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FAA Awards Large, Long-Term Technical Support Contract
90-01
December 19, 2001
Contact: William Shumann
Phone: 202-267-3883
WASHINGTON - The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has awarded a $481.5-million, four-year contract for technical support to Parsons Corporation's Infrastructure & Technology Group of Pasadena, California. Parsons will assist the FAA in designing and building new facilities and upgrading existing ones.
The contract covers a wide range of equipment and structures that support the National Airspace System. These include computers, radars and landing aids.
The Technical Support Services Contract (TSSC) contains two three-year options that could extend it for up to ten years. If both options were exercised, the total value of the contract would be about $1.25 billion. Parsons will employ between 900 and 1,500 of its own employees as well as subcontractors.
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FAA Eases Flight Restrictions in 30 Major Metropolitan Areas
APA 89-01
December 19, 2001
Contact: William Shumann
Phone: 202-267-3883
WASHINGTON -- The U.S. Department of Transportation's Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced that it is restoring general aviation access to airspace in 30 major metropolitan areas today. The restrictions in Class B airspace have been in place around the busiest airports in the country since September 11, 2001.
"Today's action will allow most general aviation flights to resume their pre-Sept. 11 service," U.S. Transportation Secretary Norman Y. Mineta said. "This reinforces our commitment to getting America back to business while maintaining the highest standards of safety and security."
In 27 metropolitan locations, the current restrictions will end and return to normal Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations. In the three remaining areas - Washington, New York and Boston - increased access to the airspace will be provided, with some local restrictions around specific sensitive areas. For example, in Washington, a 15-statute-mile restricted area will be established with special accommodation for three small airports in that area.
Also, newsgathering, traffic watch, banner towing, blimp and commercial sightseeing VFR flights will be allowed to resume except where local restrictions apply.
"These are significant steps in our phased program safely and securely to restore full access to U.S. airspace," FAA Administrator Jane F. Garvey said.
As before, the FAA may impose Temporary Flight Restrictions (TFRs) over specific locations in other areas of the country in response to specific needs. Also, some restrictions remain on flights by private or general aviation aircraft registered in the U. S. and in other countries. VFR flight training is still limited to aircraft with a maximum weight of 12,500 pounds or less.
The TFRs for major professional and collegiate sporting events or any other major open-air assembly of people remain in effect. All flying continues to be prohibited within a three-nautical-mile radius of and 3,000 feet above such events, except as authorized by air traffic control.
As before, the FAA strongly urges VFR pilots flying in or near Class B airspace to check Notices to Airmen (NOTAMs) for TFRs and to call their local Flight Service Station at 1-800-WX-BRIEF before taking off.
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Pilots Notified of Restricted Airspace; Violators Face Military Action
APA 63-01
September 28, 2001
Contact: William Shumann
Phone: 202-267-3883
WASHINGTON - The FAA today alerted civilian pilots of their responsibility to avoid restricted airspace and the procedures to follow if intercepted, in light of the Department of Defense announcement that pilots near or in restricted or prohibited airspace face a forced landing, or as a last resort, use of deadly force by military aircraft.
New security decisions stemming from the terrorist atrocities of September 11, 2001 require that additional airspace be barred to civilian aircraft. The FAA anticipates announcing new restricted and prohibited areas throughout the United States. This additional airspace will be over areas that require protection for national security reasons. New and current restricted and prohibited areas will be revised periodically. Therefore, it is each pilot's responsibility to be aware of the latest restrictions before each flight.
Earlier, pilots who flew in restricted or prohibited areas received a warning from Air Traffic Control and then faced suspension or revocation of their licenses or a fine. Now a pilot faces interception by military aircraft and then a forced landing at the first available airport. The Department of Defense has stated that deadly force will be used only as a last resort after all other means are exhausted.
In such situations, it is critical that pilots strictly adhere to the interception procedures in the Aeronautical Information Manual and follow any instructions from the military pilots and air traffic controllers.
FAA Administrator Jane F. Garvey will be sending a letter to all U. S-registered pilots to ensure that each is aware of the new procedures.
The FAA is distributing a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) with this information. Other tools, such as the FAA's website and direct mail to airports, will also be used to contact pilots. Future NOTAMs will describe new restricted and prohibited areas and other changes in U. S. airspace. The agency will also make the many pilot groups aware of these changes.
A restricted area is a portion of airspace one that is closed to civil aircraft at specified times. A prohibited area is one in which civilian flying is prohibited at all times. The best-known example is the area over the Mall in Washington, DC that includes the White House and the Capitol.
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Some Restrictions Lifted on VFR Flight Training
0921
September 21, 2001
Contact: Bill Shumann
Phone: 202-267-3883
VFR Flight Training
WASHINGTON - The Federal Aviation Administration tonight lifted many of the restrictions placed on flight training operations conducted under Part 91 of the Federal Aviation Regulations. Flight training operations, along with many other elements of visual flight rules activity, have been grounded since September 11 in the wake of the attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon.
Flight training operations under visual rules may be conducted in single-and multi-engine, non-turbojet aircraft of less than 12,500 pounds'maximum gross takeoff weight. The training must takeplace outside enhanced Class B airspace. Training for piston-powered single- and twin-engine aircraft and helicopters may be conducted from airports within enhanced Class B airspace except in and around Boston and in the areas around Washington D.C. and New York City covered by temporary flight restrictions.
Sightseeing flights under Part 91 of the Federal Aviation Regulations also may resume, but must be conducted outside enhanced Class B airspace and the restricted airspace around Washington and New York.
The Notice to Airmen lifting the restrictions will be effective at 7 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time tomorrow.
Restrictions continue to apply to Part 91 VFR operations for banner towing, news reporting, traffic watch and airship/blimps.
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Wednesday, September 12, 2001
3:45 p.m. (EST)
Contact: Chet Lunner
Tel.: (202) 366-4570
DOT 93-01
Secretary of Transportation Norman Y. Mineta has announced the Federal Aviation Administration will allow a limited reopening of the nation's commercial airspace system in order to allow flights that were diverted yesterday to continue to their original destinations.
The Secretary also announced that the FAA is temporarily extending the ground stop order imposed yesterday while additional security measures are being completed.
"Safety is always of paramount importance, and in these extraordinary times we intend to be vigilant," Mineta said. "We remain committed to resuming commercial flights as soon as possible.
"As the President said last night, these despicable terrorist attacks have shaken the foundation of our greatest buildings, but have not shaken the foundation of this great nation," the Secretary said.
"As America watches the efforts of our heroic emergency responders and rescue personnel, we keep the victims and their families in our prayers," he also said.
Mineta said the FAA would permit flights today only in special limited circumstances. Flights diverted as a result of yesterday's order will be allowed to continue to their original destination under vastly tightened security guidelines. Only passengers on the original flights will be allowed to re-board, and only after airports and airlines have implemented strict screening measures. Airlines will also be allowed to reposition empty aircraft, he said.
Mineta said a variety of stepped-up security measures will be instituted at the airports once they re-open. These measures include:
- A thorough search and security check of all airplanes and airports before passengers are allowed to enter and board aircraft.
- We will discontinue curbside check-in at the airport. We would ask that all passengers go to the ticket counters to check in.
- We will also discontinue off-airport check in. We can no longer allow passengers to check in for their flights at hotels or other venues. Passengers must check in at the airports.
- We must reserve boarding areas for passengers only. Only ticketed passengers will be allowed to proceed past airport screeners to catch their flights.
- Vehicles near airport terminals will be monitored more closely.
"I know all Americans want us to move as quickly and prudently as possible to return our transportation system to normal," Mineta said, "and we will as soon as we can do so safely."
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FAA Gives Republic of Korea IASA Rating of Category 2
01-58
August 17, 2001
Contact: Paul Takemoto
Phone: 202-267-3883
WASHINGTON - The U.S. Department of Transportation's Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) today announced that the Republic of Korea does not comply with international safety standards set by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and has been given a Category 2 rating following a reassessment of the country's civil aviation authority. The Republic of Korea was previously rated Category 1.
Under the progressive leadership of the Minister of Construction and Transportation and the Director General of Civil Aviation, the government of the Republic of Korea has demonstrated its commitment to move quickly to correct the issues identified by the FAA's reassessment. The civil aviation authority of the Republic of Korea has already implemented several substantive reform measures and others are underway. The FAA will continue to remain engaged with the civil aviation authority as it continues work on its ambitious reform plan. The government of the Republic of Korea is placing high priority on accomplishing needed reforms. Putting these reforms into place will allow the civil aviation authority to fully meet international safety standards. The FAA will work closely with and support the government of the Republic of Korea as it works toward meeting this goal.
This announcement is part of the FAA's International Aviation Safety Assessment (IASA) program, under which the agency assesses the civil aviation authorities of all countries with air carriers that operate to the United States and makes that information available to the public.
The assessments are not an indication of whether individual foreign carriers are safe or unsafe. Rather, they determine whether or not foreign civil aviation authorities (CAA) are meeting ICAO safety standards, not FAA regulations.
Countries with air carriers that fly to the United States must adhere to the safety standards of ICAO, the United Nations' technical agency for aviation that establishes international standards and recommended practices for aircraft operations and maintenance.
The FAA, with the cooperation of the host civil aviation authority, assesses countries with airlines that have operating rights to or from the United States or have requested such rights.
Specifically, the FAA determines whether a foreign civil aviation authority has an adequate infrastructure for international aviation safety oversight as defined by ICAO Standards, including: 1) laws enabling the appropriate government office to adopt regulations necessary to meet the minimum requirements of ICAO; 2) current regulations that meet those requirements; 3) procedures to carry out the regulatory requirements; 4) air carrier certification, routine inspection, and surveillance programs, and 5) organizational and personnel resources to implement and enforce the above.
The FAA has established two ratings for the status of these civil aviation authorities at the time of the assessment: (1) does comply with ICAO standards, (2) does not comply with ICAO standards.
- Category 1. Does Comply with ICAO Standards: A civil aviation authority has been assessed by FAA inspectors and has been found to license and oversee air carriers in accordance with ICAO aviation safety standards.
- Category 2. Does Not Comply with ICAO Standards:
The FAA assessed this country's CAA and determined that it does not provide safety oversight of its air carrier operators in accordance with the minimum safety oversight standards established by ICAO. This rating is applied if one or more of the following deficiencies are identified: (1) the country lacks laws or regulations necessary to support the certification and oversight of air carriers in accordance with minimum international standards; (2) the CAA lacks the technical expertise, resources, and organization to license or oversee air carrier operations; (3) the CAA does not have adequately trained and qualified technical personnel; (4) the CAA does not provide adequate inspector guidance to ensure enforcement of, and compliance with, minimum international standards; and (5) the CAA has insufficient documentation and records of certification and inadequate continuing oversight and surveillance of air carrier operations. This category consists of two groups of countries.
- One group is countries that have air carriers with existing operations to the United States at the time of the assessment. While in Category 2 status, carriers from these countries will be permitted to continue operations at current levels under heightened FAA surveillance. Expansion or changes in services to the United States by such carriers are not permitted while in Category 2, although new services will be permitted if operated using aircraft wet-leased from a duly authorized and properly supervised U.S. carrier or a foreign air carrier from a Category 1 country that is authorized to serve the United States using its own aircraft.
- The second group is countries that do not have air carriers with existing operations to the United States at the time of the assessment. Carriers from these countries will not be permitted to commence service to the United States while in Category 2 status, although they may conduct services if operated using aircraft wet-leased from a duly authorized and properly supervised U.S. carrier or a foreign air carrier from a Category 1 country that is authorized to serve the United States with its own aircraft. No other difference is made between these two groups of countries while in Category 2.
The FAA has assisted civil aviation authorities with less than acceptable ratings by providing technical expertise, assistance with inspections, and training courses. The FAA hopes to work with other countries through ICAO to address non-compliance with international aviation safety oversight standards.
The FAA will continue to release the results of safety assessments to the public as they are completed. First announced in September 1994, the ratings are part of an ongoing FAA program to assess all countries with air carriers that operate to the United States.
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Call 1-800-320-5660 (US/Canada) or +1-303-858-6325 (Worldwide)
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