Articles by David Shepardson

FAA Issues Final Directive on Boeing 737 MAX Airplane Inspections

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on Wednesday finalized a directive requiring airlines to complete inspections of a key component of Boeing 737 MAX airplanes that, if faulty, could result in a loss of power to the engines. The FAA, in …

National Safety Agency Opens Probe Into Touchscreens on Tesla Model S Cars

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) said Tuesday it had opened an investigation into 63,000 Tesla Model S cars after reports of media-control unit failures that led to the loss of the use of touchscreens. The auto safety agency …

Air Safety Regulator, Boeing Made Mistakes on 737 MAX, Says Federal Aviation Chief

The head of the Federal Aviation Administration, Steve Dickson, acknowledged on Wednesday that Boeing Co. and the U.S. air safety agency both made mistakes on the 737 MAX jet, but rejected senators’ accusations the FAA was “stonewalling” probes after two …

Lawmaker Wants Government to Require Masks for Airline Passengers

A U.S. senator said on Wednesday he was hoping for bipartisan support in Congress for mandatory rules on masks for air travel after the head of the Federal Aviation Administration again resisted calls for a mandate. While most U.S. airlines …

Airlines Vow to Ban Passengers Who Refuse to Wear Masks

U.S. airline passengers who refuse to wear facial coverings during the novel coronavirus pandemic could have their flying privileges revoked, the industry’s main lobby group said on Monday. Major U.S. airlines may prevent anyone not wearing a mask from boarding …

U.S. to Publicly Share Autonomous Vehicle Testing Data

U.S. auto safety regulators will unveil on Monday a voluntary effort to collect and make available nationwide data on existing autonomous vehicle testing. U.S. states have a variety of regulations governing self-driving testing and data disclosure and there is currently …

Senators Draft Bill to Reform How U.S. Approves New Plane Designs

Two key U.S. senators are circulating a bipartisan draft bill that would reform how the Federal Aviation Administration certifies new aircraft in the wake of two fatal Boeing 737 MAX crashes that killed 346 people. The measure seeks to eliminate …

National Safety Board Urges Helicopter Manufacturers to Add Crash-Data Recorders

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) on Tuesday urged six major manufacturers to equip turbine-powered helicopters with crash-resistant systems to record data, audio and images, after former NBA star Kobe Bryant and eight others were killed in a helicopter crash …

Federal Court Allows Counties’ Clean Air Claims Against VW for Diesel Scandal

A U.S. appeals court ruled on Monday that Volkswagen AG cannot escape potential financial penalties from two counties in Florida and Utah that may amount to a “staggering” additional liability arising from the German automaker’s diesel emissions scandal. The unanimous …

U.S. to Mandate Safety Management for Aircraft Manufacturers

The Federal Aviation Administration said Tuesday it would require Boeing Co. and other aircraft manufacturers to adopt new safety-management tools following two fatal Boeing 737 MAX crashes that killed 346 people. The plan to begin the regulatory process to mandate …