The Air Up There Federal Aviation Administration

Climate change impacts the world we live in today as well as future generations. As with other transportation sectors, aviation plays a role in sustainability. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is rolling out Phase III of its Continuous Lower Energy Emissions and Noise (CLEEN) Program, working with stakeholders to decrease aviation's effects on climate change. Among other things, Phase III of the CLEEN Program introduces new environmental goals, including reducing noise and carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions.


Tune in to this podcast episode where we sit down with Kevin Welsh, FAA's Executive Director of the Office of Environment & Energy, and David Hyde, former Director of Environmental Policy at the Aerospace Industries Association, to discuss what CLEEN is, what success looks like, and what is exciting about this new phase.

Welcome to our third installment of the summer career series! In this episode, we're learning about pilots, and the work they do to maintain safety while flying. Pilots can be found in a variety of different locations and roles: flight decks, at controls, transporting passengers and cargo, or even flying drones. Interested? Aviation might be the career for you! You'll hear from: Jacqueline Camacho Ruiz, the author of Latinas in Aviation; Dawne Barrett, the leader of the operations supervisor workshop for FAA; and Captain Jill Mills, the Assistant Chief Pilot of United Airlines.

For more information about aviation careers, visit our careers page. Or, if you're curious about other types of careers at FAA, visit our jobs page.

Have you ever wanted to start a career in aviation? Well, becoming an aviation technician might be the right path for you! In this week's episode, we're exploring what it means to be a technician for FAA and in the aviation industry.


Technicians have the skills and hands-on training to maintain and repair a wide array of equipment and technology that pilots and controllers rely on for navigation and communication, flight-tracking technology, runway lights and much more. The skills of a technician are absolutely necessary to ensure that all air travelers arrive at their destinations safely and on time.


You'll hear from FAA's Cody Johnson, a district facilities group manager for Technical Operations; Jim Woodruff, who is working to ensure technicians have the proper training; and Krista Jeppsen, who oversees 14 technicians at King Salmon System Support Center in Alaska. Learn more about Airway Transportation Systems Specialists.

Welcome to the first installment of our summer career series! We're answering your questions and doing a deep dive into careers in aerospace and the steps you can take to get started in the field. Today's episode is one of our most requested topics — how to become an air traffic controller as an entry-level applicant. FAA experts will walk you through everything from the application process to training at the FAA Academy and certification.


For more information about air traffic control jobs at FAA, visit our careers page. Or, if you're curious about other types of careers at FAA, visit our jobs page.

Aviation is for everyone, and the Drone Advisory Committee (DAC) is working to ensure that everyone feels included. During the DAC's last meeting, FAA requested that they explore a potential language change. For example, the technical term for drones is unmanned aircraft systems, or UAS. Unmanned. Now the committee is looking at ways to make that terminology gender-inclusive, because really, so long as a person is flying safely and following the rules, it doesn't matter what their gender is.


In this episode, we're exploring what an equitable aerospace industry looks like. You'll hear from FAA Deputy Administrator Brad Mims, the FAA's Vice President for System Operations Services Ginny Boyle, and Alina George from the FAA's drone office.


You can learn more about the DAC's use of inclusive language in our latest blog post.

On a flight back to his home airport in a Cherokee 140, pilot Truman O'Brien ran into engine trouble. FAA air traffic controllers at the Portland, Oregon TRACON were in close communication with the pilot, offering him multiple landing options and working hard to help guide him to safety. But, flying at 8,000 feet, the aircraft lost altitude quickly. Even with top-notch air traffic control services, O'Brien had no choice but to make an emergency landing in the trees, deep in the forest of southwest Washington.


In this episode, we hear from the people on both ends of the transmission — Krissy Lewandowski, Portland TRACON Controller; Patrick Elmore, Portland TRACON Operations Supervisor; and the pilot himself. It's a story that underscores why clear pilot-controller communication is so critical.


The FAA's WINGS program has resources to help general aviation pilots stay proficient and enjoy stress-free flying. You can learn more about WINGS at faasafety.gov/wings.