TransportGooru

(Source: Gizmodo via Telegraph)

At 26.4 miles long, the Qingdao Haiwan Bridge would easily cross the English Channel and is almost three miles longer than the previous record-holder, the Lake Pontchartrain Causeway in the American state of Louisiana. The vast structure links the centre of the booming port city of Qingdao in eastern China‘s Shandong Province with the suburb of Huangdao, spanning the wide blue waters of Jiaozhou Bay.

Here is a collection of some amazing and interesting factoids gleaned from the parent articles cited above:

• You can easily run a marathon, entirely on the bridge span, and still will have 0.2 miles left before you set foot on Terra Firma (Marathon = 26.2 miles)
• Built in just four years at a cost of £5.5 billion ($8 Billion USD)
• Will feature a six-lane road bridge that is supported by more than 5,200 columns
• When it opens to traffic (in late 2011) , the bridge is expected to carry over 30,000 cars a day
• Expected to cut the commute between the city of Qingdao and the sprawling suburb of Huangdao by between 20 and 30 minutes.
• At least 10,000 workers were involved in building the bridge, in shifts around the clock
• Built with 450,000 tons of steel, which is roughly the equivalent of steel used in almost 65 Eiffel Towers
• 2.3 million cubic meters of concrete, which is roughly the equivalent of filling 3,800 Olympic-sized swimming pools
• The bridge will be strong enough to withstand a magnitude 8 earthquake, typhoons or the impact of a 300,000 tonne vessel.
• With its economy growing by 16 per cent a year, Qingdao is one of China’s fastest-growing and most prosperous cities.
• The main port of the Chinese navy and home of Tsingtao Beer, China’s best-known brew, it hosted the sailing events of the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

What’s more astonishing. It would be this: “China is already home to seven of the world’s 10 longest bridges, including the world’s lengthiest, the 102 mile Danyang-Kunshan rail bridge, which runs over land and water near Shanghai.  And with Beijing pumping billions into boosting China’s infrastructure, the Qingdao Haiwan Bridge will not be the world’s longest sea bridge for very long.  According to the Telegraph,  work started in December 2009 on a 31 mile bridge that will link Zhuhai in southern Guangdong Province,  China’s manufacturing heartland, with the financial centre of Hong Kong. The £6.5 billion project is expected to be completed in 2016.”

Now, building the infrastructure at this break neck pace and still flush with more cash than a machine can count, China is not too far from becoming the Numero Uno aka the Big Daddy of the World economy.

Related articles

• China builds world’s longest bridge (telegraph.co.uk)
• China has built the longest bridge in the world… so you don’t have to dig that hole (engadget.com)
• World’s longest bridge completed (thesun.co.uk)
• China claims longest bridge over water with whopping 26-mile span (dvice.com)

Wednesday, January 12, 2011 – ISSN 1529-1057

---

AVIATION

1) Customs Key to Paperless Trading

Link to article in Air Cargo World:

http://www.aircargoworld-digital.com/aircargoworld/201101?pg=32#32

2) 17-Years of FAA Delays on NTSB Air Safety Recommendations

Among recommendations are transponders for gliders and ongoing training for collision alerts.

Link to column in The Examiner:

http://washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/columnists/2011/01/17-years-faa-delay-ntsb-air-safety-recommendations

3) What I Learned Serving on the Government’s ‘Future of Aviation’ Panel

A breakdown in communications among key players is one reason for problems in the airline industry.

Link to column in USA Today:

http://www.usatoday.com/travel/experts/mcgee/2011-01-12-airline-industry-complexity_N.htm

CAMERAS

4) Missouri Adopts Traffic Camera Policy for State Roads

Link to AP article:

http://www.kansascity.com/2011/01/12/2579047/missouri-adopts-traffic-camera.html

Link to statement from American Traffic Solutions:

http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20110112006276/en/American-Traffic-Solutions-ATS-Statement-Release-Missouri

MARITIME

5) Technology Experience on a Cruise Almost as Important as the Cabaret

Link to article and video on Tnooz:

http://www.tnooz.com/2011/01/11/news/technology-experience-on-a-cruise-almost-as-important-as-the-cabaret

OTHER

6) Turkey to Upgrade Lahore’s Transport System

Investments in bus rapid transit and ITS among those being considered.

Link to article in the Daily Times:

http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2011%5C01%5C12%5Cstory_12-1-2011_pg13_5

7) India’s First GPS-Based Autorickshaw Fare Calculator Launched

Link to IANS article:

http://www.sify.com/news/country-s-first-gps-based-auto-fare-calculator-launched-news-national-lbmtajgafah.html

PUBLIC INFORMATION / EDUCATION

8) FAA Highlights ‘Click It, Don’t Risk It’ Injury Prevention

Link to article in Air Transport Intelligence:

http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2011/01/11/351742/faa-highlights-click-it-dont-risk-it-injury-prevention.html

Link to notice from the FAA:

http://www.faa.gov/other_visit/aviation_industry/airline_operators/airline_safety/info/all_infos/media/2011/InFO11001.pdf

9) State DOTs Use Online Newscasts to Educated the Public About Transportation

Link to article in the AASHTO Journal:

http://www.aashtojournal.org/Pages/010711newscasts.aspx

SAFETY / SECURITY

10) Paris Police Use Facebook for Car Crash Witnesses

Link to Reuters article:

http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE70A3ZG20110111

11) Innovation: The Distress Alerting Satellite System

Link to article in GPS World:

http://www.gpsworld.com/gnss-system/innovation-the-distress-alerting-satellite-system-10883

TRANSIT

12) Google Transit Search Gets Smarter

Link to article on ReadWriteWeb:

http://www.readwriteweb.com/archives/google_transit_search_gets_smarter.php

13) Montgomery County, Maryland’s Ride On Bus System Goes High-Tech with Real-Time Info

Link to article in The Gazette:

http://www.gazette.net/stories/01122011/montnew194841_32539.php

14) Social Media: Transit Agencies Connect with Riders in New Ways

Link to column in Progressive Railroading:

http://www.progressiverailroading.com/pr/article/Social-media-Transit-agencies-connect-with-riders-in-new-ways–25447

TRAVELER INFORMATION / TRANSPORTATION MANAGEMENT

15) Congestion-Easing Technology Coming to More Kent Towns

Link to BBC News story:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/kent/hi/people_and_places/newsid_9359000/9359129.stm

VEHICLES

16) Skymeter: Using Connected Cars as Credit Cards

Link to article on TheStreet:

http://www.thestreet.com/story/10970462/1/skymeter-using-connected-cars-as-credit-cards.html

17) Trucking Technology in the Next Decade: Safety and Productivity to Drive Advancements

Link to article in Heavy Duty Trucking:

http://www.truckinginfo.com/news/news-detail.asp?news_id=72625

18) Nevada DMV’s Solution to Long Waits in Line: Kiosks, for a Few Extra Dollars

Link to article in the Las Vegas Sun:

http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2011/jan/12/dmvs-solution-long-waits-line-kiosks/

19) An Inside Look at Ford’s VIRTTEX Safe Driving Simulator

Link to article on Earth & Industry:

http://earthandindustry.com/2011/01/an-inside-look-at-fords-virttex-safe-driving-simulator/

20) What Gen Y Drivers Really Want from Their Cars: New Survey

Among findings: in-car technology a top buying decision, majority want to work with dealers online.

Link to column on CNBC:

http://www.cnbc.com/id/41037939

21) Roadway Geometry and Inventory Trade Study for IntelliDrive Applications

Link to report from FHWA:

http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/publications/research/safety/10073/index.cfm

News Releases

1) Southwest Airlines’ Pilots Begin Flying Required Navigation Performance Efficient Procedures at 11 Airports

2) Strategic Partnership Between Peek Traffic and Telvent

3) Continental Offers Intelligent Solution for Growing Information and Communication Requirements of Electric Vehicles

4) American Way, Magazine of American Airlines and American Eagle, Commemorates 45-Years of Publication with a Full Redesign

5) TripAdvisor Adds Airline Ratings to Flight Search

6) Library of Congress Selects Navteq to Provide Map Data and Content

Upcoming Events

Panama Maritime Conference & Exhibition – February 13-16 – Panama City, Panama

http://panamamaritimeconference.com/

Today in Transportation History

1911 **100^th anniversary** The first airplane flight in Fort Worth, Texas took place during an aviation meet.

http://www.star-telegram.com/2011/01/10/2758988/fort-worth-event-celebrates-century.html

1986 **25^th anniversary** Space Shuttle Mission STS-61C, with Congressman Bill Nelson aboard, was launched.

http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/shuttlemissions/archives/sts-61C.html

======================================================================

The Transportation Communications Newsletter is published electronically Monday through Friday.

To subscribe (for free) or unsubscribe, please contact me at bernie@bwcommunications.net.

TCN archives: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/transport-communications

Become a TCN fan on Facebook!

Questions, comments about the TCN?  Please write the editor, Bernie Wagenblast at bernie@bwcommunications.net.

© 2011 Bernie Wagenblast  www.bwcommunications.net

This position is located in the Technical Services Branch of the Eastern Federal Lands Highway Division, Sterling, Virginia. The Civil Engineer (Transportation) serves as the Federal Lands Highway (FLH)-wide technical expert and authority for promoting, coordinating and implementing the various highway traffic operations, Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS), and traffic monitoring activities. In this capacity, you will promote the development and implementation of innovative and state-of-the-art technologies, practices, and products to meet the FLH transportation related needs. The deadline for applications is January 21, 2011.

http://jobsearch.dot.gov/getjob.asp?JobID=95298113

Full Time Regular Positions

• DTP-1101 Transportation Planner II or III
• DTP-1034 Transportation Planner II or III

Internships

• IDTP-1035 Transportaton Planning Intern

About MWCOG:  COG is a regional organization of Washington area local governments. COG is comprised of 21 local governments surrounding our nation’s capital, plus area members of the Maryland and Virginia legislatures, the U.S. Senate, and the U.S. House of Representatives.

COG provides a focus for action and develops sound regional responses to such issues as the environment, affordable housing, economic development, health and family concerns, human services, population growth, public safety, and transportation. (Click here to learn more about MWCOG)

About COG’s TPB:  The National Capital Region Transportation Planning Board (TPB) is the federally designated Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) for the region, and plays an important role as the regional forum for transportation planning. The TPB prepares plans and programs that the federal government must approve in order for federal-aid transportation funds to flow to the Washington region. (Click here to learn more about the TPB and its role in shaping the region’s transportation)

Editor’s Note: Good luck.

(Source: Reddit.com)

Editor’s note: I haven’t laughed so hard in a long time. Oh, and I’m not the only one who had tears streaming down my face watching this one.  You can see plenty of folks who enjoyed this Gizmo Gone Wild video from their comments on Reddit and also on the source (YouTube) comments page.

Monday, January 10, 2011 – ISSN 1529-1057

---

AVIATION

1) Mistakes Led Planes Toward Near-Collision

Link to article in The Wall Street Journal:

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704055204576068263274480204.html

2) American Airlines Sues Sabre in Battle Over Flight Listings

Link to AP article:

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/American-sues-Sabre-in-battle-apf-4013281772.html?x=0&.v=2

CAMERAS

3) Washington State Legislature Re-examines Red Light Cameras

Link to article in The News-Tribune:

http://www.thenewstribune.com/2011/01/07/1492213/2-bills-re-examine-red-light-cameras.html

OTHER

4) Guidance for Developing a Freight Transportation Data Architecture

Link to report from the Transportation Research Board:

http://www.trb.org/Main/Blurbs/Guidance_for_Developing_a_Freight_Transportation_D_164644.aspx

PEDESTRIANS

5) Glendale, California Paints Traffic Safety Warnings in English, Armenian, Spanish

Link to article in the Los Angeles Times:

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2011/01/glendales-new-traffic-safet-signs-in-english-armenian-and-spanish.html

ROADWAYS

6) Czech Transport Ministry Prepares Eight New Traffic Signs

Link to article in the Prague Daily Monitor:

http://praguemonitor.com/2011/01/10/transport-ministry-prepares-eight-new-traffic-sings

Link to original article in Lidové noviny:

http://www.lidovky.cz/chysta-se-dalsi-znacka-k-nicemu-dzq-/ln_noviny.asp?c=A110108_000008_ln_noviny_sko&klic=240693&mes=110108_0 (in Czech)

SAFETY / SECURITY

7) AP Survey: South Dakota Lawmakers Unsure of Texting Ban

Link to AP article:

http://www.rapidcityjournal.com/news/state-and-regional/article_4c9b5ac2-3b03-578f-a44a-e088ae7c1be8.html

TELEMATICS

8) 2011 Detroit Auto Show: Telematics – Coming to Your Next New Car

Link to blog in Consumer Reports:

http://blogs.consumerreports.org/cars/2011/01/2011-detroit-auto-show-telematicscoming-to-your-next-new-car.html

TRANSIT

9) Chicago Transit Authority Unveils Train Tracker

Link to article in the Chicago Sun-Times:

http://www.suntimes.com/3216822-417/train-cta-tracker-trains-arrival.html

10) Wi-Fi Coming to Virginia Railway Express in Limited Rollout

Link to article in The Examiner:

http://washingtonexaminer.com/local/dc/2011/01/wi-fi-coming-vre-limited-rollout

11) On Train, a Fight Between Silent and Merely Quiet

Link to article in The New York Times:

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/10/nyregion/10quiet.html

12) Symbolism in the Transit World: Helping You Find Your Way

Link to blog on The City Fix:

http://thecityfix.com/symbolism-in-the-transit-world-helping-you-find-your-way/

TRAVELER INFORMATION / TRANSPORTATION MANAGEMENT

13) Cobb County, Georgia DOT Launches Road-Closing Web Tool

Link to article on East Cobb Patch:

http://eastcobb.patch.com/articles/cobb-dot-launches-road-closing-web-tool

Link to video on Cobb County Government Access Channel:

http://view.liveindexer.com/ViewIndexSessionSLMQ.aspx?indexPointSKU=ci%2bh9cLdhJYZMvFAF8ec0A%3d%3d

Link to site:

http://www.cobbgis.org:81/CobbCountyRoadClosuresPublic/Viewer.html

14) Ontario Service Provides Personalized Traffic Reports via Smart Phones

Link to article on ITBusiness.ca:

http://www.itbusiness.ca/it/client/en/home/News.asp?id=60803

15) A Peek at the Inner Workings of Oregon DOT’s TripCheck

Link to article in the Statesman Journal:

http://www.statesmanjournal.com/article/20110110/NEWS/101100319/1001

Link to TripCheck: http://www.tripcheck.com/

VEHICLES

16) GM Concept Car that Will Network with Other Vehicles and Adjust Speed and Route Accordingly

Link to article in the Los Angeles Times:

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/technology/2011/01/ces-consumer-electronics-show-general-motors-env.html

17) Pandora’s Tim Westergren on Car Connectivity, Smart Phones and a Potential IPO

Link to article in the Los Angeles Times:

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/technology/2011/01/consumer-electronics-show-pandoras-tim-westergren-on-car-connectivity-smartphones.html

18) Denso’s Dashboard Concept Watches for Drowsy Drivers

Link to CNET review:

http://reviews.cnet.com/8301-31229_7-20028003-257.html

19) Car Talk

The automobile of the future will communicate with traffic lights, stop signs and other cars.

Link to article in Hemispheres:

http://www.hemispheresmagazine.com/2011/01/01/car-talk/

News Releases

1) Toyota Launches New Collaborative Safety Research Center in Ann Arbor, Michigan

2) Ontario’s GO Transit Launches Text Message Updates to Keep Passengers in the Know on the GO

3) Edmonton Transit Launches Pilot to Deliver Bus Schedules via Texts

4) Hughes Telematics Partners with Location Labs to Bring Cross-Carrier Mobile Location to Connected Vehicles

5) Thinking Cars TV Documentary to air on ORF Austria (January 15) and VRT Belgium (January 16)

6) ATX Group and TeleCommunication Systems Partner to Provide Hyundai the Latest in Connected Navigation

7) ATX Group Teams with Aeris Communications to Deliver New Hyundai Blue Link Connected Vehicle Program

8) Connected Vehicle Provider ATX Group Uses Bing to Co-pilot Hyundai Owners

9) Hyundai’s Connected Vehicle Program Spotlights ATX Capabilities as a Leading Private-Label Telematics Provider to Automotive OEMS

10) Tennessee 511 Closes Out 2010 with Record Number of Calls

11) Tnooz Launches THack in London

**CORRECTION**

In last Wednesday’s edition the following headline which ran in the TCN; ‘Demand Blamed for Bad Road Info in Victoria Following Flooding,’ should have read ‘Demand Blamed for Bad Road Info in Queensland Following Flooding.’  My apologies for the error.

Upcoming Events

Driver-Facing Technologies to Improve Urban Mobility Symposium – February 4 – Cambridge, Massachusetts

http://transportation.mit.edu/live/news/1355-driverfacing-technologies-to-improve-urban

Today in Transportation History

1901 **110^th anniversary** The first major gusher of the Texas Oil Boom took place at Spindletop.

http://www.spindletop.org/timeline/index.html

======================================================================

The Transportation Communications Newsletter is published electronically Monday through Friday.

To subscribe (for free) or unsubscribe, please contact me at bernie@bwcommunications.net.

TCN archives: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/transport-communications

Become a TCN fan on Facebook!

Questions, comments about the TCN?  Please write the editor, Bernie Wagenblast at bernie@bwcommunications.net.

© 2011 Bernie Wagenblast  www.bwcommunications.net

(Source: Time.com)

Friday, January 7, 2011 – ISSN 1529-1057

OTHER

1) Note in Fiery Maryland Package Complained of Road Signs

Link to AP article:

http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2011-01-06-maryland-packages_N.htm

PUBLIC INFORMATION / EDUCATION

2) Bollywood Stars to Create Awareness About Car Safety in Mumbai

Link to article in The Times of India:

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mumbai/Stars-to-create-awareness-about-car-safety-in-city/articleshow/7238617.cms

ROADWAYS

3) Swiss Road Signs to be Overhauled

Link to article on GenevaLunch:

http://genevalunch.com/blog/2011/01/07/swiss-road-signs-to-be-overhauled/

4) High-Tech Highway Weigh Stations Coming to Oklahoma

Link to article in Heavy Duty Trucking:

http://www.truckinginfo.com/news/news-detail.asp?news_id=72634

5) Virtual Survey Crew Ahead: Radiusmeter Takes Guesswork Out of Signs, Markings for Horizontal Curves

Link to article in Texas Transportation Researcher:

http://tti.tamu.edu/publications/researcher/newsletter.htm?vol=46&issue=3&article=8&year=2010

SAFETY / SECURITY

6) US Seeks International Cooperation on Transport Security

Link to Reuters article:

http://www.cnbc.com/id/40951022

TRAVELER INFORMATION / TRANSPORTATION MANAGEMENT

7) Nevada Governor, Budget Officials Reject $15 Million Traffic Operations Center in Reno

Link to article in the Reno Gazette Journal:

http://www.rgj.com/article/20110107/NEWS10/101070391/1321/news

News Releases

1) New MyFord Mobile App Keeps Focus Electric Owners Engaged and In Control of Electric Car Experience

2) South Carolina DOT Puts Internet-Based Work Request System Online

Upcoming Events

Talking Freight Webinar: IntelliDrive Program Impacts on Highway Freight – January 19

https://www.nhi.fhwa.dot.gov/resources/webconference/web_conf_learner_reg.aspx?webconfid=22445

Friday Bonus

If things don’t go quite right today, think of the mess these guys from Target had to deal with.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=acWfossz1rc

Today in Transportation History

1931 **80^th anniversary** The first solo flight across the Tasman Sea, between Australia and New Zealand, was made by Guy Menzies.

http://www.historic.org.nz/TheRegister/RegisterSearch/RegisterResults.aspx?RID=7637&m=advanced

======================================================================

The Transportation Communications Newsletter is published electronically Monday through Friday.

To subscribe (for free) or unsubscribe, please contact me at bernie@bwcommunications.net.

TCN archives: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/transport-communications

Become a TCN fan on Facebook!

Questions, comments about the TCN?  Please write the editor, Bernie Wagenblast atbernie@bwcommunications.net.

© 2011 Bernie Wagenblast  www.bwcommunications.net

Thursday, January 6, 2011 – ISSN 1529-1057

---

AVIATION

1) Sabre Ramps Up Online Travel Battle with American Airlines

Link to AP article:

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Sabre-ramps-up-online-travel-apf-1642619200.html?x=0&.v=9

Link to news release from American Airlines:

http://aa.mediaroom.com/index.php?s=43&item=3114

2) Shift of Earth’s Magnetic North Pole Impacts Tampa Airport

Link to article in The Tampa Tribune:

http://www2.tbo.com/content/2011/jan/05/051900/shift-of-earths-magnetic-north-pole-impacts-tampa-/news-breaking/

Link to notice from Tampa International Airport:

http://www.tampaairport.com/about/media/press_releases/2011/20110104-runway-designation-change.pdf

3) US Airways to Close Manila Call Center

Link to article on TheStreet:

http://www.thestreet.com/_yahoo/story/10965556/1/us-airways-to-halt-customer-calls-to-manila.html

CAMERAS

4) Traffic Cameras Could be Used to Help Fight Crime in Richmond County, Georgia

Link to story and video on WJBF-TV:

http://www2.wjbf.com/news/2011/jan/06/traffic-cameras-could-be-used-help-fight-crime-ric-ar-1308664/

GPS / NAVIGATION

5) Live Traffic Comes to TomTom

Link to article in The New York Times:

http://gadgetwise.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/01/05/live-traffic-comes-to-tomtom/

Link to news release from TomTom:

http://investors.tomtom.com/releasedetail.cfm?ReleaseID=541839

MARITIME

6) Acoustic Cloak Hides Underwater Objects from Sonar

Link to article on ZDNet:

http://www.zdnet.com/blog/emergingtech/acoustic-cloak-hides-underwater-objects-from-sonar/2449

Link to news release from the University of Illinois:

http://www.news.illinois.edu/news/11/0105sound_fang.html

OTHER

7) Panel Advises Leadership, Tech Changes for Texas DOT

Better communication with the public one of the recommendations.

Link to AP article:

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/tx/7368269.html

Link to further information from TxDOT:

http://www.txdot.gov/about_us/organizational_review.htm

8) Jammu and Kashmir Traffic Police Launch Web Site Where People Can Post Videos of Traffic Violations

Link to article in the Central Chronicle:

http://www.centralchronicle.com/viewnews.asp?articleID=55479

Link to site: http://www.jktrafficpolice.nic.in/

9) Florida DOT’s SunGuide Disseminator – January 2011

Link to newsletter:

http://www.dot.state.fl.us/TrafficOperations/Newsletters/2011/2011-001-Jan.pdf

SAFETY / SECURITY

10) Driving Instructor Challenges McDonald’s Commercial

Says advice to keep hands at “10 and 2” on the steering wheel is outdated.

Link to article in the Times-News:

http://www.magicvalley.com/news/local/article_390cbc59-c256-533c-8b2c-66f86a470988.html

VEHICLES

11) Obama Signs Law to Require ‘Quiet’ Cars to Get Noisier

Link to article in The Detroit News:

http://www.detnews.com/article/20110104/AUTO01/101040430/1361/Obama-signs-law-to-require-%E2%80%98quiet%E2%80%99-cars-to-get-noisier

12) GM Plans to Add Wireless Charging Feature to Cars

Link to article in The New York Times:

http://gadgetwise.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/01/05/g-m-plans-to-add-wireless-charging-feature-to-cars/

13) Russia’s First Hybrid Car has GLONASS Navigation, Standard Feature

Link to article in GPS World:

http://www.gpsworld.com/transportation/news/russia%E2%80%99s-first-hybrid-car-has-glonass-navigation-standard-feature-10889

14) Ford’s Chief Technology Officer Says Technology Aims for Safe Driving

Link to video on Bloomberg Television:

http://www.bloomberg.com/video/65712172/

15) Fujitsu Shows Android-Based Car Computing at CES

Link to article on CNET:

http://ces.cnet.com/8301-32254_1-20027541-283.html

16) Why the Biggest Thing at CES is … the Car. And Check Out That Radio!

Link to blog on BNET:

http://www.bnet.com/blog/electric-cars/why-the-biggest-thing-at-ces-is-8230-the-car-and-check-out-that-radio/2923

17) Audi Touts Tech at CES

Link to blog in Forbes:

http://blogs.forbes.com/davidewalt/2011/01/06/audi-touts-tech-at-ces/

News Releases

1) Beat the Traffic to Release RealSpeeds Features on iPhone App

2) CES Showcases Technologies that Bring Internet Into Cars and Combat Distracted Driving, Reports Edmunds.com

3) Telemetria Launches New Telematics Product to Transform Driving Experience

4) Avis Adds Roadside Assistance Feature to Mobile Applications for Apple iPhone

Upcoming Events

Airport Cities World Conference & Exhibition – April 11-13 – Memphis

http://www.globalairportcities.com/about-airport-cities-2011.html

Today in Transportation History

1711 **300^th anniversary** Philips van Almonde, a Dutch admiral who distinguished himself during several naval battles, died.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philips_van_Almonde

======================================================================

The Transportation Communications Newsletter is published electronically Monday through Friday.

To subscribe (for free) or unsubscribe, please contact me at bernie@bwcommunications.net.

TCN archives: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/transport-communications

Become a TCN fan on Facebook!

Questions, comments about the TCN?  Please write the editor, Bernie Wagenblast at bernie@bwcommunications.net.

© 2011 Bernie Wagenblast  www.bwcommunications.net

(Source: Wall Street Journal)

The first clear pictures of what appears to be a Chinese stealth fighter prototype have been published online, highlighting China’s military buildup just days before U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates heads to Beijing to try to repair defense ties.

The photographs, published on several unofficial Chinese and foreign defense-related websites, appear to show a J-20 prototype making a high-speed taxi test—usually one of the last steps before an aircraft makes its first flight—according to experts on aviation and China’s military.

China was probably several years behind Russia, whose first stealth fighter, the Sukhoi T-50, made its first flight in January 2010, but that Beijing was catching up faster than expected.

The Chinese prototype looks like it has “the potential to be a competitor with the F-22 and to be decisively superior to the F-35,” said Mr. Fisher. The J-20 has two engines, like the F-22, and is about the same size, while the F-35 is smaller and has only one engine.

China’s stealth-fighter program has implications also for Japan, which is considering buying F-35s, and for India, which last month firmed up a deal with Russia to jointly develop and manufacture a stealth fighter.

Editor’s Note: This development is not only a challenge to the American dominance and technological superiority in the world of military aviation but also a test (and a considerable threat) to many of so-called China’s regional adversaries, especially the ones noted above – Russia, Japan and India.  Anyone aware of the regional geopolitics in South Asia can likely expect China to pass along the technology (at the least, sell these stealth fighters) to its regional-ally Pakistan in the decades ahead, to counter India’s edge with the joint-production of a stealth fighter using Russian technology.  This will not only up the “heat” at a regional level, but will further push the two nations, as well as the entire region, towards another wave of arms buildup. Though there is no mention of the high-altitude capability of this stealth fighter, it would be interesting to watch how China would deploy these fighters along its disputed border regions with India to guard against any threats from the Tibetan side.  Also, the capability of this new war machine to operate from a sea-borne platform (aircraft carrier, which China is building) would definitely test the power balance between the US and the Chinese in the South China Sea. Above all, I believe this development will encourage other nations to accelerate their own efforts to build a stealth fighter.

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