January 12, 2017
When Steve Kjergaard accepted the position as director at Sloulin Field International Airport (ISN) six years ago, he thought it would be a static, solid three-year experience without much fanfare. "One of my first meetings was with the mayor and commissioner of the city to talk about moving the airport," Kjergaard remembers. Soon, plans were underway to build a new, larger facility: Williston Basin International Airport (XWA), about five miles northwest of ISN. Construction for the $265 million project began in October 2016; completion is expected in late 2018 or early 2019.
January 10, 2017
US Department of Transportation Acting Assistant Secretary for Aviation and International Affairs Jenny T. Rosenberg recently announced the members of the new Working Group on Improving Air Service to Small Communities which includes Aeronautics Commission member – Kim Kenville, Grand Forks.
January 6, 2017
Now it’s official. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has given the Northern Plains UAS Test Site based in Grand Forks, North Dakota, the approval to phase in the operation of large unmanned aircraft for beyond-visual-line-of-sight (BVLOS) operations.
November 22, 2016
The FAA FAAST TEAM has released a video summarizing what you need to know regarding commercial UAS operations. This informational video has a lot of useful information.
November 9, 2016
On November 2nd – 3rd, the North and South Dakota Airport Associations gathered to listen to presentations from the FAA regarding updated polices and the airport improvement program. View presentations
November 2, 2016
The North Dakota Aviation Council is hiring an executive director. Please contact Jon Simmers for more information.
October 11, 2016
WILLISTON, N.D. — Williston leaders said they're building for the future as they broke ground Monday on a new regional airport. Construction will begin this week on the $240 million Williston Basin International Airport, projected to be complete by the third quarter of 2019, said Airport Director Steven Kjergaard.
August 31, 2016
The new FAA Rules for Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems went into effect on Monday of this week. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx and FAA Administrator Michael Huerta announced the implementation of the first operational rules for routine non-hobbyist use of small unmanned aircraft systems (UAS or "drones").
July 12, 2016
Today, the FAA published a Supplemental Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (SNPRM) for safety management systems (SMS) in the airport area. SMS is a formal approach to managing an organization's safety through four key components - safety policy, safety risk management, safety assurance, and safety promotion. Through the SNPRM, the FAA proposes to integrate proactive hazard identification and risk-management based principles into the day-to-day operations at airports.
July 1, 2016
On June 21, 2016, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced its long-anticipated Final Rule (14 C.F.R. Part 107) authorizing the civil use of small unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) in the National Airspace System. The Final Rule will be effective on August 27, 2016, 60 days after publication in the Federal Register, and establishes a framework for the routine, civil operation of UAS. Importantly, Part 107 also permits the FAA to waive the majority of its requirements on a case-by-case basis upon application with supporting documentation commensurate with the extent of the waiver request. This white paper summarizes the Final Rule