FAA to Close 75% of Contract Towers Within 30 Days
Source: HAI, 13-Mar-13
This is an urgent follow-up to yesterday’s alert concerning the FAA’s plans to close within 30 days 75 percent of the air traffic control towers managed under the Federal Contract Tower Program. HAI President Matt Zuccaro is calling on all members of the helicopter industry to take immediate action: contact your two U.S. senators and ask [...]
Civil/Military Aviation Conference becomes early casualty of FAA cuts
Source: Air Traffic Management, 08-Mar-13
The US budgets cuts – or sequester – that have forced the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to seek $637 million in savings before the end of the current tax year have claimed their first event casualty – a top civil military aviation conference due to be held next month in Geneva. (see full story)
US budget cuts (aka “Sequestration”) hit from today
Source: HeliHub.com, 01-Mar-13
US budgetary cuts, known as “sequestration”, starts today – 1st March 2013. The FAA needs to reduce its expenditures by about $600 Million for the remainder of Fiscal Year 2013. Among the changes which are likely to impact is a program whereby almost all their 47,000 employees will be forced to take unpaid leave for [...]
Hensel Phelps awarded $55.6M construction contracts at Fort Carson
Source: Hensel Phelps, 20-Aug-12
Two press releases in a short space of time:- Hensel Phelps Construction Co. was awarded a $10.8 Million Design-Build contract with the US Army Corps of Engineers for the 13th Command Battalion – Air Traffic Control Tower / Airfield Operations Building, at Fort Carson Colorado. To address the military’s current energy security and sustainability needs, [...]
FreeFlight Systems and Chevron Receive STC for ADS-B solution
Source: FreeFlight Systems, 18-Jun-12
For First Rule-Compliant ADS-B Installation In GOMEX Helicopters Waco Texas, June 14, 2012, FreeFlight Systems, a leading NextGen avionics supplier, and Chevron Corporation announced today that FreeFlight Systems has received a Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) for the first fully rule-compliant ADS-B solution for Gulf of Mexico (GOMEX) helicopter operators. Developed using the FreeFlight Systems RANGR [...]
HAI Meets with Key NextGen Service Provider
Source: HAI, 07-Jun-12
HAI President Matt Zuccaro and a team of HAI staff members met on Tues., June 5, with ITT Exelis at the company’s offices near Dulles International Airport outside Washington, D.C. to discuss the benefits of the Next Generation Air Traffic System (NextGen) to helicopter operators. ITT Exelis is the FAA’s prime contractor on ADS-B (automatic [...]
Turkish navaids for helicopter training at Shindand Air Base, Afghanistan
Source: US DoD, 30-Jan-12
Kuanta Insaat Taahhut Elektronik Tur, San VE TIC.A.S., Ankara, Turkey, is being awarded a $7,444,761 firm-fixed-price contract to provide acquisitions of Air Traffic Control and Landing System and navigational aids in support of Afghanistan’s Air Force’s rotary and fixed wing flying training program at Shindand Air Base, Afghanistan. The location of the performance is Ankara, [...]
UK and Ireland agree new airspace policy
Source: CAA, 17-Nov-11
The UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) and the Irish Aviation Authority (IAA) have approved a joint policy on Performance-based Navigation (PBN) to be implemented across UK and Irish airspace. PBN relies on new technology such as global navigation satellite systems, instead of more traditional ground based beacons, to enable aircraft to navigate to very high [...]
FAA releases independent report on ATC training
Source: FAA, 05-Oct-11
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Administrator Randy Babbitt today announced a set of recommendations from an independent panel on how to improve all aspects of an air traffic controller’s experience at the FAA, including hiring, training, placement and career development. “Our air traffic controllers do a phenomenal job every day helping passengers reach their destinations safely,” [...]
FAA revamps cockpit program for Air Traffic Controllers
Source: FAA, 16-Aug-11
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced that effective today air traffic controllers will once again be able to ride in aircraft cockpits with commercial pilots as part of a voluntary education program. The Flight Deck Training program is designed to improve safety by giving air traffic controllers a greater understanding of the pilots’ experience and [...]
FAA calls Congress’ bluff by stopping work on infrastructure improvement projects
Source: FAA, 25-Jul-11
Contractors have been told to stop work on critical airport modernization projects around the country after Congress failed to pass legislation on Friday giving the FAA the authority necessary for work to continue. Dozens of “stop work orders” have been issued for major projects designed to build and modernize control towers and other aviation infrastructure [...]
FAA and NATCA agree on fatigue recommendations
Source: FAA, 04-Jul-11
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA) today announced agreement (PDF) on important fatigue recommendations that were developed by a joint FAA-NATCA working group which was established under the 2009 collective bargaining agreement. “The American public must have confidence that our nation’s air traffic controllers are rested and ready to [...]
UK CAA approves new segregated airspace for unmanned aircraft
Source: CAA, 27-Jun-11
The UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has approved a request from the Welsh Government to establish additional segregated airspace in the vicinity of West Wales Airport and the area to the east of the airport. The new segregated airspace will be for the sole use of unmanned aircraft conducting flying operations from the West Wales [...]
HAI requests TSA procedures to minimize Presidential TFR impact
Source: HAI, 09-Jun-11
HAI President Matt Zuccaro joined the leaders of several other general aviation associations earlier this month in a letter to TSA Administrator John S. Pistole expressing the need for TSA to work with industry to minimize the impact on general aviation businesses due to temporary flight restrictions (TFR) created to support presidential travel. Zuccaro and the [...]
FAA announces more actions as part of Air Traffic Control review
Source: FAA, 09-May-11
Federal Aviation Administration Administrator Randy Babbitt announced additional management changes and other actions today as part of the FAA’s comprehensive review of the air traffic control system. Three veteran FAA managers will be repositioned to assume oversight of critical air traffic roles: Walt Cochran will oversee Terminal Operations, where he will be responsible for all [...]
FAA announces additional actions as part of ATC review
Source: FAA, 01-May-11
Federal Aviation Administration Administrator Randy Babbitt announced additional management changes and other actions today as part of the FAA’s comprehensive review of the air traffic control system. Three veteran FAA managers will be repositioned to assume oversight of critical air traffic roles: Walt Cochran will oversee Terminal Operations, where he will be responsible for all [...]
FAA knew controllers nap, ignored fatigue issue
Source: CNN, 28-Apr-11
“The Federal Aviation Administration is well aware that air traffic controllers have been falling asleep every week at each and every air traffic control facility in the nation for at least 30 years — and they still are.” reports CNN
FAA accepts Air Traffic boss’ resignation
Source: FAA, 15-Apr-11
Over the last few weeks we have seen examples of unprofessional conduct on the part of a few individuals that have rightly caused the traveling public to question our ability to ensure their safety. This conduct must stop immediately. I am committed to maintaining the highest level of public confidence and that begins with strong [...]
FAA adds staff at 27 control towers
Source: FAA, 14-Apr-11
Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Administrator Randy Babbitt announced today that effective immediately the FAA will place an additional air traffic controller on the midnight shift at 27 control towers around the country that are currently staffed with only one controller during that time. The FAA is taking this action after [...]
Ground-breaking North Sea helicopter tracking system goes live
Source: Oil & Gas UK, 14-Dec-10
Oil & Gas UK and NATS, the UK’s leading air navigation service provider, today announced the world’s first operational use of wide area multilateration technology for tracking offshore flights. Helicopters in transit to and from oil and gas platforms in the North Sea are now visible to air traffic controllers from takeoff to landing, increasing [...]
Calgary Police clock up 11 near misses in 4 years
Source: CBC, 13-Mar-10
Calgary police helicopters are reported to have flown too close to other aircraft at least 11 times in the last four years, a CBC News investigation has found. Read more: http://www.cbc.ca/canada/calgary/story/2010/03/05/calgary-police-helicopter-close-calls-air-planes.html#ixzz0i2WRCpqo
Indian operators suggest heliroutes around Mumbai Airport
Source: Indian Express, 05-Mar-10
Helicopter operators like Pawan Hans, Unitech Flying and Kestrel Aviation among others have suggested some measures to improve the safety and efficiency of the dedicated chopper corridors at Mumbai airport.
PHI and Sikorsky Develop New Technology for Improved Air Traffic Efficiency and Safety
Source: Sikorsky, 24-Feb-10
Sikorsky Aircraft Corp. today commended PHI Inc. for taking the lead on developing technology that improves air traffic control safety and efficiency for S-92® helicopters serving PHI’s Gulf of Mexico oil customers. Sikorsky collaborated on developing the technology and announced the advances at the Heli-Expo aerospace show in Houston, Texas. PHI (Nasdaq: PHII and PHIIK) [...]
FAA Finalizes Changes in Hudson River Airspace to Enhance Safety
Source: FAA, 17-Nov-09
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) today finalized a federal rule, effective November 19, 2009, that will enhance safety by separating low-altitude, local aircraft flights over the Hudson River from flights transiting through the river airspace.
Crowded skies delay landings of medical helicopters in Ohio
Source: Columbus Dispatch, 26-Oct-09
This scenario is happening more often: A medical helicopter tries to bring a patient to an Ohio hospital but the landing pad is occupied.
Host Systems to demonstrate mobile ATC Tower at Helitech 2009
Source: Rotorhub, 18-Sep-09
Host Systems will be displaying their demonstration mobile elevating tower at Helitech 2009. Elevating to a height of 8m the ATC tower will be a great place to view the show.
FAA Airspace Group Will Recommend Safety Improvements in New York
Source: FAA, 14-Aug-09
The FAA today convened a New York Airspace Working Group that will review current operating procedures over the Hudson and East Rivers and recommend safety improvements in two weeks to FAA Administrator Randy Babbitt.
2 Air Traffic Workers Suspended in Inquiry on Hudson River Crash
Source: NY Times, 14-Aug-09
Federal officials on Thursday suspended two air traffic employees at Teterboro Airport who had been overseeing the Piper plane that collided with a helicopter over the Hudson River on Saturday, killing nine people.
Hickok & Associates’ First Helicopter WAAS LPV Instrument Flight Procedures Approved by FAA
Source: Vertical, 02-Jun-09
