There’s a lot going on in the world of general aviation right now. Let’s take a look at some of the major stories we’ve been following on the Web this week.
New Drug Warnings for Private Pilots
Twelve general aviation organizations have joined forces to warn private pilots about the dangerous side effects of certain medications. These medications, including over-the-counter drugs with antihistamines, could impair a pilot’s ability to fly. The group estimates that nearly 12% of accidents in the last decade were due in part to pilots who had taken banned medication.
House Acts to Energize Small Aircraft Manufacturing
On July 16, the U.S. House of Representatives voted to pass the Small Aircraft Revitalization Act. The act will “improve safety while cutting the cost of certification in half for light general aviation airplanes.” Manufacturers should be able to get innovative new aircraft designs to market sooner, and become more competitive in the world market. The Machinists union backed the act and predicted it will help spur growth and bring more new jobs to the industry.
Private Jet Reservations Go Mobile
More and more private jet companies are finding success in offering booking apps on mobile devices. PrivateFly, a charter jet company based in London, recently took a $500,000 booking from a family in the Middle East, shattering the prediction that customers would never use mobile apps for high-priced booking. Some companies, such as XOJet, don’t believe wealthy fliers will ever move solely to apps and have no plans to integrate mobiles apps into their business plan. Still, the apps are opening up the use of private jets to millions of new customers and could be a big boost to the industry.
The town of Deer Trail, Colo., is causing a stir in the ongoing protest against drone use in U.S. airspace. The town is considering a proposal to issue hunting permits for drones, which would include a $100 bounty for each downed drone. The move has prompted the FAA to issue a statement saying that “shooting an unmanned aircraft could result in criminal or civil liability” and warn that a drone that is shot down could collide with people or property. Deer Trail isn’t alone, though, as dozens of states and cities are proposing laws that would ban drones in their airspace.
NextGen Implementation Off Schedule
The FAA has been developing its NextGen system for providing “safer and more efficient air traffic management” since 2005 and gave a target date of 2025 of implementing the system. Congressional testimony this year brought to light that the agency may not be progressing as promised. There is great concern that the culture of the FAA is resistant to the change, and the innovation promised by NextGen isn’t really so innovative after all. There will be an audit to find the causes for the delay in NextGen’s development and implementation by the FAA.
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