Philadelphia Air Controllers Transition to Next-Gen Air Transportation Technology

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Posted on 29th April 2010 by gjohnson in Uncategorized

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In another step to modernize the national airspace system, flight controllers in the Philadelphia area now have the capability to use a satellite-based system to more efficiently and safely track and separate aircraft, according to the Federal Aviation Administration.http://www.faa.gov/news/press_releases/news_story.cfm?newsId=11337

“This new technology is a tremendous leap forward in transforming the current air traffic control system,” FAA Administrator Randy Babbitt said in a prepared statement. “The operational benefits in Philadelphia extend as far as Washington, D.C., and New York, which has some of the most congested airspace in the world.”

The state of the art Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B), is a core technology under the Next Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen).

Using ADS-B, air traffic controllers have more precise information while separating aircraft in the sky and on the runways, which the FAA claims will lead to greater efficiency and safety benefits. Controllers who have access to ADS-B receive one-second update rates compared to 4 ½-second update rates with radar.

Using this new technology, the FAA said that controllers should will be able to reduce separation in the en-route environment from the current five nautical miles to three, saving both time and money for the airlines while reducing the carbon footprint.

“Pilots flying aircraft equipped with ADS-B know precisely where they are and are able to see other properly equipped aircraft,” the FAA said in its press release. “They also have access to better information on area weather and receive flight information electronically, such as airmen notices and temporary flight restrictions.”

The FAA picked Philadelphia, Houston, Louisville, Ky., and Juneau, Ark., were chosen to demonstrate ADS-B services. The sites were selected because of their unique airspace environments and local needs.

ADS-B coverage at Philadelphia extends 60 nautical miles out and about 10,000 feet up. Philadelphia was selected because of its current automation platform that is used by air traffic controllers, called the Standard Terminal Automated Replacement System, according to the FAA.

UPS has also equipped for ADS-B services and a large amount of their operations are conducted at Philadelphia International Airport. In addition, US Airways is in the process of equipping its aircraft to use ADS-B.

Philadelphia Airport also has Airport Surface Detection Equipment (ASDE-X), which provides detailed coverage of movement on runways and taxiways allowing controllers to detect potential conflicts. The ASDE-X at Philadelphia has been upgraded to receive ADS-B data. Additionally, the ASDE-X surveillance data will be used as a Traffic Information Service – Broadcast (TIS-B) source so pilots can see non-ADS-B targets on their cockpit displays.

The FAA is installing the ground infrastructure for ADS-B, and has proposed that airlines and private aircraft install ADS-B avionics by 2020. Some airlines and private aircraft have already started equipping in advance of that date. ADS-B is expected to be available nationwitrackde by 2013.

Three Motorcycle Riders, Sans Helmets, Die On One Day In Florida

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Posted on 26th April 2010 by gjohnson in Uncategorized

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If these sad tales don’t drive home the importance of wearing a helmet while riding a motorcycle, we don’t know what will.

Three men were killed in separate motorcycle accidents in Florida last Saturday. Not one of them was wearing a helmet. http://www2.tbo.com/content/2010/apr/25/3-motorcyclists-die-separate-accidents/

 In the first fatal accident, Thomas Regan, 33, of Avon Park was going south on his bike on U.S. 27 when Victor Gaz, 71, of  Davenport ran a stop sign and hit him.

 Regan’s Suzuki motorcycle hit the front of the Dodge sedan that Gaz was driving. Regan was thrown from his motorcycle and was later pronounced dead at the scene in Polk County. No helmet.

 That crash is being investigated, with no charges filed at this point.

 In the second fatal accident, George Lastinger, 70, of Duluth, Ga., turned right out of a driveway in Sumter County, hitting a rock. He was thrown into the wall of a garage. No helmet.

 In the last accident, a Land O’ Lakes man, 59, was riding a Harley Davidson in Pasco County on U.S. 41. He swerved to avoid hitting a piece of tire tread, lost control of his bike and was thrown. No helmet.

 We rest our case. 

FAA Asks Airlines to Limit Cockpit Distractions

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Posted on 26th April 2010 by gjohnson in Uncategorized

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Federal and state governments have been cracking down on drivers for using cellphones and texting while behind the wheel. Now there is a call for airlines to impose similar restrictions to stop pilots from being distracted – like using their laptops — while flying.

The Federal Aviation Administration Monday called on airlines to create and enforce policies that will limit distractions in the cockpit and keep pilots focused on transporting passengers safely. http://www.faa.gov/news/press_releases/news_story.cfm?newsId=11338

“There is no room for distraction when your job is to get people safely to their destinations,” Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said in a statment. “The traveling public expects professional pilots to focus on flying and on safety at all times.”

The FAA reminded crewmembers and airlines that any cockpit distraction that diverts attention from required duties can “constitute a safety risk.” This includes the use of personal electronic devices for activities unrelated to flight.

Cockpit distractions in the past year have become an air safety priority, according to USA Today. http://www.usatoday.com/travel/flights/2010-04-25-pilots_N.htm

For example, last October the pilots of Northwest 188 over-flew their destination by 150 miles because they were using their laptop computers for personal activities and lost situational awareness.

Not a very consoling thought if you’re a frequent flyer.

 “Every aviation professional needs to take the issue of distractions in the cockpit seriously,” FAA Administrator Randy Babbitt said in his statement Monday. “And when there are two or more professionals on the flight deck, they must hold each other to the highest safety standards. Allowing distractions is unacceptable.”

The FAA’s Sterile Cockpit Rule prohibits pilots from engaging in any type of distracting behavior during critical phases of flight, including take-off and landing, according to a press release from the agency.

The FAA is asking air carriers to address the issue of distraction through their crew training programs and to create a safety culture to control cockpit distractions.

As technology advances, laptops and other devices are becoming valuable tools for pilots to use in their routine duties, the FAA said.  But they must only be used in the cockpit if they assist pilots in safely operating an aircraft, the FAA warned.

Let’s hope airlines take the FAA’s advice and do enact anti-distraction policies, with tough penalties. People’s lives are at stake.

Federal Transportation Agency Refuses To Exempt Airlines From New Tarmac-Delay Rule

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Posted on 23rd April 2010 by gjohnson in Uncategorized

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Five airlines are not getting a temporary pass to leave passengers stuck in planes on runways.

The U.S. Department of Transportation Thursday denied the airlines’ requests for a temporary exemption from a new rule limiting tarmac delays. As a result, all U.S. carrier flights covered by the rule will be subject to its terms effective April 29. http://www.dot.gov/affairs/2010/dot7610.htm

“Passengers on flights delayed on the tarmac have a right to know they will not be held aboard a plane indefinitely,” U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said in a statement. “This is an important consumer protection, and we believe it should take effect as planned.”

JetBlue Airways, Delta Air Lines, American Airlines, Continental Airlines and US Airways had all sought temporary exemption from the new rules, which go into effect April 29.

At that date, airlines who leave passengers stranded on a delayed plane for more than three hours can be fined up to $27,500 a passenger – a pretty stiff fine. http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/money_co/2010/04/feds-reject-request-to-exempt-airlines-from-delay-fines.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+MoneyCompany+%28Money+%26+Company%29

The tarmac-delay provision was part of a new airline passenger protection rule, issued last December, that prohibits U.S. airlines operating domestic flights from permitting an aircraft to remain on the tarmac at large and medium-hub airports for more than three hours without deplaning passengers.

Exceptions were allowed only for safety or security reasons or if air traffic control advises the pilot in command that returning to the terminal would disrupt airport operations.

The carriers argued that, without the requested exemption, large numbers of flights will have to be canceled at the New York area airports and affected passengers will face significant inconveniences and delays before being accommodated.

JetBlue, American and Delta argued that they needed an exemption for delays at JFK International Airport because there is runway construction going on there that won’t be complete until December. Continental said it needed an extension for delays at New York’s LaGuardia Airport and Newark International Airport. US Airways requested an exemption for Philadelphia International Airport.

In denying the requests, the Transportation Department concluded that airlines could minimize tarmac delays by rerouting or rescheduling flights at JFK to allow the airport’s other three runways to absorb the extra traffic.

The Transportation Department also noted that it has the ability to take into account the impact of the runway closure and the harm to consumers when deciding whether to pursue enforcement action for failure to comply with the rule and the amount of a fine, if any, to seek as a result of non-compliance.


Motorcycle Deaths Last Year Declined For First Time In 12 Years

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Posted on 22nd April 2010 by gjohnson in Uncategorized

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After being on the rise for a dozen years, motorcyclist-traffic fatalities fell last year, according to a study commissioned by the  Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA).  http://www.ghsa.org/html/media/pressreleases/2010/20100422_motorcycle.html

The study, released Thursday, found that based on preliminary data motorcycle deaths dropped 10 percent in 2009 versus the prior year.

But surprisingly, officials don’t think that the drop decline in deaths is related to laws requiring helmet use. As part of the report, GHSA members were asked to suggest reasons for the decline. They cited less motorcycle travel due to the economy; fewer beginning motorcyclists; increased state attention to motorcycle safety programs; and poor cycling weather in some areas.

But not everyone agreed with all those reasons for the decline. In an interview with the Associated Press, the Motorcycle Riders Foundation denied that motorcycle use had dropped last year. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703876404575199970366113894.html?mod=WSJ_hpp_sections_news

But Jeff Hennie, a vice president at the foundation, agreed – like the GHSA members — that  helmet laws didn’t play a big role in the decline. There were 20 states last year with laws requiring all motorcyclists to wear helmets, about the same as the previous year, according to Hennie.

And another factor in the drop in fatalities may be the fact that motorcyclists are older now than in past decades. In 1980 the average age was 24, while today motorcyclists are nearly as likely to be in their 40s as in their 20s, Hennie told AP.

The GHSA is projecting that motorcycle fatalities declined from 5,290 in 2008 to 4,762 or less in 2009, about 528 fewer deaths, according to a press release on the study. The projection is based on data from 50 states and the District of Columbia. The declines follow more than a decade of dramatic increases in motorcyclist deaths.

The new report – the first state-by-state look at motorcycle fatalities in 2009 – was conducted by consultant James Hedlund of Highway Safety North. Hedlund surveyed GHSA members, who reported fatality numbers for every state. While data are still preliminary, most states have quite complete fatality counts for at least nine months, so the GHSA felt it had enough data to forecast that deaths are down at least 10 percent for the full year.

GHSA is projecting declines in roughly three-fourths of the states. The declines are notable in many states and in every region of the country. In California, for example, based on data for the first nine months, motorcycle deaths are predicted to be down 29 percent, while Florida and New York are down 27 and 16 percent, respectively.

“Clearly the economy played a large role in motorcycle deaths declining in 2009,” GHSA chairman Vernon Betky said in a statement. “Less disposable income translates into fewer leisure riders, and we suspect that the trend of inexperienced baby boomers buying bikes may have subsided.”

He also maintained that, as with decreases in the overall highway fatality rate, the drop in motorcyclist deaths can be attributed to more than just the economy.

“Multiple states indicated that because of the increases in motorcyclist deaths from 1997-2008, addressing this area has been a priority for state highway safety programs,” Betky said.

As more than half of motorcycle fatal crashes do not involve another vehicle, states have been increasingly funding targeted enforcement to ensure that motorcyclists are in compliance with laws regarding endorsements, required insurance and helmet usage, according to the GHSA. State and federal governments also have stepped up efforts to address drunk motorcyclists.

GHSA warned that the declines in 2009 are significant and noteworthy after more than a decade of increases, they represent only one year of data, and much more work needs to be done to continue to achieve declines.

“We will need to see three to five years of decline before we are ready to say that a positive trend has developed,” Betkey said.

The new report notes that motorcycle fatalities have significantly decreased in the past, only to rise again. For example, from 1980 to1997, motorcyclist deaths dropped almost 60 percent. But that progress was wiped out during the period of 1997 to 2008.

The report also makes some useful recommendations to state officials to keep motorcycle fatalities on a downward trend. Those are:

  • Increase Helmet Use: The most recent data indicated that 41 percent of fatally-injured riders were not wearing helmets despite their proven effectiveness. Thirty states still do not have helmet laws covering all riders.
  • Reduce Alcohol Impairment: Highly visible drunk driving enforcement that includes motorcyclists should be encouraged as should be training efforts that help police identify impaired motorcyclists.
  • Reduce Speeding: According to the most recent data, 35 percent of motorcycle riders involved in fatal crashes were speeding. More than half of all motorcycle fatal crashes did not involve another vehicle, and speeding likely contributed to many of these.
  • Provide Motorcycle Operator Training to All Who Need or Seek It; While all states currently conduct training courses, some areas may not provide enough course opening at the places and times when riders wich to be trained.

Polish Officials Warn There Should Be No Rush To Judgment On Pilot Error In Polish Plane Crash

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Posted on 21st April 2010 by gjohnson in Uncategorized

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 The history of bad blood between Poland and Russia can’t help but influence the different comments both nations are making about the tragic plane crash that killed Poland’s president and 95 other people.

 Last week Russian officials were quick to blame the April 10 crash of the president’s Tupolev-145 jet in western Russia on pilot error. But at a press conference Tuesday, Polish officials essentially said there shouldn’t be a rush to judgment, that it would take weeks or months before the cause of the accident can be determined, according to The Wall Street Journal.  http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703763904575196100835030916.html?mod=WSJ_World_LEFTSecondNews

 President Lech Kaczynski, his wife and dozen of Polish dignitaries were killed as they traveled to Russia to attend a ceremony commemorating the 70th anniversary of the Katyn slaughter of 20,000 Polish officers by the Russians. The jet crashed as it attempted to land, against the orders of the air controller, at a foggy airport near Smolensk.

 Polish investigators have to wait until Russian authorities process evidence from the crash before they get it. But the Polish media has accused the Russians of purposely holding back the evidence to delay the crash probe.

 Although the Russians were quick to point a finger at the pilot of the plane, Capt. Arkadiusz Protasluk, for the fatal crash, Polish authorities take quite a different view Tuesday.

 “At this stage all versions of the causes of the catastrophe are being taken under consideration,” The Journal quoted Polish Col. Zbigniew Drozdowski as saying at Tuesday’s press conference. “None of them is the dominant version, none of them is being rejected.”

 There’s been some speculation that President Kaczynski may have pressured the pilot to land so that the Polish dignatories wouldn’t be late for the Katyn ceremony. But Polish officials swatted down that theory, saying that the pilot was a well-respected, well-trained, cool-headed aviator.

 

Suburban Rome Commuter Train Crash Injures 50

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Posted on 20th April 2010 by gjohnson in Uncategorized

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 Roughly 50 people were hurt Tuesday when a commuter train crashed into another train that was stopped at a station in a suburb of Rome. http://www.cnbc.com/id/36665553

 Train passengers were shaken up by the impact of the two trains hitting in the La Celsa station. Some were taken to local hospitals, treated and released, according to officials for the train line. No one was seriously hurt.

 Officials were investigating the cause of the accident, which shut down the commuter line for two hours.

Europe Resumes Some Flights As Ban Imposed Due To Volcanic Ash Is Lifted

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Posted on 20th April 2010 by gjohnson in Uncategorized

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In the worst flight disruption since the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, some airlines were flying planes in Europe Tuesday. But there was still confusion, and criticism, stemming from the flight ban that governments had imposed as a cloud of volcanic ash descended to the continent from Iceland.  http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/21/world/europe/21europe.html?hp

 And the situation wasn’t made any better after a second cloud of volcanic ash made its way toward Great Britain.

 European officials had agreed Monday to lift flight bans that were imposed last Thursday when the ash from the volcano that erupted in Iceland floated south. Authorities had barred flying out of fear that the volcanic ash would enter and disable jet engines, leading to crashes.

 That ban has been widely criticized by airline companies, who were forced to cancel an estimated 95,000 flights, stranding millions of travelers around the world and resulting in hundreds of millions of dollars in lost revenue, according to The New York Times.

 The paper reported that while most countries in Continental Europe were opening their airspace, Britain’s airspace was still essentially closed Tuesday.

 Only half the usual number of flights in Europe, 14,000 versus the usual 28,000, were going ahead Tuesday. About 75 percent of the airspace over Europe was open, according to The Times, and all European airspace above 20,000-feet elevations was open for traffic.   

Fargo Motorcycle Couple Dies In Crash With Pickup Truck

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Posted on 19th April 2010 by gjohnson in Uncategorized

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 A man and his wife were killed Sunday night when their motorcycle crashed into a pickup truck south of Fargo, N.D., according to officials. http://www.inforum.com/event/article/id/275910/group/News/

 The fatal accident took place at the intersection of Cass County Road 81 and Cass County Road 19, police said.

 The husband and his spouse, whose identifies weren’t released, were on Cass County Road 81 and couldn’t avoid hitting the pickup truck, which didn’t stop or yield to their motorcycle.

 The pickup truck’s two occupants were also unidentified.

 The fatal accident is under investigation.

 

 

The Volcanic Ash Cloud Wafting Down To Europe: Safety Over Commerce?

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Posted on 19th April 2010 by gjohnson in Uncategorized

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 It’s been one of the most disruptive, and unusual, reasons for flight delays across the world: The cloud of volcanic ash that’s made its way from Iceland to the European continent.  

 Only the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2009, which closed airspace for three days, compare to the havoc the eruption of Eyjafjallajokull has created on several continents, so far paralyzing air travel for five days.

 Not only have millions of travelers been left stranded, and camping out in airports in places like New York City, but airlines have been forced to cancel thousands of flights – with some carriers losing an estimated $250 million a day, according to The New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/reuters/2010/04/19/world/international-us-europe-air.html?_r=1

 The financial impact of the air shutdown, with the stoppage of product shipments, has been devastating, straining a global economy that already in a dreadful recession.

 Flights to and from Europe were suspended for fear that the toxic volcanic ash wafting down from Iceland would disable jet engines. Volcanic ash can wreak havoc on planes. It can remove aerodynamic surfaces and damage windshields. And the hot temperatures of a plane engine can melt the ash into glass, disabling engines, The Times reports.   

 Nonetheless, on Monday government officials were blasted for their blanket shutdown of airspace over the European continent. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/20/world/europe/20ash.html?ref=world

Airline officials charged that governments closed down the air industry without any risk assessment or consultation about the real dangers of the volcanic ash in this instance.

 The International Air Transport Association (IATA) called for the  reopening of airspace at a press conference Monday.

 According to The Times, IATA head Giovanni Bisignani told reporters, “We must move away from this blanket closure and find ways to flexibly open airspace step by step.”

 The European Commission said it might compensate airlines $250 million a day for losses. British Airways alone is losing $22 million to $30 million a day, The Times says, and it will seek reimbursement.

 Countries such as Austria have reopened their airports, but most have not.

 Some air carriers have conducted their own tests regarding flying through the volcanic ash and they, including Dutch KLM, want to fly. In fact, KLM did send to planes to Asia on Sunday.

 It would seem to be a wise course for European governments to do some joint tests before letting air traffic resume at the risk of lives.

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