What happens in the world of aviation? Here are some of the latest headlines relevant to small aircraft, executive jet pilots, and FBOs.
- FBOs must meet Stage 3 noise standard requirements by 2015. In late February, President Obama signed an FAA law requiring fixed-base operators of commercial aircraft to operate under Stage 3 noise standards. Stage 1 and 2 meet Stage 3 requirements by December 31, 2015. After that date, aircraft weighing 75,000 pounds or less and operating within the 48 contiguous states will be required to meet noise levels of Stage 3.
- There are some exceptions to that rule in the bill, such as temporarily moving aircraft for modification or sale outside of the contiguous 48 states, modifying an aircraft to meet Stage 3 noise standard requirements, or other maintenance heavy, for the scrapping or storage of an aircraft, and for the diversion of the aircraft for certain reasons.
- Please note the temporary flight restrictions this campaign season. Whatever your political views, if you’re a general aviation pilot or FBO, pay close attention to the travel schedules of the president, vice president, and Republican candidate this campaign season. Presidential election seasons increase temporary flight restrictions (TFRs) on general aviation (GA) flights, and the increased restrictions may affect your own flight plans.
- The White House and the Secret Service, in partnership with the TSA, are trying to keep official TFRs to a minimum during the 2012 campaign season. They understand that TFRs wreak havoc on business and flight schedules, especially during the week and in the main cities. The Secret Service also avoids TFRs because they require revealing where the president or another politician is and where he is going. That is a safety and security issue that they want to keep to a minimum.
- If you are a member of the National Business Aviation Association, you can visit their website and monitor the latest temporary flight restrictions related to the presidential election campaign.
- Savannah Technical College building a new aviation technology school. Savannah Technical College (STC) is building a new Aviation Training Facility on the Crossroad Campus. Scheduled for completion in 2013, the new facility will be able to train up to 75 more aviation mechanics and technicians per year. Now is a good time, industry experts say, as the demand for properly trained technicians is increasing.
- FCC cancels LightSquared’s broadband signals due to GPS interference. LightSquared has been prohibited by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) from carrying terrestrial LTE network satellite frequency broadband signals on frequencies close to GPS frequencies. After a year of testing, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) provided the FCC with a report indicating that LightSquared’s satellite frequency bands demonstrated widespread and serious GPS interference, including interference with navigation equipment used by aircraft, ships, and automobiles, that LightSquared’s terrestrial broadband signals cannot currently co-exist with GPS bands, and that there is no immediate solution to interference problems.
- The FCC ruling has effectively canceled LightSquared’s plans for a $14 billion high-speed wireless system. In an effort to preserve cash, LightSquared is cutting about 149 jobs, about 45 percent of its jobs, as they work to resolve and reverse the FCC’s decision. NTIA said it will work with the FCC and the broadband industry to help resolve current GPS interference problems.