Thursday, November 26, 2009 – ISSN 1529-1057

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AVIATION

1) FAA to Improve Landing Operations at Newark Airport Two Years After Whistle-Blower Detailed Safety Risks

New software will give controllers a better picture of when planes will land at converged runways.

Link to article in The Star-Ledger:

http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2009/11/faa_to_improve_landing_pattern.html

Link to news release from the US Office of Special Counsel:

http://www.osc.gov/documents/press/2009/pr09_21.pdf

Link to report:

http://www.osc.gov/FY2010/Scanned/DI-07%20DI-08-2225/DI-08-2225%20Agency%20Report%20(Part%201).pdf (part 1)

http://www.osc.gov/FY2010/Scanned/DI-07%20DI-08-2225/DI-08-2225%20Agency%20Report%20(Part%202).pdf (part 2)

Link to letter to the president:

http://www.osc.gov/FY2010/Scanned/DI-07%20DI-08-2225/DI-08-2225%20President%20Letter.PDF

2) Complaints Against Airlines Fall Sharply

Critics say the reason isn’t better service; it’s that frustrated passengers have given up voicing grievances.

Link to Tribune Newspapers article:

http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/chi-tc-biz-trav-complaints-1121-nov26,0,421005.story

Link to Air Travel Consumer Report from US DOT:

http://airconsumer.ost.dot.gov/reports/2009/November/200911ATCR.PDF

3) FAA Foregoes Public Process in Test Program at Santa Monica Airport

Link to article in the Santa Monica Mirror:

http://www.smmirror.com/MainPages/DisplayArticleDetails.asp?eid=11364

Link to further information from the City of Santa Monica, California:

http://www.smgov.net/departments/cmo/content.aspx?id=2029

CARTOGRAPHY

4) Is It the End of the Line for London’s Iconic Tube Map?

Link to article in the Guardian:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/artanddesign/2009/nov/26/london-tube-map-design

MARITIME

5) South Korea, US Adopt Joint Maritime Safety Declaration

Link to Yonhap article:

http://balita.ph/2009/11/26/s-korea-u-s-adopt-joint-maritime-safety-declaration/

OTHER

6) European Parliament Rubberstamps Law on Tire Labeling

Link to article on EurActiv:

http://www.euractiv.com/en/energy-efficiency/parliament-rubberstamps-law-tyre-labelling/article-187693

Link to news release from the European Parliament:

http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/expert/infopress_page/051-65051-327-11-48-909-20091123IPR65050-23-11-2009-2009-false/default_en.htm

RAILROADS

7) November Issue of Signal, the Newsletter of the European Rail Traffic Management System

Link to newsletter:

http://ec.europa.eu/transport/rail/interoperability/ertms/doc/015_signal_2009_11_en.pdf

ROADWAYS

8) Graffiti on Highway Signs Costing Utah DOT Big Money

Link to story and video on KSL-TV:

http://www.ksl.com/?nid=148&sid=8807401

9) Solar-Powered Sensor Controls Traffic

Link to article in EDN:

http://www.edn.com/article/CA6707783.html

SAFETY / SECURITY

10) US Transportation Security Administration Launches Airport Security Innovations Project

Link to article on AviationNews.net:

http://www.aviationnews.net/?do=headline&news_ID=173927

TELEMATICS

11) ARENA Trial in Sweden

Link to article from ERTICO – ITS Europe:

http://www.ertico.com/en/news/ertico_newsroom/arena_trial_in_sweden.htm

TRANSIT

12) Pilot Project Starts in Ontario for ‘Smart’ Transit Cards that Load Online

Link to article in the Toronto Star:

http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/article/731022–pilot-project-starts-for-smart-transit-cards-that-load-online?bn=1

13) Portland’s TriMet Fires MAX Operator Who Ignored Father’s Calls for Help

Link to article in The Oregonian:

http://www.oregonlive.com/portland/index.ssf/2009/11/trimet_xxxx_max_operator_who_i.html

14) AC Transit Cuts a Model for Public Input

Link to blog in the San Francisco Chronicle:

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/inoakland/detail?&entry_id=52362

Link to commentary on A Better Oakland:

http://www.abetteroakland.com/ac-transits-extensive-service-reduction-planning-process-yields-great-results/2009-11-25

Link to further information from AC Transit:

http://www2.actransit.org/news/articledetail.wu?articleid=0d1850ca&PHPSESSID=7c448dea44ded466173a3b52e170d3a2

15) The Zoo that is Grand Central, at Full Gallop

Coordinating trains on its busiest day of the year requires improvisation.

Link to article in The New York Times:

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/26/nyregion/26gct.html

16) Tunisia Promotes Use of Information Technology and Communication in Public Transport

Link to story and video on Tunisia Online News:

http://www.tunisiaonlinenews.com/?p=29995

Upcoming Events

NAB (National Association of Broadcasters) Show– April 10-15 – Las Vegas

http://www.nabshow.com/2010/default.asp

Today in Transportation History

1959 **50^th anniversary** – Pioneer P3, a lunar probe, was launched.  The flight failed 45 seconds after launch.

http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/masterCatalog.do?sc=PIONX

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© 2009 Bernie Wagenblast