How many hours of delay is too much for you, Senator?
A week ago I had to fly to West Palm Beach, Fla., from Philadelphia. Moments after leaving the gate, our captain told us there would be “at least a half hour” delay. Unknown to us, a few minutes before we left the gate, US Airways Express flight 4551 “successfully crashed” on runway 27L.
Cell phones — yes or no? That is the question
When the pilot announces all electronics must be turned off before the plane departs, it’s amazing how many people continue phone conversations, sending text messages or emails as if the world were coming to an end. They must be very important.
Is Sarah Palin the answer for FAA modernization?
On the eve of the vice-presidential debate and after writing for several days about the demise of any change at the FAA and continuing problems our air traffic control system, Sarah Palin is beginning to look like just what the air traffic doctor ordered — a politician that might actually get change happening when it comes to air traffic.
FAA left without new funding by Congress, now lacks authority says GAO
If anyone wonders why our air traffic system is in a steady state of decay, take a look at recent action and inaction in Washington DC. The 110th Congress punted funding decisions to the incoming 111th Congress with a limited continuing resolution that expires in March 2009 and a GAO lawyer concluded recently that the FAA has no authority to auction slots at NYC airports.
Government can fix the air traffic system — but does it want to?
The meltdown of the nation’s financial infrastructure over the past two weeks has generated a fix or bailout that may cost a trillion dollars. That is trillion with a “T” — a whopping amount of money. The cost to fix the air traffic control system and fully modernize it? Fifty two billion. A drop in the bucket.
FAA “Blue Ribbon Panel” recommendations are anything but winning
The U.S. Department of Transportation recently unveiled 13 improvements to Federal Aviation Administration safety programs resulting from a months-long study, “Managing Risks in Civil Aviation: A Review of the FAA’s Approach to Safety,” conducted by a “blue-ribbon” panel of experts in the aviation field. Some of the things in this plan are, well, sort of dumb — the kinds of things that make a person want to say “duh.”
Do you really know what the pictures on airline safety cards mean?
As a frequent traveler, you’ve probably seen those airline safety cards thousands of times. You’ve probably just taken a cursory look or don’t even look at all, especially if you’ve flown the same type of plane for a while. The question is, do you really know what the pictures mean?
Southwest defies FAA deadline to pay $10.2 million fine
Southwest Airlines will not pay the $10.2 million fine levied by the Federal Aviation Administration for alleged safety violations — yet.
FAA flight plan system error
“What we have here is a failure to communicate.” Those immortal words from Cool Hand Luke, released in 1967, sum up the FAA flight plan fiasco that delayed and canceled flights yesterday. Ironically, much of the equipment used by the FAA was developed about the same time the movie was made. This time the switching network that failed is “only” 14 years old.
If those cancelled flights made you feel safer on American Airlines, think again
It’s only been five months since that horrendous travel week in late March when American Airlines canceled hundreds of flights with their MD80 airplanes, and some passengers were stuck for days, especially at Dallas/Ft Worth airport.