News

FAA Notification – FAA Western-Pacific Community Engagement Officer

Posted on August 31, 2021

For SCSC Roundtable members and interested parties, the following FAA notification is being posted to the SCSC Roundtable website for reference. On behalf of FAA’s Marina Landis, Good day, It has been a pleasure working with you in my capacity as the Community Engagement Officer for the Western-Pacific Region of the FAA. My detail has...

San Francisco International Airport Ground Based Augmentation System (GBAS) Community Meeting

Posted on August 23, 2021

SFO Ground Based Augmentation System (GBAS) Update The City of Palo Alto is hosting a second community meeting via Zoom on August 26, 5-6:30 p.m., at which San Francisco International Airport (SFO) will provide an update to the community on SFO’s Ground Based Augmentation System (GBAS), including new Community flight Procedure Packets (CFPP) available since...

Congressional Offices – Press Release – July 23, 2021 – Reps. Eshoo, Speier, Panetta Respond to FAA Decision Not to Adopt Select Committee Recommendation on Aircraft Noise

Posted on July 23, 2021

Congressional Offices – Press Release – July 23, 2021 – Reps. Eshoo, Speier, Panetta Respond to FAA Decision Not to Adopt Select Committee Recommendation on Aircraft Noise Reps. Eshoo, Speier, Panetta Respond to FAA Decision Not to Adopt Select Committee Recommendation on Aircraft Noise PALO ALTO, C.A. – Today U.S. Reps. Anna G. Eshoo (CA-18),...

Summary – City of Los Angeles and Culver City v. Stephen Dickson, et al. (July 8, 2021)

Posted on July 23, 2021

Summary of a legal case study related to FAA procedures The cities of Los Angeles and Culver City filed a petition for review of the FAA’s action with the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals contending that the FAA failed to conduct proper environmental review for the amendments to three arrival procedures prior to their adoption as...

FAA Community Involvement Materials Available from the Northern California Airspace Public Workshop

Posted on July 23, 2021

Workshop Supplemental Materials Workshop Handout (PDF) Information Poster Boards (Workshop Topics) (PDF) — Certain flight procedures for Bay Area airports (San Francisco, Oakland, and San Jose International Airports) show arrival or departure on a map of the surrounding area. FAA Initiative Update on Phase Two: July 2017 (PDF) November 2017 (PDF) April 2018 (PDF) April 2019 (PDF) July 2019 (PDF) *** While the...

Cutting Through All the Noise – How the FAA is Working to Reduce the Impact of Aircraft Noise

Posted on July 21, 2021

Cutting Through All the Noise How the FAA is Working to Reduce the Impact of Aircraft Noise Growing up in a neighborhood just over a mile north of JFK Airport’s Runway 22R/L, I know a thing or two about aircraft noise. We’re talking about the mid-1970s too, when 707s, 727s, and DC-9s freely roamed...

Notification For the SCSC Roundtable FAA Community Involvement – Northern California Airspace Public Workshop

Posted on July 7, 2021

Please help us to continue getting the word out and encourage your communities to visit and monitor the FAA Community Involvement website for information about, and register for, the Northern California Airspace Public Workshop. The website can be accessed at: https://www.faa.gov/air_traffic/community_involvement/norcal_ew/ The website is currently updated with the following information, which may also be found...

FAA’s Response to the letter dated November 24, 2020 on the topic of PIRAT STAR

Posted on June 24, 2021

The FAA recently provided a response to the SCSC Roundtable letter dated November 24, 2020 on the topic of PIRAT STAR FAA Response JUN042021 to SCSC RT RE PIRAT NOV 2020

FAA’s Draft Advisory Circular on Airport Compatible Land Use Planning (AC 150/5190-4B)

Posted on June 24, 2021

The following notification is being provided for your reference. The FAA recently released a Draft Advisory Circular on Airport Compatible Land Use Planning (AC 150/5190-4B) and is asking for comments on the proposed guidance by August 6, 2021. Additional information, and attachments related to this release are attached here for reference. Draft FAA AC...

FAA Northern California Airspace Virtual Public Meeting Notification

Posted on June 17, 2021

INFO: Notification for the FAA Northern California Airspace Virtual Public Meetings - July 20 and July 21, 2021 The FAA will be hosting a virtual public meeting on Tuesday, July 20 from 6:00-8:00 pm PT and Wednesday, July 21 from 1:00-3:00 pm PT. The FAA will create a registration website, and promote it broadly, including...

San Francisco International Airport Ground Based Augmentation System (GBAS) Community Meeting Notification

Posted on June 3, 2021

San Francisco International Airport Ground Based Augmentation System (GBAS) Community Meeting Invitation The City of Palo Alto is hosting a virtual community meeting on June 9, 5-6:30 p.m. (see calendar link below for meeting details), at which San Francisco International Airport (SFO) will provide an update to the community on SFO’s Ground Based Augmentation System...

SFO GBAS Webpages

Posted on May 25, 2021

For reference, new links have been provided for accessing GBAS information via the SFO Noise Portal. With the initial expansion of the SFO webpages for GBAS, a brief description can be found as well as presentations and community packets. The links for these can be located via the Noise Portal and are provided below: https://noise.flysfo.com/...

FAA Presentation and Information on BRIXX Arrival Procedure

Posted on May 11, 2021

Dear SCSC Roundtable Members and Interested Parties, The FAA Presentation on BRIXX (from the 5/10/2021 San Jose Airport Commission meeting) has been posted to the SCSC Roundtable website for reference at the following location https://scscroundtable.org/documents/faa-presentation-on-brixx/. Airport Commission website: https://www.flysanjose.com/node/8081 Regards, SCSC Roundtable consultant staff,

FAA Presentation on BRIXX Procedure – May 10

Posted on April 30, 2021

The FAA is giving a brief presentation to the San José Airport Commission on May 10 about a slight modification they are making to the BRIXX arrival procedure. The meeting is open to the public (via Zoom online) and will start at 6pm. This item will be covered in Section VI of the Airport Commission...

FAA – Federal Register – January 13, 2021 – Overview of FAA Aircraft Noise Policy and Research Efforts: Research Activities to Inform Aircraft Noise Policy

Posted on January 12, 2021

Overview of FAA Aircraft Noise Policy and Research Efforts: Research Activities to Inform Aircraft Noise Policy Published version will be saved here on SCSC Roundtable website once available. FAA Seeks Public Comment on Aviation Noise Effects and Mitigation Research Portfolio WASHINGTON – The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced plans to seek public comment on the...

FAA – Press Release – January 6, 2021 – FAA Announces Final Rule to Facilitate the Reintroduction of Civil Supersonic Flight

Posted on January 6, 2021

Press Release – FAA Announces Final Rule to Facilitate the Reintroduction of Civil Supersonic Flight Final Rule saved here on SCSC Roundtable website January 6, 2021 WASHINGTON, DC — Today the U.S. Department of Transportation and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued a final rule (PDF) to facilitate the safe development of civil supersonic aircraft. The rule streamlines and clarifies...

San Jose Spotlight – December 17, 2020 – Airport panel rejects San Jose’s Diridon, Google project plans

Posted on December 22, 2020

Airport panel rejects San Jose’s Diridon, Google project plans Sonya Herreraby Sonya Herrera DECEMBER 17, 2020 A critical airport commission unanimously voted against San Jose’s Diridon plan and Google’s downtown megacampus, taking issue with proposed building heights that would disrupt the city’s international airport. Santa Clara County Airport Land Use Commissioner Glenn Hendricks admonished San...

AIN Online – December 17, 2020 –Kansas, FAA Agree To Establish Supersonic Test Corridor

Posted on December 17, 2020

Kansas, FAA Agree To Establish Supersonic Test Corridor by Kerry Lynch - December 17, 2020, 12:31 PM The Kansas Department of Transportation signed an agreement with the FAA to establish a Kansas Supersonic Transportation Corridor (SSTC) that would be used for testing aircraft up to Mach 3, the state announced today. The agreement would provide...

Federal Register – NPRM – November 23, 2020 – Procedures for Considering Environmental Impacts

Posted on December 10, 2020

Federal Register - Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM). A Proposed Rule by the Transportation Department on 11/23/2020 AGENCY: Office of the Secretary (OST), DOT. ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM). SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) proposes to update and codify its internal order establishing the responsibilities and procedures for complying with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA),...

Federal Register – Notice of Proposed Rule Making (NPRM) – A Proposed Rule by the Transportation Department on 11/23/2020

Posted on December 10, 2020

A Proposed Rule by the Transportation Department on 11/23/2020 AGENCY: Office of the Secretary (OST), DOT. ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM). SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) proposes to update and codify its internal order establishing the responsibilities and procedures for complying with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), currently found in DOT...

AIN Online – December 9, 2020 – Aerion AS2 Backlog Tops $6.5B with Avion Pacific Deal

Posted on December 9, 2020

Aerion AS2 Backlog Tops $6.5B with Avion Pacific Deal by Kerry Lynch - December 9, 2020, 9:00 AM Aerion Supersonic has secured its first commitment for its new AS2 aircraft from China under a marketing and sales agreement with Avion Pacific that covers multiple aircraft and pushes the value of the order backlog of the...

The Points Guy – October 22, 2020 – American Airlines retires its last Airbus A330, goes all-Boeing for wide-body jets

Posted on October 23, 2020

American Airlines retires its last Airbus A330, goes all-Boeing for wide-body jets 10/22/2020 By Edward Russell The changes to American Airlines fleet continue as the coronavirus pandemic resets flying. The Fort Worth, Texas-based carrier has retired its 15 Airbus A330-200s, officially making it an all-Boeing wide-body operator of 777s and 787s, American said Thursday. The A330s have been in long-term...

Simple Flying – October 7, 2020 – Meet The Baby Boom – XB-1 Supersonic Demonstrator Rolled Out

Posted on October 9, 2020

Meet The Baby Boom – XB-1 Supersonic Demonstrator Rolled Out byJoanna Bailey October 7, 2020 Moments ago, Boom Supersonic rolled out its XB-1, the demonstrator airplane for its forthcoming Overture. It’s the first rollout of a civilian supersonic aircraft since the Tupolev TU-144 in 1968 and is a significant milestone in reinventing faster-than-sound travel for...

Business Insider – October 1, 2020 – The world’s largest plane engine just received certification to power the new flagship airliner

Posted on October 2, 2020

The world's largest plane engine just received certification to power the new flagship airliner Boeing hopes will be its redemption, the 777X tpallini@businessinsider.com (Thomas Pallini) Business Insider•October 1, 2020 GE Aviation's new GE9X engine just received clearance to fly by the Federal Aviation Administration. Boeing selected General Electric to build the engines for its new...

Airways Magazine – September 26, 2020 – Delta Air Lines to Retire Boeing 717, 767-300 ER

Posted on September 28, 2020

Delta Air Lines to Retire Boeing 717, 767-300 ER By Brent Foster - September 26, 2020 Miami - Delta Air Lines (DL) on Friday announced plans to retire all Boeing 717 and 767-300 ER aircraft by December 2025 along with the Bombardier CRJ-200 by December 2023.

Reuters – September 9, 2020 – Air attack: How California uses dozens of aircraft to battle wildfires

Posted on September 10, 2020

Air attack How California uses dozens of aircraft to battle wildfires By Marco Hernandez , Simon Scarr and Manas Sharma PUBLISHED SEPT. 9, 2020 Firefighters have been battling some of the largest fires in California’s history in recent weeks. In total, about 2.2 million acres have been blackened, according to the California Department of Forestry...

NBC News – August 31, 2020 – Amazon wins FAA approval for Prime Air drone delivery fleet

Posted on August 31, 2020

Amazon wins FAA approval for Prime Air drone delivery fleet Amazon said it went through rigorous training and submitted detailed evidence that its drone delivery operations are safe. Aug. 31, 2020, 8:34 AM PDT / Source: CNBC.com By Annie Palmer, CNBC Amazon received federal approval to operate its fleet of Prime Air delivery drones, the...

Aviation Week – August 7, 2020 – Daily Memo: COVID-19 Slows The Progress Of FAA’s NextGen Program

Posted on August 10, 2020

Daily Memo: COVID-19 Slows The Progress Of FAA’s NextGen Program Bill Carey August 07, 2020 COVID-19 has slowed the FAA’s 17-year march toward airspace modernization. During an on-line meeting of the NextGen Advisory Committee (NAC) on August 6, FAA leaders affirmed what came as no surprise—the precautions taken to prevent the spread of the novel...

The Mercury News – August 7, 2020 – San Jose to waive $3.2 million in fees for airlines reeling from the pandemic

Posted on August 10, 2020

San Jose to waive $3.2 million in fees for airlines reeling from the pandemic By MAGGIE ANGST | mangst@bayareanewsgroup.com | Bay Area News Group PUBLISHED: August 7, 2020 at 5:57 a.m. | UPDATED: August 7, 2020 at 2:51 p.m. In an attempt to encourage airlines hobbled by the coronavirus pandemic to continue flying out of...

Flight Global – August 6, 2020 – UK firm EAG details development roadmap for hybrid-electric regional airliner

Posted on August 9, 2020

UK firm EAG details development roadmap for hybrid-electric regional airliner By Dominic Perry 6 August 2020 A UK company planning to bring a 70-plus-seat hybrid-electric regional aircraft to market by 2028 has laid out its detailed plans for the programme, which will include demonstrator flights from 2024 and will cost a cool $5 billion to...

Business Insider – August 3, 2020 – Virgin Galactic just revealed a new supersonic passenger jet planned with Rolls-Royce, which used to make Concorde jet engines

Posted on August 3, 2020

Virgin Galactic just revealed a new supersonic passenger jet planned with Rolls-Royce, which used to make Concorde jet engines Dave Mosher 8/3/2020 Not long after Virgin Galactic unveiled the interior design of its rocket-powered SpaceShipTwo, built to fly tourists beyond the edge of space and back, the company revealed plans for a foray into high-speed...

Aviation Week – July 29, 2020 – Boom, Rolls-Royce Team On Overture Supersonic Study

Posted on August 3, 2020

Boom, Rolls-Royce Team On Overture Supersonic Study Guy Norris July 30, 2020 High-speed airliner developer Boom Supersonic and engine-maker Rolls-Royce have agreed to study propulsion system concepts for the Colorado-based company’s proposed Mach 2.2 Overture aircraft design. The agreement comes after five years of behind-the-scenes discussions between the two companies and could pave the way...

AIN Online – July 29, 2020 – FAA Striving For Balance in Supersonic Regs

Posted on July 30, 2020

FAA Striving For Balance in Supersonic Regs by Kerry Lynch - July 29, 2020, 2:39 PM The FAA is placing a priority on supporting the emergence of supersonic technologies, but the agency must apply appropriate regulatory and environmental safeguards, said a key agency official. “Our focus…has been how we can support the reemergence of supersonic aircraft...

Forbes – July 18, 2020 – British Airways Bets Against Business Class With 747 Retirement

Posted on July 20, 2020

British Airways Bets Against Business Class With 747 Retirement Jul 18, 2020,09:04am EDT Will HortonSenior Contributor Aerospace & Defense “End of an era” is the common refrain from passengers, staff and fans as British Airways announces the immediate retirement of its 747s with their distinct forward hump and decades-long history. The sudden withdrawal may more...

AP News – July 17, 2020 – FAA to implement new flight paths for Las Vegas in November

Posted on July 20, 2020

FAA to implement new flight paths for Las Vegas in November July 17, 2020 LAS VEGAS (AP) — The Federal Aviation Administration said Friday it plans to implement new flight paths for air traffic over Las Vegas starting in November as part of a sweeping revamp of of flight systems for some metro areas across...

AIN Online – July 16, 2020 – NBAA Applauds Congress Actions To Help Bizav

Posted on July 16, 2020

NBAA Applauds Congress Actions To Help Bizav by Matt Thurber - July 16, 2020, 11:21 AM A new funding bill approved by the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Appropriations contains provisions that would promote transportation workforce opportunities, continue funding of the N-number blocking system, and support the ongoing modernization of the air traffic control...

Airports Council International (ACI) – July 13, 2020 – ACI-NA’s Comments on the SST NPRM

Posted on July 15, 2020

Airports Council International (ACI) Website Reference/Info – July 13, 2020 – ACI-NA’s Comments on the SST NPRM RE: Comments on the Federal Aviation Administration’s Notice of Proposed Rule-Making “Noise Certification of Supersonic Airplanes” Dear Sir or Madam: On behalf of the members of Airports Council International – North America (ACI-NA), I appreciate the opportunity to...

AIN Online – July 14, 2020 – FAA’s Supersonic Proposal Draws Praise and Protest

Posted on July 15, 2020

FAA's Supersonic Proposal Draws Praise and Protest by Kerry Lynch - July 14, 2020, 11:42 AM The FAA’s notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to develop a certification pathway for supersonic aircraft has drawn a mixed bag of responses from industry, community, regulators, and environmentalists, with many offering strong support, others calling the effort premature, and still others...

AIN Online – June 30, 2020 – The Return of Supersonic Flight May be Closer Than You Think

Posted on June 30, 2020

The Return of Supersonic Flight May be Closer Than You Think JUN 30, 2020 Video Length: 14:56 minutes Charles Alcock - Senior Editor in London, UK - AIN Publications Kerry Lynch - Senior Editor in Virginia, US - AIN Publications https://youtu.be/uaKiBT029cQ

Aviation Pros – June 17, 2020 – Electrifying the Industry

Posted on June 30, 2020

Electrifying the Industry Jennifer Wilberschied Jun 17th, 2020 While designing the optimal electric propulsion system is a very complex task, the machinery itself, once built, is fairly simple. Aviation gets a bad rap for its noise pollution and carbon footprint, especially now with millennials and the like very aware and focused on the environment and...

AIN Online – June 25, 2020 – Qantas Grounding 100 Aircraft, Retiring 747s

Posted on June 29, 2020

Qantas Grounding 100 Aircraft, Retiring 747s by Charles Alcock - June 25, 2020, 10:22 AM Qantas has unveiled a three-year recovery plan through which it aims to cut costs by A$15 billion ($10.4 billion) by a mix of measures including 6,000 job cuts and the grounding of around 100 aircraft for at least 12 months....

The Denver Post – June 22, 2020 – Denver airport ordered to pay $33.5 million for noise violations

Posted on June 23, 2020

Denver airport ordered to pay $33.5 million for noise violations Court rules in long-running dispute between Adams County and DIA By JOHN AGUILAR | jaguilar@denverpost.com | The Denver Post PUBLISHED: June 22, 2020 at 2:49 p.m. | UPDATED: June 22, 2020 at 5:26 p.m. Adams County got just what it asked for in its lengthy...

AIN Online – June 18, 2020 – GE Tackling Environmental Challenges with Affinity Engine

Posted on June 19, 2020

GE Tackling Environmental Challenges with Affinity Engine by Kerry Lynch - June 18, 2020, 5:21 PM GE Aviation this week provided a glimpse into design challenges that the company is working through as it progresses on the twin-shaft, medium-bypass Affinity engine selected to power the Aerion AS2 supersonic business jet. Aerion Supersonic and GE announced plans in...

AIN Online – June 17, 2020 – Supersonic AS2 Just a Starting Point for Aerion

Posted on June 18, 2020

Supersonic AS2 Just a Starting Point for Aerion by Kerry Lynch - June 17, 2020, 12:18 PM As Aerion Supersonic targets the middle of the decade for first flight of its AS2 supersonic business jet and service entry by 2027, the company is taking a multi-decade view of its business plan with aspirations to build...

The Mercury News – June 15, 2020 – Coronavirus travel: San Jose airport traffic plunged to nearly nothing in April

Posted on June 16, 2020

Coronavirus travel: San Jose airport traffic plunged to nearly nothing in April Passenger activity nearly vanished during worst month for business shutdowns By GEORGE AVALOS | gavalos@bayareanewsgroup.com | Bay Area News Group PUBLISHED: June 15, 2020 at 12:36 p.m. | UPDATED: June 16, 2020 at 4:50 a.m. SAN JOSE — Passenger travel through San Jose International Airport nearly vanished during April amid...

Orlando Sentinel – June 11, 2020 – FAA proposed changes to Central Florida flight patterns draw criticism

Posted on June 12, 2020

FAA proposed changes to Central Florida flight patterns draw criticism By KEVIN SPEAR ORLANDO SENTINEL | JUN 11, 2020 | 2:04 PM Hearing of a proposed overhaul of flight patterns over Florida, residents of the San Francisco and Washington, D.C., areas are warning that the outcome may be more disruptive than described by the Federal Aviation Administration. The...

Flight Global – June 8, 2020 – NASA and Lockheed to begin X-59 supersonic jet tests in 2021

Posted on June 11, 2020

NASA and Lockheed to begin X-59 supersonic jet tests in 2021 By Jon Hemmerdinger 8 June 2020 Despite the use of advanced design tools, the team developing NASA’s X-59 Quiet Supersonic Technology (QueSST) demonstrator cannot be sure it will meet their “low-boom” goals until the jet actually breaks the sound barrier in flight. Although...

The Points Guy CNN – June 2, 2020 – Delta operates final MD-88 flight amid tough times for airlines

Posted on June 4, 2020

Delta operates final MD-88 flight amid tough times for airlines Edward Russell 2d ago Delta Air Lines final McDonnell Douglas MD-88 flight departed from Washington Dulles on a gray Tuesday morning amid the worst crisis the industry has ever faced. The flight, fittingly DL88, received a water-canon salute after pushing back from the gate at Dulles (IAD) at...

CNN – Travel – May 28, 2020 – Largest all-electric aircraft to make maiden flight

Posted on May 28, 2020

Largest all-electric aircraft to make maiden flight BY Jack Guy, CNN • Published 28th May 2020 (CNN) — As concerns over the environmental cost of flying continue to mount, green propulsion systems can offer an ethical alternative. Electric motor technology is due to reach a new milestone Thursday with the first flight planned of the world's largest all-electric aircraft. The nine-passenger...

Reference/Info – FAA – May 19, 2020 – Notification of Memorial Day Overflight

Posted on May 19, 2020

Notification regarding an overflight over the entire Bay Area on Memorial Day, May 25th. This will be a flight of three aircraft, one fixed wing HC-130 and two HH-60 helicopters from the Air Rescue Wing at Moffett flying between 1,000 and 2,500 feet. The scheduled overflight times and locations are annotated on the PDF Document...

Airport Technology – January 23, 2020 – Sonic boom: do airports need to prepare for the supersonic revolution?

Posted on May 18, 2020

Article - Sonic boom: do airports need to prepare for the supersonic revolution? By Julian Turner Document - ACI Reintroduction of Supersonics Working Paper Airports Council International wants to fast-track new standards and practices to regulate supersonic aircraft, which are expected to be reintroduced in 2023. University of Salford senior lecturer in aerodynamics and...

CNBC – Air Travel – May 14, 2020 – Delta to Retire Boeing 777s as Pandemic Dims Outlook for International Travel

Posted on May 14, 2020

Delta to Retire Boeing 777s as Pandemic Dims Outlook for International Travel Demand for flights, particularly to international destinations, has plunged because of the pandemic, travel restrictions and shelter-in-place orders By Leslie Josephs | CNBC • Published 5/14/2020 What to Know - The carrier is retiring its Boeing 777 fleet, a sign that it doesn’t...

LA Times – Burbank Leader – February 21, 2020 – Airport task force to consider possible actions to abate noise issues

Posted on May 12, 2020

Airport task force to consider possible actions to abate noise issues By ANTHONY CLARK CARPIO FEB. 21, 2020 7:22 PM Members of the Southern San Fernando Valley Airplane Noise Task Force will have a little over a month to develop recommendations about how to address aircraft noise issues affecting the south San Fernando Valley. After five...

Aviation Pros – April 17, 2020 – Aerion Unveils Major Updates To AS2 Supersonic Business Jet Design

Posted on May 11, 2020

Aerion Unveils Major Updates To AS2 Supersonic Business Jet Design Guy Norris April 17, 2020 As its team of aerospace heavyweights continues to grow, aircraft developer Aerion Supersonic has unveiled a finalized design for the AS2 business jet, which it believes is not only sustainable but also lays a solid foundation for a follow-on family...

ARS Technica – April 29, 2020 – Appearing nightly, the Quest Diagnostics Air Force

Posted on May 7, 2020

Appearing nightly, the Quest Diagnostics Air Force Your lab results fly first class after dark. ERIC TEGLER - 4/29/2020, 4:57 AM It's pretty quiet out there these days, particularly after you've gone to bed. But somewhere above, a pilot bathed in the glow of avionics is looking up from his instrument panel into the night....

Aviation Pros – April 23, 2020 – 30 Years After ANCA: Can Airports Live with New Community-Imposed Noise Restrictions?

Posted on May 6, 2020

30 Years After ANCA: Can Airports Live with New Community-Imposed Noise Restrictions? By Curt Castagna Apr 23rd, 2020 In Colorado, Congressional lawmakers are considering a bill that would allow general aviation airports to impose new operational restrictions to reduce aircraft noise, including the ability to limit access to their facilities based on aircraft type and...

Reference/Info – FAA – April 14, 2020 – FAA report to Congress on an evaluation of alternative noise metrics

Posted on May 4, 2020

FAA report to Congress on an evaluation of alternative noise metrics FAA’s Report to Congress (attached) on the use of the DNL metric had been released. The attached document is the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) report to Congress on an evaluation of alternative noise metrics as directed by the requirements of Section 188, “Study regarding...

AIN Online – Business Aviation – April 22, 2020 – Delta’s Bastian Sees Recovery Taking as Long as Three Years

Posted on April 27, 2020

Delta’s Bastian Sees Recovery Taking as Long as Three Years by Gregory Polek - April 22, 2020, 12:23 PM Delta Air Lines CEO Ed Bastian told analysts during the company’s first-quarter earnings call Wednesday that he expected as much as three years to pass before a “sustainable recovery” from the Covid-19 crisis takes hold. In...

American Shipper – April 21, 2020 – FAA issues guidance for cargo in passenger cabin

Posted on April 27, 2020

FAA issues guidance for cargo in passenger cabin Airlines can use approved storage areas as long as they adhere to regulations for safe carriage of cargo Eric Kulisch, Air Cargo Editor Thursday, April 16, 2020 (Updated April 21, 4:00 P.M. ET, clarifying where cargo can be stored) The Federal Aviation Administration is giving airlines the...

Simple Flying – April 15, 2020 – FAA Supersonic Flight Proposal Could Be An Environmental Disaster

Posted on April 16, 2020

FAA Supersonic Flight Proposal Could Be An Environmental Disaster by Ayush Syal, April 15, 2020 The United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) had, on the 30th of March, released a set of new noise standards that would apply to supersonic flights and aircraft. The measures include special noise allowances at times of take-off and landing....

AIN Online – Business Aviation – April 14, 2020 – FAA Supersonic Proposal Draws Environmentalist Ire

Posted on April 14, 2020

FAA Supersonic Proposal Draws Environmentalist Ire by Kerry Lynch - April 14, 2020, 11:02 AM While comments on the FAA’s proposal to establish noise standards for supersonic aircraft are not due until July 13, the notice of proposed rulemaking is already drawing opposition from environmentalists. The agency announced the notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) in late March and officially...

FAA – April 13, 2020 – Published NPRM: Noise Certification of Supersonic Airplanes

Posted on April 13, 2020

Federal Register - A Proposed Rule by the Federal Aviation Administration on 04/13/2020 https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2020/04/13/2020-07039/noise-certification-of-supersonic-airplanes The document has also been posted to the SCSC Roundtable website here. SUMMARY: This action proposes to add new supersonic airplanes to the applicability of noise certification regulations, and proposes landing and takeoff noise standards for a certain class of new supersonic airplanes. There...

Aviation Pros – April 8, 2020 – SFO Postpones $1 Billion Terminal 3 West Project

Posted on April 10, 2020

SFO Postpones $1 Billion Terminal 3 West Project Airport remains open, project to renovate remainder of Terminal 3 postponed. San Francisco International Airport (SFO) Apr 8th, 2020 The San Francisco International Airport (SFO) announced plans to postpone a project to renovate the remaining section of Terminal 3, where United Airlines operates. The $1B Terminal 3...

Reuters – April 1, 2020 – The Toll on Travel – Commercial Flights Plummet in the Coronavirus Outbreak

Posted on April 3, 2020

Commercial Flights Plummet in the Coronavirus Outbreak - The Toll on Travel Published April 1, 2020 By Reade Levinson, Michael Ovaska & Basile Simon Additional reporting by Tracy Rucinski in Chicago, Laurence Frost in Paris & Jamie Freed in Sydney Editing by Jon McClure, Blake Morrison & Janet Roberts Sources: FlightAware.com & Airports Council International-Europe. The most difficult times imaginable As the novel coronavirus continues to spread, commercial flights have all...

FAA – Press Release – March 30, 2020 – Fact Sheet – Supersonic Flight

Posted on April 1, 2020

FAA - Fact Sheet – Supersonic Flight March 30, 2020 Contact: Henry J. Price Background The Supersonic Transport (SST) Concorde aircraft was introduced in the early 1970s. At that time, many in the aviation community thought that the time had arrived for regular supersonic air travel for passengers. However, the Concorde was retired nearly two...

AIN Online – Business Aviation – April 1, 2020 – FAA Proposes Noise Standards for Supersonic Aircraft

Posted on April 1, 2020

FAA Proposes Noise Standards for Supersonic Aircraft by Kerry Lynch - April 1, 2020, 10:11 AM In a move that brings the reintroduction to civil supersonic flight closer to reality, the U.S. FAA is proposing new noise standards for certification of supersonic aircraft. Announced on Monday, the notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) would address a key stumbling...

New Atlas – March 26, 2020 – NASA reveals what the final X-57 all-electric X-plane will look like

Posted on March 30, 2020

NASA reveals what the final X-57 all-electric X-plane will look like By David Szondy March 26, 2020 NASA has released three concept art images showing its X-57 Maxwell all-electric X-plane in its final configuration. The first manned X-plane from NASA in two decades, the X-57 is shown in its Modification iV (Mod IV) form, which includes...

CPR News – March 25, 2020 – The FAA’s New Flight Paths Around The Denver Metro Kick In Thursday, But Not Without Criticism

Posted on March 26, 2020

The FAA’s New Flight Paths Around The Denver Metro Kick In Thursday, But Not Without Criticism By Nathaniel Minor March 25, 2020 Air traffic over the Denver area — what remains after coronavirus-caused cancellations anyway — will change significantly Thursday. The Federal Aviation Administration’s controversial Denver Metroplex Project, which redrew flight paths in and out of Denver International...

AeroTime Hub – March 19, 2020 – Delta to accelerate MD-88, MD-90 and Boeing 767 retirements

Posted on March 20, 2020

Delta to accelerate MD-88, MD-90 and Boeing 767 retirements By Zivile Zalagenaite on 19th March 2020 Facing a significant travel demand drop and other COVID-19 pandemic-caused challenges, Delta Airlines CEO Ed Bastian said the airline would accelerate retirements of its remaining McDonnell Douglas MD-88 and MD-90 fleets, as well as some older Boeing 767s. In...

Reuters – March 18, 2020 – Delta parks 600 jets and scales back flights as revenue tanks

Posted on March 19, 2020

Delta parks 600 jets and scales back flights as revenue tanks BUSINESS NEWSMARCH 18, 2020 / 10:19 AM / A DAY AGO by Tracy Rucinski CHICAGO (Reuters) - Delta Air Lines (DAL.N) said on Wednesday it was parking more than 600 jets, cutting corporate pay by as much as 50%, and scaling back its flying...

SF Gate – March 18, 2020 – United suspends flights to 20 U.S. cities from Bay Area

Posted on March 18, 2020

United suspends flights to 20 U.S. cities from Bay Area By Chris McGinnis, SFGATE Updated 11:38 am PDT, Wednesday, March 18, 2020 United has come out with the specifics of its latest coronavirus-inspired service reductions, and it’s not pretty. During April, the airline’s existing schedule will shrink by a massive 60 percent overall, with many...

Simple Flying – March 13, 2019 – American Airlines To Retire Boeing 767s By May 2020

Posted on March 16, 2020

American Airlines To Retire Boeing 767s By May 2020 by Nicholas Cummins March 13, 2020 American Airlines is set to ground and retire its entire fleet of Boeing 767s by the end of May 2020, and 757s by 2021. The two aircraft have served American Airlines well and have filled a very unique ‘middle of...

CNN Business – Macrh 4, 2020 – United, JetBlue cutting US flights because of coronavirus

Posted on March 5, 2020

United, JetBlue cutting US flights because of coronavirus By Chris Isidore, CNN Business Updated 10:02 PM ET, Wed March 4, 2020 New York (CNN Business)United Airlines and JetBlue Airways became the first airlines to cut their US flight schedules on Wednesday, as passenger worry about the coronavirus has caused a sharp drop in demand. While...

Press Release – February 26, 2020 – Representative Stephen Lynch’s Website – Rep. Lynch And Quiet Skies Caucus Disappointed With FAA Response To Airplane Noise

Posted on February 28, 2020

Rep. Lynch And Quiet Skies Caucus Disappointed With FAA Response To Airplane Noise The Caucus members had expressed serious concerns about airplane and helicopter noise and the FAA’s lack of responsiveness to impacted communities. Feb 26, 2020 Washington, D.C. – U.S. Representatives Stephen F. Lynch (MA-08) and Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), co-chairs of the Quiet...

LA Times – Burbank Leader – February 18, 2020 – Noise monitors at Hollywood Burbank to go wireless

Posted on February 19, 2020

Noise monitors at Hollywood Burbank to go wireless By ANTHONY CLARK CARPIO FEB. 18, 2020 6:12 PM Hollywood Burbank Airport will soon be updating its noise and flight-track monitoring systems to improve reliability. The Burbank-Glendale-Pasadena Airport Authority voted 8-0 on Tuesday to approve extending its contract with EMS Bruel & Kjaer Inc. through April 14,...

Business Insider – February 15, 2020 – Delta says it will spend $1 billion to be carbon neutral, the latest airline announcing a radical shift to make flying less destructive

Posted on February 19, 2020

Delta says it will spend $1 billion to be carbon neutral, the latest airline announcing a radical shift to make flying less destructive Thomas Pallini Feb 15, 2020, 5:35 AM Thousands of flights criss-cross the skies over our heads every day, transporting millions of people to destinations near and far. Powering those flights, however, are...

Press Release – February 14, 2020 – Congresswoman Grace Meng’s Website – Meng Introduces Legislation to Mitigate Excessive Aircraft Noise

Posted on February 19, 2020

Meng Introduces Legislation to Mitigate Excessive Aircraft Noise Feb 14, 2020 Press Release Congresswoman’s measure would lower FAA’s noise standard WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Rep. Grace Meng (D-Queens), a founding member and former Co-Chair of the Congressional Quiet Skies Caucus, announced the introduction of legislation that would require the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to...

Cargo Facts – February 10, 2020 – FedEx continues fleet renewal with retirements

Posted on February 10, 2020

FedEx continues fleet renewal with retirements Jeff Lee, Associate EditorFebruary 10, 2020 Aircraft, Carriers, Equipment, Express, News, Production Freighters, Strategy FedEx Express in the past week removed three aircraft from service and sent them to Victorville (VCV) to be parked as part of the replacement program for its fleet. The aircraft consist of two MD-11Fs (48547...

FlySanJose – SJC – January 30, 2020 – Silicon Valley’s Airport Sets a New Record with 15.7 Million Passengers Served in 2019

Posted on February 10, 2020

Silicon Valley’s Airport Sets a New Record with 15.7 Million Passengers Served in 2019 -- America’s fastest-growing major airport over the past four years -- Contact: SJC Media Relations sjcmedia@sjc.org January 30, 2020 San Jose, Calif. – Mineta San Jose International Airport (SJC) passenger traffic continued to soar in 2019, with nearly 15.7 million departing and...

SF Gate – February 10, 2020 – Why planes landing at SFO flew scary close to Highway 101 on Sunday

Posted on February 10, 2020

Why planes landing at SFO flew scary close to Highway 101 on Sunday By Amy Graff, SFGATE Updated 10:48 am PST, Monday, February 10, 2020 Drivers passing the San Francisco International Airport on Sunday may have been surprised to see planes passing directly over Highway 101. Fierce north-northeast winds kicked up around the Bay Area...

San Francisco Chronicle – February 9, 2020 – SFO reels from coronavirus flight cuts to China; ‘waiting to see if it gets worse’

Posted on February 10, 2020

SFO reels from coronavirus flight cuts to China; ‘waiting to see if it gets worse’ Mallory Moench Feb. 9, 2020 Updated: Feb. 9, 2020 3:09 p.m. With the coronavirus outbreak causing the cancellation of most flights from San Francisco International Airport to China, the airport is losing thousands of dollars a day in revenue, and...

CBS Boston– February 5, 2020 – Lawmakers Push Airlines To Reduce Airplane Noise Around Logan Airport

Posted on February 5, 2020

Lawmakers Push Airlines To Reduce Airplane Noise Around Logan Airport February 5, 2020 at 10:49 am Filed Under:Boston News, Logan Airport BOSTON (CBS) – Massachusetts lawmakers are pushing major airlines to cut down on airplane noise around Logan Airport. Letters sent to American, Delta and Southwest Airlines are “urging them to act to reduce airplane-related...

Air Transport News – January 29, 2020 – ATN: easyJet’s partner Wright Electric begins engine development program for 186 seat electric aircraft

Posted on January 31, 2020

ATN: easyJet’s partner Wright Electric begins engine development program for 186 seat electric aircraft Source: easyJet easyJet, Europe’s leading airline, today welcomed the announcement by its partner Wright Electric on its engine development program for its flagship 186 seat electric aircraft, named Wright 1. Wright is engineering electrical systems at the megawatt scale which will...

AIN Online – General Aviation – January 29, 2020 – Noise Critical Issue for eVTOL Acceptance

Posted on January 31, 2020

Noise Critical Issue for eVTOL Acceptance by Mark Huber - January 29, 2020, 7:41 PM - GENERAL AVIATION Industry experts agree that electric drive motors and slower propeller tip speeds will enable eVTOL aircraft to have a significantly lower external noise signature compared to helicopters, but that does not necessarily translate into instant public acceptance. Juliet Page, a...

FAA – January 24, 2020 – FAA Issues Record of Decision for Denver Metroplex Project

Posted on January 24, 2020

FAA Issues Record of Decision for Denver Metroplex Project WASHINGTON—The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has issued a Finding of No Significant Impact/Record of Decision for the Denver Metroplex project. The Finding of No Significant Impact/ Record of Decision, as well as the Final Environmental Assessment, are available on the Denver Metroplex website. The decision enables...

AIN Online – January 15, 2020 – Under Attack, Hawaii Air Tour Industry Forms Task Force

Posted on January 18, 2020

Under Attack, Hawaii Air Tour Industry Forms Task Force by Mark Huber - January 15, 2020, 2:20 PM Air tour stakeholders in Hawaii have formed a task force to deal with industry issues there following several high-profile accidents and legislative backlash from certain elected officials. The Hawaii Air Tour Task Force’s mission is to address...

CNBC – January 16, 2020 – Jet builder Aerion expects to fly silent supersonic planes by 2024, unlocking a $40 billion market

Posted on January 18, 2020

Jet builder Aerion expects to fly silent supersonic planes by 2024, unlocking a $40 billion market PUBLISHED THU, JAN 16 20202:00 PM EST UPDATED THU, JAN 16 20204:19 PM EST By Michael Sheetz @THESHEETZTWEETZ NEW YORK CITY – Supersonic air travel is only a few years from returning if a small U.S. company succeeds in...

San Francisco Chronicle – January 14, 2020 – San Jose one step closer to airport expansion

Posted on January 16, 2020

San Jose one step closer to airport expansion Mallory Moench Jan. 14, 2020 Updated: Jan. 14, 2020 7:52 p.m. The San Jose City Council gave the green light Tuesday to finalize an airport expansion plan to keep up with booming passenger growth — one that could boost the economy but raises climate change concerns. The...

Wired – January 7, 2020 – Bell and Hyundai Soar Into the Air Taxi Race

Posted on January 14, 2020

Bell and Hyundai Soar Into the Air Taxi Race ERIC ADAMS TRANSPORTATION 01.07.2020 08:16 PM So far, development of the electric vertical-lift aircraft that will enable our dreams of future urban air taxis has largely been the purview of small aviation startups. The "bigs," Boeing and Airbus, have acquired or partnered with smaller firms, while...

Wired – January 14, 2020 – The Future of Commuting Is a Flying Taxi

Posted on January 14, 2020

The Future of Commuting Is a Flying Taxi This story was produced by WIRED Brand Lab for Honeywell in September 2019 It’s the dream of anyone stuck in an endless traffic jam during rush hour: Instead of looking at a wall of brake lights from behind the steering wheel, getting into a futuristic-looking machine and...

San Francisco Chronicle – January 14, 2020 – San Jose airport eyes expansion, but climate concerns loom

Posted on January 14, 2020

San Jose airport eyes expansion, but climate concerns loom Mallory Moench Jan. 14, 2020 Updated: Jan. 14, 2020 4 a.m. As Silicon Valley booms, demand for air travel into and out of San Jose is surging. On Tuesday, the City Council will vote to take another step toward enacting a plan that could add six...

International Flight Network – January 6, 2020 – FedEx retires final Airbus A310 freighter

Posted on January 6, 2020

FedEx retires final Airbus A310 freighter 6th Jan. 2020 by Nick Wenzel FedEx Express has retired its final Airbus A310 freighter aircraft. The airline’s last remaining A310 was flown from Memphis to Victorville in California last week. In total, the cargo carrier had 70 converted Airbus A310s in its fleet that were previously in service...

NATS – January 2, 2020 – British public positive about aviation despite environmental concerns

Posted on January 2, 2020

British public positive about aviation despite environmental concerns. 02 January 2020 From the British air traffic control agency known as National Air Traffic Services (NATS) • Pros of aviation outweigh the cons say British public • Environmental concerns increasing but people still want to fly • Reducing environmental impact of flying seen as biggest benefit...

The Mercury News – December 29, 2019 – Mineta San Jose Airport projects 50 percent passenger growth, proposes expansion

Posted on December 31, 2019

Mineta San Jose Airport projects 50 percent passenger growth, proposes expansion By MAGGIE ANGST | mangst@bayareanewsgroup.com | Bay Area News Group The plan for 14 new gates, a 330-room hotel and a 5,000-space parking garage would spew a “significant and unavoidable” amount of ozone and greenhouse gases, according to a draft enviro…

AIN Online – Business Aviation – December 23, 2019 – House Airports Bill Drawing Alarm from Aviation Orgs

Posted on December 31, 2019

House Airports Bill Drawing Alarm from Aviation Orgs by Kerry Lynch - December 23, 2019, 11:24 AM A bill seeking to permit small airports to establish a range of operational restrictions is drawing fire from a spectrum of the aviation industry, with nine associations expressing fear that such authorization would “dismantle our national system of...

AIN Online – Business Aviation – December 20, 2019 – Uber and Joby Partner To Launch Urban Air-taxi Service in 2023

Posted on December 31, 2019

Uber and Joby Partner To Launch Urban Air-taxi Service in 2023 by Charles Alcock - December 20, 2019, 12:05 PM Rideshare group Uber and electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft developer Joby Aviation today announced a partnership to launch urban air-taxi services in selected locations from 2023. California-based Joby Aviation has become the first...

AIN Online – General Aviation – December 20, 2019 – Rolls-Royce Unveils Electric Race Plane

Posted on December 31, 2019

Rolls-Royce Unveils Electric Race Plane by Ian Sheppard - December 20, 2019, 6:59 AM Rolls-Royce has revealed the design of its first electric race plane under its ACCEL (Accelerating the Electrification of Flight) program. The UK aeroengine manufacturer said, “Work will now begin on integrating the ground-breaking electrical propulsion system to enable the zero-emissions plane...

The Mercury News – December 20, 2019 – Opinion/Commentary – Rep. Speier: Bay Area must combat dangerous effects of airport noise

Posted on December 20, 2019

Speier: Bay Area must combat dangerous effects of airport noise JACKIE SPEIER | D - San Mateo, represents the 14th District in the U.S. House of Representatives. PUBLISHED: December 20, 2019 at 6:10 am | UPDATED: December 20, 2019 at 6:26 am It’s easy to be dismissive of airport noise as a serious problem. After...

Reuters – December 19, 2019 – Rolls-Royce gives first look at one-seater electric plane

Posted on December 20, 2019

Rolls-Royce gives first look at one-seater electric plane BUSINESS NEWS - DECEMBER 19, 2019 / 5:27 AM / A DAY AGO LONDON (Reuters) - British engineering company Rolls-Royce gave a first look at a one-seater electric aircraft on Thursday it hopes will fly in late Spring next year and become the world’s fastest all-electric aircraft....

AIN Online – General Aviation – December 13, 2019 – Study: 430,000 Urban Air Taxis By 2040

Posted on December 16, 2019

Study: 430,000 Urban Air Taxis By 2040 by Mark Huber - December 13, 2019, 10:32 AM There will be more than 430,000 urban air taxis in operation by 2040, according to a new Frost & Sullivan study. The international consulting firm predicts that operations will begin as early as 2022, initially in the UAE, New...