Hersman Says Spectator Areas, Air Bosses Will Be Scrutinized

At the much-anticipated hearing held by the NTSB on air show and air race safety, witnesses made a handful of suggestions for improving safety, while the industry strongly defended its safety record. In the opening session, representatives from the FAA and ICAS said they work as "partners" in the process of staging air shows. But FAA director of Flight Standards Service John McGraw said the agency maintains its position as a regulator. In responding to a question from Chairman Hersman about the physical stress of flying aerobatics and races, McGraw said he was not aware of any "systemic problem" that would show a correlation between accidents and pilots who might become incapacitated during a performance, and no

Agency Grants One-Time Permission While Larger Issue Is Resolved

Operation Migration (OM) has caught a break from the FAA, which yesterday afternoon announced it will allow this year's migration of young whooping cranes to continue behind an LSA trike flown by paid employees of the charity. But it's a one-time waiver due to the circumstance, not a precedent-setting ruling which might have created precedent for the use of Light Sport Aircraft in the future.

Comments Come After Some Of Those Affected By Leeward Accident Say Races Should Continue

Despite having been seriously injured, or losing a family member when Jimmy Leeward's plane tragically went down at the Reno Air Races in September, some of the people represented in a law suit against the race organizers by attorney Tony Buzbee have told him that they would like to not only see the races continue, but to attend future events.