FAA Tightens Rules On Access To Airspace
Aircraft owners and operators must ensure their aircraft registration information and security waivers are properly completed and up to date by Feb. 1, 2006, or they “may be denied access” to the National Airspace System, the FAA said in a notice published in the Federal Register on Friday. The notice states that the FAA and the Transportation Security Administration will “revitalize and refocus” their airspace-monitoring capabilities to ensure that the requirements are met, “in the interests of national security and aviation safety.” The FAA says it has provided numerous notices to aircraft owners over the last few years to emphasize the need for them to update their aircraft registration so both the FAA and aircraft manufacturers can notify them of safety and maintenance-related information. If you may be at risk, the FAA claims to know and offers some simple ways to check yourself (and them). The FAA offers a “registrations at risk” Web page. The theory is this, if you can’t find your N-number in that particular database, the FAA believes you’re in the clear. The agency stresses that up-to-date information is needed to assist local law enforcement agencies and FAA Flight Services Stations in the event of a downed or overdue aircraft, the FAA said. On Feb. 1, operators of aircraft with questionable registrations and/or no TSA-required security measures/waivers will be notified of the deficiency, a pilot deviation will be filed on the operator, and the operator may be denied access to the NAS.
