This Day in FAA History: September 26th

Full FAA Chronology at this link.
19640926: The Bureau of Budget released the first significant amount of hardware-procurement funds for modernizing the National Airspace System (NAS). These funds were specifically designated for installing the first complete NAS En Route Stage A configuration (FAA’s semiautomated system for en route air traffic control) at the ARTCC at Jacksonville, Fla. (See February 1, 1967.) Modernization of both the en route and terminal air traffic control subsystems of NAS had been recommended in 1961 by the Project Beacon task force (see September 11, 1961). The modernization was a long-range program that would require a decade or longer to fully implement.
19650926: A rule effective this date required biennial requalification of all flight instructors. It also required instructors to assume additional responsibilities for the supervision of student-pilot solo flight operations.
19730926: As mandated by Airport and Airway Development and Revenue Acts of 1970, DOT submitted to Congress a Cost Allocation Study on how the Federal costs of the airport and airway system should be shared among the various users. The report concluded that proportion should be about 50 percent for air carriers, 30 percent for general aviation, and 20 percent for the public sector. It also concluded that present taxes failed to recover more than 55 percent of the total costs, with the general aviation sector accounting for the largest short-fall. The study recommended that at least a high percentage of the short-fall be recovered through user fees. A follow-up Part II report was planned but not issued.
19770926: Laker Airlines’ low-cost “Skytrain” transatlantic service made its first flight from New York to London, signalling the start of a revolution in international air fares. The new standby fare for the British airline had been a part of the new Bermuda II treaty (see July 23, 1977). On the same day, President Carter moved to regain the initiative for the United States by approving a package of new low-cost standby and reserved fares for U.S. scheduled transatlantic flag carriers. On December 21, he also moved to increase the extent of transatlantic service, approving new routes for 11 American cities. (See March 10, 1978.)
19780926: A Special Federal Aviation Regulation (SFAR 37) permitted persons who were not in the air transportation business to receive payment for the carriage of candidates in Federal elections. The SFAR responded to a Federal Elections Commission requirement that candidates pay for air transportation. As a result of the election rule, owners of private and business aircraft who offered transportation to candidates were required to comply with the rules for commercial operations (i.e., Federal Aviation Regulations Part 135 instead of the less demanding Part 91). Air taxi and charter operators strongly criticized the SFAR, which lapsed in June 1980.
19810926: The twin-engine Boeing 767 made its first flight. On July 30, 1982, FAA certificated the aircraft, the first entirely new U.S. commercial transport design in more than a decade. The 767 began its first revenue service on September 8 of that year with United Air Lines. On July 14, 1978, United Airlines had placed the largest order to date for a single commercial airplane, when it made a $1.2 billion order for the airliner.
19840926: FAA announced the award of a construction contract to expand the Seattle Air Route Traffic Control Center, the first in a program to expand all 20 en route centers in the contiguous states. The construction would allow the facilities to accommodate more sophisticated computers and radar displays being developed under the Advanced Automation Program (see July 26, 1985). The Seattle groundbreaking ceremony took place on November 5, 1984. (See April 1987.)
19900926: FAA issued a rule permitting airlines to develop alternative training for flight crews under the Advanced Qualification Programs (AQP). Developed by a government/industry task force, AQP was intended to promote flexibility and innovation in crew training techniques. A required element of the AQP option was Cockpit Resource Management (CRM) training, which focused on communications skills, coordination, and decision-making. By August 1996, 15 air carriers were participating in the AQP program. During that month, FAA announced that it had developed a new training tool to assist regional airlines in adopting the AQP approach.
19950926: FAA issued rule on investigations of persons seeking unescorted access to secure areas of airports, requiring disqualification of applicants who had been convicted of certain crimes in the past 10 years. The new rule, which replaced a less stringent November 1985 regulation, fulfilled a provision of the Aviation Security Improvement Act (see November 16, 1990).
19960926: A new Pan American World Airways began service. The operators of the small new carrier had purchased the name and trademark of the original airline. (See December 4, 1991.)
20050926: FAA officially opened its Early Dispute Resolution Center at FAA headquarters. Earlier in the year, the Administrator had announced plans to open such an office in response to low marks in the area of conflict management and resolution that the agency had received on the most recent employee attitude survey.
20050926: Secretary of Transportation Norman Mineta signed a Memorandum of Understanding between the Department of Transportation, FAA, and the National Academy of Sciences to establish the Airport Cooperative Research Program (ACRP). FAA funded ACRP at $10 million per year from Airport Improvement Program funds to conduct research on problems shared by airports.
20050926: Effective this date, FAA amended its operating regulations to allow the use of FAA-approved child restraint systems (CRSs) on board aircraft. Current FAA regulations did not allow the use of CRSs other than those that meet specific standards for the automobile environment. (See August 25, 2005; September 2006.)
20070926: House aviation subcommittee Chairman Jerry Costello (D-IL) accused FAA of not acting aggressively enough to prevent airline over scheduling, and suggested the focus by the agency and airlines on the Next Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen) air traffic control system was a red herring. The chairman said he was pleased, however, FAA asked airlines to supply their summer schedules in advance for New York Newark and Kennedy airports. (See June 13, 2007; March 10, 2008.)
20220926: President Biden proposed requiring airlines and ticket sales websites to disclose additional fees up front, aiming to add a dose of transparency to booking travel. According to the Department of Transportation, the disclosures would cover any fees for passengers to sit with their children, change or cancel a flight, and bring checked or carry-on bags. The fees would be required to be displayed the first time a ticket price is shown.
20220926: FAA announced it would work with countries when it sees early indications that civil aviation authorities are not meeting safety standards. Previously, the agency would offer assistance only after the country’s safety rating had been downgraded. The agency planned to work with a country to address developing safety risks before downgrading it. The agency said if it notifies a country of a safety concern, it will limit foreign operators’ direct service and code sharing to current levels as it reviews whether to issue a downgrade.
20220926: FAA released new design guidelines for vertiports – infrastructure supporting Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) aircraft. The design standards will serve as the initial step to provide critical information for airport owners, operators, and infrastructure developers to begin the development of facilities that will support operations of AAM aircraft that are electrically powered and take off and land vertically.
20230926: Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg helped celebrate the completion of a nearly $51 million stretch of taxiway at Denver International Airport. FAA funded the project.