FAA News

Blue Origin Rocket Crashes After Liftoff in Florida

A rocket crashed back to Earth shortly after liftoff Monday in the first launch accident for Jeff Bezos’ space travel company, but the capsule carrying experiments managed to parachute to safety. No one was aboard the Blue Origin flight, which …

NTSB, FAA Agree to Lead Investigations of Space Travel Accidents

Two federal agencies agreed Friday which one will lead investigations of accidents in the nascent commercial space business that includes launching tourists far above the Earth. The National Transportation Safety Board will take the lead investigating accidents that involve death …

National Safety Board Cites FAA Inaction in Helicopter Tour Crash

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) said the failure and inaction of U.S. air safety regulators to implement several proposals contributed to the cause of a 2019 fatal helicopter crash that killed seven in Hawaii. The seven-seat Airbush AS350 B2 …

Senator Urges FAA Mandate Data Recorders in Helicopters

The Senate’s top Democrat called on the Federal Aviation Administration Sunday to heed warnings from federal safety investigators and require all helicopters be equipped with flight data recorders, commonly known as a “black box.” Sen. Charles Schumer’s call for action …

More Drone Tests Expected in Nevada Under Pilot FAA Program

The skies around Nevada’s largest cities are about to see more drone aircraft, after federal agencies picked the state for testing remote-controlled vehicles in urban airspace. The Federal Aviation Administration and U.S. Department of Transportation announced Jan. 15 that the …

Difficulty in Stopping Drones Highlighted by UK Airport Chaos

When drones buzzing over the runway forced London’s busy Gatwick Airport to shut down, many travelers wondered why it’s so hard for authorities to stop such intruders. Shoot them down, some said. Jam their signals, others suggested. Experts say it’s …

Drone Use Presents New Risks

Originally used for defense by the military, drones are increasingly being used by a variety of industries. With increased use comes the potential for more risks. Brandon Almond, an attorney with Troutman Sanders, discussed common risks associated with drones during …

Travelers Have Options When Researching Safety of Foreign Airlines

International air travel has become remarkably safe in recent years, with deadly accidents like last month’s Lion Air crash in Indonesia becoming more rare. Statistics aside, the accident is making travelers wary of flying in some countries or on certain …

FAA: Airlines Need to Heed Boeing Warning After 737 Max Crash

A U.S. aviation regulator plans to mandate that airlines follow an advisory issued by Boeing Co. on how pilots should handle false readings from a plane sensor that authorities say occurred on a 737 Max jet that crashed off the …

Senate Passes Bill With $1.7B in Disaster Aid

The Senate has passed legislation that would provide $1.7 billion to help residents of the Carolinas and elsewhere recover from recent natural disasters. Lawmakers described the aid for those affected by Hurricane Florence as a down payment and said billions …