This Day in FAA History: November 21st

Full FAA Chronology at this link.
19651121: FAA renamed the Civil Aeromedical Research Institute (CARI) the Civil Aeromedical Institute (CAMI). (See October 21, 1962.)
19671121: A Pan American World Airways jet flying the North Atlantic successfully used NASA’s ATS III, one of a series of application research satellites, as an air-ground-air radio voice relay. The demonstration was part of a program by major airlines to develop a global system of long-range, static-free, very-high-frequency communications between the air and ground. (See March 29, 1967.)
19681121: The first U.S. rapid transit system linking an airport to a downtown area began operating in Cleveland between Hopkins International Airport and the city’s Union Terminal. This rail service provided easy access to the airport from most sections of Cleveland.
19881121: DOT published an interim rule on testing procedures for a series of new rules requiring employers in the transportation sector to have an anti-drug program for personnel with responsibilities affecting safety or security. The programs generally included five kinds of drug-abuse testing: pre-employment, random, periodic, post-accident, and for reasonable cause. (DOT had already established a similar program for its own employees: see September 9, 1987.) Also on November 21, FAA published a rule applying the DOT testing guidelines to the aviation industry by requiring an anti-drug program for domestic and supplemental air carriers, air taxi and commuter operators, certain commercial operators, certain contractors, and air traffic control facilities not operated by FAA or the U.S. military. (Subsequent amendments to this rule included an exemption for some types of operations, such as student instruction.) DOT published a final rule on testing procedures on December 1, 1989. The program began within the aviation industry on December 18, 1989, when large airlines and regionals with 51 or more employees began testing. (See July 10, 1990.)
19911121: Secretary of Transportation Skinner and his Mexican counterpart signed an agreement expanding aviation opportunities. The accord permited each country to designate a carrier to fly between any U.S. city and any Mexican city, a level of flexibility unique in U.S. international aviation relations.
20131121: FAA released a 279-page report that noted, although flying has never been safer, pilot confusion or inattention to cockpit automation has raised concerns in fatal crashes. “Pilots sometimes rely too much on automated systems and may be reluctant to intervene,” the report said. The use of technology for calculations and managing flights “is increasing, including implementations that may result in errors and confusion.” The report made 18 recommendations to improve safety. Beyond the recommendations in the cockpit-automation report, FAA Administrator Huerta announced FAA would establish a joint government and industry air carrier training steering group early in 2014 to prioritize outstanding recommendations from a variety of sources. He also asked participants at an industry meeting to provide him with the top five focus areas to improve air carrier training. Huerta wanted the new steering group, comprised of safety experts from the airlines, crew-member unions, government and the aviation community, to consider the recommended focus areas as the first order of business when it convened.
20141121: The Department of Transportation announced a new air service agreement had been reached between the United States and Mexico that expanded opportunities for passenger and cargo carriers and strengthen the economic ties between the two countries. The new agreement included unlimited market access for U.S. and Mexican air carriers, improved intermodal rights, pricing flexibility, and other important commercial rights. In addition, cargo airlines, for the first time, would have expanded opportunities to provide service to new destinations. The agreement would go into force on January 1, 2016.
20191121: FAA announced an expansion of the LAANC. Four airports – Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport, Dulles International Airport, William P. Hobby Airport in Houston and Newark Liberty International Airport – joined the list of approximately 400 air traffic facilities covering about 600 airports where LAANC was available. (See August 14, 2019; December 26, 2020.)
20221121: FAA completed the environmental review of the proposed new passenger terminals at Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport. The study analyzed Chicago Department of Aviation projects, including new terminals, on-airport hotels, airfield and taxiway improvements, and support facilities. It also reviewed FAA’s proposal to make permanent angled approaches to Runway 10R/28L to allow simultaneous arrival to multiple runways. The agency concluded that proposed construction projects and changes to air traffic procedures will not significantly affect any environmental resources, including noise, air quality, water resources, and historic sites.