Last updated: Mar 21, 2013

AIRSPACE REDESIGN IMPLEMENTATION SCHEDULE

The latest FAA implementation schedule of the NorthEast Airspace Redesign is from June 2010 and according to an August 2011 Congressional briefing significantly behind schedule. In the briefing FAA stated intention to release an updated implementation schedule in October 2011. Last published Implementation Schedules.

LEGISLATIVE UPDATE

Mar 2013 - Since Senate and House fail to cloture funding for Next Gen major wishlist projects with the FAA are shelved. Cuts to FAA funding due to politcal wrangling however target critical services rather than special interest projects like regional airspace redesigns.

Feb 2011- The Senate and the House pass a four year 63 billion dollar funding package for the FAA. This Bill is before the President.

The FAA is currently operating without a congressionally confirmed director. The previous director was arrested and resigned in Dec 2011 half way through his 5 year term. Deputy FAA Administrator Michael Huerta has taken the position and is expected to remain until elections and confirmation of a new director after presidential elections.

Mr. Huerta was previously in charge of the Next Gen Project which is many years behind shedule and tens of millions over budget.

Our Airspace requests a presidential veto of this bill to safeguard taxpayer investment and environmental policy.

This Bill contains several provisions which effectively water down environmental protection policy. These kind of policy changes are constitutionally illegal to include in funding packages according to legal experts.

Provisions such as these deserve rigorous debate before final passage:

  • Domestic Airspace Redesign to include unmanned Aerial drones. A civil rights debate has not adequately addressed the ramifications of including unmanned drones domestically by 2015
  • Environmental Fasttracking as institutionalized policy is not economically, nor environmentally sustainable.
  • Reimbursements to domestic and international airlines for fuel costs
  • Sweetheart provisions for specific airports within mainland USA.

In July 2011 FAA suffered a partial shutdown as temporary funding measures expired and congress could not reach cloture on longterm funding bill. A shortterm funding measure was passed in August which expires in September 16, 2011.On Feb 17 2011, the Senate passed a 2 year FAA funding bill S. 223 ( FAA Air Transportation Modernization and Safety Improvement Act) which includes some helpful safety and environmental provisions along with funding of next Gen and Airspace Redesign.

On April 1 2011 the House passed a 4 year FAA funding bill- H.R. 658 ( FAA Reauthorization Act) which also funds Next Gen projects including the Airspace Redesign.

FAA RULES CHANGE ON PILOTS FATIGUE

FAA released a rules change finally addressing a longstanding aviation safety issue highlighted by the NTSB: Pilot Fatigue. The FAA made significant changes to regulations which are a solid positive step towards lessening the safety hazards associated with pilot fatigue.

CLASS B CHANGES

      
According to FAA planning documents Class B modifications are in development for the New York New Jersey Connecticut Pennsylvania Airspace which will effectively lower the altitude floor of the Class B Airspace and may change shape from the customary Class B Airspace form. Class G airspace will be compressed surrounding and beneath Class B Airspace. Aircraft flying VFR will have new altitude restrictions.

Class B Modifications
FAA is planning to lower the altitude of Class B floor nationwide which reduces Class E and Class G airspace volume. AOPA sues in AZ. Regional Airports prepare lawsuits over low altitude overflight.
Track Flights
Citizens gather data from online flight trackers after the FAA illegally refuses to deliver data to the public or congress in violation of FOIA
RNAV GPS RNP/WAAS
FAA introduces New GPS-based landing procedures without any environmental study or public comment
Class G Airspace
Commercial Aircraft with Next Gen avionics have been utilizing low altitude Class G airspace illegally on the RNAV (GPS) approach into commercial airports in New York, creating a collision hazard for ill- equipped general aviation aircraft flying VFR

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