Articles by David Shepardson

U.S. to Consider Opening Unused Spectrum Band for ‘Talking’ Vehicles

The U.S. Federal Communications Commission plans to vote in June on launching a new review of a key spectrum band reserved for automakers that could boost Wi-Fi use, a person briefed on the matter said on Tuesday. In 1999, the …

With Vehicle Brake Override Widely Adopted, U.S. Sees No Need for Requirement

The Trump administration said Monday it will drop rules first proposed in 2012 that would have required automakers to install brake-throttle override systems to prevent runaway vehicles. The regulation was proposed by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) in …

Airports Told They Need FAA Approval to Install Drone Defense Measures

The Federal Aviation Administration told U.S. airports in a letter released on Wednesday they could not install drone countermeasures without federal consent, warning they could pose an aviation safety risk by interfering with aircraft navigation and air navigation services. The …

Boeing Says 737s’ Optional Data Display Alert Was Not Safety Risk

Boeing Co. did not tell U.S. regulators for more than a year that it inadvertently made an alarm alerting pilots to a mismatch of flight data optional on the 737 MAX, instead of standard as on earlier 737s, but insisted …

Senators Push Regulator to Finalize Drone ID System

Two U.S. senators on Monday urged U.S. Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao to finalize a long-delayed rule that would require the remote identification of unmanned aircraft systems, or drones. The U.S. Congress tasked the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in 2016 with …

Fiat Chrysler to Settle U.S. Investor Claim Over Diesel, Safety Issues for $110 Million

Italian-American automaker Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV has agreed to pay $110 million to settle a lawsuit alleging it misled U.S. investors over excess diesel emissions and failed to comply with federal safety regulations, court records show. The company said in …

U.S. Safety Agency Nixes International Car Window Rules Proposed Under Obama

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said on Wednesday it was dropping a 2012 proposal to harmonize U.S. vehicle window safety standards with international rules. Under the Obama administration, the auto safety agency known as NHTSA proposed adopting international rules …

3 Major Automakers Partner to Develop Autonomous Vehicle Safety Standards, Testing

Three major automakers said on Wednesday they were forming a consortium to help draw up safety standards for self-driving cars that could eventually help create regulations in the United States. General Motors Co., Ford Motor Co. and Toyota Motor Corp. …

FAA Plans Major Overhaul of Aviation Safety

The U.S. aviation regulator will significantly change its oversight approach to air safety by July following two fatal Boeing Co MAX 737 passenger plane crashes, according to written congressional testimony seen by Reuters. At a U.S. Senate Commerce subcommittee hearing …

Black Boxes Show Ethiopian Airlines, Lion Air Disasters Were Similar, Says Ethiopia

The crash of an Ethiopian Airlines plane that killed 157 people had “clear similarities” with October’s Lion Air crash, Ethiopia said on Sunday, shown by initial analysis of the black boxes recovered from the wreckage of the March 10 disaster. …