At Issue: Control

A ’Pretty Simple’ Decision

David Bennett, FAA director of the Office of Airport Safety and Standards, was the center of the decision to reject Naples’ Stage 2 ban on aircraft.

Comments Bennett, "Naples is pretty simple. We issued the decision in March; the Naples Airport Authority appealed the decision and requested a hearing.

"The hearing officer prepares a report and that is submitted to the Associate Administrator for Airports. She [Woodie Woodward] will issue a final decision in September."

From there, says Bennett, Naples can appeal the decision to the U.S. Court of Appeals.

Regarding the potential far-reaching effects of the Naples debate over FAR Part 161 and the Stage 2 ban, Bennett says, "I’m not even going to comment on that at this time. Virtually everything about this has become an issue. I’ll let the document speak for itself."