Modernization

More NextGen rollouts as White House floats air traffic shift

The FAA has NextGen DataComm capabilities working at some of the busiest airports in the U.S., but the White House proposes shifting air traffic control to a private entity, which some say could blunt the effort.

Modernization

Close calls with unmanned aircraft increase

The number of close encounters between civilian aircraft and unmanned drones in national airspace is on the rise, the FAA reports.

Modernization

Senators quiz IGs on NextGen, FirstNet

Senators on the Commerce Committee are looking to agency watchdogs for news and oversight of large IT infrastructure projects like FAA's NextGen and the Commerce Department's FirstNet.

Modernization

Airspace integration takes more than tech

Integrating commercial space vehicles into the National Air Space is an organizational challenge as well as a technical one, experts say.

Modernization

FAA challenged by growing commercial space industry

The flight agency is looking to adapt and expand its mission to meet the demands of growing space commercialization.

Modernization

FAA looks to spur spectrum sharing tech

The FAA is leading a multi-agency effort to encourage commercial innovation in spectrum sharing.

Cybersecurity

Consolidation could be coming to federal radar

Multiple agencies are participating in an FAA-led bid to optimize spectrum use for aircraft and weather surveillance.

Modernization

FAA closes in on Next Gen Data Comms

The Federal Aviation Administration is close to its goal of deploying text communication capabilities to 56 air traffic control towers by year's end.

Digital Government

FAA should examine near-space vehicles, GAO says

GAO has told the FAA to take a look at how it might regulate near-space vehicles as commercialization of the last frontier continues.

Digital Government

Air traffic systems need better security monitoring, says watchdog

A critical inspector general report found that the FAA's air traffic systems aren't properly linked to Department of Transportation's CIO for cyber oversight purposes.

Digital Government

FAA looks to take over commercial space traffic control

The Federal Aviation Administration is making the case that it and not the military should police commercial space traffic, and Congress is helping the flight agency take the first step.

Digital Government

DARPA wants to make drone radio controls more secure

New technology could safeguard drone communications by submerging radio control signals into everyday background noise.

Digital Government

University UAS researchers share information network with NASA

UAS researchers and NASA can see each other's drone flights via a secure data network.

Digital Government

Government approves first-ever private moon voyage

In what could be considered peak privatization, the Federal Aviation Administration has cleared a commercial firm to conduct a lunar landing.

Digital Government

Farmers and allies seek looser drone rules from Congress

After hearing testimony from the farm data industry, lawmakers might push the FAA to relax line-of-sight rules for drone operators.

Digital Government

FAA releases long-awaited drone rules

New rules pave the way for increased commercial uses of drones across the country, but also for domestic government uses.

Digital Government

FAA joining the chief data officer movement

The airspace agency is hiring for its newly created data management leadership role.

Digital Government

FAA opens up drone registration database

The FAA has made its database of hobbyists' and recreational users' unmanned aerial systems more widely available to the public.

Modernization

Should airlines pay to get FAA tech past the 1990s?

The nation's air traffic control system is in dire need of stable funding. Is taking the checkbook away from Congress the answer?

Digital Government

FAA panel says small drones could operate in populated areas

The final report by an FAA-backed rulemaking committee recommends categorizing drones by size and permitting some to be operated over people not directly involved in the operation of the aircraft.