In the age of COVID-19, there is a renewed interest in the principles of federalism and the limits of federal power, including the power of the Federal Aviation Administration.  More and more, commentators and legislators are arguing that the FAA should not be the sole arbiter of how the national airspace is used, particularly below 400 feet.

This is, of course, a faulty premise upon which to build an argument. … Read More

The Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) to establish the standards for remote identification of unmanned aircraft closed on March 2, 2020.  The NPRM garnered over 53,000 comments, both pro and con, concerning the contours of the final rule.  While there is still no official word on what the final rule will look like, FAA actions seem to confirm that the final rule will look a lot like the draft rule.… Read More

For those of you who may have missed the live presentation of the latest Aviation Webinar Series, “The Aviation Industry and Whistleblowers in Turbulent Times,” you can view the entire presentation by clicking on the link below.

The webinar recording is available HERE 

The slides are available for download HERE

 … Read More

The aviation industry, like the rest of America, is gearing up for the reopening of America for business.  As we do so, it is important to keep on top of the latest recommended “best practices” necessary to keep the COVID-19 virus from rebounding.  Unfortunately, finding these resources can sometimes be difficult.

We at Plane-ly Spoken are here to help.  The following is our collection of links, arranged by topic and government agency, of aviation industry related COVID-19 guidance.… Read More

Complimentary Webinar
Tuesday, May 12, 2020  |  1 pm ET  |  10 am PT

The COVID-19 pandemic has wreaked havoc on aviation companies in many ways. Although layoffs, furloughs, pay reductions or other measures are unavoidable, such actions carry risk because the extensive safety regulations governing the industry present fertile ground for whistleblower claims. Now more than ever, it is imperative that employers know how to navigate the minefield of state and federal whistleblower protection laws and protect themselves from expensive-to-defend and potentially large-dollar-liability retaliation lawsuits.

… Read More

The Federal Aviation Administration has just issued a new Safety Alert for Operators, (SAFO) containing guidance for airlines and aircrews on how to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 virus.

Overall, the SAFO instructs airlines to follow the CDC’s guidance for the protection for employees in critical infrastructure jobs.  The FAA confirms that no airline employee should work if they have any symptoms of the virus, and that all employees exposed to someone who tests positive for the virus should be quarantined for fourteen days. … Read More

On March 16, 2020, the White House declared a national emergency, retroactive to March 1, 2020.  The resultant “shutdown” of our county has impacted every phase of life in America, with the aviation industry among the hardest hit.

It is not just private industry that is affected.  Both the FAA and the NTSB are also under “stay at home” orders. What this means, at least relative to the NTSB, is that accidents which have occurred during this period of shutdown have generally not involved a field investigation. … Read More

On February 5, 2020, the Department of Transportation (DOT) opened the public comment period for its Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) Regarding Traveling by Air with Service Animals.  That comment period officially closed this week, with the proposed rule garnering over 14,000 comments.

While the comment period was open for 60 days, an unusually long period of time for a rulemaking such as this, it did not stop several groups from asking for an extension. … Read More

Each NTSB investigation poses unique problems for the parties involved.  Like a key entering a lock, each move a company makes needs to be just the right fit.  Nevertheless, in our collective 100+ years of experience guiding companies through the investigation process, we have found the list below to encompass the master keys.  They are, quite simply, the “Do’s and Don’ts.”.… Read More

For those of you who may have missed the live presentation of the latest Aviation Webinar Series, “The COVID-19 Bailout Legislation and the Aviation Industry,” you can view the entire presentation by clicking on the link below.

The webinar recording is available HERE

The slides are available for download HERE… Read More