(via Gizmodo)
Is it actually dangerous to use cell phones or other portable electronics on board an aircraft? NOPE. NOPE. NOPE.
[yframe url=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jgs-zawExcQ&hd=1′]
(Source: Flyersrights.org)
After what seemed like an eternity – roughly five years and 23 extensions later – the 112th United States Congress finally got through with the FAA Modernization and Safety Improvement Act of 2012, aka the FAA Re-authorization Bill. Apart from the usual aspects of the $63Billion four-year re-authorization bill, there are a lot of significant inclusions that will affect your travel in the days ahead… in a good way! Thanks to the tireless advocacy by FlyersRights.org, a non-profit that advocates for passenger rights, many of these demands from the passenger community has now found their way into books of law. The table below shows what the organization was fighting to achieve and what they managed to get. Seriously, if you are an airline passenger this law makes sure you have to be treated like a human being who deserves dignity and respect.
|
FlyersRights Goal |
Bill Provision |
| Three-Hour Tarmac Rule | “Excessive delay” tarmac rule. DOT Secretary to determine definition of “excessive” |
| Food and Water Available | Food and water ALWAYS available (deletes DOT “after 2 hours” provision) |
| Medical Treatment Available | Medical treatment ALWAYS available (deletes DOT “after 2 hours” provision) |
| Airline Contingency Plans | Airline contingency plans for eachairport where carrier has flights (removes DOT’s minimum annual enplanement restriction) |
| Airport Contingency Plans | For the first time, airport contingency plans required (no such provision in DOT rules) |
| DOT Consumer Hotline | Implementation of a DOT consumer hotline, number published on internet, prominently displayed by carriers on ticket counter signs and ticket e-confirmations |
| Smoke-Free Environment | Smoke-free rules consistently enforced on scheduled and now unscheduled flights, domestic and international |
| No Child Left Unbuckled | Carriers must post on their web sites the maximum child safety seat size for each type aircraft they operate so passengers can determine which seats will work with which aircraft |
| Carry Musical Instruments On-board Without Additional Charge | Instruments that can be safely stowed will now be treated like any other carry-on item |
| Advisory Committee for Aviation Consumer Protection | Creation of a DOT advisory committee, comprised of members from air carriers, airport operators, state, local governments, and non-profit public interest groups with consumer protection experience |
| Realistic Scheduling to Minimize Delays | If aircraft operations exceed an airport’s capability, the FAA and airlines will meet to develop an appropriate schedule reduction. If no voluntary agreement is reached, the FAA will take unilateral reduction action |
| Passenger Awareness of Insecticide Use | Air carriers will now refer passengers to the DOT web page with a list of countries that may require in-cabin spraying for flights to those countries |
| Good Information on Delays | Added reporting requirement for diversions and cancellations |
| Consideration for Military Members | “Sense of Congress*” that carriers should be flexible and generous with active duty military members. They seek reduced airfares, elimination of change fees/penalties, ability to purchase, modify or cancel without time restrictions, and the elimination of fees (including baggage fees), ancillary costs, and penalties |
| Defined Compensation for Lost Luggage | Comptroller General to study the issue, including how added baggage fees should improve service |
Click here to read more. Thank you USDOT and Flyersrights.org for all your hard work to get this done.
(Source: NPR Planet Money)
I was listening to this NPR podcast on the way to work and felt compelled to share with my readers.. Amazing Fact: Pretty much every major full service American airline has filed for Bankruptcy in the past two decades and one of them (U.S. Airways) actually declared bankruptcy twice in three years. “The industry in aggregate has lost about $60 billion over the 32 years since deregulation, ” says Severin Borenstein, an economist at the Haas School of Business at U.C. Berkley. Meh!
This left me shaking my head in disbelief! Aren’t we the country full of smart MBA grads from top business schools like Harvard, Yale, et al. running some of these businesses? Anyways, if you got a couple of extra minutes, do check out Severin Borenstein’s detailed paper that goes into great details explaining how the airline business is not for the weakest of heart.
On a related note, Boston Globe had an interesting article back in November 2011 that is somewhat optimistic about the future of aviation. Worth a read while you are still suspended in disbelief after reading/listening to the above NPR material.
(Source: Young Prof. in Transportation)
As a condition of employment, male applicants born after December 31, 1959, must certify that they have registered with the Selective Service System, or are exempt from having to do so under the Selective Service Law.
Direct deposit of pay is required.
(Source: Huffington Post)
Whoa.. I did not know that some of the airport workers are making a living ONLY out of tips. How terrible – work at one of the swankiest places in town (airports) with people milling around dressed up in their high fashion. But how many of us know that the person pushing folks around in a wheel chair may not even have the money to buy a sandwich. Too bad these guys are stuck in a catch 22 situation, not able to tell their passengers that they work for tips due to some stupid federal law hence left out with nothing but a thank you for the service offered. Something has to change… Either the laws or the rules imposed by the airlines that pay hefty bonuses to their CEOs and leave these folks hanging. Read the story on Huffingtonpost.
Why am I thinking this is a classic example of overreacting, which has become the norm in our modern day culture of “keep them wrapped in a sense of paranoia and fear”. Let’s make it clear: If a bad guy wants to wreck your machine mid-flight, he will definitely find a way to do it and he is probably much more innovative than trying to use a cell phone and in-flight wi-fi to detonate the bomb in the belly of a plane. What if he uses a SatPhone to trigger the device? It may be a bit expensive to procure but it still does the job, right?
Aviation security experts at TSA or any such governmental agency should jump in early and clear the air before this poses a threat to the sprouting wi-fi tech in the planes. Unless it is a serious and credible threat, the airline industry should proceed with the deployment plans. Hope sanity prevails.
It was revealed on 29 October that parcels containing a powdered explosive packed in laser printer cartridges had travelled undetected on aircraft to the UK and to Dubai in the UAE. A cellphone connected to a detonation circuit could have allowed a terrorist to trigger an explosion by calling or texting the phone.
This comes as the aviation industry is gearing up to provide broadband in-flight entertainment systems that feature both cellphone and Wi-Fi connections for passengers. These systems would mean that passengers would no longer need to illicitly use their cellphones when they come into range of ground masts at low altitudes near airports – a potentially dangerous activity that could interfere with the aircraft’s avionics.
Last week’s discoveries cast doubt on the wisdom of in-flight communications, says Roland Alford, managing director of Alford Technologies, an explosives consultancy in Chippenham, Wiltshire, UK. He says he expects the technology to be scrutinised in the security reviews being undertaken by the UK government and US Department of Homeland Security in the wake of the discovery of the printer bombs.
In-flight Wi-Fi “gives a bomber lots of options for contacting a device on an aircraft”, Alford says. Even if ordinary cellphone connections are blocked, it would allow a voice-over-internet connection to reach a handset.
(Source: ABC)
Why doesn’t these things NEVER happen in my flights? Hmmm.. I am happy for these folks who had a bit of entertainment to cheer up during their long flight and a story to tell when they land. After battling the hassles of baggage check-ins and security checks, these folks probably appreciated this nice musical treat..
Note: Silly me can’t help but think aloud about these questions: what would the reaction be if these guys were a bunch of middle-eastern musicians wearing traditional robes – how would the airline staff react to such a spontaneous request to play music? Thank god, KLM staff were not so uptight about letting some musicians to get off their seats and play their gear..
It’s been a while! Back in the days flying use to be such great fun. Great meals, relaxed check-in procedures, less frustrations with security and baggage check-ins. These days it has been anything but stress-free.. Long lines, crazy baggage check-in fees, etc, etc. has made flying a nightmare for many of us. Amidst all this, comes the news of a friendly pillow fight in a Lufthansa.. What a welcome relief..
Oh, I like this comment made on a website while discussing this topic: “Just don’t try to be the one to start the pillow fight on an American flight. That could attract undue attention and possible arrest. Flights are highly structured and regimented now due to possible threat of terrorism.”
(Source: PR News Wire)
Yesterday Southwest announced at its annual Media Day a “green plane,” an innovative idea that marries efficiency, environmentally responsible products, Customer comfort, and reduced waste and weight. This plane, a Boeing 737-700, will serve as a test environment for new environmentally responsible materials and Customer comfort products. All of the initiatives being tested on this Green Plane, when combined, will equate to a weight savings of almost five pounds per seat, thus saving fuel and reducing emissions, along with adding recyclable elements to the cabin interior and reducing waste.
“Southwest is committed to continuing to lead the industry in emissions reductions through fuel efficiency. Efficiency in fuel consumption benefits our Company as well as the environment, and this has been part of our business model since the beginning,” said Gary Kelly, Southwest’s Chairman, President, and CEO. “As we look to the future, we know climate change remains of vital importance to our industry, our Company, and our Customers, so Southwest works hard every day in every area to be a responsible steward of the environment.”
Southwest has designated one aircraft to serve as a test for eco-friendly products, which include:
In addition to the green plane, Southwest also announced the Nov. 1 kickoff of its more robust onboard recycling program, which is a co-mingled system that will allow the airline to capture more recyclable material and divert it from the waste stream. This 18-month process involved team work from all areas of the Company to implement the program on the ground at its Provisioning Bases and re-working of waste collection procedures in the cabin. The following are what Southwest calls “Doing the Right Thing”, published on their website:
Recycling And Waste Recovery: Southwest is implementing a more robust, systemwide recycling program. This systemwide co-mingled recycling program will take our current recycling efforts to the next level. By identifying opportunities to reduce, eliminate, or recover energy from our waste streams, we improve our waste management efficiencies and divert a substantial amount of material from landfills.
Water Conservation: Water is one of our most valuable resources and reducing our consumption is important to Southwest Airlines. We implement water savings ideas, including low flow water saving plumbing, auto shutoff water faucets, meeting LEED™ standards for efficient water use at new facilities, landscaping with native and drought-tolerant plants, and recycling the water used in our engine wash program. Along with reducing our water use, it is important that we keep water sources pure and support pollution prevention by reducing the chance of contamination.
Energy Savings: We are committed to pursuing Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED™) standards in new construction. By taking steps to reduce the amount of energy we consume, and to purchase our energy from renewable resources. We are proud to be a member of the Environmental Protection Agency’s Green Power Leadership Club for our purchase of renewable energy credits.
Noise Reduction: Southwest strives to be a good neighbor in every community we serve. We have taken steps to mitigate noise by ensuring our entire fleet meets current aircraft noise standards. The addition of our winglets and engine modifications have yielded a quieter aircraft that creates less noise when taking off and landing, plus our Pilots typically use noise abatement procedures that enable us to minimize noise impact in communities near the airports we serve.
Click here to read more. Also, click here for an interesting Green Plane FAQ published on the airline’s website.
