Topic: Aircraft Registration

A Boston Globe "Spotlight" investigation reveals that the FAA has failed to implement a 2004 Congressional mandate to include photos on pilot licenses. The report also highlights how easy it is to register aircraft in the U.S. using Delaware-based LLCs as fronts, potentially allowing individuals on no-fly lists to own planes. The $5 registration fee and lack of rigorous background checks for aircraft ownership are cited as significant post-9/11 security gaps.

The government shutdown has halted the FAA's ability to process new aircraft registrations, though existing planes can still fly. Senator Barbara Mikulski is criticized for her dramatic floor speeches regarding the CDC's "disease detectives" and "investigative SWAT teams." The hosts argue that such long-tenured politicians highlight the need for constitutional term limits in Congress.