http://www.faa.gov/news/fact_sheets/ Latest FAA.gov Fact Sheets en-us Material is not copyrighted. Sun, 22 Nov 2009 01:49:19 PM EST 60 Unmanned Aircraft Systems - previously referred to as "unmanned aerial vehicles," "UAVs,""remotely operated aircraft/ vehicles," or just "unmanned aircraft - come in a variety of shapes and sizes, and serve diverse purposes. They may have a wingspan as large as a Boeing 737 or smaller than a radio-controlled model airplane. Some can fly and navigate a substantial part of their flight autonomously and others are flown only remotely by a pilot. http://www.faa.gov/news/fact_sheets/news_story.cfm?newsId=6287 http://www.faa.gov/news/fact_sheets/news_story.cfm?newsId=6287 Fact Sheet Thu, 12 Nov 2009 12:00 AM EST If you've flown with a commercial airline, you know the drill. Turn off all pagers, electronic games, MP3 and CD players, laptops and the like once the cabin door is closed, until the plane gets above 10,000 feet. No using cell phones at any time while the plane is in the air. But do you know the real reasons why you have to follow these rules?There are still unknowns about the radio signals that portable electronic devices (PEDs) and cell phones give off. http://www.faa.gov/news/fact_sheets/news_story.cfm?newsId=6275 http://www.faa.gov/news/fact_sheets/news_story.cfm?newsId=6275 Fact Sheet Tue, 10 Nov 2009 12:00 AM EST The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) requires that commercial airports, regulated under Part 139 safety rules, have a standard Runway Safety Area (RSA) where possible. At most commercial airports the RSA is 500 feet wide and extends 1,000 feet beyond each end of the runway. The FAA has this requirement in the event that an aircraft overruns, undershoots, or veers off the side of the runway. http://www.faa.gov/news/fact_sheets/news_story.cfm?newsId=6279 http://www.faa.gov/news/fact_sheets/news_story.cfm?newsId=6279 Fact Sheet Thu, 29 Oct 2009 12:00 AM EST The reduction in the number and severity of runway incursions is one of the FAA's top priorities. The number of serious runway incursions - classified as Categories A and B - dropped by more than 63 percent from fiscal year 2000 through fiscal year 2008. In fiscal year 2009 - which ended Sept. 30 - there were 12 serious runway incursions, 50 percent fewer than the previous fiscal year. Two of the serious incursions involved commercial aircraft and were considered operational errors. http://www.faa.gov/news/fact_sheets/news_story.cfm?newsId=10166 http://www.faa.gov/news/fact_sheets/news_story.cfm?newsId=10166 Fact Sheet Thu, 8 Oct 2009 12:00 AM EST The Next Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen) is the Federal Aviation Administration's plan to modernize the National Airspace System (NAS) through 2025. Through NextGen, FAA is addressing the impact of air traffic growth by increasing NAS capacity and efficiency while simultaneously improving safety, reducing environmental impacts, and increasing user access to the NAS. http://www.faa.gov/news/fact_sheets/news_story.cfm?newsId=10856 http://www.faa.gov/news/fact_sheets/news_story.cfm?newsId=10856 Fact Sheet Wed, 7 Oct 2009 12:00 AM EST The Commercial Aviation Alternative Fuels Initiative (CAAFI) seeks to enhance energy resources and environmental sustainability for aviation through alternative jet fuels. CAAFI is a coalition of the U.S. commercial aviation community that acts as a focal point for engaging the emerging alternative fuels industry. It enables its diverse stakeholders to build relationships, share and collect needed data, identify resources, and direct research, development and deployment of alternative fuels. http://www.faa.gov/news/fact_sheets/news_story.cfm?newsId=10112 http://www.faa.gov/news/fact_sheets/news_story.cfm?newsId=10112 Fact Sheet Fri, 25 Sep 2009 12:00 AM EST The rugged terrain that makes Colorado a popular ski destination also makes it impossible for air traffic controllers to maintain radar surveillance over aircraft in certain areas.Limitations to aircraft operations are compounded by bad weather, which causes flight delays and cancellations. The Colorado Department of Transportation estimates an average of 75 aircraft are delayed each day at remote airports from November to April. http://www.faa.gov/news/fact_sheets/news_story.cfm?newsId=10810 http://www.faa.gov/news/fact_sheets/news_story.cfm?newsId=10810 Fact Sheet Tue, 22 Sep 2009 12:00 AM EST The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is strengthening the procedures used by air carriers, manufacturers, and the FAA to ensure that air carriers comply with Airworthiness Directives (ADs). A team of FAA and industry experts found that the processes for developing, issuing and implementing ADs work well, but uncovered areas where improvements could be made. http://www.faa.gov/news/fact_sheets/news_story.cfm?newsId=10803 http://www.faa.gov/news/fact_sheets/news_story.cfm?newsId=10803 Fact Sheet Thu, 17 Sep 2009 12:00 AM EST The FAA's Consistency and Standardization Initiative (CSI) - formerly the "Customer Service Initiative" - has given those affected by agency decisions a process they can use to ask for review at increasingly higher levels of the FAA with no fear of retribution.CSI began life as the Customer Service Initiative in 2004. http://www.faa.gov/news/fact_sheets/news_story.cfm?newsId=10802 http://www.faa.gov/news/fact_sheets/news_story.cfm?newsId=10802 Fact Sheet Thu, 17 Sep 2009 12:00 AM EST The Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) new Office of Audit and Evaluation is the focal point for public safety complaints and whistleblower contributions. It also handles relations with the U.S. Office of Special Counsel, the Government Accountability Office and the Department of Transportation's Office of Inspector General.The new office improves the FAA's ability to conduct candid self-examinations in aviation safety matters and questionable personnel practices. http://www.faa.gov/news/fact_sheets/news_story.cfm?newsId=10805 http://www.faa.gov/news/fact_sheets/news_story.cfm?newsId=10805 Fact Sheet Thu, 17 Sep 2009 12:00 AM EST