Air

Washington – The Federal Aviation Administration is extending to July 17 the comment period for its proposal to require certain foreign aircraft maintenance workers to undergo routine drug and alcohol testing.

Washington – The Federal Aviation Administration has extended to April 22, 2015, the deadline for certain provisions aimed at improving safety among commercial helicopter and helicopter air ambulance operations.

Washington – The National Transportation Safety Board has issued a new Safety Alert for flight crews to help prevent landings at the wrong airport, following two recent nighttime incidents involving large commercial aircraft.

Washington – The Federal Aviation Administration published a final rule Feb. 21 intended to improve helicopter safety.

Washington – Following a Federal Aviation Administration announcement that obese pilots may have to be screened for obstructive sleep apnea, the House passed a bill Feb. 11 that would require such a policy to go through a formal rulemaking process.

Washington – Point a laser at an aircraft and you could end up in jail for up to five years, receive a federal fine of up to $250,000, or both, according to the FBI.

Washington – On-duty pilots are now prohibited from using personal electronic devices in the cockpit, according to a Federal Aviation Administration final rule announced Feb. 11.

The Federal Aviation Administration recently updated its requirements for commercial pilot qualification and training. But new scheduling requirements aimed at reducing fatigue have some pilot associations, safety advocates and lawmakers questioning why cargo pilots have been excluded.

Washington – A Senate bill introduced Nov. 13 would require new rest regulations for pilots – set to go into effect in January – to include cargo aircraft pilots, who previously were exempted.

Washington – An audit has begun on the Federal Aviation Administration’s progress on improving the safety of helicopter air ambulance operations, as requested by the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee’s Aviation Subcommittee in April.