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via NBAA

NBAA welcomed passage by the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee of the Aviation Funding Solvency Act (H.R. 6086), legislation aimed at keeping the FAA’s air traffic system operating during any future federal government shutdown.

The bill, sponsored by committee leaders and approved with broad bipartisan support, would allow the FAA to use previously collected aviation user funds to pay air traffic controllers and sustain other critical functions if federal funding lapses. NBAA cited disruptions during the 43-day shutdown that ended last month, when controllers went unpaid and DOT scaled back operations at 40 of the nation’s busiest airports and prohibited general aviation operations at 12 airports.

» Full Story: NBAA

iFlightPlanner Comment:

Government shutdowns can ripple quickly into ATC staffing and flow restrictions. If any FAA operational impacts are issued, we’ll continue to surface the latest airport details and planning context in iFlightPlanner.

The iFlightPlanner Crew
PLAN. FLY. LOG.

via NBAA

The FAA has announced significant updates to its medical certification policies for pilots using certain antidepressants and insulin, aiming to streamline the approval process while maintaining safety.

Under the revised policy, pilots who use a broader range of modern antidepressant medications may now be considered for medical certification through an expanded protocol that evaluates individual stability and treatment response. The FAA has also modernized its approach for insulin-treated diabetes, incorporating newer continuous monitoring technologies and risk-based assessment tools. These changes are intended to reduce delays, reflect current medical capabilities, and make certification more accessible for pilots managing well-controlled conditions under close supervision from aviation medical examiners.

» Full Story: NBAA

via NBAA

The FAA outlined its plan to modernize the NOTAM system, with monthly update webinars leading to initial operating capability in September and a wider rollout for all users in October. Officials noted the need for robust testing, redundancies to prevent disruptions, and agile development to improve accuracy and accessibility of critical information. Industry users may begin testing the new system with their own software as early as July, with a comprehensive transition schedule to follow.

Photo courtesy of NBAA.

iFlightPlanner will continue tracking NOTAM modernization and surface relevant airspace advisories in the planning workflow so pilots can brief faster and fly with confidence.

» Full Story: NBAA