Jan 10 Report: Government not ensuring airline pilots’ skills are sharp By Joan Lowy, Associated Press The government is falling short in ensuring airline pilots keep up their flying skills and get full training on how to monitor sophisticated automated control systems in cockpits, according to the Transportation Department's internal watchdog. Continue reading
Dec 28 Most helicopters unprotected as bird strikes rise, FAA warns By Joan Lowy, Associated Press WASHINGTON -- Government researchers warned 10 years ago that changes were needed in helicopter designs to prevent birds from crashing through windshields and disabling pilots. Today, dangerous bird strikes are on the rise, but there are still no safety standards… Continue reading
Nov 21 Aviation task force recommends registration of even smaller drones By Joan Lowy, Associated Press An aviation industry task force is recommending that operators be required to register drones weighing as little as a half a pound, a threshold that could include some remote-controlled toys, industry officials said. Continue reading
Oct 19 Drone close calls spur government to require registration By Joan Lowy, Associated Press WASHINGTON -- The federal government will require many drone aircraft to be registered, a move prompted by the growing number of reported close calls and incidents that pose safety risks, officials announced Monday. Continue reading
Oct 13 Industry group says U.S. faces critical shortage of air traffic controllers By Joan Lowy, Associated Press A chronic shortage of controllers has reached a crisis that will lead to widespread flight delays if left unchecked, officials for the union that represents air traffic controllers said Tuesday. Continue reading
Aug 13 Pilot reports of drone sightings more than double, FAA says By Joan Lowy, Associated Press WASHINGTON — Pilot reports of drone sightings so far this year are more than double last year, government regulators say, raising concern about the potential for a deadly collision. Continue reading
Aug 13 Pilot reports of drone sightings more than double By Joan Lowy, Associated Press Pilot reports of drone sightings so far this year are more than double last year, according to the Federal Aviation Administration, raising concern about the potential for a deadly collision. Continue reading
Aug 10 Study shows chronic fatigue among air traffic controllers By Joan Lowy, Associated Press WASHINGTON — Air traffic controllers' work schedules often lead to chronic fatigue, making them less alert and endangering the safety of the national air traffic system, according to a study the government has kept secret for nearly four years. Continue reading
Mar 31 Watch 6:45 Does the U.S. need to change its mental health screening process for pilots? By PBS News Hour According to Lufthansa, the co-pilot who crashed a Germanwings flight into the French Alps had informed the company of severe depression in 2009. Judy Woodruff talks to Dr. Warren Silberman, a former FAA medical certification manager, and Dr. William Hurt… Continue watching
Feb 15 FAA releases long-awaited proposed commercial drone rules By Triana Kalmanoff The Federal Aviation Administration released a list of long-awaited proposed rules governing the usage of small commercial drones on Sunday. Continue reading