Federal Aviation Administration

A Boeing 737 Max airplane being built for Norwegian Air International taxis for a test flight, at Renton Municipal Airport in Renton, Wash.

National

Spirit AeroSystems, A Major Supplier Of Boeing's 737 Max Jets, Lays Off 2,800 Staff

4:29pm January 10, 2020

by Brakkton Booker

The company builds parts including wing components, engine pylons and the entire fuselage for Boeing's troubled 737 Max jets. The planes have been grounded worldwide in the wake of two fatal crashes.

Nearly 30 years after the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act, planes still lag behind many buses and trains. Regulations prohibit passengers from sitting in their own wheelchairs on commercial flights.

Wheelchairs On Planes: Why Can't Passengers Use Their Own Onboard?

7:06pm December 10, 2019

by Michael Schulson

Many buses and vans can safely accommodate and restrain a passenger's wheelchair, but airline passengers are required to transfer to the plane's standard seat. A grassroots group hopes to change that.

Family members hold photos of victims killed on Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 and Lion Air Flight 610 on Tuesday.

National

What To Know As Boeing Executives Testify Before Congress

3:56pm October 30, 2019

by Rachel Treisman

In the wake of two deadly 737 Max plane crashes, Boeing officials are now facing lawmakers on Capitol Hill. "We know we made mistakes and got some things wrong," said Boeing chief Dennis Muilenburg.

Southwest Airlines is among the companies that grounded Boeing 737 MAX aircraft because of a software failure that caused fatal crashes of Lion Air and Ethiopian Airlines planes. The FAA said Wednesday it has found a new flaw in the plane that needs to be

National

FAA Finds New Problem With 737 Max Jets, Delaying Their Return To Flight

8:39pm June 26, 2019

by David Schaper

Southwest, American and United Airlines have already pulled the aircraft from their schedules through Labor Day weekend. Two of the planes crashed within five months, killing hundreds of people.

The Wing company, a Google spinoff, has won federal approval to operate its drone delivery system as an airline in the U.S.

National

FAA Certifies Google's Wing Drone Delivery Company To Operate As An Airline

1:26pm April 23, 2019

by Bill Chappell

Wing's drones are made to deliver a wide range of items — including coffee, chocolate and burritos — from local merchants to their customers.

At a Senate hearing March 27, Daniel Elwell, acting director of the Federal Aviation Administration, said airline pilots had enough training to handle Boeing's flight control software. But some pilots disagree.

Pilots Split Over FAA Chief's Claims On Boeing 737 Max Training

3:57pm April 04, 2019

by Daniella Cheslow

The top official at the FAA says airline pilots had enough training to handle Boeing's flight control software linked to two deadly crashes. His statement has divided pilots in the U.S. and overseas.

Queue Listen Now

Southwest Airlines was among the airlines affected by a contractor's computer outage Monday, forcing hundreds of flights to be delayed.

National

Computer Problems Blamed For Flight Delays That Hit U.S. Airlines

7:28pm April 01, 2019

by Bill Chappell

The FAA says the issue that affected Southwest, Delta and other carriers has been resolved. But with hundreds of flights affected, the delays could linger.

The Boeing 737 factory in Renton, Wash. Investigators looking into the reason for two recent crashes have focused on software that was installed on the 737 Max.

FAA Head Defends Agency Actions Following Recent Air Disasters

8:36pm March 27, 2019

by Jim Zarroli

The aviation subcommittee held a hearing on the FAA's response to crashes in Indonesia and Ethiopia involving the 737 Max, which was subsequently grounded around the world.

Queue Listen Now

Mourners grieve next to empty caskets at a mass funeral at Holy Trinity Cathedral in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on Sunday.

World News

'Clear' Similarities Between Ethiopian And Indonesian Plane Crashes, Official Says

6:05pm March 17, 2019

by Francesca Paris

The announcement follows a mass funeral for the victims of last Sunday's Ethiopian Airlines plane crash. Relatives say they were offered soil from the site of the crash.

Government Calls Back Furloughed Aviation Workers, But Gaps Will Remain

7:04am January 19, 2019

by David Schaper

From inspecting planes to controlling air traffic, the federal government touches every aspect of air travel. Now a lot of that work isn't getting done because of the government shutdown.