In this installment of our Aviation Symposium series of blog posts, we present the materials from the panel “Behind the Crash: Working Effectively with the NTSB, FAA, Unions, Media, Families, Employees, Who Does What!” The...more
Welcome to Industrials Regulatory News and Trends. In this regular bulletin, DLA Piper lawyers provide concise updates on key developments in the industrials sector to help you navigate the ever-changing business, legal, and...more
On January 30, 2025, a tragic midair collision near Washington, DC, resulted in multiple fatalities, including residents from Delaware and surrounding areas. The crash, involving an American Airlines regional passenger jet...more
What should I do if I or a loved one has been involved in an airplane accident? If you or a loved one has been involved in an airplane accident, your first priority should be to seek medical attention. If you are the...more
One of the most significant pieces of legislation enacted by the current Congress is the FAA Reauthorization At of 2024 (Pub. L. 118-63, enacted May 16, 2024). Although much has been written about the legislation’s provisions...more
Our newsletter reflects the focus of Akin’s cross-practice autonomous systems and advanced mobility team on developments in the regulatory, policy, trade, intellectual property, and cybersecurity and privacy spaces....more
In discussing the role of the U.S. Supreme Court, Justice Robert Jackson famously remarked in his concurring opinion in a 1953 case that “[w]e are not final because we are infallible, but we are infallible only because we are...more
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Reauthorization bill is a crucial piece of legislation that affects the safety and efficiency of air travel in the United States. It is an important, multi-year tool for Congress to...more
The FAA Reauthorization Act is starting to take shape, with welcome news coming out of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee. According to a press release, they have produced a bipartisan bill that...more
In the wake of several high profile “close calls” and increased scrutiny from Congress, acting FAA Administrator Billy Nolen has issued a safety “call to action” memorandum for the FAA. The memorandum acknowledges that we...more
Now that the UAS flight over people and remote ID rules are in effect, the pathways are opening up for more complex, and potentially dangerous, UAS operations. The FAA, however, is not the only governmental body concerned...more
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on Dec. 28, 2020, released two Final Rules intended to accelerate the integration of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) – or drones – into the national airspace system. The first Final...more
In many of our aviation accident cases, one of the first tasks for investigation is reviewing the report from the National Transportation Safety Board (“NTSB”). The “preliminary” report is generally available within a few...more
On March 16, 2020, the White House declared a national emergency, retroactive to March 1, 2020. The resultant “shutdown” of our county has impacted every phase of life in America, with the aviation industry among the hardest...more
I was honored to join colleagues and clients at the 2020 Aviation Symposium the Firm sponsored in Tysons Corner from February 4 through February 6, 2020....more
Politico recently published the results of its investigation of the gaps in government agencies’ legal authorities to investigate space tourism accidents and impose safety protections for space launch participants....more
In a recent post, we discussed the Safe Landings Act (H.R. 4166), pending legislation introduced in August of this year. In this post, we discuss another piece of pending legislation – the Safe and Quiet Skies Act of 2019....more
In its report of September 27, 2019 the National Transportation Safety Board (“NTSB”), although acknowledging the need for Boeing to “fine tune” its technology to prevent the Maneuvering Characteristics Augmentation System...more
With the enactment of the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018 in October of last year, Congress, to a large extent, has taken a breather from introducing aviation legislation. Two recent bills, however, address key aviation...more
Subcommittee’s probe of FAA’s oversight role in certifying the aircraft is the first step in a larger review—and possible major overhaul—of agency’s aircraft certification process and pilot training standards. The FAA is...more
The District of Columbia Circuit Court of Appeals recently upheld a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) decision to publish an airworthiness directive ordering the removal of certain cylinder assemblies used in piston...more
Federal investigators are investigating a helicopter crash that occurred on Daniel Island (near Charleston, South Carolina) that may have been caused by a drone. The helicopter pilot reported to investigators that he crashed...more
• In a National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) board meeting concerning the crash of a hot air balloon after striking high-voltage power lines near Lockhart, Texas, the NTSB criticized the Federal Aviation Administration...more
Understanding FAA & NTSB Drone Accident Reporting Requirements - When a corporate drone crashes, it can be one of the worst-case scenarios for owners who rely on UAS technology to conduct a wide-array of business...more
New Law Goes into Effect August 29, 2016 - After many months, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has issued regulations towards integrating Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS, also called Drones) into the national...more