight cancellations or delays.
1/25/2021
FAA Statement on Updates to the FSB Report and MMEL
The Federal Aviation Administration is proposing updates to the Flight Standardization Board (FSB) report and Master Minimum Equipment List (MMEL) for the Boeing 737 MAX. The draft updates, which are subject to public comment, primarily reflect differences between the original 737 MAX and the new 737-8200 series airplane.
Airlines use the FSB report to develop pilot training. The new 737-8200 can carry up to 200 passengers and is equipped with an additional exit door. The FAA has proposed additional training to account for design changes associated with these features. The draft FSB report also includes minor revisionsthat are part of the agencys ongoing continued operational safety oversight. None of the proposed changes would affect the training curriculum that the FAA approved as part of the return to service of the 737 MAX.
TheMMELspells out the circumstances under which airlines may still be operate flights without certain systems or components. The proposedMMELadds new relief for items that were identified through the agencys ongoing interactions with operators and the manufacturer. None of the proposed revisions involve the aircrafts automated flight control system, which was the subject of a 20-month review and certification following the fatal accidents of Lion Air Flight 610 and Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302.
The FAA will accept comments on the draft FSB report through February 16, 2021. Comments on the draftMMELwill be accepted through February 24, 2021. The FAA will post final versions of both documents after the agency reviews and addresses those comments.
11/18/2020
FAA Statement on Boeing 737 Max Return to Service
FAA Administrator Steve Dickson today signed an order that paves the way for the Boeing 737 MAX to return to commercial service. Administrator Dicksons action followed a comprehensive and methodical safety review process that took 20 months to complete. During that time, FAA employees worked diligently to identify and address the safety issues that played a role in the tragic loss of 346 lives aboard Lion Air Flight 610 and Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302. Throughout our transparent process, we cooperated closely with our foreign counterparts on every aspect of the return to service. Additionally, Administrator Dickson personally took the recommended pilot training and piloted the Boeing 737 MAX, so he could experience the handling of the aircraft firsthand.
In addition to rescinding the order that grounded the aircraft, the FAA today published an Airworthiness Directive specifying design changes that must be made before the aircraft returns to service, issued a Continued Airworthiness Notification to the International Community (CANIC), and published the MAX training requirements. These actions do not allow the MAX to return immediately to the skies. The FAA must approve 737 MAX pilot training program revisions for each U.S. airline operating the MAX and will retain its authority to issue airworthiness certificates and export certificates of airworthiness for all new 737 MAX aircraft manufactured since the FAA issued the grounding order. Furthermore, airlines that have parked their MAX aircraft must take required maintenance steps to prepare them to fly again.
The design and certification of this aircraft included an unprecedented level of collaborative and independent reviews by aviation authorities around the world. Those regulators have indicated that Boeings design changes, together with the changes to crew procedures and training enhancements, will give them the confidence to validate the aircraft as safe to fly in their respective countries and regions. Following the return to service, the FAA will continue to work closely with our foreign civil aviation partners to evaluate any potential additional enhancements for the aircraft. The agency also will conduct the same rigorous, continued operational safety oversight of the MAX that we provide for the entire U.S. commercial fleet.
View a video from Administrator Dickson.
View all documents related to the Airworthiness Directive and return to service https://www.faa.gov/foia/electronic_reading_room/boeing_reading_room/
10/6/2020
The FAA posted the draft Flight Standardization Board (FSB) report on the proposed pilot training for the Boeing 737 MAX this afternoon.It can be found here under FSBR B737.
The report incorporates the recommendations from the Joint Operations Evaluation Board (JOEB) which recently met for nine days. The JOEB was comprised of civil aviation authorities from the United States, Canada, Brazil, and the European Union.
The comment period on the draft FSB report will last through November 2, 2020. The FAA will publish a final FSB report after reviewing and addressing public comments on the draft FSB Report.
While this is an important step, several key milestones remain:
These actions are applicable only to U.S. air carriers and U.S.-registered aircraft.While our processes will inform other civil aviation authorities, they must take their own actions to return the Boeing 737 MAX to service for their air carriers. The FAA will ensure that our international counterparts have all necessary information to make a timely, safety-focused decision.
9/16/2020
FAA Statement on House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee Report
The FAA is committed to continually advancing aviation safety and looks forward to working with the Committee to implement improvements identified in its report. We are already undertaking important initiatives based on what we have learned from our own internal reviews as well as independent reviews of the Lion Air and Ethiopian Airlines accidents. These initiatives are focused on advancing overall aviation safety by improving our organization, processes, and culture.Last month, the FAA published a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) for an airworthiness directive (AD) that will mandate a number of design changes to the Boeing 737 MAX before it returns to passenger service. The FAA continues to follow a thorough process, not a prescribed timeline, for returning the aircraft to service.
8/3/2020
Boeing 737 MAX AD NPRM Now Available for Early Public Review
Today, the FAA sent a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) for a Boeing 737 MAX airworthiness directive (AD) to the Office of the Federal Register for publication.The NPRM proposes mandating a number of design changes to address an identified unsafe condition.When the NPRM publishes in the Federal Register, a 45 day public comment period will begin. The FAA is posting the NPRM on its website today to enable the public to begin review early.
The FAA will also be placing the Preliminary Summary of the FAAs Review of the Boeing 737 MAX in the docket to assist with the review of the proposed AD.
7/21/2020
FAA Statement
In the near future, the FAA plans to issue a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) for an Airworthiness Directive (AD) affecting the Boeing 737 MAX. In keeping with our commitment to remain transparent, the NPRM will provide 45 days for the public to comment on proposed design changes and crew procedures to mitigate the safety issues identified during the investigations that followed the Lion Air and Ethiopian Airlines accidents.
The agency continues to follow a robust certification process. In addition to the standard FAA certification team, the 737 MAX Technical Advisory Board (TAB) continues to provide valuable review and consultation.
While the posting of the NPRM is an important milestone, a number of key steps remain. The remaining tasks include:
The FAA will not speculate when the work will be completed. The agency continues to follow a deliberate process and will take the time it needs to thoroughly review Boeings work. We will lift the grounding order only after FAA safety experts are satisfied that the aircraft meets certification standards.
7/1/2020
FAA Statement on 737 MAX Certification Flights
The FAA and Boeing today completed the certification flight tests on the Boeing 737 MAX. During three days of testing this week, FAA pilots and engineers evaluated Boeings proposed changes in connection with the automated flight control system on the aircraft. While completion of the flights is an important milestone, a number of key tasks remain, including evaluating the data gathered during these flights. The agency is following a deliberate process and will take the time it needs to thoroughly review Boeings work. We will lift the grounding order only after FAA safety experts are satisfied that the aircraft meets certification standards.
The remaining tasks include:
6/29/2020
FAA Statement on Certification Flights
The FAA and Boeing are conducting a series of certification flights this week to evaluate Boeings proposed changes to the automated flight control system on the 737 MAX. The aircraft departed from Boeing Field in Seattle at 9:55 a.m. Pacific Time today for the first round of testing. The flight is expected to take several hours.
The certification flights are expected to take approximately three days. They will include a wide array of flight maneuvers and emergency procedures to assess whether the changes meet FAA certification standards. The tests are being conducted by test pilots and engineers from the FAA and Boeing.
While the certification flights are an important milestone, a number of key tasks remain. The FAA is following a deliberate process and will take the time it needs to thoroughly review Boeings work. We will lift the grounding order only after we are satisfied that the aircraft meets certification standards.
1/16/2020
Statement from FAA Administrator Steve Dickson on the Special Committees report on aircraft certification
The FAAs first priority is safety, and we are committed to a philosophy of continuous improvement. We welcome and appreciate the Special Committees insights and recommendations. I was pleased to see that the committee recommended weadvance the use of Safety Management Systems throughout all sectors of the aviation industry. The agency will carefully consider the committees work, along with the recommendations identified in various investigative reports and other analyses, as we take steps to enhance our aircraft certification processes.
1/10/2020
FAA Statement on Emails
The FAA reviewed the most recent 737 MAX-related documents submitted by Boeing for the purpose of identifying any safety implications. Our experts determined that nothing in the submission pointed to any safety risks that were not already identified as part of the ongoing review of proposed modifications to the aircraft.
The FAA maintains a rigorous process for qualifying flight simulators. Upon reviewing the records for the specific simulator mentioned in the documents, the agency determined that piece of equipment has been evaluated and qualified three times in the last six months. Any potential safety deficiencies identified in the documents have been addressed.
While the tone and content of some of the language contained in the documents is disappointing, the FAA remains focused on following a thorough process for returning the Boeing 737 MAX to passenger service. We continue to work with other international aviation safety regulators to review the proposed changes to the aircraft. Our first priority is safety, and we have set no timeframe for when the work will be completed.
10/25/2019
FAA Statement on Lion Air Flight 610 Accident Report
The FAAs first priority is always safety.The Indonesian National Transportation Safety Committees accident report on Lion Air Flight 610 is a sober reminder to us of the importance of that mission, and we again express our deepest condolences to the families and loved ones of those who were lost in that tragic accident.
We welcome the recommendations from this report and will carefully consider these and all other recommendations as we continue our review of the proposed changes to the Boeing 737 MAX. The FAA is committed to ensuring that the lessons learned from the losses of Lion Air Flight 610 and Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302will result in an even greater level of safety globally.
The FAA continues to review Boeings proposed changes to the 737 MAX. As we have previously stated, the aircraft will return to service only after the FAA determines it is safe.
10/18/2019
FAA Statement
Late yesterday, Boeing alerted the Department of Transportation to the existence of instant messages between two Boeing employees, characterizing certain communications with the FAA during the original certification of the 737 MAX in 2016. Boeing explained to the Department that it had discovered this document some months ago.
The Department immediately brought this document to the attention of both FAA leadership and the Departments Inspector General.
The FAA finds the substance of the document concerning. The FAA is also disappointed that Boeing did not bring this document to our attention immediately upon its discovery. The FAA is reviewing this information to determine what action is appropriate.
The FAA has shared this document with the appropriate Congressional committees and plans to provide additional related documents today.
The FAA is following a thorough process, not a prescribed timeline, for returning the Boeing 737 MAX to passenger service. The agency will lift the grounding order only after we have determined the aircraft is safe.
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Read the letter FAA Administrator Steve Dickson sent to Boeing.
10/11/2019
FAA Administrator Dickson is reviewing every recommendation and will take appropriate action.
Statement from FAA Administrator Steve Dickson:
I thank Chairman Chris Hart and the Joint Authorities Technical Review (JATR) members for their unvarnished and independent review of the certification of the Boeing 737 MAX.
As FAA Administrator, I will review every recommendation and take appropriate action.
Todays unprecedented U.S. safety record was built on the willingness of aviation professionals to embrace hard lessons and to seek continuous improvement. We welcome this scrutiny and are confident that our openness to these efforts will further bolster aviation safety worldwide. The accidents in Indonesia and Ethiopia are a somber reminder that the FAA and our international regulatory partners must strive to constantly strengthen aviation safety.
9/26/2019
FAA welcomes and appreciates NTSB's recommendations.
The FAAs first priority is safety. We welcome and appreciate the NTSBs recommendations. The agency will carefully review these and all other recommendations as we continue our review of the proposed changes to the Boeing 737 MAX. The FAA is committed to a philosophy of continuous improvement. The lessons learned from the investigations into the tragic accidents of Lion Air Flight 610 and Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302will be a springboard to an even greater level of safety.
9/23/2019
FAA and Technical Experts Meet with Safety Regulators to Continue Discussions on Boeing 737 Max
MONTREAL The Federal Aviation Administration and a team of technical experts met today with safety regulators from around the world to discuss the continuing efforts to return the Boeing 737 MAX jetliner to service.
FAA Administrator Steve Dickson and Deputy Administrator Dan Elwell delivered opening remarks to more than 50 invited officials, all of whom will play a role in clearing the aircraft for further flight in their respective nations.
Ali Bahrami, the FAAs Associate Administrator for Aviation Safety, provided details on the FAAs many activities to certify the aircraft since the group of regulators first met four months ago in Fort Worth, Texas. A senior Boeing Co. executive provided a technical briefing on the companys efforts to address the safety regulators shared concerns.
During the meeting, Administrator Dickson pledged that the FAA would continue to share information about the FAAs activities to ensure the proposed changes to the automated flight control system on the 737 MAX meet certification standards. In the name of continuous improvement, we welcome feedback from our fellow civil aviation authorities, the aviation industry and the important independent reviews of the MAX and the FAAs certification process, Dickson said.
Dickson told the group that the last few months have made it clear that, in the mind of the traveling public, aviation safety recognizes no borders. Travelers demand the same high level of safety no matter where they fly, he said. It is up to us as aviation regulators to deliver on this shared responsibility.
The FAA continues to follow a thorough process, not a prescribed timeline, for returning the aircraft to passenger service. The FAA has a transparent and collaborative relationship with other civil aviation authorities as we continue our review of changes to software on the Boeing 737 MAX. Our first priority is safety, and we have set no timeframe for when the work will be completed. Each government will make its own decision to return the aircraft to service, based on a thorough safety assessment.
8/30/2019
Joint Authorities Technical Review (JATR) Panel to Deliver Findings in Coming Weeks.
The Joint Authorities Technical Review (JATR) panel is taking additional time to finish documenting its work. We expect the group to submit its observations, findings, and recommendations in the coming weeks.
Chaired by former National Transportation Safety Board Chairman Christopher A. Hart, the JATR is comprised of technical safety experts from nine civil aviation authorities worldwide, as well as the FAA and NASA. The team received extensive overviews and engaged in subsequent discussions about the design, certification, regulations, compliance, training, and Organization Designation Authorization activities associated with the 737 MAX.
The JATRs focus on the certification of the aircraft is separate from the ongoing efforts to safely return the aircraft to flight. The FAA continues to follow a thorough process, not a prescribed timeline, for returning the aircraft to passenger service. While the agencys certification processes are well-established and have consistently produced safe aircraft designs, we welcome the scrutiny from these experts and look forward to their findings.
We will carefully review all recommendations and will incorporate any changes that would improve our certification activities.
6/26/2019 4:45 p.m. Update
FAA Statement
The FAA is following a thorough process, not a prescribed timeline, for returning the Boeing 737 Max to passenger service.The FAA will lift the aircrafts prohibition order when we deem it is safe to do so.We continue to evaluate Boeings software modification to the MCAS and we are still developing necessary training requirements. We also are responding to recommendations received from the Technical Advisory Board (TAB). The TAB is an independent review panel we have asked to review our work regarding 737 Max return to service.
On the most recent issue, the FAAs process is designed to discover and highlight potential risks.The FAA recently found a potential risk that Boeing must mitigate.
6/2/2019 Update
FAA Statement
Boeing has informed the FAA that certain 737NG and 737MAX leading edge slat tracks may have been improperly manufactured and may not meet all applicable regulatory requirements for strength and durability.
Following an investigation conducted by Boeing and the FAA Certificate Management Office (CMO), we have determined that up to 148 parts manufactured by a Boeing sub-tier supplier are affected. Boeing has identified groups of both 737NG and 737MAX airplane serial numbers on which these suspect parts may have been installed. 32 NG and 33 MAX are affected in the U.S. Affected worldwide fleet are 133 NG and 179 MAX aircraft.
The affected parts may be susceptible to premature failure or cracks resulting from the improper manufacturing process. Although a complete failure of a leading edge slat track would not result in the loss of the aircraft, a risk remains that a failed part could lead to aircraft damage in flight.
The FAA will issue an Airworthiness Directive to mandate Boeing's service actions to identify and remove the discrepant parts from service. Operators of affected aircraft are required to perform this action within 10 days. The FAA today also alerted international civil aviation authorities of this condition and required actions.
5/23/2019 Update
FAA Acting Administrator Dan Elwell's Closing Remarks at Directorates General Meeting
Thanks for joining us. Todays meeting was both comprehensive and constructive. While the tragic circumstances that brought all of us together might be considered extraordinarythere is nothing extraordinary about the level of commitment to safety shared by all of us. Our sense of missionthat makes aviation the safest form of transportationruns strong and deep, and binds all of us. If not in one meeting in Ft. Worth, we are comparing notes in symposiums around the world, were in web-based conferences, or we simply pick up the phone.
So, let me give you a short recap of what we covered today:
What happens next is that, here in the U.S., we await Boeings completed for changes to the MAX. Once received we perform our final risk assessments and analyses, taking into account findings of the TAB and any information we receive from our international counterparts. Well also take part in test flights of a modified 737 MAX and weigh all the information together before making the decision to return the aircraft to service.
Internationally, each country has to make its own decisions, but the FAA will make available to our counterparts all that we have learned, all that we have done, and all of our assistance under our International Civil Aviation Organization commitments.
As all of us work through this rigorous process, we will continue to be transparent and exchange all that we know and all that we do to strengthen the publics confidence that the aircraft will meet the highest safety standards.
5/22/2019 Update
FAA Acting Administrator Dan Elwell's Opening Remarks at Directorates General Meeting
Good afternoon and welcome to the FAAs Southwest Regional office here in Fort Worth. As you know, tomorrow well be meeting with dozens of regulators from across the globe to discuss our ongoing efforts aimed at getting the Boeing 737 MAX back into service.
Well be sharing with them the safety analysis that will form the basis for our return-to-service decision process here in the United States, and well offer the FAAs assistance in helping them with their individual decisions on returning the aircraft to service in their countries. Well also welcome their feedback to help us with our shared goal of keeping aviations safety record the envy of other transportation modes.
The FAA and our colleagues around the world know that the success of the global aviation system rests squarely on our shared commitment of safety and our common understanding of what it takes to achieve it. Its because we have a common framework through the International Civil Aviation Organization for how we design, build and operate airliners.
Under that framework, The State of Design which is the United States for the MAX has the obligation to provide all States that operate an aircraft with the information that assures its safe operation. For the MAX, Boeing has not yet submitted its final request to change the MCAS, but we can share what information we do have to contribute to our safety evaluations.
So thats what well do tomorrow explain our understanding of the risks that need to be addressed, the steps we propose to address those risks, and how well propose to bring the 737 MAX back to service. And let me be very clear about that the FAA will return the 737 MAX to service in the United States only when we determine based on facts and technical data that it is safe to do so.
Well also discuss how making the entire process transparent toward strengthening public confidence after two accidents. We all want travelers to have the highest confidence in the aviation system when they fly.
Once the meeting is completed tomorrow afternoon, well brief you again on the events of the day.
Ill take your questions now.
5/3/2019 3:00pm Update
This week, the Joint Authorities Technical Review (JATR) team held its first meeting to review the FAAs certification of the Boeing 737 MAXs automated flight control system. Chaired by former NTSB Chairman Christopher A. Hart, the JATR is comprised of technical safety experts from 9 civil aviation authorities worldwide, including the FAA, as well as from NASA.
The team received extensive overviews and engaged in subsequent discussions about the design, certification, regulations, compliance, training, and Organization Designation Authorization program associated with the 737 MAX.Over the next few months, JATR participants will take a comprehensive look at the FAAs certification of the aircrafts automated flight control system. Each participant will individually provide the FAA with findings regarding the adequacy of the certification process and any recommendations to improve the process.
The JATR is separate from and not required to approve enhancements for the return of the 737 MAX to service. The team concluded an initial, substantive week of gathering information and planning its next meetings.
5/3/2019 1:45pm Update
Supplemental FAA letter to Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee Chairman Wicker available here.
4/29/2019 12:30pm Update
The FAA has convened todays initial Joint Authorities Technical Review (JATR) meeting as it evaluates aspects of the original certification of the Boeing 737 MAXs automated flight control system. This gathering of international civilian aviation authorities and safety technical experts represents the best spirit of cooperation and collaboration that have contributed to aviations strong safety record. All participants are committed to a single safety mission, and will not rest where aviations safety record is concerned. We expect the JATR to engage in a free and candid discussion that exchanges information and improves future processes. Their work is not a prerequisite for the 737 MAX to return to service. The FAA will continue to share its technical experience and knowledge to support the international aviation community and, specifically over the next three months, the JATR participants.
4/19/2019 3:00pm Update
Experts from nine civil aviation authorities have confirmed they will participate in the Boeing 737 MAX Joint Authorities Technical Review (JATR) that the FAA established earlier this month. The JATR team will conduct a comprehensive review of the certification of the aircrafts automated flight control system.
The JATR is chaired by former NTSB Chairman Chris Hart and comprised of a team of experts from the FAA, NASAand international aviation authorities. The team will evaluate aspects of the 737 MAX automated flight control system, including its design and pilots interaction with the system, to determine its compliance with all applicable regulations and to identify future enhancements that might be needed.
The team is scheduled to first meet on April 29 and its work is expected to take 90 days.
Confirmed participants include:
Australia
Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA)
Brazil
Agencia Nacional de Aviao Civil (ANAC)
Canada
Transport Canada Civil Aviation (TCCA)
China
Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC)
European Union
European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA)
Japan
Japan Civil Aviation Bureau (JCAB)
Indonesia
Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA)
Singapore
Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS)
United Arab Emirates
General Civil Aviation Authority (UAE GCAA)
4/16/2019 4:15pm Update
The FAA today posted a draft reportfrom the Boeing 737 MAX Flight Standardization Board. The FSB reviewed only the training aspects related to software enhancements to the aircraft. The report is open to public comment for 14 days. After that, the FAA will review those comments before making a final assessment. Boeing Co. is still expected in the coming weeks to submit the final software package for certification.
4/12/19 4:20pm Update
FAA Statement on Boeing 737 MAX
The FAA convened a meeting today, April 12, at the agencys Washington, D.C. headquarters with safety representatives of the three U.S.-based commercial airlines that have the Boeing 737 MAX in their fleets, as well as the pilot unions for those airlines.
The approximately 3-hour meeting opened with remarks from Acting Administrator Dan Elwell and covered three major agenda items: a review of the publicly available preliminary findings of the investigations into the Lion Air and Ethiopian Airlines accidents; an overview of the anticipated software enhancements to the MCAS system; and, an overview of pilot training. Each presentation corresponding to the agenda, delivered by FAA subject matter experts, allowed for an open exchange between all participants.
In his opening remarks, Elwell characterized the meeting as a listening session for the FAA to hear from the participants for a fuller understanding of the safety issues presented by the Boeing 737 MAX. Elwell said that he wanted to know what operators and pilots of the 737 MAX think as the agency evaluates what needs to be done before the FAA makes a decision to return the aircraft to service. Elwell emphasized that the same level of transparency, dialog, and all available tools that have created aviations incomparable safety record also will apply to the FAAs ongoing review of the aircrafts return to service. Elwell said that the participants operational perspective is critical input as the agency welcomes scrutiny on how it can do better. As the meeting concluded, Elwell committed to the participants that the agency values transparency on its work toward the FAAs decisions related to the aircraft.
4/4/19 6:10pm Update
FAA Statement on Boeing 737 MAX
FAA letter to Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee Chairman Wicker available here.
4/4/19 8:30am Update
FAA Statement on Boeing 737 MAX
The investigation by Ethiopian authorities remains ongoing, with the participation of the FAA and the NTSB.We continue to work toward a full understanding of all aspects of this accident.As we learn more about the accident and findings become available, we will take appropriate action.
4/2/19 4:00pm Update
FAA Establishes Joint Authorities Technical Review (JATR) for Boeing 737 MAX
The FAA is establishing a Joint Authorities Technical Review (JATR). Chaired by former NTSB Chairman Chris Hart and comprised of a team of experts from the FAA, NASAand international aviation authorities, the JATR will conduct a comprehensive review of the certification of the automated flight control system on the Boeing 737 MAX aircraft. The JATR team will evaluate aspects of the 737 MAX automated flight control system, including its design and pilots interaction with the system, to determine its compliance with all applicable regulations and to identify future enhancements that might be needed.
4/1/19 4:00pm Update
FAA Statement on Boeing 737 MAX Software Update
The FAA expects to receive Boeings final package of its software enhancement over the coming weeks for FAA approval. Time is needed for additional work by Boeing as the result of an ongoing review of the 737 MAX Flight Control System to ensure that Boeing has identified and appropriately addressed all pertinent issues. Upon receipt, the FAA will subject Boeings completed submission to a rigorous safety review. The FAA will not approve the software for installation until the agency is satisfied with the submission.
3/20/19 5:00pm Update
Update on FAA's Continued Operational Safety Activities Related to the Boeing 737 MAX Fleet
FAA issues newContinued Airworthiness Notification to the International Community on Boeing 737 MAX.
3/13/19 3:00pm Update
Statement from the FAA on Ethiopian Airlines
The FAA is ordering the temporary grounding of Boeing 737 MAX aircraftoperated by U.S. airlines or in U.S. territory. The agency made this decision as a result of the data gathering process and new evidence collected at the site and analyzed today. This evidence, together with newly refined satellite data available to FAA this morning, led to this decision.
The grounding will remain in effect pending further investigation, including examination of information from the aircrafts flight data recorders and cockpit voice recorders. An FAA team is in Ethiopia assisting the NTSB as parties to the investigation of the Flight 302 accident. The agency will continue to investigate.
3/12/19 6:10pm Update
Statement from Acting FAA Administrator Daniel K. Elwell
The FAA continues to review extensively all available data and aggregate safety performance from operators and pilots of the Boeing 737 MAX.Thus far, our review shows no systemic performance issues and provides no basis to order grounding the aircraft. Nor have other civil aviation authorities provided data to us that would warrant action.In the course of our urgent review of data on the Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 crash, if any issues affecting the continued airworthiness of the aircraft are identified, the FAA will take immediate and appropriate action.
3/11/19 6:00pm Update
The FAA has issued a Continued Airworthiness Notification to the International Community (CANIC) related to the Boeing 737-8 and Boeing 737-9 (737 MAX) fleet.
3/11/19 3:15pm Update
An FAA team is on-site with the NTSB in its investigation of Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302.We are collecting data and keeping in contact with international civil aviation authorities as information becomes available.Today, the FAA will issue a Continued Airworthiness Notification to the International Community (CANIC) for Boeing 737 MAX operators. The FAA continuously assesses and oversees the safety performance of U.S. commercial aircraft. If we identify an issue that affects safety, the FAA will take immediate and appropriate action.
Date: 04/08/2021 05:10 PM
Drone pilots who have Part 107 Remote Pilot Certification can now take their required training courses online. The training ensures that they have the knowledge necessary to operate in accordance with the Operations Over People rule when it becomes effective on April 21, 2021.
The training is free and available on the FAA Safety Team (FAASTeam) website. There are three courses:
Drone pilots who do not hold a current Remote Pilot Certification and want to operate under Part 107 must take the Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) Initial Aeronautical Knowledge Test online through an FAA-Approved Knowledge Testing Center. Knowledge tests may be scheduled on the Airman Certificate Testing Service (ACTS) website. The test has a fee associated with it and is valid for 24 calendar months.
After the new rule takes effect on April 21, Part 107 remote pilots who have completed the training will be allowed to operate over people, moving vehicles and at night without a waiver under certain conditions. The FAA will accept airspace authorization requests from remote pilots to operate in controlled airspace at night as long as they have completed the updated testing or training requirements. An overview of the Operations Over People rule is available on the FAA website.
The FAA is expecting an increase in traffic to the FAASTeam site with the release of this training. As such, remote pilots may experience technical difficulties while accessing the online courses and are encouraged to access the training outside of regular business days. For general inquiries on these new regulations and other UAS inquiries, please call 844-FLY-MY-UA or email the FAA.
Date: 04/05/2021 09:03 PM
In an average year, more than 16 million aircraft fly in U.S. skies and roll safely on airport runways and taxiways. When a runway incursion stemming from a pilot error occurs, it is a rare event, but it draws scrutiny from the Federal Aviation Administration, no matter if it involves a commercial airline or a small general aviation (GA) aircraft.
More than 75 percent of these runway incursions related to pilot actions involve GA aircraft, so the FAA employs multiple ways to reach these pilots, including safety summits, advanced surface radar, clear signage and unique videos.
We need to reduce risk in the system by raising the awareness of general aviation pilots and providing them more understanding of local runway and taxiway configurations, explains Glen Martin, FAA Vice President of Safety and Technical Training.
This is the premise behind the expanding From the Flight Deck runway safety video initiative. The FAA has produced a series of 4- to 5-minute videos of actual approach, landing and runway taxi scenarios at small and medium-size airports using Go-Pro cameras in a Cessna to create the GA pilot viewpoint. Graphics, animation and runway diagrams also have been added along with a voice-over to fully describe and educate about runway and intersection hot spots at specific airports across the United States.
With these videos, knowledge and training is designed from the cockpit perspective, allowing pilots to visualize the approach and layout to an airport before they actually arrive, Martin adds.This experience will improve their decision-making and reduce errors and accidents.
So far, more than three dozen videos have been developed and released free to the public, which highlight runways and intersections at 33 different U.S. airports. General videos also have been created for GA operations that focus on wrong airport landings, wrong surface landings, winter weather, wrong direction departures and hold short procedures. The video series has garnered more than 170,000 views since its inception.
The FAA plans to create and release videos for 30 to 40 more airports during the next two years. Additional goals include linking every video to its corresponding airport web site and for general aviation trade associations to help build awareness and distribution of these safety videos through their own social media sites.
These are invaluable safety tools for general aviation pilots and for airports with general aviation operations, adds Martin. Getting the right information to the pilot will help make us safer.
Watch a video of the General Aviation Safety Town Hall that was held on April 5, 2021. The event features Administrator Steve Dickson, Deputy Administrator Bradley Mims, general aviation stakeholders and FAA experts.
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