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Small Plane Crashes Into San Francisco Bay
for raw video check their website
http://cbs5.com/video/?id=39051@kpix.dayport.com
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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 -
Mexico Drug Plane Used For US 'Rendition' Flights: Report
A private jet that crash-landed almost one year ago in eastern Mexico carrying 3.3 tons of cocaine had previously been used for CIA "rendition" flights, a newspaper report said here Thursday, citing documents from the United States and the European Parliament.
The plane was carrying Colombian drugs for the fugitive leader of Mexico's Sinaloa cartel, Joaquin "Chapo" Guzman, when it crash-landed in the Yucatan peninsula on September 24, El Universal reported.
The daily said it had obtained documents from the United States and the European Parliament which "show that that plane flew several times to Guantanamo, Cuba, presumably to transfer terrorism suspects."
It said the European Parliament was investigating the private Grumman Gulfstream II, registered by the European Organization for the Safety of Air Navigation, for suspected use in CIA "rendition" flights in which prisoners are covertly transferred to a third country or US-run detention centers.
It also said the US Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) logbook registered that the plane had traveled between US territory and the US military base in Guantanamo.
It said the FAA registered its last owner as Clyde O'Connor in Pompano Beach, Florida.
Extraordinary rendition has been harshly criticized since it began in the aftermath of the September 11, 2001 attacks in the United States A private jet that crash-landed almost one year ago in eastern Mexico carrying 3.3 tons of cocaine had previously been used for CIA &#... more -
FAA Computer Problem Causes Mass Flight Delays
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 the Federal Aviation Administration. ... more -
FAA computer problems causing delays
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 processes flights, caused flight delays today (Tuesd... more -
American Airlines fined $7.1M over safety violations
(CNN) -- Federal regulators announced $7.1 million in fines against American Airlines on Thursday over maintenance issues and problems with its drug- and alcohol-testing programs.
"The FAA believes the large total amount of the fine for these violations is appropriate because American Airlines was aware that appropriate repairs were needed, and instead deferred maintenance," the Federal Aviation Administration said in a statement announcing the decision. "In intentionally continuing to fly the aircraft, the carrier did not follow important safety regulations intended to protect passengers and crew."
American can still appeal the fines, the FAA said.
The FAA also found the airline maintained inadequate drug- and alcohol-testing programs and failed to inspect safety lighting on a "timely" basis.
The Fort Worth, Texas-based carrier said Thursday evening that it disagreed with the findings and called the penalties "excessive." (CNN) -- Federal regulators announced $7.1 million in fines against American Airlines on Thursday over maintenance issues and problems... more -
Justice Department Asks Intelligence Court to Review New Wiretapping Law in Secret
In a brief filed late yesterday with the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court (FISC), the Bush administration asked that any review of the new warrantless surveillance law be kept secret and that the court refuse to accept legal briefs from anyone other than the Justice Department itself. The government is responding to a motion the American Civil Liberties Union filed earlier this month asking the FISC to ensure that any proceedings relating to the scope, meaning or constitutionality of the FISA Amendments Act (FAA) be open to the public to the extent possible.
The following can be attributed to Jameel Jaffer, Director of the ACLU National Security Project:
“The government is proposing that the intelligence court should consider the constitutionality of the new surveillance law in proceedings that will be entirely secret. If the government’s request is granted, the court won’t hear arguments from anyone except the government and those arguments will be presented to the court in secret briefs. At the end of the process, the court will issue a ruling that is also secret. The process the government is proposing is completely unacceptable. Especially because the new surveillance law departs so significantly from the standards that have applied to government surveillance for the last 30 years, any proceedings relating to the new law’s constitutionality should be adversarial and as informed and transparent as possible.”
In a separate legal challenge in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, the ACLU seeks a court ruling declaring that the FAA is unconstitutional and ordering its immediate and permanent halt. Plaintiffs in the case include Amnesty International USA, Human Rights Watch, the Nation and PEN American Center.
More information about the ACLU’s legal challenges to the FAA is available online at: www.aclu.org/faa In a brief filed late yesterday with the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court (FISC), the Bush administration asked that any review... more -
FAA hasn't done enough to ensure safety concerns are investigated
The U.S. Department of Transportation’s inspector general recommended Wednesday that regulators establish an independent watchdog within the Federal Aviation Administration to investigate inspectors’ safety concerns. The U.S. Department of Transportation’s inspector general recommended Wednesday that regulators establish an independent watchdog with... more
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Now boarding on American Airlines....... nobody
American Airlines canceled over a thousand flights in order to examine their fleet for flaws.
Any conspiracy theorists?
"Passengers on American Airlines found themselves facing confusion and long delays on Wednesday after the carrier canceled more than 1,000 flights, as its efforts to inspect and in some cases reattach wiring bundles in the wheel wells of its 300-plane fleet of MD-80s dragged on.
More cancellations are expected Thursday.
Moving to head off any loss of confidence in its safety procedures, American said it planned to hire an outside contractor to review its compliance with airworthiness directives from the Federal Aviation Administration.
“This work will ensure that all procedures strictly adhere to the technical elements of every directive so American can avoid this type of schedule disruption in the future,” the carrier said in a written statement.
The F.A.A. grants airlines much autonomy to fix and inspect planes, reviewing and auditing work after the fact. But in recent weeks it became clear that some airlines had not kept up with all the work. At least 500 flights were canceled Tuesday.
...
The maintenance problem came up as part of the F.A.A.’s industry-wide examination of compliance with inspection directives. The agency has found scores of planes out of compliance thus far, grounding planes and leading to canceled flights at other airlines, including Southwest Airlines and United Airlines.
American had inspected the wiring bundles and thought it had the problem fixed two weeks ago. But the F.A.A., upon looking at the planes earlier this week, found some bundles were wrapped and attached to the wheel wells incorrectly, and ordered them redone." American Airlines canceled over a thousand flights in order to examine their fleet for flaws. Any conspiracy theorists? ... more -
FAA to United Airlines: "You're GROUNDED!!"
"United said that during a regular review of maintenance records it had discovered tests on a fire suppression system had not been thorough enough.
The airline cancelled 31 of its 84 daily 777 flights on Wednesday and expects more cancellations on Thursday."
Passengers were booked for flights on other airlines due to the forced grounding. "United said that during a regular review of maintenance records it had discovered tests on a fire suppression system had not bee... more -
The U.S. Air Force has and continues to meet NORAD's mission
http://www.norad.mil/Images/Images_2007/Index.html
The U.S. Air Force has and continues to meet NORAD mission requirements for operations such as Operation Noble Eagle and other Air Sovereignty Alert missions assigned to the command. As the transition of the U.S. Air Force F-15s back into operational status takes place, those F-15s not yet cleared may still fly under a mandatory scramble order. Other mission requirements have been and will continue to be met by airframes such as the F-16 and F-22. NORAD's mission to deter, detect and defend North American skies remains unabated. Photo by Capt Tana R.H. Stevenson http://www.norad.mil/Images/Images_2007/Index.html ... more -
Gen. Gene Renuart and Adm. Jonathan W. Greenert Meet
Gen. Gene Renuart, left, commander of North American Aerospace Defense Command and U.S. Northern Command, met with Adm. Jonathan W. Greenert, commander of U.S. Fleet Forces Command, during the admiral's Oct. 19, 2007, visit to NORAD and USNORTHCOM headquarters at Peterson Air Force Base, Colo. USFFC is the Joint Force Maritime Component Command for U.S. Northern Command. The admiral's visit coincided with all three commands' participation in the Vigilant Shield '08 exercise. Gen. Gene Renuart, left, commander of North American Aerospace Defense Command and U.S. Northern Command, met with Adm. Jonathan W. Gr... more
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North American Aerospace Defense Command
North American Aerospace Defense Command. The Fine of the Finest Defending our Home Airspace. Thanks N.O.R.A.D.
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Pilot's gun fires on US Airways flight
A gun belonging to the pilot of a US Airways plane discharged as the aircraft was on approach to land in North Carolina over the weekend, the first time a weapon issued under a federal program to arm pilots was fired, authorities said Monday.
"We know that there was never any danger to the aircraft or to the occupants on board," Alter said.
The firing is the first time a pilot's weapon has been fired on a plane under a program created after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks to allow pilots, for example, to use a firearm to defend against any act of air piracy or criminal violence, he said. A gun belonging to the pilot of a US Airways plane discharged as the aircraft was on approach to land in North Carolina over the weeke... more -
Planes grounded by Mama Southwest; Daddy FAA levies fines
Southwest Airlines has grounded dozens of planes following allegations that the airline broke federal safety rules, the airline said.
Forty-four Boeing planes were grounded "to determine whether they should go through further safety inspections," Southwest Airlines spokeswoman Whitney Eichinger said Wednesday.
She could not confirm whether they were fuselage inspections or rudder inspections, issues which have recently raised concerns among Federal Aviation Administration officials and congressional investigators.
The FAA has said it may levy a record $10.2 million fine against Southwest if it's found to have violated the federal aviation regulations. Southwest Airlines has grounded dozens of planes following allegations that the airline broke federal safety rules, the airline said. ... more -
No wonder the fares were so low!
According to congressional documents, federal inspectors found that Southwest flew thousands of passengers on planes deemed unsafe.
"Documents submitted by FAA inspectors to congressional investigators allege the airline flew at least 117 of its planes in violation of mandatory safety checks. In some cases, the documents say, the planes flew for 30 months after government inspection deadlines had passed and should have been grounded until the inspections could be completed.
The planes were "not airworthy," according to congressional air safety investigators."
Rep. James Obersta of Minnesota, aka Captain Obvious, called it "one of the worst safety violations" he has ever seen. According to congressional documents, federal inspectors found that Southwest flew thousands of passengers on planes deemed unsafe. ... more -
Couple Uses Colorful Language to Protest Excessive Jet Noise
"(Expletive) U FAA," the message reads, though one letter of the profane word is substituted with an underline. Below that it is a picture of a plane with a slash through it and the words "no fly zone."
Homeowner Michael Hall and his girlfriend, Michaelene Buddy, are angry that jets have been flying over their house since last month, when the Federal Aviation Administration altered departures heading out of Philadelphia. "(Expletive) U FAA," the message reads, though one letter of the profane word is substituted with an underline. Below that i... more -
The future of flying
I hate the TSA. I don't want to be blown up on a plane, but the security theater is just ridiculous. In my head, I sometimes play a small 16mm film where a pure white background, similar to THX-1138, is presented.
In the future.. I hate the TSA. I don't want to be blown up on a plane, but the security theater is just ridiculous. In my head, I sometimes play... more -
24 Hours of Air Traffic Never Looked So Beautiful
Designer Aaron Koblin composited a day's worth of FAA data to make some pretty fascinating (and deeply beautiful) animations.
The Flight Patterns visualizations are the result of experiments leading to the project Celestial Mechanics by Scott Hessels and Gabriel Dunne. FAA data was parsed and plotted using the Processing programming environment. The frames were composited with Adobe After Effects and/or Maya.
http://www.aaronkoblin.com/work/flightpatterns/ Designer Aaron Koblin composited a day's worth of FAA data to make some pretty fascinating (and deeply beautiful) animations. ... more -
Air Traffic Control 2.0
In the face of mounting public and congressional outcry, the FAA claims it has an answer: a planned overhaul called NextGen. For $15 to $22 billion, it will replace the nation's aging, radar-powered air-traffic-control network with one that relies on GPS and advanced avionics. In the face of mounting public and congressional outcry, the FAA claims it has an answer: a planned overhaul called NextGen. For $15 t... more
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Poker table' fuels air traffic controller, FAA firestorm
"We're just going to cancel the order and just a plain briefing table with no game boards painted on top." What fun is that? "We're just going to cancel the order and just a plain briefing table with no game boards painted on top." What fun is ... more
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