FAA Coverage

Helicopter crash in Wayne County kills pilot
WRAL's Rosalia Fodera spoke with a witness who heard the helicopter moments before it crashed, killing the pilot, on Thursday in Wayne County.

Drone safety 101: What to know before your new 'toy' takes flight
Got a drone for Christmas? They're not as simple to operate as they look. Make sure you know these rules and safety guidelines before you operate your drone.

Airlines now required to allow emotional support animals on flights
New regulations state that airlines have to allow emotional support animals as well as trained service animals on flights.

Preparing pets for airplane travel
New regulations state that airlines have to allow emotional support animals on flights along with trained service animals.

FAA's testing of shrinking airplane seats not sitting well with some
The FAA is coming under fire over its testing of shrinking airplane seats.

FAA to investigate after plane slides off runway during attempted takeoff in Harnett Co.
Members of the FAA will be on the scene at the Harnett County Regional Airport early Friday after a plane ran off the runway after attempting a takeoff on Thursday.

Plane runs off runway in Harnett County
WRAL's Rosalia Fodera has the latest on what happened after a small plane ran off the runway during a takeoff attempt at the airport in Erwin.

Boeing, FAA faulted for Max 8 problems
A damning report released Friday provided the first detailed account of how federal regulators certified Boeing's 737 Max jet without a clear understanding of a crucial new system on the plane, a failure that contributed to two deadly accidents.

Surgeon & pilot, WakeMed Innovations director sees bright future for drones in health care
Dr. Stuart Ginn, a former pilot and flight instructor, brings a keen eye to the evolving drone delivery program at WakeMed. And so far he likes what he sees, especially after the US Department of Transportation on Tuesday cited the pilot project as a key reason in approval a first “drone airline” for UPS.

What’s next for drones in NC? Department of Transportation has aggressive agenda
The FAA’s decision to award UPS a “drone airline” after a trial in which UPS partnered with the North Carolina Department of Transportation and WakeMed for a series of trial deliveries is a victory but it marks just the beginning of an aggressive drone agenda in the state known as “First in Flight.”

FAA approves UPS for a ‘drone airline’ after WakeMed trial deliveries
UPS says it has won government approval to run a drone airline, a first for a U.S. company, and it plans to expand deliveries on hospital campuses and eventually other industries.

FAA issues warning as rate of laser pointers impacting flights rises
The FAA is putting out a warning after a number of laser strikes on planes across the country.

NTSB, FAA continue search for answers after deadly chopper crash
The helicopter had been seen flying erratically over New York City prior to the crash.

Nash County woman heard propeller, then boom as plane crashed
Brenda Hawkins was sitting on her front porch when she heard "a propeller or something, real loud," she said. Then she heard the boom.

NASA's first-of-kind tests explore unleashing unmanned drones in cities
NASA has launched the final stage of a four-year effort to develop a national traffic management system for drones, testing them in cities for the first time beyond the operator's line of sight as businesses look in the future to unleash the unmanned devices in droves above busy streets and buildings.

Drone survey cites North Carolina DOT as example of growing use
In Utah, drones are hovering near avalanches to watch roaring snow. In North Carolina, they're searching for the nests of endangered birds. In Kansas, they could soon be identifying sick cows through heat signatures. North Carolina through a Department of Transportation initiative is cited as one of  "states conducting cutting-edge research" in the American Association of…

PrecisionHawk’s CEO tapped to be top drone policy advisor
Michael Chasen, CEO of Raleigh-based PrecisionHawk, will replace Intel’s CEO Brian Krzanich as chairman of the Federal Aviation Administration’s Drone Advisory Committee (DAC), it was announced today.

FAA resists calls to ground Boeing jets
Boeing's 737 Max aircraft have been grounded in several countries in the wake of Sunday's deadly Ethiopian Airlines crash, but not in the United States

Mother of plane crash victim recounts final text exchange with daughter
Allison Forsythe was only three months from earning her master's degree in counselor education at East Carolina University, but it was spring break, and she needed to get away.