|
Aug31
|
More details are coming to light about the Comair crash in Kentucky, more specifically the FAA is releasing more information about the controller that was on duty that morning. Now the FAA admits to violating their own policy that requires them to have at least two controllers on duty in a tower at any one time. However, the staffing decision was made on a local level and not a national level.
“If they don’t believe they’re fit for duty, they’re supposed to tell us that,” Federal Aviation Administration spokeswoman Laura Brown said. “You won’t be penalized for not reporting for work.”
 She continued, the air traffic controller union approved the work schedule rules, and the FAA provides information about how to avoid fatigue.
Ken Spirito, director of a regional airport in Peoria, Ill., said it is common for some late-night and early-morning shifts to be staffed with only one controller. Someone may call in sick or take a vacation, and the FAA usually decides to keep the airport open, he said. “The mandate that is issued by FAA is only as good as the staffing levels at that particular tower,” Spirito said.
FAA spokeswoman Laura Brown said that at the time of the accident, there were only two other towers — in Duluth, Minn., and Fargo, N.D. — that were not following the policy to staff with two controllers.
But the underlying question is, are the shortcomings in staffing a result of the stretching of the workforce or is just a problem at a local level that needs to be addressed?
In my opinion the air traffic control system is being stretched too thin. The short staffing at smaller regional airports is the first sign. Short staffing is a problem at most places and it can be partly a cause of the aging workforce that is coming up on retirement. The controller on duty in Kentucky has 17 years of experience with the FAA. So he is not close to the mandatory retirement age yet however, many of the controllers are coming up on the mandatory retirement standards. This could lead to even more short staffing issues. The FAA annouced the other day that it is going to be hiring nearly 12,000 new controllers to replace the ones that are set to retire in the next 10 years, however the numbers did not seem to include additional controllers.
We have had a huge increase in the number of planes, departures, arrivals, etc. in the last 25 years yet the ratio of air traffic controllers to planes has not gone down.
Some information taken from MSNBC.com
|
|
Aug31
|
The Fort Worth Star Telegram has an interesting article on the potential slump in air travel do to recent security scares and the crash of the Delta commuter jet operated by Comair. "For some people who are on the fence...
Continue Reading
|
|
Aug30
|
Northwest Airlines flight attendants are asking the judge that blocked their possible strike against the carrier to rule quickly as they say a strike against the airline will be the only way to make the airline deal with them. Northwest...
Continue Reading
|
|
|
I am sure all of us have been locked out of a place we needed to be. We this AirJazz pilot was a little red faced today. But I guess we can take comfort in that the locking mechanism works...
Continue Reading
|
|
|
A series of events occured in the wrong order lead to the crash of Comair flight 5181 at Blue Grass Airport in Kentucky. The combination of pilot error, the enviornmental impact and air traffic control, all caused the airliner to...
Continue Reading
|
|
Aug29
|
After receiving a comment from what looks to be Qantas Customer Care, I've helped clarify what was said in an article with their help. If you want anymore information, it can be found on their website, so business travellers, no...
Continue Reading
|
|
|
Are the unions at United Airlines parent company UAL Corp (UAUA) preparing for a merger? The Denver Post reported several days ago that the airline's union have been preparing behind the scenes for the last few years for a potential...
Continue Reading
|
|
Aug28
|
**Breaking News**MSNBC is reporting that a US Airways flight from Philadelphia to Houston was forced to land in Bristol, TNFlight 3441, an EMB 170, operated by Republic Airways for US Airways stopped because a note was found that may have...
Continue Reading
|
|
|
More news continues to come to light after ComAir flight 5191 crashed in a field just off the end of Runway 26 at Blue Grass Airport in Lexington, Kentucky. Taking off in predawn light and a gentle rain, the Delta...
Continue Reading
|
|
Aug27
|
A Comair flight carrying 50 people crashed a mile from Lexington's airport Sunday morning shortly after takeoff, the Federal Aviation Administration said. At least one person survived. Comair Flight 5191, a CRJ-100 regional jet with 47 passengers and three crew...
Continue Reading
|
|
Aug26
|
Are safety concerns going to become normal in air travel? Are bomb scares and unruly passengers going to make air travel even more costly? And what as passengers can we do to help ease tension and solve these problems? An...
Continue Reading
|
|
|
What the *&^%? Who would do this in their right mind? A U.S. college student who said he bought dynamite as a souvenir in Bolivia was arrested on Friday when a bomb-sniffing dog found the substance in his luggage after...
Continue Reading
|
|
Aug25
|
Judge Victor Marrero Blocks NWA Flight Attendant Strike for Now. A federal judge blocked Northwest Airlines flight attendants from going on strike Friday, handing a victory to the airline just hours before a planned walkout that could have devastated the...
Continue Reading
|
|
|
Over 10,000 air traffic controllers are expected to leave their occupation before 2015, that's well over half of the current work force. The FAA intends on hiring over 11,800 controllers in the next ten years to help replace those retiring...
Continue Reading
|
|
|
Northwest Airlines has always had a tuff image when it comes to their labor groups. It is coming down to the wire. Union negotiators have left town, leaving a federal judge as Northwest Airlines Corp.'s last hope to block a...
Continue Reading
|
|
|
Ominous-sounding marching music, scenes of flight attendants creating CHAOS, and a website that says "WE ARE READY" greeted Northwest Airlines this morning as the strike deadline grows significantly closer. Today is the deadline. At 10.01pm Eastern (7.01pm West Coast) flight...
Continue Reading
|
|
Aug24
|
The Department of Justice and the Air Transport Association are supporting Northwest Airlines as the deadline for the flight attendant CHAOS lingers just over the horizon. (Friday August 25th). So do you believe the Flight Attendants should create CHAOS at...
Continue Reading
|
|
Aug23
|
Hump Day Humor: Today's humor comes again from The Onion. This one is about the security of the airline industry. "President Bush" tells us about a new security threat. He tells us that the public is the best source of...
Continue Reading
|
|
|
Delta Air Lines is putting their regional service up for bid. The bids include 143 regional jets flown by bankrupt Delta subsidiary Commair and other Delta and non-Delta carriers flying under the Delta Connection name, the Cincinnati Enquirer reports. The...
Continue Reading
|
|
|
It is a sign of the times we live in. How would you react if your flight was escorted back to the airport with F-16's? It happened to a Northwest Airlines flight from Amsterdam to India. Flight crews noticed some...
Continue Reading
|
|
Aug22
|
It could have been harder for passengers to swallow another fare increase. Even airlines are worried that another fare increase at the time when passenger traffic is slower and the recent London Bomb scare combined with a fare increase might...
Continue Reading
|
|
|
In an attempt to reduce delays and allow for more passenger traffic for the run up and during the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, China will open up more routes. The new routes to be opened include those for flights between...
Continue Reading
|
|
Aug21
|
Is there growing decent at the newly merged US Airways? US Airways Group Inc.,(LCC) pilots will be picketing and handing out leaflets at the Philadelphia airport on Tuesday. The Air Line Pilots Association, which represents the unit at US Airways,...
Continue Reading
|
|
|
An Alaska Airlines flight from British Columbia to San Francisco made an emergency landing at Sea-Tac Airport Friday morning after the cabin failed to pressurize properly. The Boeing 737 is being inspected, but as of Friday evening there were no...
Continue Reading
|
|
|
It was the next logical move for Northwest Airlines as they were dealt a blow that could cripple their company. Northwest Airlines filled a motion to stop a potential strike by Flight Attendants at the airline as early as August...
Continue Reading
|
|
|
Who should have to pay for more security at the world's airports? Should it be airlines who will in turn pass the cost onto their passengers, will it be passengers who are assessed a fee on their ticket or should...
Continue Reading
|
|
Aug20
|
If passengers were expecting airlines to bring back comfort and luxury to the industry after the outlook started to look up, passengers can think again. Upgrade Travel has an excellent article on how high security and low services tend to...
Continue Reading
|
|
Aug19
|
It is a shame that some people don't take security so seriously. They think that they can get their fifteen minutes of fame by calling in hoaxes to the airlines and having security scares that force them to empty planes...
Continue Reading
|
|
Aug18
|
Virgin America is in the news again, and it is turning into a punching match. Virgin America is slamming the legacy carriers as they contest the newest low cost carrier being called exactly that, a low cost carrier. American Airlines,...
Continue Reading
|
|
Aug17
|
Northwest Airlines also applied for the newest Asia route. Northwest Airlines on Thursday said it has applied for the right to add service between Detroit and Shanghai. The Transportation Department has said it would grant rights to add an additional...
Continue Reading
|
|
|
Northwest Airlines suffered a major blow today as the flight attendants would be allowed to strike if it came down to it. In a decision issued by Judge Allan L. Gropper, the court denied the airline's request for an injunction...
Continue Reading
|
|
|
The flight attendants that work at ComAir are ready to take job action which could include a strike if negiotations between them and the company do not work out. The two sides are scheduled to meet on August 23rd and...
Continue Reading
|
|
Aug16
|
Is this what the world has come to? Two fighter jets were scrambled to met a United Airlines flight 923 from London to Washington D.C. after a woman on board became so upset that she had to be restrained. The...
Continue Reading
|
|
|
United Airlines parents company UAL Corp. (UAUA) wants to become the first carrier linking Washington, D.C., with direct service to the capital of China. United will ask permission to serve Beijing from the airline's hub at Dulles International Airport....
Continue Reading
|
|
|
With all the recent threats and security scares, it is nice to know that we can still laugh about things to make life just a bit easier for each other. So each Wednesday, known better as 'Hump Day' I'll help...
Continue Reading
|
|
Aug15
|
The low cost international invasion has begun, but JetStar Australia is only setting their eyes on Hawaii, for now. JetStar will begin flying to Honolulu before Christmas after receiving US permission for five services a week. Jetstar received US Department...
Continue Reading
|
|
|
Frontier Airlines has said it will keep their maintainence operations in Denver but doesn't know whether or not they will build their own or buy the facility they are leasing now from Continental Airlines. If they would build a facility...
Continue Reading
|
|
|
The second time this month a system that helps planes land at Los Angles International Airport was down for an extended period of time after it failed. Air Traffic Controllers had to halt incoming planes within an hour radius of...
Continue Reading
|
|
Aug14
|
There is no doubt that the demand for travel south of the border is growing. Delta Airlines and Continental Airlines are both adding services to the region. Continental Airlines Inc., (CAL) will start new nonstop Saturday service between New York...
Continue Reading
|
|
|
Northwest Airlines and their flight attendants got a visit from a mediator on today (Monday 14th) but there seems to be no new talks between the two groups. The flight attendants pushed back their deadline given recent issues concerning security...
Continue Reading
|
|
|
It seems as if everyone is getting into the calendar spirit lately. So why leave out the flight attendants on our planes. In fact quite a few of them are great looking, and all of these women are helping raise...
Continue Reading
|
|
|
The latest news coming out is that London police have found airline tickets for August 11, for a United Airlines flight from the UK to the US and a flight for August 16. This upcoming Wednesday would have been a...
Continue Reading
|
|
Aug13
|
British Airport officials at Heathrow are telling airlines to cut their Monday schedules by 20 per cent or face severe restrictions, including denying any airline the use of their facilities. This comes as airliens were forced to cut their Sunday...
Continue Reading
|
|
Aug12
|
Do the new TSA rules have you scratching your head? The government's ban on liquids and gels in airliner passenger cabins is confusing travelers. Further complicating matters is a carry-on ban on some trans-Atlantic flights. The restrictions are part of...
Continue Reading
|
|
Aug11
|
Air Canada parent ACE Aviation Holdings Inc., said that second quarter profits rose 40 percent to $236 million on one-time gains. ACE says it earned $236 million in the second-quarter of 2006, compared to $169 million in the same period...
Continue Reading
|
|
|
Are the flight attendants at Northwest Airlines rethinking their strike options. As the deadline for the strike draws near the union that represents the flight attendants has said they want to focus on security as their first priority. "Today, there...
Continue Reading
|
|
|
British officials identified 19 of the suspects accused of plotting to blow up U.S.-bound aircraft on Friday, making public a list of names that fueled suspicions of a Pakistan connection. Five Pakistanis have been arrested in Pakistan as suspected 'facilitators'...
Continue Reading
|
|
Aug10
|
A few of my friends were starting their pre-back to school holiday today. That means that many of them are experiencing massive delays. SMS from a friend: "Just boarded N375UA (United Airlines) Security was a blast! Flight delayed 45 mins...
Continue Reading
|
|
|
Updated 11.57am CSTThe airlines at target here: American Airlines, Continental Airlines, United Airlines and British Airways. Reports are saying that plots were suppose to explode devices on 9 planes that were crossing the Atlantic Ocean. Flights were targeted at major...
Continue Reading
|
|
|
U.S. Department of Homeland Security Michael Chertoff said: "suggestive of an al Qaeda plot" but looking and waiting for all the facts to come in. Flights out of the UK to the US are not allowing carry on bags. Flights...
Continue Reading
|
|
|
The U.S. has raised the airline security level to their highest point ever after a bomb threat was spoiled in Britain that cancelled hundreds of flights in and out of London. The bomb threat was said to have been on...
Continue Reading
|
|
Aug 9
|
The airline industry may have one of their first large scale legacy carrier deaths. If Northwest Airlines and their flight attendants can not come to an agreement by Tuesday evening, flight attendants plan to enact CHAOS- Create Havoc Around Our...
Continue Reading
|
|
|
In a recent survey most people said they wanted cell phones to stay off of airplanes. I agree. But Virgin brand name owner Sir Richard Branson has come up with yet another idea to keep the revenue rolling into the...
Continue Reading
|
|
|
Were US Airlines fooled into thinking that reducing capacity was the best way to save on costs? Though the weeks between Labor Day and early November tend to be some of the slower travel dates, airlines are beginning to ramp...
Continue Reading
|
|
Aug 8
|
Northwest Airlines has never had a pleasant relationship with their labor groups. They have had their disagreements with labor costs, wages, and benefits for many years. So this show down between the airline and their flight attendants comes as no...
Continue Reading
|
|
|
My friend and I have this competition going on to see whose favorite airline is the best. He is avid supporter of American Airlines and I am an avid supporter of United Airlines. Back and forth we go, saying how...
Continue Reading
|
|
|
AirTran Holdings, Inc., (AAI) will begin more services from Detroit to Florida in November. Daily services from Detroit to Tampa, Fort Lauderdale and Fort Myers will begin on the 7th of November. Also the low cost carrier said it would...
Continue Reading
|
|
Aug 7
|
Airlines are banking on squeezing out every penny they can for the last few weeks of the summer travel season as August can see slower demand. The parent of United Airlines, UAL Corp., (UAUA) was the first airline to push...
Continue Reading
|
|
|
If it were not for restructuring costs, Northwest Airlines would have actually made a profit in the second quarter. The airline lost $285 million dollars for the second quarter, but executives at the airline pointed to positive cost cutting measures,...
Continue Reading
|
|
|
Flight attendants at US Airways Group, Inc., (LCC) are outraged that they have not seen a pay raise since May of 2004, yet the management team for the newly merged airline will see a pay raise. While flight attendants from...
Continue Reading
|
|
Aug 5
|
So do you remember when United Airlines CEO, Glenn Tilton, said that low cost carriers would never fly on the long haul international routes? "The simple Southwest [Airlines] model, although compelling from a cost perspective, will never serve Shanghai nor...
Continue Reading
|
|
|
Frontier Airlines Holdings Inc., (FRNT) the parent company of Frontier Airlines says it will begin charging passengers who book their tickets via telephone or walk up to the counter an extra $5 per ticket. Frontier is hoping that this move...
Continue Reading
|
|
Aug 4
|
Starting Saturday perspective flight attendants that want to for United Airlines in Denver can fill out an online application. United Airlines Flight Attedant Site.The airline is hiring flight attendants in Denver for the first time in about six years. The...
Continue Reading
|
|
|
JPMorgan Chase & Co. (JPM) has filed papers in a Manhattan court objecting to the $1.4 billion dollar financing that Northwest Airlines has requested as a part of their bankruptcy exiting program. JP Morgan Chase Bank says that Northwest Airlines...
Continue Reading
|
|
|
Employees at American Airlines are angered at the management team as they learned that the CEO of the airline, Gerard Arpey, would be receiving a 23 per cent pay raise bringing his salary to $650,000. In addition, AMR Corp., (AMR)...
Continue Reading
|
|
|
The experts said this would be one of the busiest seasons for airlines in a long time and the load factors that the airlines are reporting are supporting that claim and in large record numbers too. The last few months...
Continue Reading
|
|
Aug 3
|
In one of those strange but true stories, a 21-year old Bethel man who got drunk, stole an airplane, flew it from Connecticut to New York and landed it at a closed airport has been given one year in prison. ...
Continue Reading
|
|
|
Democratic Senator Mark Pryor from Arkansas has befriended the National Air Traffic Controllers Association after he introduced legislation into the US Senate that would force the FAA back to the bargaining table after it imposed its own version of a...
Continue Reading
|
|
|
Last month Frontier Airlines Holdings, Inc., (FRNT) was given permission by the Department of Transportation to fly from Denver to Guadalajara, Mexico. Non-stop flights start on December 22nd and will run every Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday. Prices, according to...
Continue Reading
|
|
|
Flight attendants at Northwest Airlines have already begun their countdown to the August 15th deadline for a strike, though support from other unions may not be there when the deadline comes. This year, Northwest's 5,000 pilots and 13,000 ground workers...
Continue Reading
|
|
|
US Airways Group, Inc., (LCC) has slashed their shuttle price from New York's LaGuardia International Airport to Boston Logan International Airport. This popular route for US Airways, which operates 16 daily hourly shuttles, has slashed the price by 54% on...
Continue Reading
|
She continued, the air traffic controller union approved the work schedule rules, and the FAA provides information about how to avoid fatigue.