It’s a new version of pre-clearance. Germans can pass-though an American airport before leaving the country.

(Written on 17-12-2021)(Permalink)

I can’t say I’m thrilled. I’m not a “charter user” but I’d been using FlightAware for awhile when I met some of their employees at Oshkosh in 2010, I hope they made some money on the purchase., Collins doesn’t seem like a great owner for GA types. What keeps me from despair is the small barrier to entry for this business: it’s not so much what FlightAware does as how it does it. So if Collins screws this acquisition up then a replacement will arrive shortly.

(Written on 03-09-2021)(Permalink)

It doesn't matter how one feels about masks: Alaska Airlines can mandate any dress code it likes so long as it is consistent and doesn't fall afoul of state and federal laws or FAA regulations. As a state Senator she should put her money…er… where her mouth is and propose AK legislation prohibiting denial of service for not wearing a face mask. I suspect this is Sen. Reibold's "Exactly 57 communists in the State Department" moment. How else does an otherwise obscure AK politician wind up in the New York Times (unless she's placed on a major party ticket for national office)

(Written on 30-04-2021)(Permalink)

No, I think your reservations are sound. This is the one aircraft where you want redundancy. The idea of two on the flight deck brings to mind the crash of the Smolensk air crash where unforeseen circumstances, bad weather and an overburdened pilot led to tragedy. Modern air crashes are always a concatenation of multiple factors - why invite one on Air Force One? I'm also not keen on the "All digital flight deck". While fine for flying in airspace of the developed world it seems, again, and invitation for trouble. However well they harden the electronics it's hard to argue that vacuum based gauges are immune to EMP, interference or digital hacking.

(Written on 19-02-2021)(Permalink)

I always thought the carriers had It backwards. They should charge for carry-ons and the first checked bag should be free. Once you are paying for the staff and infrastructure to load and unload luggage the incremental cost between 5 and 100 bags is minimal. There might be a slight increase in fuel costs for the additional weight but it would be slights checking the same bags people carry on means no net weight increase. Were customers to start bringing heavier bags then that could be handled by lowering the weight threshold or making it a market differentiator.

(Written on 19-02-2021)(Permalink)

This is the same pas-de-deux whenever a unionized workforce is asked for give backs. The reply is it’s an OUTRAGE, an attempt to bring labor back to the 19th century and the ghost of Samuel Gompers is invoked. The initial counter is always something that won’t save enough money (the early retirements) or something the union knows isn’t in management’s gift (promising no furloughs). I fully expect that the final agreement will be cuts less than 10% combined with retirement “buy outs” in exchange for a court-enforceable “snap back” on pay based on passenger numbers not revenue.

(Written on 16-10-2020)(Permalink)

So we can send supersonic drones in-country to kill bad guys without waking the neighbors.

(Written on 10-08-2018)(Permalink)

To be pedantic, these aren't "drones" buy R/C aircraft, correct? Strictly speaking don't "drones" require a level of autonomy?

(Written on 25-07-2014)(Permalink)

This matter was dropped the minute Mr. Fleming agreed not to press charges against Darlington County law enforcement. Guarantee this will happen again. DHS will shuffle some papers; FAA will still say they have sole jurisdiction and some County Sheriff used to having his way will do something similar. Until someone in local law enforcement gets written up for misconduct (or, better yet, dismissed) then nothing will change because, from the police standpoint, nothing will need to change.

(Written on 11-01-2013)(Permalink)

That was my concern as well. The author conflated "Business Aviation" with "General Aviation". That is dangerous given the present regulatory climate. The reality is more complex. For example, how many small business owners put what is ostensibly a private plane under their business for tax and liability purposes? How many use "company planes" as others do "company cars"?

(Written on 10-08-2012)(Permalink)