Blogs

A setback in the airlines battle against ETS

THE airline industry has been emitting a lot of noise and smoke about the European Union’s decision to include it in its existing scheme in which industries have to buy tradable permits to emit carbon dioxide. 

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FAA proposes $1.1 million fine against Southwest maintenance contractor

The Federal Aviation Administration is proposing a $1.1 million against Aviation Technical Services for making improper repairs on 44 Southwest aircraft.

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Don´t pretend to be an air marshal

THIS is a fun one: on Wednesday, a passenger on a Delta flight allegedly started telling people that he was an air marshal. Sometimes, you might be able to get away with this—air marshals aren't on every flight. But Wednesday was not this imposter's lucky day. There was a real air marshal on Delta Flight 1922, and when the real air marshal got wind of the fake one's claims, he detained the man in question.

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What price security?

THE LAW of unintended consequences states that intervening in a complex system always creates unanticipated—and often undesirable—outcomes. Take checked-baggage fees, for example. Intended by the airlines to save costs and generate revenue, they have indeed reduced the number of checked bags and increased the number of carry-on bags. 

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FAA: Credit Where it´s Due

Regular Jetwhine readers know that a story posted here relating to the FAA is not unusual, nor is the fact that I tend not to be terribly supportive of some of the people who work there. Regular readers should know that I try – note the word try – to walk that fine line about who I pick on.

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NTSB isn´t happy with American, revokes its party status

The National Transportation Safety Board issued an update Friday on the incident Wednesday in which an American Airlines jet slid off the runway at Jackson Hole, Wyo.

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No. 5 on our top 10 airline stories of 2010: American Airlines hit with largest FAA fine ever

In 2008, American Airlines had to cancel several thousand flights in March and April because it hadn't tied up some wiring properly as required by a Federal Aviation Administration airworthiness directive.

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No. 7 FAA proposes largest fine ever, $24.2 million, on American Airlines

The government agency proposed millions of dollars in fines against several airlines for a variety of maintenance issues. And then a special report by the Department of Transportation criticized the FAA for being too cozy with the carriers in 2008, American Airlines and Southwest Airlines in particular.

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Even more TSA madness (and a correction)

THE MASSES demand airport security-related comedy, and last weekend, Gulliver delivered. Twice. The famous John Tyner "Don't Touch My Junk" incident was more than three weeks ago, but the internet is still delivering biting satire targeted at the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), America's much-resented airport security agency. 

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Don´t You Believe It

A couple of articles have been making the rounds lately. While to me they are obviously satire, some are taking them hook line and sinker. A quote from one of my favorite Tom & Jerry episodes comes to mind: “Don’t you believe it.”

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The FAACs, or the Truth about Aviation’s Future?

Don’t feel bad if you don’t find the acronym FAAC jumping right to the head of your aviation conversations these days. It’s not exactly front page news to anyone in the aviation industry, except perhaps the few dozen hand-picked participants of that group. FAAC stands for the Department of Transportation’s Future of Aviation Advisory Committee Secretary Ray LaHood initiated last spring.

 

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Safety board asking tough questions about regional airlines

The National Transportation Safety Board is taking a hard look at the regional airline business, a vital and little-understood part of the U.S. aviation system. Roughly half of all domestic U.S. passengers fly on regional carrriers, the ones we in the media often still call commuter airlines, which usually operate using names like US Airways Express or American Eagle.

 

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Airlines grapple with increased regulatory focus

Nearly 32 years after the U.S. airline industry was deregulated, U.S. carriers are facing a wave of government and union rules that threatens to unleash the biggest regulatory changes for the industry in a generation.

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What AAA has to say about the TWU vote totals

After seeing the numbers change by hundreds of votes in the Transport Workers Union stores clerks ratification vote, I called the American Arbitration Association to find out what happened.

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American Airlines mechanics counting votes; results expected out Tuesday

The results of contract ratification votes for the Fort Worth-based carrier’s mechanics, maintenance technicians and stock clerks are expected to be announced on Tuesday.Aug. 24

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Congress passes new pilot rules as part of FAA extension bill

An overhaul of commercial pilot rules was passed by Congress on Friday morning as part of a Federal Aviation Administration extension bill.

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Do what the boss says -- and go to prison

A story in Monday's Star-Telegram tells how an employee of Texas Aviation Services, a Fort Worth company that was doing repairs on Army helicopters, is headed to prison for inflating invoices to the government.

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