Re: Senate Passes FAA Reauthorization Bill, 800 hr rule incl
So...to get back to the issue at hand...
Increased Fees:
(8) $50 for issuing an airman certificate.
(9) $25 for issuing a replacement airman certificate.
(10) $42 for issuing an airman medical certificate.
More money to get your licenses and medicals.
...big section on NextGen...
How long before this transition is finished? And how long before we actually get the appropriate number of controllers who can work the positions?
(a) In General- Not later than 6 months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator...shall begin to issue improved pilot licenses...
(2) include a photograph of the individual to whom the license is issued;
We get photo ID's now!
(a) In General- Not later than 3 months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration shall conclude arrangements with the National Academy of Sciences for a study of pilot fatigue.(b) Study- The study shall include consideration of--
(1) research on pilot fatigue, sleep, and circadian rhythms;
(2) sleep and rest requirements of pilots recommended by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board; and
(3) Federal Aviation Administration and international standards regarding flight limitations and rest for pilots.
(c) Report- Not later than 18 months after initiating the study, the National Academy of Sciences shall submit to the Administrator a report containing its findings and recommendations regarding the study under subsections (a) and (b), including recommendations with respect to Federal Aviation Administration regulations governing flight time limitations and rest requirements for pilots.
(d) Rulemaking- After the Administrator receives the report of the National Academy of Sciences, the Administrator shall consider the findings in the report and update as appropriate based on scientific data Federal Aviation Administration regulations governing flight time limitations and rest requirements for pilots.
[Emphasis mine]
This is the one that gets me. A
study? The FAA already has studies! They already have recommendations, and have had them for more than two decades! Unless there is a hard and fast rule that requires change to better conditions, I don't see anything coming of this. Which is a real shame.
(a) Establishment- The Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration may establish a pilot program to improve safety and efficiency by providing surveillance for aircraft flying outside of radar coverage in mountainous areas.
Does anybody know what this means? It's not included in the sections on NextGen or ADS-B, so I don't know exactly what they're referring to.
(a) An individual may not smoke in an aircraft--(2) in nonscheduled intrastate or interstate transportation of passengers by aircraft for compensation, if a flight attendant is a required crewmember on the aircraft.
No more secondhand smoke for 135 flight attendants.
Consumer complaint hotline
I wonder if that will be a force for good...or for evil...
Large airlines must notify passengers by text message or email if their flight is delayed.
While not a bad idea (and heck, most probably already do this), I wonder how long it'll be before we see ads saying "Look! Look at what we do!"
each United States air carrier should--(1) establish for all members of the Armed Forces on active duty reduced air fares that are comparable to the lowest airfare for ticketed flights; and
(2) offer flexible terms that allow members of the Armed Forces on active duty to purchase, modify, or cancel tickets without time restrictions, fees, and penalties and waive baggage fees for a minimum of 3 bags.
:clap:
(a) Interstate and Intrastate Air Transportation-(1) IN GENERAL- An individual may not engage in voice communications using a mobile communications device in an aircraft during a flight in scheduled passenger interstate air transportation or scheduled passenger intrastate air transportation.
(2) EXCEPTIONS- The prohibition described in paragraph (1) shall not apply to--
(A) a member of the flight crew or flight attendants on an aircraft; or
(B) a Federal law enforcement officer acting in an official capacity.
(c) Definitions- In this section, the following definitions apply:
(2) VOICE COMMUNICATIONS USING A MOBILE COMMUNICATIONS DEVICE-
(A) INCLUSIONS- The term ‘voice communications using a mobile communications device’ includes voice communications using--
(ii) a broadband wireless device or other wireless device that transmits data packets using the Internet Protocol or comparable technical standard;
Can't use Skype on that their Wifi equipped plane!
It'll be interesting to see what the study finds. I doubt much will change, but maybe we could see something that makes it tougher to get a commercial cert?
depending on where you are in Florida today
