Aviation Noise:
Costs of Phasing Out Noisy Aircraft
RCED-91-128: Published: Jul 2, 1991. Publicly Released: Jul 16, 1991.
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Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO reviewed the economic impact of noise abatement measures on the aviation industry.
GAO found that: (1) the passage of the Airport Noise and Capacity Act (ANCA) may discourage some airports from adopting their own noise restrictions, since it requires that new Stage 3 aircraft restrictions not voluntarily agreed to by aircraft operators be approved by the Secretary of Transportation and reduces the need for such by requiring the phase out of older, noisier Stage 2 aircraft; (2) the independent, uncoordinated adoption of noise restrictions by airports will likely impose costs on airlines; (3) ANCA requires that airports conduct cost-benefit analyses and provide an opportunity for public comment on such restrictions; (4) in the absence of any additional airport restrictions, phasing out Stage 2 aircraft by 2000 will cost about $2 billion if each airline adopts the lowest cost method of meeting the required Stage 3 standards; (5) until the end of 2003, the Secretary of Transportation, under certain conditions, has the discretion to waive compliance with the Stage 2 phaseout for up to 15 percent of each airline's fleet; and (6) if waivers are granted, costs to the airline industry could be reduced by as much as $100 million since airlines will not have to make expenditures to replace or retrofit aircraft as soon.
Mar 2, 2021
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COVID-19 Pandemic:
Preliminary Observations on Efforts toward and Factors Affecting the Aviation Industry's RecoveryGAO-21-412T: Published: Mar 2, 2021. Publicly Released: Mar 2, 2021.
Feb 18, 2021
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General Aviation:
Stakeholders Expressed Mixed Views of FAA Policies on Private Pilot Expense SharingGAO-21-285: Published: Feb 18, 2021. Publicly Released: Feb 18, 2021.
Jan 28, 2021
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Unmanned Aircraft Systems:
FAA Could Strengthen Its Implementation of a Drone Traffic Management System by Improving Communication and Measuring PerformanceGAO-21-165: Published: Jan 28, 2021. Publicly Released: Jan 28, 2021.
Jan 7, 2021
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Aircraft Noise:
Better Information Sharing Could Improve Responses to Washington, D.C. Area Helicopter Noise ConcernsGAO-21-200: Published: Jan 7, 2021. Publicly Released: Jan 7, 2021.
Dec 18, 2020
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Automated Technologies:
DOT Should Take Steps to Ensure Its Workforce Has Skills Needed to Oversee SafetyGAO-21-197: Published: Dec 18, 2020. Publicly Released: Dec 18, 2020.
Dec 17, 2020
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Emergency Responder Safety:
States and DOT Are Implementing Actions to Reduce Roadside CrashesGAO-21-166: Published: Dec 17, 2020. Publicly Released: Dec 17, 2020.
Nov 24, 2020
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Reagan National Airport:
Information on Effects of Federal Statute Limiting Long-Distance FlightsGAO-21-176: Published: Nov 24, 2020. Publicly Released: Nov 24, 2020.
Nov 19, 2020
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Federal-Aid Highways:
States and Local Governments Reported Benefits to Federal Highway Fund Swapping, but Impacts Cannot be Definitively DeterminedGAO-21-88: Published: Oct 20, 2020. Publicly Released: Nov 19, 2020.
Nov 16, 2020
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Aviation Certification:
FAA Needs to Strengthen Its Design Review Process for Small AirplanesGAO-21-85: Published: Nov 16, 2020. Publicly Released: Nov 16, 2020.
Nov 9, 2020
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Aviation Safety:
FAA's Office of Aviation Safety Should Take Additional Actions to Ensure Its Workforce Has Needed SkillsGAO-21-94: Published: Nov 9, 2020. Publicly Released: Nov 9, 2020.
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