This Day in FAA History: December 3rd

Full FAA Chronology at this link.
19701203: The supersonic transport (SST) program suffered a reverse in Congress as the Senate adopted an amendment to delete from the Department of Transportation fiscal 1971 appropriations bill an administration request for $290 million to continue SST prototype development. Subsequently, House-Senate conferees restored $210 million of the administration’s request to the bill. But the Senate balked again, and the House refused to take part in another conference. Accordingly, the two chambers passed a joint resolution continuing appropriations for the Department (including the SST project) through March 30, 1971, at the fiscal 1970 level; at the same time, they agreed to vote on the SST appropriation separately from the rest of the DOT appropriation early in the 92d Congress. (See April 22, 1970, and March 24, 1971.)
19901203: For the second time within eight years (see September 24, 1983), Continental Airlines filed for protection under Chapter 11 of the Federal bankruptcy code. (See January 7, 1993.)
19931203: FAA’s first commissioning of an Airport Surface Detection Equipment model 3 (ASDE3) took place at the Seattle-Tacoma airport. An improved ground surveillance radar system, ASDE-3 had been installed for testing at Pittsburgh in February 1990, and FAA had formally accepted the system for operational use in December 1991. (See December 23, 1983, and June 27, 1996.)
19981203: In an emergency airworthiness directive, FAA ordered all Boeing 747 operators to carry more fuel in the center wing tank to ensure that the pumps are immersed in fuel when they are operating. (See October 1, 1998; March 3, 1999.)
19991203: Runway 8/26 opened at Philadelphia International Airport.
20091203: FAA, in cooperation with the American Association of Airport Executives (AAAE) and the MITRE Corporation, held its first International Runway Safety Conference in Washington, DC. Nearly 500 people attended the conference, which focused on ways to reduce and eventually eliminate runway incursions and excursions. (See January 24, 2008.)
20101203: The Department of Transportation agreed to implement an Open-Skies Agreement with Brazil that would liberalize air services for airlines of both countries. The agreement immediately removed restrictions on pricing and on the routes between each country that can be served by U.S. and Brazilian scheduled and charter airlines and provided immediately for full code-share rights and additional charter flexibility. When the full Open Skies agreement takes effect in 2015, airlines from the United States and Brazil would be allowed to select routes, destinations, and prices for passenger, cargo, and charter services based on consumer demand and market conditions. Brazil would be the 101st U.S. Open-Skies partner. (See November 11, 2010.)
20121203: FAA and Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) announced the activation of technology to help pilots address inclement weather around Montrose Regional Airport in western Colorado. The technology, known as wide area multilateration (WAM), improved safety and efficiency by allowing air traffic controllers to track aircraft in mountainous areas outside radar coverage. The WAM deployment in Montrose was part of the larger Colorado surveillance project, a partnership between FAA and CDOT, which began providing radar-like service to the mountain communities of Craig, Hayden, Steamboat Springs, and Rifle in 2009. FAA and State of Colorado expected to complete the project by deploying WAM in Durango, Gunnison, and Telluride in summer 2013. (See May 4, 2010; July 31, 2013.)
20131203: Shell announced it had become the first major oil company to develop a lead-free replacement for aviation gasoline (Avgas 100 and 100LL). The formulation was successfully evaluated in industry laboratory engine (bench) tests by Lycoming and in a flight test by Piper. Shell planned to engage the aviation industry, regulators, and authorities, including FAA, American Society for Testing and Materials, and European Aviation Safety Agency to obtain approvals for the unleaded Avgas. Shell also planned to work with other engine manufacturers to continue the testing and refinement program as the approvals process progressed. (See September 13, 2013; September 8, 2014.)
20141203: FAA issued a final rule in the Federal Register, effective January 20, 2015, increasing the number of hours a pilot could log toward an instrument rating using approved aviation training devices. The rule raised the limit to 20 hours in advanced training devices versus 10 hours under the old rules. Under the rules, Part 61 students could log up to 20 hours of instrument time in an approved advanced aviation training device (AATD) or up to 10 hours of time in an approved basic aviation training device (BATD). Part 141 students would be allowed to accomplish up to 40 percent of their total flight training hour requirements in an aviation training device. In addition, students would no longer be required to wear view-limiting devices while training in AATDs. (See November 5, 2013.)
20191203: Leidos announced FAA had awarded it a contract to continue supporting the general aviation community under the agency’s FAA’s Future Flight Services Program. Under the contract, Leidos would provide weather data, aeronautical information and flight planning services to the general aviation community across mainland U.S., Puerto Rico, and Hawaii. The single award, firm-fixed-price contract had a five-year base period of performance followed by ten one-year option periods, at an approximate value of $1 billion, if the FAA exercised all options. FAA had awarded Leidos the predecessor Automated Flight Service Station (AFSS) contract in 2005. (See September 2010.)
20231203: Alaska Airlines announced a deal to buy Hawaiian Airlines for $1.9 billion.
20231203: FAA’s thirteenth administrator, David Hinson, passed away in Roseville, CA, at the age of 90. He served as administrator from 1993-1996.