FAA taking a closer look at rocket launches causing problem for airlines

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) plans to take a closer look at rocket launches and the problems they may be causing commercial aircraft. The frequency of the rocket launches, which happen mostly in South Florida, appears to have caused interference with commercial jetliners.

The number of launches has been increasing lately. The FAA said it devotes a considerable amount of airspace to rocket launches and these launches disrupt commercial airline service from Miami and Fort Lauderdale and on up Florida’s Space Coast.

To help mitigate the problems the FAA will take into consideration a series of issues, including the location of the space launch; the number of people and the number of flights commercially that may be impacted; the time, and date, including major holidays and the Super Bowl; and military involvement, among other things.

The FAA does encourage more space launches and is advocating for more night launches. The FAA in leaders in the space industry, including, presumably, Elon Musk, will meet again in June.