Full FAA Chronology at this link.
19400414: The first Air Corps detachment assigned to Alaska arrived at Fairbanks.
19610414: The first FAA-sponsored International Aviation Research and Development Symposium, convened at Atlantic City, covered subjects relating to advances in electronics and their application to air navigation and air traffic control systems. Attendees included officials of some 20 foreign governments and representatives of the electronics and aviation communities.
19750414: FAA eliminated the proposed requirement for altitude reporting transponders (Mode C) on all aircraft operating in Group II Terminal Control Areas (TCAs) 45 days before it was to go into effect (see June 8, 1973 and January 29, 1987). However, FAA still required aircraft operating to and from primary and secondary airports within the twelve Group II TCAs to carry a transponder capable of providing discrete identity information to air traffic controllers. In addition, the agency required aircraft to obtain authorization prior to entering the Group II TCAs, and to maintain two-way radio communications with controllers. The requirement for altitude reporting equipment had been strongly opposed by general aviation operators and by such general aviation organizations as the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association. (See January 1, 1974, and August 1, 1975.)
19950414: Four FAA officials signed an agreement on the Integrated Product Development System (IPDS), greatly broadening the application of a new management approach. (The signers were the Associate Administrators for: Research and Acquisition; Regulation and Certification; Air Traffic Services; and Airports.) The IPDS called for the use of Integrated Product Teams (IPTs) as part of a tiered system of teams in research, acquisition, and the management of equipment life-cycles. The IPTs were multidisciplinary and cut across organizational lines to bring together customers and suppliers with the goal of improving products and services and expediting their delivery. The IPDS became a prominent feature of FAA’s new acquisition system (see April 1, 1996).
19980414: The Clinton Administration unveiled its Safer Skies initiative, an aviation safety agenda consistent with one announced earlier by the aviation industry. Designed to reduce the commercial aviation accident rate by 80 percent over the next decade, the initiative included mandatory equipment and training to prevent pilots from flying mechanically fit aircraft into the ground or water. It also contained programs to encourage cabin safety. Safer Skies concentrated FAA resources on the most prevalent causes of aircraft accidents and used special teams of technical experts to identify the leading causes of aviation disasters and recommend safety advances.
20110414: FAA Administrator Randy Babbitt announced he had accepted the resignation of ATO COO Hank Krakowski. In his statement, Babbitt said, “Over the last few weeks we have seen examples of unprofessional conduct on the part of a few individuals that have rightly caused the traveling public to question our ability to ensure their safety. This conduct must stop immediately.” David Grizzle, FAA’s Chief Counsel, became acting COO, and on July 7, 2011, Administrator Babbitt announced that Grizzle would be the permanent COO. (See October 2, 2007; April 13, 2011; April 17, 2011; August 13, 2013.)
20140414: FAA issued a final rule prohibiting flightcrew members in operations under Part 121 from using a personal wireless communications device or laptop computer for personal use while at their duty station on the flight deck while operating the aircraft.
20140414: FAA announced the nationwide installation of the automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast (ADS-B) radio network that supported a satellite-based surveillance system that tracks aircraft with the help of GPS. Of the 230 air traffic facilities across the country, 100 were using the system to separate traffic. FAA expected to be connected and operating at all 230 facilities by 2019. By January 1, 2020, all aircraft operating in controlled airspace were required to be equipped with ADS-B Out avionics that broadcast the plane’s location by January 1, 2020. (See June 9, 2013; August 27, 2015.)
20200414: Secretary of the Treasury Steven Mnuchin announced Alaska Airlines, Allegiant Air, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Frontier Airlines, Hawaiian Airlines, JetBlue Airways, United Airlines, SkyWest Airlines, and Southwest Airlines had agreed in principle to accept $25 billion in grants from the government as part of the Trump Administration’s $2 trillion economic stimulus program to combat the economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Under the terms of the deal, 70 percent of the money would be given to the airlines outright and 30 percent would have to be paid back to the government. In addition, the airlines would give the government warrants equal to 10 percent of the amount the carriers received. Warrants are securities that give the holder the right, but not the obligation, to buy a certain number of securities (usually the issuer’s common stock).
20200414: FAA issued guidance barring pilots from flying if they had taken the antimalarial drug hydroxychloroquine within the past 48 hours. FAA stated “Chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine were both reviewed by the FAA Federal Air Surgeon when they entered the market and have long been considered generally incompatible for those performing safety related aviation duties.”