Agency Also Made Progress On NextGen With Implementation Underway

In the spirit of the new year, the DOT is spending some electrons on its blog highlighting the agency's accomplishments for the past 12 months. A recent post attributed to DOT secretary Ray LaHood shines the spotlight on what's been going on at the FAA.

Each year, millions of Americans travel safely through our skies thanks in large part to the work being done by the Federal Aviation Administration. The dedicated professionals at the FAA work tirelessly to ensure that America's aviation system is--and remains--the very best in the world. The FAA strives constantly to reach the next level of safety, efficiency, and environmental responsibility. And in 2011, that effort paid great dividends for air travelers.

Here is a brief sample of highlights:

• The FAA took a no-nonsense approach to cockpit laser strikes. In 2010, the number of reports of someone on the ground shining a laser into the cockpit of an airplane overhead increased. So, to protect passengers, flight crews, and people on the ground, the agency used a long-standing federal statute to impose civil penalties against those who point a laser into an aircraft. As part of the ongoing effort to prevent these safety threats, the FAA also launched a new website with statistics, research on the dangers lasers pose, and links for reporting laser incidents.
• The CAAFI program worked to reduce commercial jet fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. Because traditional fuel price fluctuations create industry uncertainty, the FAA established the Commercial Aviation Alternative Fuels Initiative partnership with government, industry, and academia working together to make alternative fuels a reality for commercial air travel. CAAFI has been working diligently to find efficient, cost-effective ways of powering aircraft, and in November, they reached a major milestone when United Airlines and Alaska Airlines flew the first-ever commercial domestic flights using a blend of biofuel and traditional jet fuel.
• Finalized new measures to prevent pilot fatigue. In December, the FAA overhauled outdated flight and duty rules to give commercial passenger pilots the opportunity to get the sleep they need to operate safely. Incorporating the latest research on alertness, sleep and fatigue, the new rule sets different requirements for pilot flight time, duty period, and rest based on the time of day pilots begin their first flight, the number of scheduled flight segments, and the number of time zones they cross.
• Continued developing NextGen procedures and technologies. The FAA continues making progress in the roll-out of NextGen, which is transforming our national airspace from a ground-based system to satellite-based navigation and air traffic control. This year, we made great strides toward implementing performance-based navigation, and operators continue to save time and fuel at airports across the country. In Seattle, the first phase of the Greener Skies project was completed, and the next phase of implementation is underway to bring additional NextGen benefits. 

DOT Secretary Ray LaHood said in the blog post that 2011 was another strong year for aviation safety ... "and I know that everyone at the FAA--in Washington and around the country--will stay laser-focused on ensuring the continued safety and success of our aviation system in 2012."

FMI: www.dot.gov