The air traffic controller responsible for handling the airplane involved in Saturday's fatal midair collision with a helicopter over the Hudson River was put on administrative leave Thursday after investigators said he was involved in “apparently inappropriate conversations on the telephone at the time of the accident.”
The crash killed all nine people aboard both aircraft, including three people from a Pennsylvania family on the plane and five Italian tourists and a pilot on the helicopter. The collision, in broad daylight on a clear weekend afternoon, has led some officials to call for greater regulation of the busy airspace surrounding the Manhattan and New Jersey waterfronts.
The FAA said in a statement Thursday that disciplinary proceedings have begun against the controller and his supervisor, who was not present in the building as required.The air traffic controller responsible for handling the airplane involved in... more
Casey Coleman, GSA CIO, has previously stated that cloud computing is the best way for government technology to move forward. To support this effort, the agency is encouraging an active dialog with industry professionals on possible future standardization issues such as…Casey Coleman, GSA CIO, has previously stated that cloud computing is the best way for... more
Gwen Morton and Ted Alford have published an excellent economic evaluation of the federal government’s push into cloud computing. Their conclusions acknowledge the value of cloud computing, but also offers some practical considerations.Gwen Morton and Ted Alford have published an excellent economic evaluation of the... more
Planes in use today are being maintained and repaired by workers who can not read the manuals, are pushed to work faster, not safer, and in improper conditions (i.e. glue not kept at proper temperature, resulting in a failing bond/seal).
Three part special series.Planes in use today are being maintained and repaired by workers who can not read the... more
Hufpo has a story that a 747 flying at low altitude was being escorted by a fighter jet. There's video as well as something about a federal government Photo op. Its all a little vague to me though.
UPDATE:
Towleroad reports that the 747 is a AirForceOne Backup and was being used for areal photography, however the FAA, nor NYPD were notified of this event according to towleroad. This lack of notice caused panic in the streets of downtown Manhattan as people poured into the streets from the high rise buildings near the water.
"I pray for him not to suffer for this action," Yoon said. "I know he's one of our treasures for our country.""I pray for him not to suffer for this action," Yoon said. "I know... more
FOX business News has reported the FAA acknowledges there have been serious security breaches of our nation’s air traffic control systems, although no serious safety problems resulted from the unauthorized access. Unnamed officials at the FAA told FOX that there is a significant threat that cyber intrusion could result in disruptions in air traffic monitoring and control. Needless to say, this is a major national security threat.FOX business News has reported the FAA acknowledges there have been serious security... more
For folks who don't use DVRs... for whatever reason... this may be a happy bit of news. Those commercials ARE really annoyingly L - O - U - D , aren't they?!??!
From CNN...
The brief measure directs the Federal Communications Commission to develop regulations preventing ads from being "excessively noisy or strident" or "having modulation levels substantially higher than the accompanying program." The bill also addresses "average maximum loudness."
The volume of television commercials is a common complaint among viewers. One man told CNN, "Every time you put on the TV and try and watch a show, the next thing you get are these really loud commercials."
A woman added, "I usually mute the television."
"This is a dumb bill but I love it. I really do," said media analyst Mark Hughes. He said that for irritated Americans it strikes a nerve, even though it's not a huge political issue.For folks who don't use DVRs... for whatever reason... this may be a happy bit of... more
The Federal Aviation Administration may be expanding its investigation into suspected structural problems found in a small portion of American Airlines jets, according to the Wall Street Journal.
The newspaper reported Saturday that at least one of the Fort Worth-based airline's McDonnell Douglas MD-80 series jets was believed to be in such poor shape that it was ferried without passengers to a maintenance base at low altitudes to avoid stressing the fuselage by pressurizing it. It cited unnamed people familiar with the matter.
American Airlines officials could not be reached by phone or by e-mail for comment Saturday afternoon by The Associated Press.
But American Airlines spokesman Tim Wagner told the newspaper the carrier has responded to the agency's formal "letter of investigation." Wagner also told the Journal that any actions or precautions taken earlier this year "whether airplane movements or repairs, were done with the highest level of safety in mind."
American, a unit of AMR Corp., is slowly replacing the MD-80s with new, more fuel-efficient planes while it reduces capacity, or the number of flights, to deal with a decline in air travel.
...More...The Federal Aviation Administration may be expanding its investigation into suspected... more
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has given BAE Systems $105 million since 2004 to develop and test its infrared aircraft missile defense system for use on commercial aircraft. The feds are evaluating whether Jeteye could work from the under belly of a jumbo jet, be operated by an airline crew and be maintained by airline mechanics. BAE already demonstrated to the military that Jeteye was effective in defeating missiles in earlier tests. The government wants to determine whether missile-defense technology on commercial aircraft will work properly without adding too much weight or aerodynamic drag (The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has given BAE Systems $105 million since 2004... more
CNN is reporting that communication problems at the FAA facility in Atlanta, that processes flights, caused flight delays today (Tuesday).
Delays were reported at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, LaGuardia Airport in New York and several others. The total number of flights affected is not known. CNN is reporting that communication problems at the FAA facility in Atlanta, that... more
It becomes less and less a future fever dream every day: Spaceport America in Las Cruces, NM, Virgin Galactic's future home, has gotten FAA approval to begin construction.
The design has been set since September 2007, but now that an environmental impact assessment has been passed, construction can now begin. Branson is banking on the rich still paying for a suborbital flight in our current economic clime, and yeah, I probably believe him.
Virgin Galactic and its SpaceShipTwo/White Knight launch system will be the main attraction, but the spaceport's license for vertical and horizontal takeoffs can be used by any number of clients willing to lease some launchpad time. [Ars Technica]It becomes less and less a future fever dream every day: Spaceport America in Las... more
Carpathia Hosting has announced the formation of Carpathia Government Solutions, a unit dedicated to providing solutions specifically for federal civilian and defense agencies. The new business unit boasts ATOs (Authority to Operate) for over 20 federal agencies, support for private agency networks and an active facility clearance.Carpathia Hosting has announced the formation of Carpathia Government Solutions, a... more
FAA Administrator Randy Babbitt, in his keynote speech yesterday to the ALPA 2009 Air Safety Forum in Washington, said he underlined the need for revised flight-duty time rules, as well as pilot training.
By Frances FiorinoFAA Administrator Randy Babbitt, in his keynote speech yesterday to the ALPA 2009 Air... more
SAN FRANCISCO (CBS 5 / AP / BCN) ― A Cessna 210 Centurion plane crashed into the San Francisco Bay south of the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge shortly before 2 p.m. Wednesday, according to the Federal Aviation Administration.
The U.S. Coast Guard says it rescued two people from the water after the plane went down near the Bay Bridge toll plaza and new bridge contruction around 2 p.m. Wednesday.
The two passengers were not seriously injured.
The FAA said the Cessna had reported a loss of power before it crashed.
Preliminary information indicates the single-engine plane experienced engine problems before it crashed into the bay, FAA spokesman Ian Gregor said.
The Emeryville and Oakland fire departments, as well as the California Highway Patrol, California Department of Transportation and U.S.
Coast Guard, were responding, Oakland fire spokesman Lt. David Brue said.
Preliminary information indicates the single-engine plane experienced engine problems before it crashed into the bay, FAA spokesman Ian Gregor said. The Emeryville and Oakland fire departments, as well as the California Highway Patrol, California Department of Transportation and U.S. Coast Guard, were responding, Oakland fire spokesman Lt. David Brue said. for raw video check their website
http://cbs5.com/video/?id=39051@kpix.dayport.com
-... more
According to TMZ, Billy Mays wasn't wearing a seatbelt on a bumpy flight yesterday, took quite a bump to the head. Some are suggesting this is what led to his death.
Mays' last tweet was: Just had a close call landing in Tampa. The tires blew out upon landing. Stuck in the plane on the runway. You can always count on US Air.
The ability of aircraft engines to withstand collisions with large birds and pilot training for dual engine failures are among the concerns of a federal safety panel examining the forced landing of an airliner into the Hudson River.
National Transportation Safety Board member Robert Sumwalt, who will chair the three-day hearing that begins Tuesday, said the accident has made safety officials, the aviation industry and the public more aware of the growing likelihood of bird-plane collisions.
US Airways Flight 1549 had just taken off from LaGuardia Airport in New York on Jan. 15 and climbed to about 3,000 feet when the Airbus A320 hit a flock of Canada geese and lost thrust in both engines. Capt. Chesley Sullenberger ditched the plane into the Hudson rather than risk crashing in the densely populated area. All 155 people aboard survived.
"I flew airplanes for quite a while and I worried about a lot of things, but I never really worried about birds bringing my airplane down," Sumwalt, a former airline pilot, said in an interview. "Now this has caused a whole new focus on this."
In recent decades, many bird populations — including Canada geese — have rebounded thanks partly to environmental regulations. Air travel has also soared since deregulation in the late 1970s encouraged greater competition and lower fares.The ability of aircraft engines to withstand collisions with large birds and pilot... more
Is there a culture of complacency in the airline industry?
After Bombardier Dash 8 Q400, flown by Colgan Air, crashed in Buffalo, New York, earlier this year, a federal safety inspector at Colgan Air said he had reported to his supervisors that planes were flying at incorrect speeds, with a broken radio, and failing multiple attempts at landing properly. That safety inspector is Chris Monteleon, who says his complaints were ignored; he was relegated to a desk job.Is there a culture of complacency in the airline industry?
After Bombardier Dash 8... more
"While a lot of people are wondering if commercial spaceflight will ever make it, Spaceport America is holding its groundbreaking ceremony today. You can watch it live at their site at 11am MST. The spaceport is aiming for a diverse clientele including the delivery of small national security purpose satellites into Earth orbit as well as research and development for scientific purposes. After getting their FAA license and securing funding, the 27 square mile development project has officially begun. The target date for completion is the end of 2010, let's all hope for success in the milestone goal!""While a lot of people are wondering if commercial spaceflight will ever make it,... more
Travelers are facing mass flight delays today as the result of a computer problem at the Federal Aviation Administration.
The FAA has two systems that process flight plans - one located in Atlanta and the other one in Salt Lake City. But the Atlanta system went down at 1:30pm today, and all flight plans are now being handled out of Salt Lake City.
As a result, delays could pile up at airports across the country. Delays up to 90 minutes are already surfacing at several airports.
"This was a failure mode we have not seen before," said FAA chief operating officer Hank Krakowski on Tuesday afternoon.
According to the FAA, about 6,500 airplanes are in FAA system, though the aviation agency has not said how many were in the sky and how many were on the ground when the problem occurred.
With such a heavy volume of air traffic typically converging on the East Coast, delays could spread depending on how much time it takes to iron out the problem. Krakowski said most of the delays were happening in the eastern portion of the United States, with none reported west of Dallas or Chicago. Travelers are facing mass flight delays today as the result of a computer problem at... more
