56
votes
Accepted
Who has final authority over Air Force One?
The pilot in command has final authority over Air Force One
Air Force Instruction 11-202, Volume 3 says the following in Chapter 1, part 1.1.1 (as in, the very first thing in the document):
1.1.1. ...
- 23k
41
votes
Accepted
Is it allowed to let the engine of an aircraft idle without a pilot in the plane. (For both helicopters and aeroplanes)
You won't see it done in the fixed wing world unless the aircraft is tied down or otherwise securely restrained (like when you tie off the tail to something when hand starting your no-starter ...
- 125k
35
votes
Accepted
FAA Aircraft Registration Form AC 8050-3 doesn't exist
That's because 8050-1 is the Aircraft Registration Application, and 8050-3 is the Certificate of Aircraft Registration.
You submit 8050-1, and the FAA sends you 8050-3.
- 71.5k
31
votes
How can I find my grandmother's OLD instrument rating documentation?
The FAA has an airmen inquiry search portal. I put Nathalie Brown and came up with Nathalie Myrtle Brown with the following details:
Certificate: PRIVATE PILOT Date of Issue: 11/25/1968
Ratings: ...
- 52.8k
28
votes
Accepted
What is a TRACON?
What is a TRACON (Terminal Radar Approach CONtrol)?
A TRACON is a term used in the US for what is elsewhere known as the Terminal Control (ICAO terminology), the control in charge of operations around ...
- 69.7k
28
votes
What is the proper air strip closure procedure with the FAA?
It looks to me like you need to file FAA Form 7480-1, Notice of Landing Area Proposal. There is a checkbox for "Deactivation or Abandonment".
The form explains that you have to give 90 days advance ...
- 1,142
27
votes
Accepted
Was the Shuttle Orbiter in contact with air traffic control during its descent & landing?
Well, sort of. The Kennedy Space Center, where the shuttle operations were conducted, has an ATC. but then, the show was run by NASA, not FAA.
The shuttle operations were coordinated through the ...
- 99.8k
27
votes
Accepted
What should I do if the FAA requests health records that no longer exist?
I had a very similar situation. Along with the documentation they requested that was available to me, I submitted a letter explaining my lack of the older records. This was apparently acceptable to ...
- 426
26
votes
Accepted
Do I need to register my drone?
If:
Your unmanned aircraft weighs between 250g and 25kg (including fuel and cargo),
You are not flying under the Special Rule for Model Aircraft, also known as section 336
You intend to operate it ...
- 5,096
26
votes
Accepted
Are there any aircraft that were grounded and later approved for flight?
The de Havilland Comet quickly comes to mind, with the airplane grounded after two catastrophic break ups in flight. The Comet was returned to service once the problem had been identified and ...
- 71.9k
24
votes
Accepted
What exactly did Trent Palmer do that was supposedly "wrong"?
Specifically, the FAA alleges that Palmer:
operated at altitudes of less than 100 feet above ground level and, more specifically, operated within
approximately 50 feet of a stable, shed, or propane ...
- 10.6k
23
votes
Is there an API to get real-time FAA flight data?
The OpenSky Network has a free open-source API for real-time air traffic data. In its current version it allows users to retrieve live (and partially historical data). The data is retrieved by a ...
- 331
22
votes
Accepted
Why did Southwest ask the FAA to ground their flights, rather than doing it themselves?
If SWA wanted an immediate ground stop on additional departures, they would contact the Air Traffic Control System Command Center (ATCSCC) in Herndon, VA and request it. The ATCSCC would conference ...
- 1,560
21
votes
Accepted
What is this small number on the top right of an IAP?
It is the year followed by the day of the year of the last ammendment to the chart. If there have been no changes to the chart since it was first issued, this space is blank. In this case the chart ...
- 7,371
20
votes
FAA Handbooks Copyrights
The publications you listed are in the public domain in the U.S. because, as works of the Federal Government, they are not eligible for copyright protection. You may use them commercially, subject to ...
- 14.1k
19
votes
Is it allowed to let the engine of an aircraft idle without a pilot in the plane. (For both helicopters and aeroplanes)
I'd say no, you're likely to be busted under 91.13...
14 CFR § 91.13 - Careless or reckless operation
(a)Aircraft operations for the purpose of air navigation. No person
may operate an ...
- 100k
18
votes
Do Cargo flights carry anyone other than the crew?
I spent many an hour crammed into the jumpseats of 727's (they have 2, both in the broom closet sized cockpit with 3 crew members). I worked as a cargo handler at the FedEx hub in Memphis and at the ...
- 28.3k
18
votes
Accepted
How do you report reckless pilots?
The FAA provides an online reporting tool here under "FAA Hotline Web Form" (direct link here) I would say it falls under "aviation concern". In your description if you include ...
- 100k
18
votes
Accepted
Does the FAA dictate that bridges are closed for the Thunder Over Louisville airshow event?
The FAA has no authority over roads, bridges or any other public roads. Usually, it's the the event organizer who's responsible for requesting and coordinating road closures; think of triathlons, ...
- 71.5k
17
votes
Is there an official FAA source for time zone of an airport?
Each airports timezone is listed in the Airport/Facility Directory. I think the FAA is starting to call these "Chart Supplements" now though. You can search for specific airports here but it looks ...
- 581
16
votes
Accepted
Do Cargo flights carry anyone other than the crew?
Yes, cargo aircraft are like other aircraft in that there is generally at least a jump seat available. Especially larger aircraft will also have additional jump seats, a lavatory, and a galley. This ...
- 71.8k
16
votes
Why does the FAA place such emphasis on runway incursions in the test standards?
According to what I can piece together from various FAA sources, the FAA determined in 2007 that there were an unacceptable number of incursions and they launched a program to address them. Although ...
- 71.5k
16
votes
Accepted
Why would a NOTAM outage cause a nationwide ground stop?
NOTAMS contain information about potential hazards and other mission-critical information that is short-lived (so not worth printing on charts) or otherwise breaking news kind of stuff.
Without that ...
- 3,398
16
votes
FAA Handbooks Copyrights
The FAA has a FAQ that mentions this:
All digital products published by the FAA are in the public domain and are not copyright protected. Therefore, a written release or credit is not required to ...
- 10.6k
16
votes
How can I get a report from the FAA stating that I haven't had any accidents?
The FAA offers a dedicated website for requesting enforcement records at https://aie-pa.faa.gov/.
Additional guidance from the FAA is available here:
If you require a verification letter of your FAA ...
- 14.1k
15
votes
Accepted
Why does the ACS forbid activation of the stall warning during slow flight?
I attended the ACS webinar on June 25th. This is the response from Christopher Morris at the FAA. You can also read the FAQ on the FAA website.
If the pilot recognizes the stall warning and ...
- 12.2k
14
votes
Accepted
What does the T in RVR-T stand for?
From page 5-1-7, contractions in the AIM:
RVRT . . . . . . . . . RVR Touchdown
The full list is:
RVR . . . . . . . . . . Runway Visual Range
RVRM . . . . . . . . RVR Midpoint
RVRR . . . . ....
- 58.5k
14
votes
What are the rules for Public-Use Operations?
Short answer: public (federal or state government) aircraft operations can be exempt - but aren't always - from most FAA regulations, provided they're non-commercial operations. Any regulation that ...
- 71.5k
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