Families Of Flight 3407 Get Air Safety Bill Passed And Signed By Obama

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Posted on 2nd August 2010 by gjohnson in Uncategorized

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The family and friends of those who were killed in last year’s crash outside of Buffalo, N.Y., have finally seen the bill they lobbied for become law.

On Sunday President Obama signed an aviation safety bill that has been the cause celeb for the families of Continental Flight 3407, a commuter flight that ended with death for 50 people on Feb. 12, 2009. That crash was the result of pilot error, according to federal investigators.

http://www.buffalonews.com/city/capital-connection/article88123.ece

The  new law that the Federal Aviation Administration must abide by and enforce applies to all airlines, and it aims to prevent accidents similar to that of Flight 3407 from taking place in the future.

One of its provisions mandates that pilots now have 1,500 of flight time before they can be hired as co-pilots, versus the former 250 hours. 

The new law also establishes a pilot database that will allow airlines to check how many times a pilot candidate has flunked flight tests. The pilot of Flight 3407, Capt. Marvin Renslow, had failed numerous tests.  

The law also calls for the FAA to come up with tougher regulations regarding pilot fatigue, and for the agency to draft new rules regarding pilot qualifications.   

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.

FAA says Hackers broke into agency computers

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Posted on 10th February 2009 by gjohnson in Uncategorized

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Date: 2/10/2009

By JOAN LOWY
Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON (AP) — Hackers broke into the Federal Aviation Administration’s computer system last week, accessing the names and Social Security numbers of 45,000 employees and retirees.

The agency said in a statement Monday that two of the 48 files on the breached computer server contained personal information about employees and retires who were on the FAA’s rolls as of the first week of February 2006.

The server that was accessed was not connected to the operation of the air traffic control system and there is no indication those systems have been compromised, the statement said.

“The FAA is moving quickly to prevent any similar incidents and has identified immediate steps as well as longer-term measures to further protect personal information,” the statement said. The agency said it is providing a toll-free number for employees “who believe they may be affected by the breach.”

Tom Waters, president of American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Local 3290, said FAA officials told unions representing agency employees at a briefing Monday that the second breached file with personal information contained encrypted medical information.

“These government systems should be the best in the world and apparently they are able to be compromised,” said Waters, an FAA contracts attorney. “Our information technology systems people need to take a long hard look at themselves and their capabilities. This is malpractice in their world.”

The FAA statement said the data theft has been reported to “law enforcement authorities,” who are investigating.

All affected employees will receive letters notifying them of the breach, the statement said.

Waters said FAA officials told union leaders the incident was the first of its kind at the agency. But he said his union complained about three or four years ago about an incident in which employees received anti-union mail that used names and addresses that appeared to be generated from FAA computer files.

He said the union complained to the FAA and the Transportation Department’s inspector general but no action was taken.

Copyright 2009 The Associated Press.