Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)

Government shutdown woes continue to worsen

East County News Services
 
Nov. 8, 2025 (San Diego County) -- The longest federal government shutdown in the history of the United States continues to impact millions of Americans. The 2025 government shutdown reached 35 days on Nov. 5, eclipsing a 34-day shutdown in 2018–19 for the longest in U.S. history.
 
The shutdown started when the previous budget expired at the onset of the fiscal year on Oct. 1. Members of Congress have been unable to pass a continuing resolution to reopen operations.
 
 
House Republicans and Democrats each proposed budget resolutions prior to the shutdown, but both were voted down in the Senate.
 
The Republican-sponsored bill would have funded the government until Nov. 21, keeping most program spending at 2025 levels while extending some health and veterans services programs.

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DRONES (UAV) PROHIBITED FROM FIRE AREA

Source: CAL FIRE

Logos belong respectively to U.S. Forest Service, CAL FIRE and San Diego County Fire

The “If You Fly, We Can’t” safety awareness campaign is designed to keep drone pilots away from airspace used by firefighters.

September 12, 2020 (San Diego's East County) -- Federal, state, and local wildland fire management agencies and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) urge members of the public not to fly “Unmanned Aircraft Vehicles (UAV)” or drones over or near wildfires. Unauthorized drone flights pose serious risks to firefighter and public safety and the effectiveness of wildfire suppression operations.


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COURT TO FAA: CHECK SAFETY EFFECTS OF SMALLER AIRLINE SEATS

 

By Miriam Raftery

August 7, 2017 (Washington D.C.) -  In recent years, passengers have been complaining about shrinking seat sizes while airlines seek to squeeze out maximum profits.

But last month, the U.S. Court of Appeals ordered the Federal Aviation Administration, or FAA, to conduct a review to determine whether those claustrophobic small seats pose safety hazards to passengers.


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FLIGHT PATHS FROM 2 MAJOR AIRPORTS MAY BE REROUTED OVER EAST COUNTY: FAA TO HOLD MEETING NOV. 1 IN SPRING VALLEY

 

East County News Service

October 28, 2016 (Spring Valley) — The Federal Aviation Administration is hosting a meeting in Spring Valley Tuesday on a proposal to change flight paths to both Lindbergh Field and Brown Field airports, which could sharply increase airliner traffic over East County.  The meeting will be at La Presa Middle School, 1001 Leland Street, on November 1 from 6 to 9 p.m.


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FAA RAISES HEIGHT LIMIT FOR FLIGHTS OVER GILLESPIE FIELD

 

By Miriam Raftery

August 9, 2016 (El Cajon) — The Federal Aviation Administration has approved a request from Gillespie Field Airport Manager Marc Baskel to permanently raise the minimum altitude for air traffic over Gillespie Field from 1,188 feet to 1,388 feet.


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REGISTER YOUR DRONES, OR FACE FINES AND CRIMINAL CHARGES

 

By Miriam Raftery

February 23, 2016 (San Diego’s East County) – If you own a drone, you must register it with the Federal Aviation Agency. Under a new law now in effect, flying an unregistered drone outdoors anywhere in the U.S. could land you in jail and facing hefty fines.


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SDG&E USE OF DRONES APPROVED BY FDA

 

East County News Service

March 31, 2015(San Diego) – SDG&E has received approval from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to use unmanned drones to conduct aerial inspections of its gas and electrical facilities in rural East County.


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FAA PROPOSES RULES FOR DRONES

 

East County News Service

February 15, 2015 (Washington D.C.)--The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) released draft rules for regulation of drones on February 15th, though it will likely take two or three years before they can take effect.  The next step is approval by the Obama administration, followed by a public comments period.


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ADVOCATES QUESTION SPENDING AT GILLESPIE FIELD

 

By Nadin Abbott

September  18, 2014 (San Diego)-- Robert Germann,  spokesman for Citizens Against Gillespie Expansion (CAGE), spoke before the Board of Supervisors on Tuesday to make a presentation. He wants to know the reason for a large increase in funds allocated for Gillespie Field airport that has been kept hidden from the public.

He told the Board, “According to the California Division of Aeronautics, Gillespie Field is slated to receive nearly $417 million."

He added that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) will give the El Cajon Center $10.63 million. Yet the County stated that the field is only going to receive $232,070, said Germann. He asked why there is such a discrepancy?


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