Short Takes Page 5

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Aviation Short Takes

Aviation Short Takes is designed as a Comment & Aviator's News area. The opinions and news about important aviation matters developing today can be read here. 

Do you have relevant comments concerning Airspace Design and/or Aviation Safety that you feel others can benefit from?  For instance, do you have a recommendation for us to link to?  Please let me know!  Use scauwg@earthlink.net and address your input to Ron Berinstein, webmaster. IMPORTANT DISCLAIMER: Opinions and views expressed in the following commentary are those of the authors &/or publishers alone; and may or may not reflect SCAUWG.ORG.

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This page (Page 5) was added on 06/05/2026.  To view prior commentary, see "Short Takes Page 4." 

Let's Begin'

10/05/2026   Charter Operators Grapple with Mexico’s FDR Requirements - From AIN - "Light to midsize jets typically aren’t equipped with FDRs -  Some air charter operators flying small and midsize business jets into Mexico have been unable to receive blanket approval for multiple landings because their aircraft are not equipped with flight data recorders (FDRs). The FAA doesn’t require FDRs in these aircraft, but they are required by Mexico’s federal civil aviation agency (AFAC) regulations. - Over the past two years, Mexico has been cracking down on enforcing requirements for air charter aircraft “with 10 or more passenger seats, or an mtow of 12,500 pounds or more to be equipped with an FDR” to obtain blanket approval. According to the manager of regulatory services for trip support at World Fuel, the crackdown has even been applied to some operators that lack the required FDRs but have an AFAC air operator certificate and blanket permit under grandfathered agreements."   Continue Here.

10/05/2026   Mobile Passport Control App Now Available at Dozens of GA Airports - From NBAA - "U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) recently announced that eligible travelers may now use the Mobile Passport Control (MPC) app at nearly 40 general aviation airports. =  Learn more about Mobile Passport Control.   -   CBP says the free, easy-to-use MPC app should result in shorter wait times for Customs clearance. Groups of up to 12 people can be processed together and travelers may use the app to declare items. The agency says to use the MPC app:

• Prior to flight: Verify the return or preclearance airport offers MPC, download the app and scan your passport.
• Up to four hours before landing: Take a self-photo and answer the questions as prompted in the app. Your submission is valid for 4 hours.
• In the customs arrival area: Have your passport ready and enter the designated MPC line to finalize your inspection with a CBP officer.

“It is not yet clear how much real time will be saved upon entry and clearance since this is a new process for CBP at GA airports,” said Laura Everington, NBAA director of international operations and regulations. “However, I believe this is a very positive move for CBP and the industry.” - MPC processing is available at general aviation facilities at the following locations...:   Locations include LAX, VNY, & Brown Field,  See More Here

10/04/2026   Contract Tower Situational Awareness Bill Advances - From AVweb - "Measure would expand access to ADS-B-based traffic displays and training at federal contract towers. -  The Senate Commerce Committee on Wednesday advanced legislation aimed at expanding situational-awareness equipment at federal contract air traffic control towers. The committee approved S. 3929, the Air Traffic Situational Awareness Enhancement Act, by voice vote as amended, sending it to the Senate floor for consideration. - Introduced by Sens. Tim Sheehy, R-Mont., and Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., the bill calls for the FAA to acquire and install certified Airborne Position Reference Tools at contract towers that do not have Standard Terminal Automation Replacement Systems or comparable situational-awareness equipment. APRTs use ADS-B data to provide controllers with a display of aircraft operating in local airspace. Contract Tower Equipment: According to the senators, more than 90 of the nation’s federal contract towers lack surveillance tools, leaving controllers at those facilities dependent on visual observations and radio communications. The legislation also calls for controller training on the equipment and provides authority for FAA funding of acquisition, installation and annual operating costs."  Finish reading Here.

10/03/2026   Ninth Circuit bars DOT, FAA from requiring grant recipients to make antidiscrimination certifications in certain cases - From DLA Piper - "The United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit has partially upheld a federal district court’s order preliminarily enjoining the Trump Administration from requiring recipients of federal transportation grants to certify that they do not operate unlawful diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives and to agree that such certification is material under the False Claims Act (FCA). - However, the Ninth Circuit narrowed the preliminary injunction, allowing the US Department of Transportation (DOT) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to require grant recipients to certify that they do not violate federal anti-discrimination law in any federally funded programs they operate. - The preliminary injunction in County of King v. Turner, No. 25-3664 (9th Cir. Aug. 25, 2026) only applies to the case’s plaintiffs, who are all local governments. However, the Ninth Circuit’s reasoning applies similarly to any federal grant recipient. As such, the decision provides binding precedent for district courts throughout the Ninth Circuit to enjoin DOT and the FAA from requiring other grant recipients to sign those certifications. - Find out more and the case background Here.

Photo Skydive Chicago

10/03/2026   Skydivers Jump To Help Bonanza Occupants After Forced Landing - From AvBrief - VIDEO "The pilot of a skydiving plane sent help from above to the occupants of a Bonanza that did a forced landing near Milwaukee on Sunday. The Cessna Caravan was climbing to altitude over East Troy, Wisconsin, when the pilot spotted the Bonanza down in a field. He got hold of Milwaukee Departure with an unusual request. “If possible I can drop a load of skydivers over them to potentially help aid,” the pilot said. The controller told the pilot to send the skydivers at his discretion and three went out of the plane. By then, the pilot said two people (of four onboard) had gotten out of the plane and were “walking around.” All four suffered non-life-threatening injuries. The controller also sent help and the Caravan returned to base. Videos below have the ATC tape of the incident and the pilot’s description of what happened in his own words."  Read the story and View the VIDEO Here.

10/03/2026   Phoenix Airports Studying Surface Alert Technology - From AIN - "SURF-A offers safety benefits for pilots and airport operators -  Honeywell Aerospace and the Phoenix Aviation Department have signed an agreement to study adding Surface Alert (SURF-A) to ground vehicles at Phoenix Sky Harbor International (KPHX), Goodyear (KGYR), and Deer Valley (KDVT) airports.  -  With the ability to send real-time aural and visual alerts to pilots when their aircraft is on a trajectory to collide with another aircraft on the same runway, SURF-A, combined with a digital airport map, will “bolster operators’ real-time situational awareness,” according to Honeywell. This will be the first time airports use this collision-avoidance technology on ground vehicles, and it uses GPS, ADS-B, and software analytics “to pinpoint the exact location of traffic hazards up to 30 seconds before impact.” Learn More Here.

10/02/2026   FAA Explores New Interference Detection System - From AVweb - "Agency seeks technology to identify and locate radio interference across the National Airspace System - The FAA is seeking industry input on technology capable of detecting and locating radio frequency interference across the National Airspace System. According to an FAA notice, the agency will meet with potential vendors Oct. 13-15 to explore systems that could monitor aviation frequencies across airport, terminal and en route environments. The proposed capability would cover domestic and oceanic operations, including ground-based and airborne systems. - Nationwide Monitoring - The FAA is interested in technology that could use geographically distributed sensors to detect..."  Continue Here.

10/01/2026  Aerodynamic Fixes and Devices: Dive Recovery Flaps - From AvBrief - "In the late 1930s, in the period just before WW-II, designers learned how to dramatically increase the performance of airplanes. Fighters led the way. Cantilever monoplanes replaced biplanes. Greater knowledge of drag reduction plus the advent of retractable landing gear led to the production of aerodynamically clean, low-drag fighter airframes. - At the same time, engines became much more powerful, and turbocharging made it possible for fighters to operate at ever-higher altitudes. All of these advancements dramatically improved the performance of fighter aircraft. -  In the early 1930s, the Boeing P-26 Peashooter and the British Gloster Gladiator—both front-line fighters—had top speeds between 200 and 250 mph and ceilings on the order of 20,000 feet. In 1939, the Lockheed P-38 Lightning made its first flight. It had a top speed of almost 450 mph and a ceiling above 30,000 feet. This increase in performance over the Peashooter and Gladiator was achieved over a period of just seven years. - In the process of,,,"  Read More Here.

09/30/2026   FAA Releases Sport Pilot Standards Updates - From AvBrief - "The changes bring together an alignment under the new MOSAIC regulatory structure. - The FAA on September 14 released an alignment bringing the testing standards for the sport pilot certificate into the new regulatory structure outlined with the passing of the Modernization of Special Airworthiness Certificates (MOSAIC). - It also collects the three updated sport pilot practical test standards (PTS) through incorporation by reference. In plain English, that means certain content is not repeated in the new standards, but the reference to the source document is included instead. Specifically, those PTSs include: Sport Pilot and Sport Pilot Flight Instructor Rating PTS for Airplane Category, Rotorcraft Category, and Glider Category (FAA-S-8081-29A); Sport Pilot and Sport Pilot Flight Instructor Rating PTS for Lighter-Than-Air Category (FAA-S-8081-30A); and Sport Pilot and Sport Pilot Flight Instructor PTS for Powered Parachute Category, Weight-Shift-Control Aircraft Category (FAA-S-8081-31A)."  Continue Here.

09/30/2026  Aviation Diesel Engines - from AvBrief - "Bringing up diesel engines around gearheads can be like talking politics at Thanksgiving. Some people don’t like diesel power, others think it’s the bee’s knees, and most folks don’t care too much as long as it gets them there. - If engines are new to you, “diesel” likely makes you think of a semi-truck because they all have diesel engines, but diesel piston engines are also quite common in pickup trucks, SUVs, and sedans. In aviation, a “diesel engine” is one that has pistons and burns Jet A fuel. This excludes jet engines, which also burn Jet A, but they don’t have pistons—which is a whole other subject for another time.

Piston diesels are rare at the typical U.S. general aviation airport because they are expensive, but they are out there, and they could become more popular due to the worldwide availability of Jet A fuel. The stuff is everywhere, while 100LL gasoline is really a North American and European reality. In the rest of the world, 100LL is already extremely rare, excruciatingly expensive, and likely to disappear as the war on lead progresses. - Let’s also note Jet A fuel is interchangeable with diesel fuel on the conceptual level. Your aviation attorney or manufacturer may beg to differ for good reasons, but your diesel pickup will run on Jet A, and your diesel aircraft piston engine will run on farm diesel. - So, what’s the difference between the more familiar gasoline piston engine and a diesel piston engine?"  Continue reading.

09/30/2026   States Sue FAA Over Drone Delivery Review - From AVweb - "Fifteen states and a Texas county say the agency did not adequately consider environmental and safety effects of expanded operations -  A coalition of 15 states and Harris County, Texas, filed a lawsuit Monday challenging the FAA’s environmental review for expanded commercial drone package delivery operations. The petition, filed in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, argues the agency failed to adequately evaluate potential environmental effects before issuing a nationwide programmatic assessment and finding of no significant impact. -  Environmental Review Challenged: The FAA completed its programmatic review in July. The assessment is intended to support future FAA approvals for individual drone delivery operators, although the agency may still require additional environmental analysis for specific operations. Commercial drone delivery has already expanded in several markets, including operations by Amazon, Wing and Zipline."  Read More Here.

09/30/2026   Business Aircraft Parts: What to Stock and What to Source - Business Aviation Insider - "n business aviation, stocking parts to maximize aircraft availability while keeping inventory costs down is a delicate balancing act. Parts managers consider factors such as failure frequency, lead time, parts that can immediately ground an aircraft and where to find the best deals, all to avoid having too much or too little material on the shelf. --  It starts with knowing your aircraft, said Andrew Willingham, director of maintenance at truck manufacturer PACCAR, which maintains a fleet of three Dassault Falcon 50EXs and two Gulfstream G280s. -  “Making sure you have what you need when you need it is a matter of knowing your aircraft, and where the parts suppliers are located,” Willingham said. If it’s necessary to source parts from across the country, it may be more practical to keep them in stock, he added. On the other hand, “if I have a wheel and tire overhaul shop just around the corner, I don’t need to keep as many wheel and tire spares.”  Learn some tips Here.

09/29/2026   FAA Launches AI-Supported Air Traffic Tool - From AVweb - "SMART combines roughly 200 data streams to help FAA traffic managers anticipate congestion and weather disruptions. -  The FAA on Monday began limited use of a new AI-supported air traffic management platform around Washington, D.C., as part of a planned nationwide rollout. According to a DOT announcement, Strategic Management of Airspace, Routes and Trajectories, or SMART, combines about 200 data streams, including weather, flight paths, traffic flow and controller staffing. -  “By fundamentally reshaping how we manage our airspace and preventing problems before they happen, SMART will slash those frustrating delays, reduce stress on air traffic controllers, and lower travel prices,” U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy said."  Find Out More Here.

09/29/2026  Maintenance Flight Tests: The Risk Is Real - From AvBrief -  "We’re reminded once again that matters can turn ugly on post-maintenance flight testing from the NTSB’s narrative on a Diamond DA40 four-place single that crashed on its first flight after an annual inspection. The details of the wreck might be less important than the wakeup call for mechanics and aircraft owners faced with first flights after major maintenance. The way this one went down was a stall and spin after the pilot lost control during a partial loss of power on a go-around. - This Diamond had an Austro AE300 turbodiesel, and a post-accident inspection found the turbocharger’s..."  Finish Reading Here.

09/28/2026   What study shows about closing Burke Lakefront Airport: I-Team - From Fox 8 News at Noon - VIDEO & Report - "CLEVELAND (WJW) — The FOX 8 I-Team has obtained a study showing the hidden cost and impacts of closing Burke Lakefront Airport.  -  Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb wants to redevelop the property possibly with a golf course, a sports complex for kids, trails and more.  What’s being done to help you collect unclaimed funds -  We filed a records request for a study on closing the airport done by a consultant in 2024.  -  The study warned of “various legal actions/lawsuits.” And, it also estimated a cost of more than $15 million to demolish what’s now on the airport site. Plus, the study calculated the “economic impact” of doing away with flights at Burke."  Complete reading and view the Video Here.

09/28/2026   NBAA, CJP Question FAA Rescission of Legacy Citation Single-Pilot Exemptions - From NBAA - "NBAA joined with the Citation Jet Pilots association (CJP) in responding to the sudden announcement by the FAA to rescind all single-pilot exemptions (SPEs) issued to pilots of legacy Cessna Citation aircraft originally certified for two-pilot operations.  -  “NBAA supports the FAA’s responsibility to examine safety concerns and to take appropriate action as supported by the evidence,” said Heidi Williams, NBAA senior vice president, operations. “At the same time, the FAA’s decision to rescind these exemptions in full, effective immediately upon publication in the Federal Register and without direct notice to affected operators, raises serious questions.”  -  In its ruling, the FAA determined “widespread non-compliance” existed among SPE holders and called into question the efficacy of training providers granting SPEs to, “pilots for whom they have no ongoing operational relationship.”  Finish Reading Here.

09/27/2026   Cleared for Takeoff? Understanding California's Aircraft Personal Property Tax - From Holland & Knight LLP - "Highlights:

• California's Revenue and Taxation Code requires an annual assessment for property taxes of non-commercial aircraft that is regularly or "habitually situated" in California.
• Any person or entity that owns, claims, possesses or controls an aircraft in California on the January 1 lien date is potentially subject to the state's aircraft personal property tax.
• This Holland & Knight alert summarizes the key compliance requirements so that aircraft owners and operators - and their advisors - can plan ahead for the next assessment cycle.

California law treats aircraft as taxable tangible personal property subject to an annual appraisal and local property taxation. Unless a specific statutory exemption applies, every aircraft owner with aircraft that is based in or habitually hangered in the state faces an annual filing obligation, potential penalties for noncompliance, and a valuation process that can significantly affect the resulting tax bill.

Many counties, including Los Angeles County, have recently increased their enforcement efforts for noncompliance. With the April 1 filing deadline for 2026 aircraft property statements now passed, this Holland & Knight alert summarizes the key compliance requirements so that aircraft owners and operators - and their advisors - can plan ahead for the next assessment cycle.

California's Legal Landscape:  California's Revenue and Taxation Code requires an annual assessment for property taxes of non-commercial aircraft that is regularly or "habitually situated" in California.¹ Qualifying aircraft are assessed at their tax situs - the location of the airport or hangar where the aircraft is regularly or "habitually situated." This distinction matters:"   Continue Here.

09/27/2028   Part 61 or Part 141: Which One Is Right for Me?  -  From AvBrief - "Starting flight training is exciting. Whether it is for leisure or to pursue a career in aviation, there is an important decision to make from day one: Should you train under Part 61 or Part 141? - This question may sound complicated, but it is actually quite simple when you understand what each part involves. To determine which is the best fit, it’s crucial to explore the main differences between the two, including the pros and cons that come with each.

Deciding which regulatory basis to follow for your training is one of the first decisions you’ll make about it. [Courtesy of My Flight Academy]

One common misconception is that Part 61 is used for recreational flying while Part 141 is reserved for aspiring professional pilots. In reality, either path can be followed regardless of the type of flying you are pursuing. - All pilot certificates and ratings are issued under 14 CFR Part 61 of the Federal Aviation Regulations, or “FARs” for short. The following body of regs under 14 CFR Part 141 simply adds a regulatory framework for how training is structured and administered. In the end, you will earn the same pilot certificate or rating. - Under Part 141, training providers must go through an extensive certification process in which their curriculum, including a structured syllabus, must be approved by the FAA. To maintain their certification, schools must meet FAA standards, including an 80% first-attempt pass rate, and are subject to ongoing FAA oversight and inspections. Approved courses also come with specific requirements, such as stage checks, end-of-course tests, and detailed training records.

Now, just because Part 61 training providers are not required to follow rigorous training programs doesn’t mean that they don’t. In fact, many use a structure similar to Part 141 but have simply chosen not to apply for Part 141 certification."  Continue to find out more Here.

09/25/2026   Special to Scauwg.org - Los Angeles KNBC 4 News Helicopter Crash Comments -  As NBC-4 was based at WHP - "May those on-board Rest in Peace"

"In the following link, there's video from the helicopter that went down. From the on board audio, one can hear the spool down of the turbine engine and the Low Rotor RPM warning buzzer going off.

For news stories, the news helicopters often hover over or near the incident at around 1,000 ft AGL for video coverage.  - For the non-helicopter aviators. the height velocity curve dictates the safe altitude and airspeed range a helicopter needs to safely autorotate to a landing after losing engine power.  -  For a helicopter hovering with zero airspeed, depending on weight and density altitude the height velocity curve can rise above the set limit the helicopter manufacture has dictated inside the pilot's operating handbook (POH).  Very sad..."  - W.S.

https://vinnews.com/2026/09/15/knbc-news-helicopter-crashes-in-chatsworth-while-covering-deadly-bus-collision/

Example - H/V diagram for a R-22

The NTSB takes a pristine digital copy of that live audio track and runs it through a Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) algorithm. This tool isolates distinct sound frequencies and visualizes them on a graph called a spectrogram: [1, 2]

09/16/2026   U.S. Confirms It Has Weapons in Space - From AvBrief - "For the first time, the U.S. has publicly confirmed that it has weapons on spacecraft in Earth orbit to counter the “evolving threats” from other countries that are also suspected of arming their satellites. At a conference on Monday, Secretary of the Air Force Troy Meink acknowledged what has long been suspected against a shadow backdrop of top secret rocket launches. In subsequent statements the Air Force suggested a range of weapons is deployed against those threats. “Space control encapsulates the mission areas required to contest and control the space domain—employing kinetic and non-kinetic means to affect adversary capabilities through disruption, degradation and even destruction, if necessary,” an Air Force statement said. “These capabilities can be employed for offensive and defensive purposes at the direction of combatant commands.” For More on this subject, read Here.

09/16/2026   The ACCIDENT NEWS COPTER NBC-4  was REPORTING ON   -   2 dead, 6 hospitalized after SUV crashes into Metro bus in Chatsworth; driver arrested - From the Daily News - While covering the crash, a helicopter contracted by NBC Los Angeles crashed killing the pilot and a journalist as well as a man on the ground.

 

By Nathaniel Percy | npercy@scng.com | Southern California News Group

PUBLISHED: September 16, 2026 at 11:17 AM PDT | UPDATED: September 16, 2026 at 1:15 PM PDT

Two men were killed and six other people were injured when an SUV crashed into a Metro bus in Chatsworth Tuesday afternoon, Sept. 15, authorities said.  -  The driver of the SUV, a Simi Valley woman, was arrested on suspicion of murder and was booked into jail on $4 million bail, Los Angeles police said Wednesday.  -  The crash occurred at Nordhoff Street and De Soto Avenue just after 5 p.m., according to the Los Angeles Fire Department.

ALSO SEE: 3 dead after NBC4 helicopter crashes in flames in Chatsworth

Bailee Lynn Rios, 36, was accused of driving a Ford Expedition SUV southbound

09/15/2026   Rotax Orders Turbo Part Replacement Before Next Flight - From AVweb - "Alert service bulletin covers certain 915 and 916 engines after a supplier manufacturing defect was linked to a possible engine-compartment fire. - Rotax has issued a mandatory service bulletin requiring replacement of the turbocharger valve housing on certain 915 i and 916 i series engines before the next flight. The Sept. 3 bulletin applies to engines and spare turbocharger assemblies identified by serial number.  Cracks Found During Testing: Rotax identified oil leakage around the turbocharger valve housing during end-of-line testing. Further investigation found cracks and insufficient wall thickness in some housings caused by what the company said was a supplier manufacturing issue. Rotax classified the condition as unsafe because leaking oil could contact hot exhaust components, potentially producing smoke or, in the worst case, an engine-compartment fire.  -  The affected component is valve housing part number 956492. Certain spare turbocharger assemblies carrying part number 893102 are also affected and must have the housing replaced before installation. Rotax says later-production engines have received additional assembly-line checks and the affected housing has already been replaced."  FIND OUT MORE & SERIAL NUMBERS Here.

09/15/2026   Performance Mods: Drag Reduction - From AvBrief - "From the perspective of flying various mods over the years, we believe that the drag reduction mods give the best bang for the buck—the best odds for the mods to make your airplane faster at a reasonable price (if anything in aviation is priced reasonably).  -  The good news is that there are a lot of speed mods on the market, so there is probably at least one for your airplane unless it’s a Grumman/Gulfstream Cheetah or Tiger, later model Mooney (the companies where Roy LoPresti did his speed increase magic), or Cirrus as those received a lot of attention to drag reduction while they were still in production—and the attention worked. - The not so good news is that speed increases per mod can’t be stacked. In other words, if one advertises a 4 mph cruise speed increase (and the mod shops always advertise in miles per hour because the numbers are bigger than when stated in knots and no one in the U.S. uses kilometers per hour as those numbers would truly be big), adding another mod that advertises a 3 mph speed increase you aren’t going to go 7 mph faster. It’s going to be somewhat less. Each speed increase advertisement is based on comparison to the stock airplane without any other mods. - For this report, we’ve hand-picked several speed mods that are currently on the market for certified aircraft, identified suppliers, and given our thoughts on their effectiveness."  Get the report Here.

09/15/2026   New Legislation Would Send Controllers Into the Cockpit - From AVweb - "The FLIGHT DECK Act would create an FAA program allowing air traffic controllers to observe airline operations from the cockpit. - Members of the House Aviation Subcommittee introduced bipartisan legislation aimed at improving coordination between pilots and air traffic controllers by giving controllers an opportunity to observe airline operations from the cockpit. - The FLIGHT DECK Act, introduced Sept. 4 by Reps. Nellie Pou (D-N.J.), Rob Bresnahan (R-Pa.) and Hillary Scholten (D-Mich.), would direct the FAA to establish a training program allowing air traffic controllers to ride along on actual flights. The bill, H.R. 10303, has been referred to the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee."  Get More Info Here.

09/15/2026    Researchers test magnetic navigation to protect aircraft from GPS jamming - From AeroTime - "The phenomenon of GPS jamming and spoofing poses a growing threat to aviation by blocking satellite signals or feeding aircraft false position information that can send them dangerously off course. Now researchers are testing a way to navigate despite that interference, by reading tiny variations in Earth’s magnetic field and comparing them with mapped magnetic patterns. -  The approach uses highly sensitive quantum sensors to detect magnetic patterns created by rocks in Earth’s crust. By matching those patterns to a stored map, the system can help determine an aircraft’s position without GPS. --  Honeywell Aerospace and Australian technology company Q-CTRL are pursuing separate development efforts. Honeywell recently demonstrated technology it is working on with the Pentagon’s Defense Innovation Unit, while Q-CTRL is collaborating with Airbus to test and evaluate similar technology. Learn More Here.

09/15/2026   NTSB Releases Preliminary CVR Transcript From Prime Air Crash - From FLYING - "At least one pilot recognized the 767 was ‘too fast’ on approach, the agency says. - The transcript of the cockpit voice recorder (CVR) aboard the Amazon Prime Air Boeing 767 that went off the runway at Miami International Airport (KMIA) reveals the pilots recognized the aircraft was too fast on the approach. - The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) released information gleaned from the last few minutes of the CVR and flight data recorder (FDR) of 21 Air Flight 7598. Video of the event shows the aircraft landing long and going off the departure end of the runway. The jet struck a van driving on an airport perimeter road, killing five of the seven people inside, collided with navigational equipment, and went through two fences and struck an SUV before coming to a stop in a parking lot and catching fire."  Continue Here.

09/15/2026   Five Things Your GA Airport Manager Wishes You Knew - From General Aviation News - "The Bottom Line: First, airport managers strive to provide safe and efficient airport facilities, but we have to pay for it somehow. - One method is to look at the airport “from the inside out.” What does that mean? - We start with the runways and work out how we are going to maintain, replace, and enhance vital airfield infrastructure, such as pavements, lights, markings, etc. - Next has to come security, and there are no limits to what you can spend on security these days, from fencing to cameras, software, and security staff or dedicated law enforcement. - At the same time, direct sources of revenue for a GA airport are very limited, consisting of leasing airport property for aviation and non-aviation uses, fuel fees, and the controversial “L” word: Landing fees."  Find out More Here.

09/15/2026   Blowing Smoke: A Toy for My Toy - From AvBrief - "Adding a lightweight, low-cost smoke system to an experimental aircraft. - Trial and Error: As stated, one reason for wanting a smoke system was simply to have a project. With my Sonex done, I missed the thinkin’ and tinkerin’ that went with the project, and I missed walking the aisles of a hardware store, engineering as I went. From the onset of the project I knew a smoke system needed a few key ingredients:

• A tank
• A pump
• Plumbing
• Wiring
• Smoke oil

Along the way I learned specifically what kind of each was needed, and I learned I needed an electric shut-off valve. To that I credit the “trial” portion of the project, though the contributions of the “error” portion cannot be understated. - Smoke Tank: When choosing a tank size and style, the three primary considerations must be your aircraft’s weight and balance, which dictates the size of the tank and where it can be placed; how the tank will be filled (how much smoke oil are you willing to spill into your cockpit?); and how it can be safely mounted (will it hang on during a 6 G maneuver?) in the chosen location. Secondary considerations are venting the tank and providing a smoke oil outlet in the tank’s lowest position."  Read about the project details Here.

09/15/2026   GAO: Major Cost, Schedule Gaps in ATC Overhaul - From AvWeb - "Watchdog says accelerated modernization effort lacks a complete lifecycle cost estimate and integrated schedule. -  The FAA has not developed a reliable lifecycle cost estimate or an integrated master schedule for its Brand New Air Traffic Control System (BNATCS), according to a GAO report released Monday. - The first phase is scheduled for completion by December 2028 and covers upgrades to communications, surveillance, weather, training and other systems. - Cost Estimates Incomplete: Congress appropriated $12.5 billion for the modernization effort in July 2025, and the FAA plans to use most of that funding for Phase 1. GAO said the agency provided high-level Phase 1 cost estimates in June but could not provide supporting analysis. Those estimates exclude government costs, most Phase 1 operating costs and all Phase 2 costs. FAA has estimated Phase 2 will require about $10.2 billion, excluding facilities, but has not established a start or completion date." Continue Reading Here.

09/15/2026   ‘They Must Build Here’: Bombardier Responds to Trump’s Latest Threat - From FLYING - "President tells Canadian aircraft manufacturer it can’t sell aircraft in U.S. without relocating more of its production. -  Bombardier on Monday responded to President Donald Trump’s threat to bar sales of the manufacturer’s private jets in the U.S., adding to long-standing tensions between the company and its largest market. -  Trump on his social media platform Truth Social on Monday vowed to shut out Bombardier from the U.S. market, writing that “if they want our Market, they must build here, and stop treating America like a ‘piggybank.’” Bombardier responded by pointing out that it already has a large American manufacturing presence, with employees working at sites in nine U.S. states and Washington, D.C.

For example, it said wings and flight control components for the ultra-long-range Global 8000 are produced in Texas and California, respectively. This year, Bombardier plans to inaugurate a new facility at Fort Wayne International Airport (KFWA) in Indiana that will become its service center for the Midwestern U.S. The company is in the middle of what a spokesperson described to FLYING as a large-scale American expansion. - Bombardier in its statement Monday said its jets “create tens of thousands of U.S. jobs” and are “built with American-made components such as engines, avionics, and many more key systems provided by great American companies.” It added that its supply chain comprises approximately 2,800 American companies across 47 states."  More on this Here.

09/15/2026   ACM 26-02 will be held September 21-23, 2026, via Zoom. Thank you to those who have already registered for the meeting. For those who have not yet registered, please see the instructions below. 

The minutes from the prior meeting, agendas and new recommendation documents have been posted to the Aeronautical Charting Meeting Charting Group and Instrument Procedures Group web pages located at https://www.faa.gov/air_traffic/flight_info/aeronav/acf/ and https://www.faa.gov/about/office_org/headquarters_offices/avs/offices/afx/afs/afs400/afs420/acfipg/.

The dates and times (all times are Eastern) for the meeting will be:

• Monday, 21 September, 1000 - 1700: CG
• Tuesday, 22 September, 1000 - 1700: CG
• Wednesday, 23 September, 1000 – 1700: IPG

The virtual meeting rooms will be open roughly 30 minutes before the beginning of the meeting each day and that will be reflected in the Zoom meeting info, but the actual meeting times will be as noted above.

The details for registering for the virtual Zoom meetings are below. To have a comprehensive attendance roster, we require registration for this Zoom meeting. You must use the Zoom desktop client or mobile app to join. You will not be able to join using the web client. Once you register, you’ll receive an email with details for joining the meeting. You can register at any time; you don’t have to wait for the day of the meeting. The meeting information will be the same for all four days. Once you’ve registered and received the login information, you’ll use it again for the following days.

When you register, your registration approval page will include a drop-down labeled “Add to calendar” which will allow you to add the meeting to your Google, Outlook, or Yahoo calendar.

 Zoom meeting information for Aeronautical Charting Meeting 26-02, September 21-23, 2026.

Register in advance for this meeting:

https://faavideo.zoomgov.com/meeting/register/L4jxV_hpTziCOHm4kFWB5A

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

Feel free to forward the meeting invitation to anyone in your organization that is interested in attending but doesn’t have the details. For virtual meeting security, please do not post these Zoom meeting details on social media sites, Internet forums, or message boards.

09/07/2026   OSC Moves Ahead with Certification Framework for Novel Commercial Space Missions [ From Morgan Lewis & Bockius LLP   -  "The Department of Commerce’s Office of Space Commerce (OSC) is moving from proposal to implementation of a voluntary certification framework for commercial space activities that do not fit squarely within the existing US licensing regime. On July 23, 2026, OSC announcedthat its Space Commerce Certification proposal plans to publish a Federal Register “call for interest” for initial applications, aiming to begin certifications in the coming months. CERTIFICATION AIMS TO FILL A REGULATORY GAP: The initiative addresses an issue that has become more pronounced as commercial space activity moves beyond communications, Earth observation, launch, and reentry. The existing US regime is largely sectoral: the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regulates launch and reentry; the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) regulates radiofrequency communications; and OSC’s Commercial Remote Sensing Regulatory Affairs (CRSRA) division licenses private remote sensing."  Continue Here.

09/07/2026   -  TSA Plans Closed-Door BVLOS Security Sessions - From AvWeb - "Industry representatives will help shape model security programs for expanded drone operations. - The Transportation Security Administration is seeking drone operators and industry representatives for a series of closed technical roundtables on security requirements for unmanned aircraft operating beyond visual line of sight, or BVLOS. According to a Friday TSA Federal Register notice, the meetings will be held after FAA and TSA publish final rules governing expanded BVLOS operations. - Security Program Work:TSA said the sessions will help it develop model approaches operators could use to comply with agency-approved security programs. The agency expects some security measures already used by operators flying BVLOS under FAA waivers or exemptions could satisfy portions of the new requirements. The meetings are intended to collect individual industry input rather than produce consensus recommendations.: Continue Here.

08/27/2026   Ventura County Area 805 Advanced Air Mobility Test Range receives approval from Federal Aviation Administration 

Camarillo, CA – The Ventura County Department of Airports, in collaboration with The HIVE Autonomous Innovation Center, received approval from the Federal Aviation Administration for the 500 square miles of airspace that will make up Area 805 Advanced Air Mobility Test Range. The Certificate of Authorization (COA) was officially established on May 6^th with Area 805 slated to become fully operational in the fall of 2026.

“Area 805 positions Ventura County at the forefront of aviation innovation while creating opportunities for high-quality jobs and economic growth,” said 2nd District Supervisor Jeff Gorell, Chair of the Board of Supervisors. “This initiative perfectly complements the groundbreaking work taking place at our local Navy base, home to three global warfare centers and a center of excellence for unmanned systems operating on the water, below the surface, and in the air. Together, these assets make Ventura County a national leader in the future of autonomous technology."

Fifth District Supervisor and Board of Supervisors Vice Chair Vianey Lopez added, “I am proud to see Ventura County focus on the future, as evidenced by the collaborations that have created the Area 805 and the HIVE Autonomous Innovation Center. Supporting innovative economies creates good jobs here in our community. We are creating opportunities for our children to grow up here, build careers, and raise the next generation of Ventura families in our thriving County.”

What is Area 805?

Area 805 is 500 square miles of airspace in Ventura County that serves as a primary site for advanced air mobility testing for both commercial and defense industry partners. New aircraft that need to conduct FAA approved flight proving operations must do so in specific uncongested areas of the United States.  Ventura County’s proximity to the Pacific Ocean and open water meets these requirements.

How will it work?

Encompassing airspace over Camarillo, Oxnard, and the Ventura County Coastline, Area 805 serves uncrewed aircraft for both commercial and defense pilots seeking a testing/proving site. Operated through the Department of Airports’ partnership with the University of Alaska, Fairbanks, Area 805 is slated to become a leading partner in the development of uncrewed aircraft and ultimately the future of aviation.

What is an uncrewed aircraft?

Although the aircraft will not a have a pilot in the aircraft, the pilot will be operating the aircraft from another location, i.e. the ground, in a chase aircraft or from a chase boat. This is how the aircraft will maintain safe operations from other aircraft, obstructions, etc.

What does this mean to the community? And are there any safety concerns?

The future of aviation will include more environmentally conscious, electric aircraft that will be quieter and less disruptive to the community. Additionally, there will be more efficient methods of regional travel by air.

That’s where test ranges like Area 805 come in as a vital resource in the final flight safety verification and operation of these aircraft.

Air traffic for Area 805 will primarily be over the ocean with some incorporation into onshore air traffic. These operations will be in full coordination with the Oxnard and Camarillo towers. Operators of the uncrewed aircraft will be required to complete a rigorous process by the FAA, University of Alaska, Fairbanks, and Department of Airports in order to be given permission to operate in the area. We expect 1-3 flights per day of autonomous aircraft, and the impact on current air traffic is expected to be minimal.

Click here to learn more about Area 805.

More information related to the Ventura County Department of Airports can be found at Ventura County Airports.   -  More information related to The Hive Autonomous Innovation Center can be found at Ventura-County_Area805_FathomWerx_Public3.pdf.

08/08/2026   In preparation for next week’s Wings Over Camarillo air show, which is slated for August 15^th and 16^th, the Department of Airports would like to inform the community of what to expect in the days leading up to the event, during the event, and at the closing of the event.

Aircraft will be arriving for the air show beginning Thursday (8/13) and continuing through the weekend. Two FA-18s have been invited to the airshow to be on static display, however their attendance is in question due to other military obligations. We will notify the community as soon as possible with an update regarding their arrival and departure, should they be able to join.  It is important to note that, if they are able to come, the FA-18s will not be performing in the air show but will be on static display for visitors to see up close.

Neighbors can expect an increase in air traffic and noise (aircraft and pyrotechnics) for the entirety of the airshow on Saturday, August 15^th and Sunday, August 16^th, primarily between 12 p.m. and 5 p.m. Visiting aircraft are expected to depart the area beginning Sunday afternoon and into Monday.

The Department of Airports and the Camarillo Wings Association are working closely alongside Ventura County Animal Services to ensure that our neighbors are aware of expected noise impacts, including those on animals in the area. All pyrotechnics associated with the air show are ground based and will be conducted with animals at the shelter in mind.

About the 2026 Wings Over Camarillo Air Show

This year’s event will provide visitors with the opportunity to celebrate 90 years of the DC-3 Mainliner and experience all things aviation including multiple aerobatic performances with a special tribute to Judy Phelps, the Condor Squadron, P-63 King Cobra, P-51 Mustang, The Round Chute Parachute Team, Japanese Zero, PBJ, Hellcat, and the C-53 D-Day Doll (which isn’t just named for, but was actually used in, the 1944 landing on the shores of France), STEM pavilion, car show, community vendors, and more.

 Click here to learn more about this year’s event details.  

We hope you find this information helpful. Please respond to this e-mail with any questions or concerns.  -  Jannette

08/25/2026   An Air Taxi Landing Site Is Coming to Downtown Los Angeles - From the ROBB Report - "Downtown’s first “vertiport” from Archer Aviation is expected to join a local network of hubs that includes LAX, SoFi Stadium, and USC. -   Are you ready to take an air taxi to watch the Los Angeles Lakers or Kings play at Crypto.com Arena? It could happen sooner than you think. -  This morning, AEG and Archer Aviation unveiled a multiyear partnership and collaboration to develop downtown L.A.’s first “vertiport”—a vertical takeoff and landing site for electric air taxis—at the sports and entertainment district L.A. Live. -  The goal is to enable folks to take one of Archer’s Midnight air taxis for a 10- to 20-minute point-to-point trip that, with traffic, could take two hours. The taxis carry four passengers, reach speeds of up to 150 mph and produce far less noise and zero operating emissions compared with traditional helicopters. -   The goal is to enable folks to take one of Archer’s Midnight air taxis for a 10- to 20-minute point-to-point trip that, with traffic, could take two hours. The taxis carry four passengers, reach speeds of up to 150 mph and produce far less noise and zero operating emissions compared with traditional helicopters.  -  Archer already has plans for its air taxi network to include..."  Read More Here.

08/25 2026   General Aviation Safety Performance Update

Here's a look at the GA fatal accident rate so far for fiscal year (FY) 2026. As you can see in the chart here, the estimated GA fatal accident rate is at 0.52 accidents per 100,000 flight hours (as of Aug 24, 2026), well below the yearly reduction target of 0.91. You can also see the total GA fatal accidents broken out by month in FY26 here (as of July 2026).

For more details, see the Pareto chart on general aviation fatal accidents, which can be customized to display a specific date range of accident data and sort results by aircraft classification, FAR part, operational category, and accident category.

08/23/2026   EPA Seems Flexible on 100LL Replacement - From AvBrief.com - "The Environmental Protection Agency is suggesting it won’t necessarily hold the FAA to its self-determined target of 2030 to get rid of lead emissions from light aircraft. In a statement to AvBrief, the EPA said “the 2030 date is a goal that the FAA has articulated” and suggested we ask the FAA about any deviations to that plan (we have). In the meantime it appears content to follow the FAA’s lead and ensuring a smooth process to a replacement fuel. Here’s the full statement: -   “EPA has and will continue to work closely with FAA and aviation stakeholders to evaluate practical, science-based steps towards a transition away from leaded aviation fuel – without compromising safety, affordability, or the viability of small aircraft operations. The 2030 date is a goal that FAA has articulated in FAA’s transition plan and the 2024 FAA Reauthorization Act (to the extent practicable). We would refer you to the FAA for further comment.“  Continue Here

08/23/2026   The Coming Radio Altimeter Bill: What the Upper C-Band Retrofit Means for Your Turbine - From Global Air - "FAA and FCC rules set the stage for another costly radio altimeter upgrade cycle. - Turbine aircraft operators that upgraded radio altimeters just a few years ago to withstand interference from an expansion of 5G telecommunications frequency spectrum now face another round of costly modifications or replacements under recently issued mandates from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and Federal Communications Commission (FCC).

Per the FAA’s final ruling published July 31, Part 121 commercial airlines and certain large foreign aircraft must be equipped with radio altimeters hardened against Upper C-band frequency interference by Dec. 30, 2030. All other affected aircraft operating under Part 91, including Part 135 operations, must comply by Oct. 31, 2034. - These latest modifications are required to eliminate interference from signals in the newly reallocated Upper C-band spectrum (3.98-4.14 GHz), which is scheduled to be auctioned to wireless telecommunications providers next year and authorized for new wireless services beginning Dec. 31, 2030. This follows similar mitigations required to block interference across Lower C-band frequencies (3.7-3.98 GHz) that became active in January 2022."  Finish Reading Here.

08/19/2026   ONTARIO  (ONT) NEWS - Including Plane Spotting at ONT is published NOW - See it Here.

08/19/2026   Tempest Aero Spark Plug Cracking SB-012 - Notice Number: NOTC5147 - TO: Aircraft Owners and Operators, Engine Overhaul Facilities, Engine Maintainers, Engine Manufacturers - SUBJECT:
This Service Bulletin describes a potential cracking problem in specific lot numbers of Tempest® Spark Plugs manufactured between May 5, 2026 and July 29, 2026. It recommends immediate inspection of the affected spark plugs prior to your next flight and replacement of any cracked spark plugs. No action is required for Tempest® Spark Plugs purchased prior to May 5, 2026.
REASON
There have been limited reports of spark plugs exhibiting cracks. Failure to detect and replace a cracked spark plug could potentially result in damage to the airplane engine and possible loss of power.
SCOPE
This Service Bulletin applies to all Tempest® spark plugs bearing the part numbers and corresponding lot codes listed in Table 1 (page 2), regardless of date of installation, engine model, or airframe application. This is the original issue of SB-012.
BACKGROUND
There have been field reports of cracks in Tempest® spark plugs.
This condition has not previously been observed or reported in our production history. Upon notification of the issue, Tempest Aero Group initiated an investigation and identified the root cause. Tempest Aero Group has implemented the necessary corrective action to the manufacturing and inspection processes and is issuing this Service Bulletin to address any affected in-service spark plugs.

08/13/2026    L.A. County Using ADS-B To Collect Property Tax on Aircraft - From AvBrief.com - "There’s a new way that ADS-B is being used to collect money from aircraft operators and this one might take more than a Congressional lobbying effort to make go away. Los Angeles County assessor Jeff Prang told Fox News that in California aircraft valued at more than $100,000 are subject to property tax when they’re in the state and he’s using ADS-B to determine when they’re in his jurisdiction so he can levy the property tax. He’s identified more than 1,000 aircraft worth $4 billion that represent a potential tax haul of $40 million. “If you have an aircraft and it’s here in L.A. County then it’s assessable for the period of time it’s in the county,” he said. That’s just L.A. County. Presumably every other county in the country’s most populous state could do the same. -  Aircraft are taxed at 1.0-1.2 percent of their assessed value while they’re in the state. It doesn’t matter to the state where it..."  Read More Here

8/12/2026   Alarm after Trump admin hires 2,000 gamers as air traffic controllers - From the Independent - "The Trump administration is facing backlash after transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced 2,000 video gamers have been hired to serve as air traffic controllers. - Duffy first unveiled the plan to meet the national shortfall this spring and recently took to social media with an update revealing the recruitment drive had been a success." Complete Story Here.

08/2026.  FAA refines unleaded fuel transition framework - From AOPA - "Drop-in replacement for 100LL 'not feasible'- The FAA released the first major update of its Transition Plan to Unleaded Aviation Gasoline on July 30, revising with additional detail the roadmap for eliminating the use of tetraethyllead (TEL) in avgas and updating pilots and aircraft owners on the status of each fuel. - The release follows a draft plan that was published in January, which was then followed by a 60-day comment period. - he FAA previewed the framework’s release during EAA AirVenture Oshkosh, emphasizing that while the plan provides a foundation for the transition, it is not a prescriptive list of actions that must be taken.

“The goal was really to aggregate information, to be able to provide information, to highlight challenges, and to look at those opportunities that need to be pursued towards achieving that 2030 goal,” said FAA Senior Technical Specialist for Aviation Fuels Paul Wrzesinski. “As part of that, providing the information, what we really wanted to set out to do was to build a solid foundation in terms of knowledge, to provide the same background, sort of the same starting point.”

However, the agency acknowledged the plan is not yet comprehensive because “necessary information” is not yet available, leaving several key questions unanswered:

• Which unleaded fuel or fuels will be widely available?
• What are the costs and consequences for aircraft owners transitioning to an unleaded fuel?
• Can competing unleaded fuels be mixed together in aircraft tanks and supply chains?

Nine organizations, including AOPA, that are part of the Eliminate Aviation Gasoline Lead Emissions (EAGLE) initiative—a government-industry partnership—expressed support for the framework.  -  Fuel approvals"   Continue Here.

08/07/2026   Vertical Aviation International is now accepting applications for 2027 scholarships to help students, aviation maintenance technicians, and commercial helicopter pilots continue their education and training.

07/30/2026   EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2026 sets all-time attendance record - From WSAW-TV - "OSHKOSH, Wis. (WSAW) - EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2026 drew approximately 734,000 attendees, the highest total in the event’s history, surpassing the previous record of 704,000 set in 2025, organizers announced. - The seven-day event, billed as the World’s Greatest Aviation Celebration, also recorded a record 1,021 commercial exhibitors on site. - Attendance and aircraft - More than 10,000 aircraft arrived at Wittman Regional Airport in Oshkosh and other airports in east-central Wisconsin during the event. Wittman alone logged 15,527 aircraft operations between noon on July 16 and noon on July 27 — an average of approximately 101 takeoffs and landings per hour during open hours. - A total of 2,851 showplanes were on display, including 1,346 vintage aircraft, 875 homebuilt aircraft, 360 warbirds, 118 ultralights and light planes, 88 seaplanes and amphibians, 40 aerobatic aircraft, 18 rotorcraft, and six hot-air balloons. - Visitors from 98 countries registered at the International Visitors Pavilion."  More Here

07/29/2026   After Reagan National midair collision probe, NTSB chair urges Congress to act - From Wtop News - "Exactly six months after the National Transportation Safety Board issued recommendations following the 2025 midair collision of an American Airlines passenger jet and a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter over Reagan National Airport, Chair Jennifer Homendy is calling for further action from Congress. - “Six months ago, we concluded our investigation and adopted our final report, issuing 75 findings and 50 safety recommendations, all of which must be implemented to prevent reoccurrence, yet we are no closer today to addressing many of the serious safety gaps that contributed to this terrible tragedy,” Homendy said in a statement.  -   Sixty-seven people, including three Army crew members in the helicopter, were killed in the crash on Jan. 29, 2025   -  “Every day that passes without implementation of all 50 NTSB recommendations represents a continued and unacceptable risk to public safety,” Homendy said."  Read More Here.

07/28/2026   Dulles makeover Revealed - after months of edits - From the Washington Post - "The Trump-approved design also calls for large glass windows and gold accents throughout the airport, such as high, gold-mirrored ceilings. - The project is estimated to cost more than $20 billion and take years to complete. Dulles is about 25 miles from downtown Washington and is run by the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA), which would largely finance the renovations by issuing new bonds, MWAA said. - United CEO Scott Kirby, MWAA CEO Jack Potter and MWAA board member Trent Morse joined Trump for the announcement. - Potter said the project would not require federal money because MWAA, United and other airlines had agreed to help fund the project. “We’re off to a fast start here,” he said."   Read the Story Here.

07/28/2026    FBI raids target San Bernardino County officials, Beverly Hills mansion in sweeping raid - From L A Times - "FBI agents executed warrants across Southern California on Tuesday and searched the homes or offices of a San Bernardino County supervisor, an Ontario City Council member, a lawyer and a media company.- The properties were connected to San Bernardino County Supervisor Curt Hagman, Ontario Councilmember Alan Wapner, attorney Frank Lizarraga and a media company operator in West Covina. Agents also searched a Beverly Hills mansion in the 600 block of North Canon Drive. -FBI officials confirmed the addresses but did not name the individuals subject to the searches, saying the affidavits for the warrants are under seal. They declined to comment on the reasons for the investigations. No one was arrested. - As the raids unfolded, Rep. Norma Torres (D-Pomona) said in a statement she was “deeply troubled by the reports the FBI has executed warrants against elected officials in San Bernardino County. I am awaiting further information, but our community has zero tolerance for any corruption at any level of our government.” "FBI spokesperson Laura Eimiller confirmed a related search warrant was served at Ontario International Airport..."    Note: Also- References SCAG - Continue Reading Hewre

07/28/2026   Preparing for the Next Megaevent: New Federal Counter-UAS Rules Will Reshape Aviation Security in the United States - From Lexology - "The US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the US Department of Justice (DOJ) have published an interim final rule, effective July 1, 2026, to codify the framework governing counter-unmanned aircraft systems (C-UAS) through implementation of the SAFER SKIES Act, which authorizes state, local, tribal, and territorial (SLTT) agencies to conduct C-UAS operations. - Together with the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC’s) four supporting expedited actions, these changes are intended to build a scalable, nationwide counter-drone capability that extends beyond limited federal resources, and the new interim final rule provides the framework governing training/certification, authorized technologies, spectrum coordination, airspace approvals, air traffic notification, reporting, privacy, and compliance requirements for SLTT agencies. - The resulting regulatory framework significantly expands the C-UAS landscape, with important implications for law enforcement agencies, airport operators, stadium operators, UAS manufacturers, C-UAS vendors, commercial drone operators, and virtually every stakeholder operating in or around the National Airspace System."  Very Detailed Report Here

Credit AOPA - SUPERSONIC FLIGHT

07/28/2026   Senate committee advances bill lifting 'speed limit in the sky' - From AOPA - "The Supersonic Aviation Modernization Act (S.1759), introduced by Sen. Ted Budd (R-N.C.), passed the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation July 22. The bill would “require the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Administrator to issue regulations to legalize civil supersonic flight in the United States” as long as sonic booms don’t reach the ground, according to a news release. - Budd, a member of the committee, said, "For the past fifty-two years, the United States has had a speed limit in the sky." - Enacted in 1973, 14 CFR § 91.817 determines that no civil aircraft can be operated in the United States at a true flight Mach number greater than 1, consequently prohibiting nonmilitary supersonic flight in the national airspace system. - Meanwhile, U.S.-based companies like Boom Supersonic have developed quiet supersonic technologies and demonstrated that their aircraft can operate above Mach 1 with a significantly mitigated sonic boom, rendering the reasoning for 14 CFR § 91.817 moot. Budd argues that as long as public safety is not impacted, the United States should welcome such innovations in order to remain competitive in the aviation market." Continue

07/28/2026    FBI serves warrants at locations tied to elected officials in San Bernardino County - The Los Angeles Daily News - NOTE:  CONNECTIONS TO ONTARION AIRPORT and SCAG (has an active airport division - and SCAUWG (the Group -not our website) first operated years ago under the aegis of SCAG) -  "FBI agents on Tuesday served search warrants at addresses connected to two elected officials in San Bernardino County and a media company executive in West Covina. - Among the addresses raided were a residence affiliated with Ontario City Councilman Alan Wapner and the Chino Hills district office of San Bernardino County Supervisor Curt Hagman, the FBI confirmed. - The FBI also served a warrant at a residence affiliated with civil litigation attorney Frank Lizarraga, the former general counsel for the Southern California Association of Governments.

Warrants also were served at a business and residence in West Covina affiliated with James Su, the founder and president of EDI Media Inc., a Chinese-language multimedia company operating television, radio, print and digital news outlets. He also founded the Chinese American Film Festival and has promoted U.S.-China media and cultural exchanges through his work in broadcasting and entertainment. - EDI Media is the largest Chinese American multimedia company in the U.S., according to its website. Su founded the company in 1990. - FBI spokeswoman Laura Eimiller said the warrants have been sealed by the court and that she could not disclose any information on the nature of the investigation. - Eimiller did not immediately respond to questions as to a possible connection to Ontario International Airport, and whether a warrant was served there. Sources said federal agents visited the Airport Authority offices on Tuesday."  Continue Here.

07/28/2026   Aviation Coalition Demands Action from Congress - From Aviation Tech Today - "The nation’s aviation industry rarely speaks with one voice. Airlines, aircraft manufacturers, pilots, airports and travel groups often have competing priorities, especially when billions of taxpayer dollars are involved. That is why the industry’s latest appeal to Congress deserves attention. - A broad coalition representing nearly every corner of American aviation is asking lawmakers to approve an additional $20 billion to modernize the country’s increasingly dysfunctional air traffic control (ATC) system. - The request follows last year’s $12.5 billion appropriation for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), raising an obvious question: Why is so much more money already needed, and will it solve the deeper problems plaguing the nation’s aging aviation infrastructure?  -  The coalition, which includes Boeing, Airbus, Airlines for America, the U.S. Travel Association, the Air Line Pilots Association and dozens of other organizations, sent a letter to Congress on July 15 warning that the nation’s aviation system has reached a critical point."  Continue with More Here

7/27/2026   An age of revitalization: US airport infrastructure opportunities - From Lexology - "The Federal Aviation Administration’s most recent Air Traffic by the Numbers report (issued in June 2025) shows that commercial air passenger travel continues to recover from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. The number of passengers flown by air carriers rose above the pre-pandemic average level of 1 billion passengers in FY2017-2019 by 6.5% to 1.1 billion in FY2024. There are more than 19,000 airports in the US, of which 5,146 are public, and more than 3 million passengers fly in and out of US airports every day¹.

It is no surprise, then, that investing in airport infrastructure remains a priority across the US. And while many smaller, conventionally procured projects are underway, some of the most transformational projects are being done by leveraging private sector capital and know-how. Terminals are being entirely redeveloped, and new terminals are being built to accommodate more travelers and elevate the overall travel experience. Other airport-related projects—such as those involving new cargo facilities, automated people movers, consolidated rental car facilities and other parking facilities, and road infrastructure in and around airports—offer opportunities for developers, equity investors, debt providers, construction contractors, and operators as well.  -  Recently completed projects   -   Major successes in this sector have included:   Continue Reading Here (btw Los Angeles is included)

07/24/2026   Amazon Delivery Drone Walkaround - From AvBrief.com - VIDEO - "Sharing the skies with a growing fleet of Amazon delivery drones will be a way of life for more of us, and running into one would be bad day of flying."- View it Here.

07/24/2026  2030 Unleaded Fuel Deadline To Slip, New ‘Roadmap’ in the Works - From AvBrief.com - "FAA Deputy Administrator Chris Rocheleau says there will be a new “roadmap” issued on the transition to unleaded avgas in coming weeks, and it now seems likely that industry and government will miss the 2030 congressional deadline for the elimination of 100LL leaded fuel. “I think we’re going to see that continue to iterate because there’s no drop and go system or solution at this point,” he said. The 2030 date is for a universally compatible 100 octane fuel to replace 100LL and the testing to date hasn’t found that yet. “They (legislators) will have to make the decision with industry, right?” Rocheleau said. “Government and industry working together with Congress to inform them on what the smart, necessary steps are as it relates to leaded fuels and a timeline. We’ve seen this in the past,” Rocheleau told AvBrief in a scrum after his “Meet the Administrator” session at AirVenture 2026 on Wednesday."  Continue Here.

Record First Hybrid-Electric Flight

07/24/2026   World’s first hybrid-electric flight above 30,000 feet sets new aviation record - From Interesting Engineering - "GE Aerospace successfully tested a megawatt-class hybrid-electric propulsion system at the same altitudes used by passenger jets. -  GE Aerospace has pushed hybrid-electric aviation into new territory after completing the first flight of a hybrid-electric aircraft above 30,000 feet, a milestone that moves electrified propulsion closer to commercial aviation.  -  The demonstration took place ahead of the Farnborough International Airshow in partnership with NASA, BETA Technologies and Boeing. Engineers flew a modified Saab 340B at cruising altitudes used by commercial passenger aircraft and kept the hybrid-electric propulsion system operating for more than two hours during its longest test segment. -  Hybrid system tested - The record-setting campaign centered on GE Aerospace’s megawatt-class, multi-kilovolt hybrid-electric propulsion system, developed under NASA’s Electrified Powertrain Flight Demonstration (EPFD) program. Unlike fully electric aircraft, hybrid-electric propulsion combines a conventional gas turbine with an electric powertrain. The system shifts power between both sources depending on the phase of flight, improving efficiency while maintaining the performance required for commercial operations."  Continue Here.

07/24/2026   Video: Autonomous Caravan Lands at Oshkosh - From General Aviation News - This is the first time for Oshkosh - watch it Here.

07/22/2026   Federal Audit Finds Gaps In Aviation Cybersecurity Oversight - From AvWeb - "A federal audit found gaps in aviation cybersecurity oversight, including unclear responsibilities between the FAA and TSA. -  A federal audit has found gaps in how the U.S. government oversees aviation cybersecurity, including unclear responsibilities at the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and incomplete implementation of the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) cybersecurity strategy. -  The Government Accountability Office (GAO) released its report July 16 after reviewing the FAA and TSA’s roles in protecting aviation systems. The review found that the agencies face challenges implementing cybersecurity strategies and clearly defining who is responsible for protecting critical aviation infrastructure."  Finish reading Here.

07/20/2026   FAA Signs Off on MOSAIC ASTM Standards - From AvBrief.com - "The FAA has accepted ASTM standards for Light Sport aircraft as one of the final steps for full implementation of the Modernization of Special Airworthiness Certificates (MOSAIC) that will greatly expand the eligibility of aircraft available to those with Sport Pilot certificates. “This document announces the availability of ASTM International (ASTM) consensus standards for use as an FAA-accepted means of compliance (MOC) to support issuance of special airworthiness certificates for the categories of light-sport category aircraft and light-sport category kit-built aircraft described herein,” the FAA said in releasing a document entitled Accepted Consensus Standards for Light-Sport Category Aircraft: Airplane, Glider, Powered Lift, and Gyroplane."  More Here.

07/20/2026    Questions From The Cockpit: How Do Rotary Engines Work? - From General Aviation News - Amanda, a private pilot in Minnesota, writes: I was reading about the early aviation engines, and with the rotary engine, the entire engine spun. How on earth did that work with getting spark to the cylinders? Obviously cables were out…  Fabulous question!

They used a version of old-fashioned distributor-cap “points.” The magneto (usually just one on these early engines) was attached to the airplane, and had a little contact point that stuck out a bit. Each cylinder had a sister contact. As the cylinders spun past, each in turn made contact with the mag’s point, transferring a spark from the mag to the spark plug of the cylinder.  -  Most of these engines also had only a single plug in each cylinder — redundancy was for the future!  --  Finish Reading Comments and Article Here.

07/15/2026   Swift 100R Approved for 1,200 Engines, 1,600 Airframes - From AvBrief.com - "Swift Fuels announced Tuesday that the approved model list for STCs for its 100R unleaded avgas has been expanded to about 1,200 engines and 1,600 airframes on the U.S. registry. This includes engine STCs for over 1,200 piston engine models from over 80 piston engine OEMs including Lycoming (~395 models), Continental (~195 models), Curtis Wright (95 models), Pratt & Whitney (95 models) and many more, the company said in a news release. GAMI’s G100 UL is approved for virtually all certified aircraft engines and airframes (except helicopters) but Swift says 100R “complies with an ASTM International approved “Production Specification” (D8603).” Swift says the list represents the aircraft that now use 56% of 100LL and is the first phase of the approval."  More info Here.

(Photo by Gene Blevins, Daily News Contributing Photographer)

07/14/2026   LA County approves new contract for water-dropping Super Scoopers, returning for fall fire season - From Daily News - "For 33 years, LA County Fire has used giant planes that scoop water out of the sea for dousing wildfires. They renewed contract today for Super Scoopers with Canada. -  Board of Supervisors OK's $41.25 million, five-year lease for the Canadian planes that are crucial for battling LA County wildfires -They resemble giant mechanical birds, swooping into the Pacific Ocean, scooping 1,600 gallons of water into each of their holding tanks and quickly dropping their wet loads onto local wildfire hotspots. - The world-famous Super Scoopers and their pilots were booked for five more years, under the $41.25 million multi-year contract approved by the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday, July 14. -  Though the unique firefighting aircraft have become well-known during decades of fire seasons in Los Angeles County, the county does not own them. They are on loan from the Quebec government through a lease agreement between the Canadian province and Los Angeles County."  They hangar at VNY.  - Read More Here.

07/11/2026   World’s First Commercial Vertiport Certified For Joby Ops In Dubai - From Aviation Week - "Dubai has taken another step toward launching urban air mobility services after the world’s first purpose-built commercial vertiport for electric vertical-takeoff-and-landing (eVTOL) aircraft received regulatory certification. - The move paves the way for Joby Aviation to launch air taxi services. In 2024 the U.S. company secured exclusive rights with Dubai’s Road and Transport Authority to operate eVTOL air taxi services in the emirate for six years.

The General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) and Skyports Infrastructure announced the certification of the facility, known as VDX, on July 6. Saif Mohammed Al Suwaidi, director general of the GCAA, described the certification as a “historic” achievement for the United Arab Emirates and a “defining moment” for the future of aviation. - “It reflects the vision of our leadership, the maturity of our regulatory system and our national capability to enable innovation while maintaining the highest levels of safety,” he said. - VDX will serve as the primary hub of Dubai’s planned Air Taxi network,..." Read More

Published  July 8, 2026

07/11/2026    Whiteman Closure: For Safety or Profit? - Commentary by Matthew Stone - "The San Fernando Valley Sun/el Sol’s reporting on Whiteman Airport invites follow-up."

"Los Angeles City Councilwoman Monica Rodriguez has pounced on a contained runway incident to again fearmonger about Whiteman, calling for its closure. Likewise, LA County Supervisor Lindsey Horvath has demanded federal authorities cease all operations at Whiteman. - Overwhelmingly, Angelenos mock both officials, ridiculing the logic for closure.

 “Safety Advocates” Blocking Safety Improvements

Ironically, Whiteman opponents have sabotaged airport safety improvement efforts since at least 2011. Having blocked safety upgrades, these same airport detractors now demand action, hypocritically complaining improvements had not been implemented.

07/09/2026   MOSAIC Brings Big Changes to Aircraft Maintenance - From General Aviation News - "While maintenance on traditionally certificated aircraft is still done under the regulatory oversight of 14 CFR Part 43, many manufacturers now produce aircraft under the ASTM International Consensus standards. This puts the manufacturer in the driver’s seat when determining methods and materials to be used for major alterations and repairs. But in an effort to reduce the burden on owners for minor repairs and alterations, the well-established Part 43 standards can be employed without approval from the manufacturer. - That liberty opens up a great many options for aircraft owners and aircraft mechanics working on Light-Sport Category Aircraft in the modern age. No longer limited to 1,320 pounds, legacy aircraft that fit the old Light-Sport Aircraft definition, as well as those that fit into the new Light-Sport Category Aircraft basket, can be maintained with confidence with fewer limitations than were previously in place. - Often these repairmen work for an air carrier or a repair station. Their privileges are quite limited, but they are professionals who are generally well paid for their work."  Learn more Here.

07/08/2026   Sustainable Aviation Fuel at a Crossroads: Why Energy Security and Decarbonization Have Become the Same Conversation - Opinion - Morgan Lewis - "Iran, USA - Recent geopolitical tensions involving Iran have once again exposed one of the aviation industry's most enduring vulnerabilities: its dependence on conventional jet fuel. Although airlines have long operated in an environment characterized by fluctuating oil prices, the latest instability in the Middle East serves as a reminder that the mere prospect of disruptions to global energy supplies can send shockwaves through fuel markets. For an industry in which fuel routinely represents one of the largest operating expenses, price volatility is more than a financial inconvenience—it is a strategic risk.

Historically, airlines have responded to fuel price uncertainty through a combination of fuel hedging, operational efficiencies, and disciplined capacity management. These strategies have helped mitigate the immediate financial consequences of volatile energy markets. However, commercial aviation remains dependent on petroleum-based jet fuel, leaving airlines exposed to geopolitical events over which they have little control.

Fuel price volatility is only one of the challenges confronting the aviation industry. At the very moment operators are once again navigating uncertainty in conventional fuel markets, they are also preparing for increasingly ambitious international climate obligations. The implementation of the International Civil Aviation Organization's Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA), together with the European Union's expanding climate framework—including the ReFuelEU Aviation initiative and the continued evolution of the EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS)—signals a fundamental shift in the economics of commercial aviation."  Finish reading Here.

07/08/2026   Sustainable aviation fuel tax credit fails the climate test  -  Opinion - CAPITOL WEEKLY, DANIEL A. LASHOF: “Aviation is one of the most difficult sectors to decarbonize. The world will need cleaner fuels, more efficient aircraft, operational improvements and eventually new technologies to reduce aviation’s climate impact. - Sustainable aviation fuel, or SAF, will likely play a role in that transition. But not every policy designed to promote SAF will deliver meaningful environmental benefits.”  Read it Here.

07/03/2026   Drones and National Security: What to Expect from Congress and Federal Agencies - From  Holland & Knight LLP  -  "Highlights:

• The fiscal year 2027 National Defense Authorization Act and Defense Appropriations bills, currently working their way through the U.S. Congress, contain numerous counter-unmanned aircraft systems provisions, as well as drone security measures.
• The Federal Aviation Administration, Federal Communications Commission and U.S. Department of Justice have been actively engaged with implementing measures to mitigate risks caused by those seeking to do harm in the U.S. using drones.
• Stakeholders should be aware that unauthorized drone operations that occur over or near upcoming large-scale activities - such as the ongoing FIFA World Cup matches, America 250 celebrations and similar events - will face stiff penalties.

Federal agencies and the U.S. Congress are addressing drone-related security risks with new regulatory actions, enforcement measures and funding initiatives already underway. -  The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and Federal Communications Commission (FCC) have proposed measures to address security issues concerning operations of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS or drones), as described in a recent Holland & Knight alert.  -  In addition to FAA and FCC measures concerning civil aircraft operations, members of Congress have been active in addressing potential drone threats or risks with numerous counter-unmanned aircraft systems (cUAS) provisions, as well as drone security measures, in the fiscal year (FY) 2027 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) and Defense Appropriations bills. -  The federal government is likely to increase its interest and actions in taking measures to address... "   Continue Here.

07/03/2026   -  DOT Regulation Clarifies Rulemaking, Guidance and Enforcement Procedures, Increasing Transparency - From NBAA - "The Department of Transportation (DOT) recently published a final rule, “Administrative Rulemaking, Guidance, and Enforcement Procedures,” which applies to all DOT agencies, including the FAA.

The final rule covers three main areas:

• Rulemaking processes, restoring transparency and public input mechanisms
• Guidance issuance, requiring explicit disclaimers that guidance is interpretive rather than regulatory, reinforcing protection against enforcement overreach
• Enforcement procedures, restoring DOT-wide enforcement norms and creating a formal process to request DOT general counsel review of specific enforcement actions

Greg Reigel, a partner at Shackelford, McKinley & Norton, LLP, and co-chair of NBAA’s Regulatory Issues Advisory Group, said the guidance portion of the regulation is likely to have the most visible impact on the aviation industry.

“The final rule doesn’t change existing policy regarding agency guidance; it reinforces that guidance documents are exactly that – guidance,” said Reigel. “Guidance material reflects how an agency views or approaches an issue, or it provides direction for internal personnel. It is not binding, and that has not changed.

“Now, when agencies issue guidance, they will include additional clarifying language stating that the guidance is not regulatory in nature, is not binding – it reflects the agency’s interpretation, and provides citations to applicable statutes and regulations,” Reigel explained. “As always, for compliance purposes, stakeholders need to look to the statutory and regulatory language.”  Continue Reading Here

07/02/2026    RCO SERVICE  -  Updated   -  The FAA published a Federal Register Notice in 2025 notifying the public of its intent to decommission the entire RCO network in the CONUS. After numerous public comments and the results of a Safety Panel, the FAA revised its approach and will retain 262 RCOs until technology allows for further reductions.  Remote communications outlets in 674 locations will be decommissioned beginning in late fiscal year 2026. Notices to Airmen (NOTAMs) will be issued as each frequency is decommissioned. Frequencies in Alaska and those designated for emergency or military use are not included.

Active CONUS FS Frequencies

• RCOs to be Decommissioned
• FS RCO Service Volumes for 2,500' and 5,000' AGL
• FS RCO Decommissioning Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

President Richard Nixon boards Army One upon his departure from the White House after resigning the office of President of the United States following the Watergate Scandal in 1974. (Ollie Atkins, National Archives)

6/29/2026    Sikorsky Helicopter That Flew Presidents Nixon, Kennedy, Johnson, Ford Gets Full Restoration - From Military.com - "A June 29 ceremony for a new education center coincides with a project to spruce up a classic aircraft. - On Monday, June 29, the library located in Yorba Linda, Calif., is scheduled to formally announce and reveal plans to build a new educational center on its campus. That news coincides with a grand sendoff of the six-ton Sikorsky VH-3A “Sea King” presidential helicopter as it temporarily departs the campus for a complete restoration at March Field Air Museum in Riverside, Calif. --  That completely-restored helicopter is slated to return in 2028 as a centerpiece of the new building. The Sikorsky model served from 1961 to 1976 as what the library described as a "flying Oval Office" for Presidents John F. Kennedy, Lyndon B. Johnson, Richard Nixon and Gerald Ford. It also transported multiple heads of state, vice presidents and other guests of note to cities throughout the United States and across the globe.

"This is by far one of the most historic helicopters to have ever taken to the skies. ... Its full restoration will ensure that this important piece of history is properly preserved with its doors open to visitors, and it is fitting that this restored helicopter will serve as the centerpiece of a new, interactive learning center dedicated to teaching younger generations about our country's systems of government," Jim Byron, president and CEO of the Richard Nixon Foundation, told Military.com."  Much more data Here.

A CH-47 Chinook assigned to 1st Battalion, 228th Aviation Regiment out of Soto Cano Air Base, Honduras, hovers near Belize Defence Force and Belize Coast Guard safety boats for helocast practice during AGILE BEAR 25, Belize City, Belize, Aug. 6, 2025. The exercise aims to strengthen the readiness of U.S. and partner nation forces to respond effectively during a disaster and in countering transnational criminal organizations through various events. (Sadie Colbert/U.S. Air Force)
Read more at: https://www.stripes.com/opinion/2026-06-24/chinook-upgrades-beneficial-fund-22065296.html
Source - Stars and Stripes

06/28/2026   CH-47 Chinook is the heavy lift we can’t afford to lose  -  From Stars and Stripes 2026  -  Reprinted here with the permission of the author
https://www.stripes.com/opinion/2026-06-24/chinook-upgrades-beneficial-fund-22065296.html

 ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Tom Lasser, a retired U.S. Army lieutenant colonel, is a Vietnam War veteran and served 40 years in the military, logging more than 3,000 hours in the CH-47 Chinook. 

 The rhythmic thump-thump of the Chinook’s tandem rotors is a core memory that has played in my mind since my days as a Chinook aviator during the Vietnam War. In those days, the CH-47 was our lifeline. It carried the ammunition that kept our outposts alive and the reinforcements that turned the tide of battle. Decades later, as a retired pilot with over 6,000 flight hours, I can tell you that while the world has changed, our need for that heavy-lift “workhorse” hasn’t.

 Yet, today, we find ourselves at a precarious crossroads. For several years, the U.S. Army has hesitated to make a full commitment to the Block II program. Leadership is working hard to determine the needs of future battles and lean more heavily into unmanned systems and other technologies that reduce risk to human life. It’s an ambitious undertaking, and certainly worthwhile. However, to hesitate on current and near-future needs in favor of technology that isn’t ready for battle would also pose a significant risk to current soldiers, as well as civilians. It would also be a direct obstruction of national defense efforts and our domestic resilience. 

 The Chinooks I flew in the 1960s were marvels of engineering, but they cannot survive on the modern battlefield. The threats today, from sophisticated electronic warfare to advanced anti-aircraft systems, require more than just a sturdy airframe. That’s what sets the CH-47F Block II apart. It isn’t just a minor update; it is a critical evolution.

With a redesigned fuel system, a strengthened drivetrain, and the ability to lift an additional 4,000 pounds, the Block II successfully performs critical missions that previous models of the Chinook could not even attempt. 

 Beyond the battlefield, the Chinook is an indispensable tool for domestic disaster response. During my decades-long service in the California National Guard, I saw firsthand how this aircraft serves as a first responder of the skies. When wildfires ravage our West Coast or hurricanes devastate our shorelines, the Chinook is often the only platform capable of delivering massive amounts of food, water and medical supplies to isolated communities.

 We cannot wait for a crisis to realize our fleet is aging. The CH-47F Block II’s digital backbone allows it to integrate emerging technologies like Degraded Visual Environment (DVE) sensors. This means pilots can fly safely through thick smoke or torrential rain; conditions where older models might be grounded. For a family waiting on a rooftop for rescue, those technological leaps are a matter of life and death.

 The current strategy of relying on foreign military sales to keep the production line alive, as the Army starts and stops its procurement requests, is a recipe for disaster. An inconsistent demand will likely lead to key suppliers exiting the marketplace, leading to severe readiness issues for the Army and an erosion of our defense industrial base. 

 Lawmakers and veterans alike are right to be concerned when funding is cut to fill other holes in the budget, hoping Congress will backstop the program later. Our allies are already investing in the Block II because they recognize its unique value. A sustained commitment to the Chinook’s production and modernization from the Army would signal to additional foreign partners that the Army believes in this American-made helicopter, and so should they.

The Chinook is an innovative, effective and iconic piece of military machinery. It’s the strongest and safest heavy-lift helicopter in the world. With its latest upgrade to the Block II formation, it’s formidable as well as functional. It’s a system that the Army can’t do without both in foreign and domestic capacities.

 **********

The leadership of today owes it to the aviators of tomorrow – and the citizens they will protect – to ensure that when the call for help comes, the thump-thump of the Chinook is there to answer it.

 Cory Ertel - Government Operations - 571-243-9147 (C)  cory.j.ertel@boeing.com  -  Boeing

06/28/2026    CATCHING UP with EAGLE -  Eliminate Aviation Gasoline Lead Emissions - EAGLE is a comprehensive government-industry initiative consisting of the aviation and petroleum industries including NATA, AOPA, FAA, API, GAMA, NBAA, and others and U.S. government stakeholders, and a wide range of other constituents and interested parties, all working to eliminate the use of leaded aviation fuels for piston-engine aircraft in the United States by the end of 2030 (2032 for Alaska) without adversely impacting the safe and efficient operation of the existing GA fleet.

HEADLINES (STARTING Feb 2025)  -  You can access more info at:  FlyEAGLE.org

06/28/2026    FAA, Coast Guard Disagree on D.C. Airspace Safety - From FLYING - "Agency says data does not support the claim that recent changes harmed safety for helicopter operators. - The FAA and U.S. Coast Guard disagree on the safety of the airspace near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (KDCA) in D.C. following major changes the regulator recently implemented. - The FAA in January published an interim final rule that would permanently restrict nonessential helicopter and powered-lift aircraft operations in certain areas near KDCA, building on updates it made to the airport’s helicopter routes and zones in October. For example, helicopter Route 3 over the Wilson Bridge—which intersected the route that planes use to approach the airport’s runway 1—was replaced by the Bridge Creek Transition, a less direct route further from fixed-wing traffic.

Three members of the Coast Guard, speaking during a Transportation Research Board (TRB) meeting earlier this month, said the agency failed to adequately roll out these changes, which they said actually raise the likelihood of a collision between helicopters. - The FAA implemented the changes to deconflict helicopter and fixed-wing traffic after the fatal January 2025 collision between a U.S. Army Black Hawk and commercial airliner over the Potomac River. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has since issued a laundry list of recommendations, several of which the FAA in May said it adopted. - “It wasn’t mitigating the overall risk, it was just transferring that risk elsewhere,” said Commander Nate Rhodes, a senior Coast Guard pilot assigned to the national capital region (NCR) air defense facility that is tasked with safeguarding the skies over Washington, D.C."  Read More Here.

06/26/2026   Congress weighs aviation safety upgrades after series of close calls  -  Fox - Click this link: https://foxbaltimore.com/news/nation-world/congress-weighs-aviation-safety-upgrades-after-series-of-close-calls-rotor-act-alert-act-adsb-runway-incursions-faa-ntsb-air-traffic-controllers

06/24/2026  A good mental workout - From AOPA - "I hate generative AI. Students cheat with it, professionals make it write inane emails, and companies are raking in billions with the promise of replacing nearly all of us in the office. - Lest you think I’m a complete curmudgeon dinosaur, I marvel at new technology. I find jets, fly-by-wire, autoland, and autothrottles incredibly cool. However, I choose to fly an airplane without an electrical system. -  For the average home user, AI’s advertising pitch is focused on making our lives easier. I don’t remember asking for my life to be easier. I don’t need to have my groceries delivered this afternoon, or my toothpaste from Amazon via drone in an hour. It’s not like life is particularly difficult. We have an abundance of food choices without having to farm or hunt, our TVs have years’ worth of content, and everything from our toothbrushes to our cars is automated."  Continue Here.

06/24/2026   Drones Might Use Radio Calls for Separation at Non-Towered Airports - From AvBrief.com - "If Georgia Tech scientists are right you could eventually be mixing it up with autonomous drones that use a listen and avoid technique in the pattern at untowered airports. The researchers are figuring out how to make the drones make sense of position reports in the pattern and near the airport so they can stay out of the way of crewed aircraft. “This is how humans have operated safely for decades around these airports. So, if we start flying robots here, they should operate in the same way,” Sundhar Vinodh Sangeetha, a robotics Ph.D. student and first author of the study, told the university’s engineering journal. “We humans shouldn’t have to change the way we act because there’s a robot operating around us. That was a big motivation.”  Finish Reading Here.

Ed Bolen -NBAA President & CEO

06/20/2026   Q&A With NBAA Chief Ed Bolen - By John Persinos |- Aviation Tech Today - "This week, John Persinos interviewed Ed Bolen, president and CEO of the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA).  -  NBAA is widely regarded as the leading voice for business aviation in the United States. Founded in 1947 and headquartered in Washington, D.C., NBAA represents thousands of companies, aircraft operators, manufacturers, service providers, airports, universities, and government organizations that rely on business aviation. John’s questions are in bold.-  Electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft are moving from prototype to certification and early deployment. What do you see as the biggest hurdles to integrating eVTOL operations into the existing business aviation ecosystem over the next five years?

As eVTOL, advanced air mobility (AAM) aircraft and unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) move from certification into commercial deployment, I believe the biggest challenge over the next five years will be maintaining America’s leading position as the global leader in aerospace through safe and timely integration, both on the ground and in the air.  -  On the ground, we need to continue developing the infrastructure to support AAM and eVTOLs. That includes developing vertiports, charging capabilities, maintenance facilities and the operational systems necessary to support this new category of aircraft.   Read More Here.

06/20/2026   Expert Interview: AI, AAM, eVTOL…and More - By John Persinos | - Aviation Tech Today - "A Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society, Adams authored The Robot in the Simulator (2024), widely regarded as the first book focused on AI best practices in aviation training. He also served as Lead Editor on the President’s AAM Safety Brief, placing him at the center of the industry’s evolving conversation around advanced air mobility and operational safety.

Adams has held senior communications and editorial roles with major aerospace and technology organizations including CAE, Raytheon, and Singer-Link Flight Simulation. For several years, he was chair of the Pilot Training conference at the World Aviation Training Summit. The following is a transcript of his discussion with John Persinos, edited for concision. Questions are in bold."   Read it Here.

06/19/2026    A MOSAIC of Possibilities - From AvBrief.com - "When the Modernization of Special Airworthiness Certification (MOSAIC) rule was first proposed, the big excitement was about old folks like me being able to sidestep the increasingly onerous medical toll that our golden years exact and keep flying the planes we’re used to flying as Light Sport pilots. There was much ado about the stall speed requirements and which aircraft would be captured by it. - With a few exceptions, most lower-end certified designs managed the 59/61 knot dirty and clean minimums and I’m sure we’ll see thousands of folks in my demographic reasonably squeezing a few more years out of a lifetime passion with reasonable limits and access. - As the wrangling over a few knots and a few more types grabbed the headlines, there was a steady drumbeat in the background about the opportunities for new technologies and modern designs to be introduced by the rule. Those of us who’ve been around for awhile have heard that siren song before and what sometimes results is the evaporation of billions in investor capital with little or nothing to show for it. - Fortunately, some people read the fine print of the rule, which will be finalized for the certification of aircraft on July 24 at AirVenture, and realized that there was actually something to this notion of bringing new tech to market under this new set of rules. The pilot and mechanics’ standards were set at last year’s AirVenture."  Much more Here.

Back Country Flying - [Courtesy RAF]

06/19/2026    This Week in GA: Improving Access - From AvBrief.com -  "The Recreational Aviation Foundation (RAF) has kicked off the summer with its vow to continue “Expanding the Map,” something the organization has done extraordinarily well in its 23-plus years of defending and rehabilitating airfields and backcountry strips alike. - They’ve started with Taylor Flat Airstrip (TF9) near Dutch John, Utah, which has been officially reopened after 28 years of disuse. Thanks to a cooperative effort between the RAF and Utah Back Country Pilots (UBCP), TF9 welcomes pilots with remote camping deep in the Utah canyonlands, with close proximity to the Green River, just a quarter-mile stroll away. - You can read a little more Here.

06/19/2026   Military Was Jamming GPS Before Air Ambulance Hit Mountaintop - From AvBrief.com - "GPS jamming by the military has been cited in the crash of an air ambulance in New Mexico last month. In its preliminary report on the crash, which killed both pilots and two nurses on the King Air, the NTSB says the crew repeatedly lost GPS service as they tried to get to Sierra Blanca Regional Airport to pick up a patient. They finally requested an ILS approach to the field. After notifying ATC..."  Continue Here.

06/16/2026    America’s Largest Drone Delivery Service Just Got Larger - From FLYING - "Wing will serve more Walmart customers in California, Arizona, Utah, Louisiana, Tennessee, and Pennsylvania. - Walmart—which owns the nation’s largest drone delivery service through a partnership with Alphabet’s Wing—this week announced plans to extend its operations in Texas and Georgia to seven new markets amid a push to serve 10 percent of the U.S. population by 2027. - The partners in January revealed ambitious plans to offer drone delivery out of 270 Walmart locations..."   Read More Here.

06/16/2026   Mullin Would Divert Airport Customs To Help ICE Operations - From AvBrief.com - " Secretary of Homeland Security Markwayne Mullin says he’ll pull Customs and Border Protection agents from airports if he thinks they’re needed to support Immigration and Customs Enforcement personnel in the cities those airports serve. Appearing on CNN on Sunday, Mulling elaborated on earlier statements regarding the potential removal of Customs services at airports in so-called “sanctuary cities,” which include the largest airports in the country at New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago."  Details Here.

06/16/2026   FAA Proposes New Regulation to Enable Companies to Request Drone Flight Restrictions Near Fixed-Site, Critical Infrastructure Facilities - From Lexology - "

• Comments due July 6, 2026. Under its proposed 14 C.F.R. Part 74, operators and proprietors of fixed-site (permanent, non-mobile), critical infrastructure (defined by statute and regulation) facilities could request the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to restrict unmanned aircraft (drone) operations near such facilities.
• FAA-Approved Unmanned Aircraft Flight Restrictions (UAFR) would define airspace in which drone operations would be restricted, subject to narrow exceptions. UAFRs would not physically impede drone operations or empower facility operators and proprietors to interfere with drone operations through detection or mitigation measures, though those with lawful independent authority could do so.
• Companies across a broad range of sectors could apply for UAFR. Potentially eligible facilities include: energy production, transmission, and distribution facilities; oil refineries; chemical facilities; transportation (rail, aviation, marine, and pipeline) facilities; commercial facilities that draw large crowds (e.g., for entertainment, shopping, lodging); and facilities in the communications, information technologies, critical manufacturing, emergency services, food and agriculture, healthcare and public health, nuclear, water, and wastewater.
• Potential environmental impacts and public safety threats from drone attacks are central considerations "   Details Here.

06/16/2026   Pennsylvania Bill Would Create New Aviation Trust Fund - From AvWeb -  The AIR Act would raise aviation fuel taxes, add aircraft registration fees and dedicate a portion of state sales tax collections to aviation programs. - Under the bill, 0.425% of state sales and use tax collections would be deposited annually into the Aviation Trust Fund. Aviation gasoline taxes would increase to 24 cents per gallon beginning July 1, 2027, and jet fuel taxes would rise to 8 cents per gallon beginning Jan. 1, 2027. - Other funding sources would include private aviation facility licensing and inspection fees, aviation-related penalties, interest, state aircraft use reimbursements, airport rents, airport fees and proceeds from the sale of state-owned airport property."   Read More Here.

06/15/2026    B-52 Down in 'Unsurvivable' Crash at Edwards AFB (Updated) - AvBrief.com  -  VIDEO - TERRIBLE DISASTER at Edwards - B-52 Takeoff Crash at the Base - Story Here.

06/15/2026   Moses Lake AirPlant Opens As First U.S. Commercial Facility To Make Jet Fuel From CO2, Electricity - From Source One - VIDEO - "MOSES LAKE — A new Moses Lake facility is now producing commercial-scale sustainable aviation fuel made from carbon dioxide, renewable electricity and water, marking what company officials say is a first for the United States. - Twelve officially opened AirPlant One on Wednesday, June 10, in Moses Lake. The company said the facility is the first commercial-scale plant in the country to produce E-Jet fuel, a power-to-liquid sustainable aviation fuel made from CO2 and renewable electricity. The facility will also produce E-Naphtha, a chemical building block used in products such as plastics, packaging, solvents and synthetic fibers."  Finish Reading Here.

FLIGHT IN THE BAHAMAS (credit: Glenn Watson)

06/14/2026   The Bahamas Are Clearly a Pilot’s Paradise - From FLYING - "Discover the Caribbean nation for an unforgettable flying adventure. - The Bahamas are a world-renowned pilot destination for many reasons, including crystal blue waters, white sand beaches, and an unrivaled opportunity for tranquility. The island you choose to visit during a trip largely depends on the mixture of adventure and relaxation that you’re looking to enjoy. -  The Bahamas consists of more than 700 islands, with 16 recognized major ones. The farthest from the U.S., Inagua, is more than 500 miles southeast of Florida, which may be a fun option for pilots looking to make a long-haul flight or wanting to continue to additional Caribbean nations.  -

Many of the country’s exotic fly-in locations are much closer to home. Bimini is the nearest chain of islands from Florida and is only about 50 miles from its most eastern shore. There are countless other islands within a short flight, including those in the Abacos and Berry islands, both of which are within a few hours flight of the Sunshine State. -  The Bahamas sport 54 airports identified in their official guide that are distributed throughout the country. Like in the U.S., airports range from publicly owned facilities to private ones you can visit with prior permission. There are also private airports not accessible by anyone other than their owner, which is noted on sectional charts for easy reference. -  Bimini Islands - Bimini boasts three main islands, which are referenced by South, North, and East prefixes. There are less than 3,000 residents in total, and Bimini is a convenient destination for U.S. pilots that’s known for pelagic adventures, namely snorkeling, scuba diving, and sport fishing.  -  The richness of marine life around Bimini makes for several notable things to check out. You can swim with dolphins, stingrays, and even sharks. Visitors can learn more about..."  Explore the world that the Bahamas Presents by continuing Here.

06/10/2026   Ballon Pilots Complete Landmark Journey Across Atlantic & Make History - From Bangor Daily News - "The Atlantic Explorer hydrogen balloon has made history with a successful trans-Atlantic flight, landing safely in Luxembourg after a 70-hour journey from Presque Isle, Maine. Piloted by Bert Padelt, Alicia Hempleman-Adams and Peter Cuneo, it is the first hydrogen balloon to cross the Atlantic, and Hempleman-Adams is the first woman to achieve the feat in a gas balloon. Their accomplishment follows several years and multiple attempts, highlighting their perseverance and dedication to ballooning."  Story Here

06/10/2026   DOT Regulation Clarifies Rulemaking, Guidance and Enforcement Procedures, Increasing Transparency - From NBAA - "The Department of Transportation (DOT) recently published a final rule, “Administrative Rulemaking, Guidance, and Enforcement Procedures,” which applies to all DOT agencies, including the FAA. - The final rule covers three main areas:

• Rulemaking processes, restoring transparency and public input mechanisms
• Guidance issuance, requiring explicit disclaimers that guidance is interpretive rather than regulatory, reinforcing protection against enforcement overreach
• Enforcement procedures, restoring DOT-wide enforcement norms and creating a formal process to request DOT general counsel review of specific enforcement actions

Greg Reigel, a partner at Shackelford, McKinley & Norton, LLP, and co-chair of NBAA’s Regulatory Issues Advisory Group, said the guidance portion of the regulation is likely to have the most visible impact on the aviation industry."  Read the data Here.

06/10/2026   InFO 26009, United States Geological Survey (USGS) Volcanic Observatory Notification for Aviation (VONA), is published. -
This InFO provides information on a new notification system from State Volcanic Observatories (SVO) concerning volcanic ash alerts that are critical for aviation safety. - The InFO can be viewed by downloading the attached .pdf files or by clicking on the following link, https://www.faa.gov/other_visit/aviation_industry/airline_operators/airline_safety/info/all_infos -

• InFO26009.pdf

06/10/2026   OPINION | J. KELLY ROBBINS: Small airports matter to agriculture - From Arkansas Democrat Gazette - "Arkansas is the nation's rice leader. We produce nearly half of all American rice and export more than $400 million worth of rice annually to markets across the globe. This is more than just a number. It represents thousands of family farms, millions of hours of skilled labor, and a critical piece of America's food security and export economy. - Although current economic conditions are deeply concerning, we know Arkansas' success depends on infrastructure that often goes unnoticed: the small airports and general aviation network that help keep our rice crops healthy, productive, and competitive. - Here's why: Arkansas rice is grown in a unique environment. Much of it is cultivated in flooded fields, a method essential for controlling weeds and managing the crop. Once those fields are flooded, traditional ground-based farm equipment can't..."   Read More Here.

06/09/2026   The FAA recently added the following to the AIP Program Guidance Letters (PGLs) page on the FAA website:

PGL 26-04, Incentive Payments for Early Completion of Certain Projects
See also the Optional Checklist for Incentive Payment for Early Completion.

Thank you, FAA Office of Airports Planning and Programming

06/09/2026   FDA Announced It Is Seeking Public Comment on Its Intent to Remove the 510(k) Clearance Requirement for Federally Regulated Drug Testing Programs - U.S. Department of Transportation sent this bulletin at 06/09/2026 09:30 AM EDT - Current state and proposed changes are described. Public Comment Due by June 30, 2026.  See the notice Here.

06/09/2026   Updated entry procedures in effect in Mexico - From AOPA - "Say goodbye to the 180-day authorization - Just as pilots were getting used to the "Single Entry Authorization" procedures implemented in early 2024, the Mexican Federal Civil Aviation Agency (AFAC) has introduced an update for foreign-registered aircraft. Effective May 13, the previous 180-day authorization was rolled back; AFAC now requires that every domestic and international flight receive prior authorization from its central office in Mexico City before it can operate. - Under the previous process, operators requested authorization from local AFAC offices at airports; as of May 13, flight plans can no longer be coordinated with airport command authorities until the central office in Mexico City provides its official approval, known as a "Vo.Bo." (Visto Bueno). - To obtain this approval, operators must submit a complete digital package that includes eight documents, including..."  Important Information if desiring to fly to Mexico - Read it Here.

06.09.2026   Dear Industry Colleague,

 FAA recently added the following to Airports Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) on the FAA website:

• Standard Operating Procedure 6.00 Addendum: FAA Review and Approval of a State Block Grant Program Grant Application

Thank you, FAA Office of Airports

06/09/2026  The FAA recently added the following to the Airport News and New Resources page on the FAA website:

• Presidential Temporary Flight Restriction (PTFR) Reimbursement Program
• Standard Operating Procedure 6.00 Addendum: FAA Review and Approval of a State Block Grant Program Grant Application (PDF)

Advisory Circulars

• May 2026 Addendum to Advisory Circular 150/5345-53D, Airport Lighting Equipment Certification Program
• FY 2026 Quarter 3 Addendum to Advisory Circular 150/5230-4C, Aircraft Fuel Storage, Handling, and Dispensing on Airports

Airport Improvement Program

• Draft AIP Handbook, Order 5100.38E - Comments requested by Aug. 17, 2026
• 2026 Military Airport Program Designees

Airports Engineering

• Precision Approach Path Indicator (PAPI) Power and Control Assembly (PCA) Siting Clarification Update (2026) (PDF)
• FAA Review of Plans and Specifications (P&S) for Federally Funded Projects (2026) (PDF)
• Video: Dangers of Building Near Airports
• Updated Runway Incursion Mitigation (RIM) Location Inventory

Buy American Program

• Nationwide and Project-Specific Buy American Waivers (as of May 26, 2026)

Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act

• Fiscal Year 2026 Airport Terminal Program Selections
• Fiscal Year 2026 FAA Contract Tower Program Recommended Selections

Part 139 Airport Certification and SMS

• Updated Part 139 Airport Certification Status List (as of June 3, 2026)
• Updated Safety Management Systems FAQs: Questions 11 and 16

Passenger Facility Charge Program

• May 2026 PFC Monthly Reports

Thank you! FAA Office of Airports

06/06/2026   LA County Aviation Commissioner Rudy Villarreal to resign soon. - That is the report SCAUWG.ORG received from a knowledgeable source.  Congratulations are offered as he was the successful candidate for Lakewood City Council District 2 in this past June 2nd election.   See:  https://ballotpedia.org/Rudy_Villarreal_(Lakewood_City_Council_District_2,_California,_candidate_2026) - Though we are happy to announce his victory, if in fact he does resign his commissioner seat, he will be missed as Commissioner Villarreal brought an important contribution of aviation professionalism to the commission.

06/05/2026   Governor Newsom announces expansion of the world’s largest civilian aerial firefighting fleet: deployment of fourth C-130 H airtanker and new helitack base - From Governor's Press Office - "The newest additions to California’s aerial firefighting fleet enter active service as hotter, drier season begins. - SACRAMENTO – Marking a significant advancement in California's wildfire preparedness, Governor Gavin Newsom today announced that the state’s fourth C-130 Hercules (C-130H) airtanker has entered active service. Alongside this deployment, the Governor celebrated the launch of California’s 11th Helitack base, which hosts the Sikorsky S70i Fire Hawk helicopter. Both resources will be stationed at the Ramona Airport in San Diego County, strategically integrating them into California’s world-leading aerial fleet. - Get a LOT of Details Here.

06/05/2026   CAL FIRE Aircraft Bases (as of 06/01/2026)

Fire Fighting Recognition Guide - Click on Image

The Complete Guide is available by Clicking Here

06/03/2026   NBAA Signs Onto Industry Coalition Statement Opposing DHS Proposal to Curtail CBP Airport Operations - From NBAA - Dan Hubbard - "Washington, DC, May 29, 2026 – The National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) today joined a coalition of leading aviation and travel organizations –  representing  airports, airlines, hotels and other business and consumer stakeholders – in urging the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to avoid actions that would significantly reduce Customs and Border Protection (CBP) operations at U.S. airport ports of entry.

The groups warned that disruptions at major international gateway airports would have nationwide consequences, negatively affecting travelers, businesses, supply chains and airport operations across the country.

“Any reduction in Customs and Border Protection operations at major U.S. gateway airports threatens to cause unnecessary chaos throughout the nation’s air transportation system,” the coalition’s statement reads. “International aviation networks are highly interconnected, and operational changes at a small number of gateway airports will quickly ripple across the country, negatively impacting travelers, cargo shipments, supply chains and the communities that depend on those connections. Airports and airlines rely on stable, predictable federal inspection services to keep people and commerce moving safely and efficiently. We urge DHS to avoid actions that would create unnecessary operational and economic consequences for communities nationwide. As the United States prepares for growing international travel demand, DHS should avoid actions that would create unnecessary bottlenecks and economic consequences for communities across the country. Now is the time to strengthen America’s gateway infrastructure, not weaken it.”

Recent news coverage about potential changes to CBP services underscores the value of NBAA customs resources for members, including information about preclearance requirements, waivers and the latest news on customs processes and procedures.

Specifically, the association recently introduced the updated NBAA GA Airport Fact Sheet resource, an authoritative information clearinghouse designed to support international travel planning and customs compliance. This member-only resource has been enhanced so that it provides near-real-time information about CBP facilities that provide business aviation services.

The following is the full list of organizations that have signed on to the statement:

• Airline Passenger Experience Association
• Airlines for America
• Airports Council International – North America
• American Association of Airport Executives
• American Hotel and Lodging Association
• Association of Value Airlines
• Cargo Airline Association
• Global Business Travel Association
• GREAT USA Coalition
• International Air Transport Association
• International Flight Services Association
• National Business Aviation Association
• National Retail Federation
• Regional Airline Association
• Travelers United
• U.S. Chamber of Commerce
• U.S. Travel Association"          

- Press Release from NBAA

06/02/2026   Some Airports Have Concerns About Electric Aircraft - From FLYING - "Government Accountability Office finds that most facilities are not quite ready for the new entrants. - At least one fixed-base operator (FBO) that is betting on electric air taxis believes the new aircraft will arrive several years after some manufacturers predict.- The Government Accountability Office (GAO) on Wednesday released a new report examining the infrastructure needs of future electric and hybrid-electric aircraft. Among the stakeholders GAO interviewed were two FBOs—Signature Aviation and Atlantic Aviation—that are pursuing a range of electrification projects at hubs nationwide, partnering with electric air taxi manufacturers such as Joby Aviation, Archer Aviation, and Beta Technologies. - At least one fixed-base operator (FBO) that is betting on electric air taxis believes the new aircraft will arrive several years after some manufacturers predict. - The Government Accountability Office (GAO) on Wednesday released..." Continue Reading More Here.

06/01/2026   Delta Pilot Arrested 20 Minutes Before Departure - VIDEO - From 74 Gear - 2019 Incident - Being handcuffed in uniform and walking through the airport is not how he saw this day going."  A lot of INSIDE AIRLINE INFO - See it on YouTube Here.

05/31/2026    Feds Mull Pulling Customs From New York, LA, Chicago, and Other Airports in ‘Sanctuary Cities’ - From AvBrief.com - "A controversial plan that would effectively ban most international flights at the U.S.’s largest gateway airports seems to be gathering momentum in Washington amid fears it would cause utter chaos as more than five million soccer fans get ready to visit the U.S., Canada, and Mexico for the World Cup. The Homeland Security Secretary has given several interviews in the last few days saying he’s thinking of removing Customs and Border Protection officers from airports in so-called sanctuary cities where local authorities do not assist federal immigration investigations. Among those cities are New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, and San Francisco, all major international hubs and key entry points for World Cup tourists. - Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin said no decision has been made but his department will be ready if it is. “We are currently—which we’re not initiating yet—but we’re currently drawing ‌up plans,” Mullin told Fox News. No government officials have given any rationale..."  Continue Reading Here.

05/31/2026   A better way to fix air traffic control - From Aviation Across America - "Former airline executive Robert Mann notes that a recent pro-privatization Washington Post editorial fails to address safety and staffing concerns raised over Canada’s privatized model"  - "“The dysfunction in U.S. air traffic control has an ultimate source” was right to press for faster modernization of air traffic control staffing, scheduling and technology. - One near-term fix to air traffic control is to reduce the unnecessary workload pushed onto controllers. Airlines already have tools to optimize day-of-flight trajectories, using modest en route speed adjustments to sequence and time arrivals well before final approach.

Canada’s privatized nonprofit model should not be treated as a cure-all; it does not make the system safer, solve staffing issues, or remove incentives. A 2024 white paper from Canadian pilots and controllers warned that chronic underinvestment had strained staffing, reduced redundancy and weakened the system’s long-term resilience. In testimony before Canada’s Parliament, the head of the Canadian Air Traffic Control Association said that controllers were already short-staffed by 13 percent before covid-19 and that NAV Canada was spending more than 100 million Canadian dollars a year on overtime. Today, NAV Canada remains short about 200 controllers and staffing constraints have contributed to repeated delay events. The International Civil Aviation Organization’s safety-oversight audit data also show Canada scoring below the United States across all audited categories, particularly aircraft operations."  Continue Here.

05/29/2026   GAO Flags Electric Aircraft Hurdles - From AVweb - "Airports cited questions involving power supply, charger standards, future revenue and demand. -  A Government Accountability Office (GAO) report released Wednesday detailed a series of issues facing electric aircraft deployment, including limited airport infrastructure, questions over future airport revenue and concerns from manufacturers over FAA staffing and certification standardization.

According to GAO, 47 U.S. airports had identified electric aircraft charging stations on airport layout plans as of December 2025, with 43 of those airports classified as nonhub or smaller facilities. GAO said 34 of the 47 airports were part of BETA Technologies’ charging network, which the company reported had 52 active airport charging stations and another 32 in progress. One airport told GAO the electrification portion alone for a planned vertiport would be in the $2 million range - The report also noted that airports are weighing how electric aircraft could affect revenue currently tied to..."    Continue Here.

05/25/2026   DOT, FAA Launch ATC Modernization Tracker - From AVweb - "Modern Skies site tracks FAA infrastructure work nationwide. -  The U.S. Department of Transportation and FAA have launched a new website showing air traffic control modernization projects under way across the country. The Modern Skies site will be updated monthly and is intended to track more than 10,000 projects tied to upgrades in communications, surveillance, automation, facilities, Alaska airspace and other systems. It includes a national project map, a progress tracker and a search tool that allows users to look up work by city, airport code, ZIP code, state or congressional district."  Continue

05/25/2026   Falcon Field Landing Fees Draw FAA Complaint, Federal Lawsuit - From AVweb.com - "Flight schools are asking the FAA and a federal court to halt Mesa’s landing fee program. -  Two flight schools based at Falcon Field Airport in Mesa, Arizona, have filed a joint FAA Part 13 complaint challenging the city’s planned landing fee program, scheduled to begin collecting landing data for billing purposes Aug. 1. The complaint was filed by CAE Aviation Academy and Thrust Flight and asks the FAA to review whether the fee structure complies with federal airport obligations, grant assurances and safety requirements.

Schools Raise Training Concerns

Thrust Flight CEO Patrick Arnzen said that, in addition to the federal action, the schools are also pursuing a separate local lawsuit.

“We filed the FAA Part 13 complaint because this issue goes way beyond one airport or one fee,” Arnzen said. “Increased costs could eventually fall on the students and that matters. But an equal and potentially even bigger concern is what happens to training quality and long-term safety when airports start discouraging the repetition pilots need to become truly proficient.”   Read More Here.

05/24/2026   LA County Assessor Touts Effort to Capture Taxes from Unassessed Aircraft - From City News Service - "An effort launched in January identified nearly 1,000 previously unassessed aircraft, which represent a combined $3.5 billion in new assessments for the 2026 tax year, Los Angeles County Assessor Jeff Prang announced Monday. - Prang is responsible for valuing all taxable property, both real and personal, which includes commercial aircraft such as those operating at Los Angeles International Airport, as well as privately owned planes used for general aviation that are based or regularly operated in the county. - In recent years, it’s been a challenge to accurately identify taxable aircraft. Additionally, Federal Aviation Administration rules have made it more difficult for local government agencies to identify aircraft activity and ownership, according to Prang’s office."  Read More Here.     Webmaster's Note:  SCAUWG.ORG is aware of at least one aircraft owner whose data contradicts the assessor's data.  It is alleged that the of the Assessor's data gathering sources is ADS-B, and that method might be abused, an invasion of personal rights, and that the data results may possibly be misinterpreted.

Special to SCAUWG.ORG.  "My understanding is that LAC implemented a program late 2025 where ADSB data is purchased from a company that sources ADSB history/location.  LAC is using this tool county wide and expects to round up 2 billion in property tax." - M.H.

05/22/2026   WHAT IS "PAPA" - And What Does it Have to do with PROPERTY TAXES?

The ISSUE: CAN ADS-B used to determine an Airplane's hangared location?

WHAT DOES papa Stand for?

 PAPA generally stands for the Property Appraiser Public Access portal. It is used to look up property values and exemptions, which form the basis for your local tax collection. [1, 2, 3] However, "at the federal level, momentum is building around the Pilot and Aircraft Privacy Act (PAPA). The bill would ban the use of ADS-B data for fee collection nationwide. It would also limit the use of ADS-B data to launch noncriminal investigations into pilots." - See Skyfarer Academy.com -   Implication- Can assessor use ADS-B data to assess property taxes an airplane owner owes, and just how fat back into the can that assessor gather personal information regarding the aviator?

Below is a breakdown of how it relates to tax collection:

• Property Valuation: Your local Property Appraiser assesses your home's value and issues a TRIM Notice (Notice of Proposed Property Taxes).
• Public Database: PAPA allows you to search these assessed values, square footage, and property taxes.
• Collection Process: The data produced by the appraiser is sent to your local Tax Collector, who officially bills and collects your property taxes. [1, 2, 3]

To look up your local property assessments or pay your property tax bill, use the official Miami-Dade County Property Appraiser or check your specific local county's government site. [1]

DOES PROPERTY TAX COLLECTION TO THE OWNERSHIP OF AN AIRPLANE?

 Yes, property tax collection directly relates to the ownership of an airplane because aircraft are legally classified as tangible personal property. [1, 2]

Unlike real estate (real property), airplanes are considered "unsecured" personal property. If your state or county levies a personal property tax, owning an aircraft means you will receive an annual property tax bill based on its assessed value. [1, 2, 3]

How the tax collection process interacts with aircraft ownership involves several specific mechanisms:

1. Determining Tax Jurisdiction (Situs)

Your property tax is not collected based on where you fly, but where the aircraft is regularly or habitually situated when not in flight (known as its "tax situs"). [1]

• The Base Airport: Taxes are billed by the local county or city where your hangar or tie-down spot is located.
• Tracking Ownership: Local tax assessors determine ownership and airplane locations by pulling data from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) registry, flight tracking logs, airport operator reports, and physical on-site airport audits. [1, 2, 3]

2. Annual Valuation and Assessment

Aircraft are appraised annually by the county assessor to determine their current fair market value. [1, 2]

• The Lien Date: Assessment is locked in on a specific date each year (for example, January 1st in California). If you legally own the plane on that exact date, you are responsible for the entire property tax bill for that upcoming year, even if you sell the aircraft the very next day.
• Valuation Methods: Tax collectors calculate the plane’s value using the initial purchase price, aircraft bluebook valuation guides, and recent sales data of comparable aircraft. [1, 2]

3. Exemption Loopholes to Note

Not every airplane owner pays standard property taxes. Depending on local laws, exemptions may apply:

• Business Inventory: Airplanes owned and held in inventory strictly for sale by a licensed dealer are generally exempt.
• Historical Significance: Many jurisdictions offer full property tax exemptions for aircraft of historical significance if they are properly maintained and displayed to the public.
• Recreational vs. Commercial: Some states (like Texas) only tax aircraft used for business, completely exempting personal, recreational planes. [1, 2, 3]

4. Double-Check Sales and Use Tax

Do not confuse annual property tax with the initial Sales and Use Tax. When you first purchase an airplane, you must pay a one-time sales tax (or use tax if bought out-of-state) based on the total purchase price. The annual property tax is a completely separate bill collected every year thereafter. [1, 2]

If you would like to look up specific tax rates or verify if your aircraft qualifies for an exemption, I can help you investigate further if you share:

• The state and county where your airplane is hangared
• The make, model, and age of the aircraft
• Whether it is used for personal recreation or business

SO, THE QUESTION IS, BEARING IN MIND THAT FAA ADMINISTRATOR BEDFORD has expressed clarity regarding the use of ADS-B with regard to the collection of Landing Fees, Can ADS-B be used by County Tax assessors to determine the hangared locations of individual aircraft?

This page (Page 5) was added on 06/05/2026.  To view prior commentary, see "Short Takes Page 4."