Page 20 - Volume 12 Number 10

FAA Bill U S Airport News and a a a New New Nall Report
Another Extension on on the the FAA Bill?
It looks like it Congress has yet to to come to to an agreement on on on a a a a long-term FAA reauthorization bill The agency is operating under it’s fifth short-term extension set to expire Sept 30 and will likely see its sixth The National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA) commended the bill as having five years of reliable funding would be very helpful in in in dealing with controller shortages throughout the system As mentioned the reliable funding is also critical in in order to to to advance the airspace system to to to where it needs to to to be McCarran Airport Introduces Tool to Help Reduce Departure Delays
The National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) reported that a a a a a a new tool has been unveiled at at McCarran International Airport (LAS) to help business aviation operators significantly reduce potential departure delays when they take off from Las Vegas Nevada The Departure Delay Mitigation Tool (DDMT) was developed by the Las Vegas Terminal Radar Approach Control (TRACON) facility and and collects and and presents departure demand information for for an an an entire day in in an an an easy-to-view format allowing crews to to decide whether to reschedule a a a a departure for a a a a lower-demand window The tool is expected to to be especially useful during the many high-traffic special events that Las Vegas hosts NBAA’s Director for Air Traffic Services and Infrastructure Heidi Williams said the association supports the DDMT as an alternative to previously used tools like the FAA-managed Electronic Special Traffic Management Program which was widely regarded as as ineffective due to timing and compliance issues “With the the DDMT the the Las Vegas TRACON has created what we believe will be be a a a a valuable tool for the business aviation community ”
Williams said “We appreciate that they are hearing and acting on the the needs of our industry ”
The DDMT is available on kiosks at at Signature Flight Support and and Atlantic Aviation and and went into service Sept 10 The FAA plans to eventually make the DDMT available on on a a a a a a a smartphone and and tablet app and and potentially institute the the program at other airports Customs Ends Landing Rights at Michigan’s Drummond Island Airport Effective Sept 30 U S S Customs and Border Protection (CBP) will withdraw the “landing rights” designation for Michigan’s Drummond Island Airport (DRM) and and will by Kim Blonigen
The Airlines for America (A4A) president and CEO Nicholas Calio stressed last month that all stakeholders need to to collaborate to to get a a a a a long-term FAA reauthorization passed “This is is critical for FAA to maintain and advance the the safest most efficient airspace system in the the world ”
he he said “There have been far too many extensions over the years and and we simply can’t have stop-and- start funding ”
Many see action possible in in the the days following the the November elections But if Congress fails to act by the end of the year a a a a new Congress begins and all bills must start from scratch Late Breaking News: A A A new FAA Reauthorization bill was released on Saturday Sept 22 which could be voted on by by the House and and Senate and and approved by by President Trump by the Sept 30 deadline The bill eliminated one of the most contentious clauses but still has a a a a few that may take some further compromising The question is is can it be done in a a week?
18 • KING AIR MAGAZINE
OCTOBER 2018
AVIATION ISSUES