Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Scott PowersOctober 10, 2018

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Sea ports and airports in the path of Hurricane Michael have closed, volitile facilities like chemical plants are being monitored, Naitonal Guard troops military equipment are mobilizing, and federal authorities are calling on people in affected areas to stay off the roads. Federal Emergency Management Agency Administrator Brock Long Wednesday morning urged people in the […]

Scott PowersApril 27, 2018

Two amendments pushed by Democratic U.S. Rep. Darren Soto got included in a bill approved Friday morning by the U.S. House of Representatives and could make airports and airplanes a little more prepared for new mothers and pregnant women. House Resolution 4, the Federal Aviation Administration Reauthorization Act of 2018, includes Soto’s amendments that requires […]

Peter SchorschNovember 15, 2017

There’s nothing more aggravating than seeing the Legislature finally do the right thing, only to see local authorities attempt to undermine that progress. Take, for instance, the maddening example of Florida airports and the extra fees they tack on when travelers try to leave the airport property. Since the Legislature passed uniform regulations for ridesharing […]

Associated PressSeptember 12, 2017

Most commercial airports in Florida reopened Tuesday, but activity was limited and hundreds of flights were canceled or delayed as the state recovered from Hurricane Irma. American Airlines said the storm forced it to cancel more than 5,000 flights over several days, cutting into revenue and profit. Miami International Airport said that some airline and […]

Scott PowersMay 31, 2017

Two Polk County airports, in Lake Wales and Winter Haven, have won federal grants for improvements, the office U.S. Sen. Darren Soto announced Wednesday. The Federal Aviation Authority awarded grants of of $82,851 apiece to the Lake Wales Municipal Airport and the Winter Haven’s Gilbert Airport. The Lake Wales Municipal Airport grant will pay for rehabilitation of […]

Scott PowersMarch 16, 2016

U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson‘s concern about unpiloted drones flying near airports led him to take steps in Senate action Wednesday to stop them. Florida’s senior senator had the U.S. Senate Commerce Committee insert a pilot program to deter them into the Federal Aviation Administration Reauthorization bill. Senate Bill 2658, which ranking Democrat Nelson of Florida […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterFebruary 16, 2016

A decades-old law dealing with airport zoning is getting an update. The House Transportation & Economic Development Appropriations Subcommittee approved a proposal Tuesday that updates the state’s Airport Zoning Law of 1945. The law governs land use and airspace management at or around the state’s airports. The measure (HB 1379) essentially modernizes the rules regulating […]

Associated PressFebruary 8, 2016

U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson is meeting with Florida’s airport directors as part of a push to garner support for new technology that could protect airports and other sensitive areas from drones. Nelson was in Orlando on Friday meeting with airport directors from Orlando, Miami, Tampa, Jacksonville, Sarasota, Clearwater and Panama City. Nelson is hoping to […]

Scott PowersFebruary 5, 2016

U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson says drones near airports “an accident that is waiting to happen,” and is asking the FAA for tougher rules and to consider technologies allowing airports to take control of drones flying nearby. Nelson called a meeting at Orlando International Airport Friday of top executives at seven of Florida’s largest airports — Orlando, Miami, Tampa, St. […]

Tag: Airports

FEMA, federal agencies prepare as ports close, National Guard readies

Darren Soto amendments make flying friendlier to new moms and pregnant women

Ridesharing legislation is bringing us to the future, so why are airports still stuck in the past?

Airports open but cancellations linger

Lake Wales, Winter Haven airports win federal grants

Bill Nelson gets drones-at-airports intercept program into FAA reauthorization bill

House panel OKs changes to 71-year-old airport zoning law

Bill Nelson wants limits on drones around airports

Bill Nelson, Florida airport leaders call for FAA rules, technologies, to crack down on drones near airports