Explosion rocks Moscow's Domodedovo Airport

by B. N. Sullivan

A large explosion rocked the international  arrivals hall at Moscow's Domodedovo Airport (DME) earlier today, January 24, 2011.  Local officials say that the blast, which was caused by a suicide bomber, killed at least 35 people and left more than 100 injured.

Amateur video and photos shot on site showed a grisly scene, with bodies and body parts strewn about, and heavy smoke hanging in the air.  ProducerMatthew.com has posted links to several photos from inside the Domodedovo Terminal.

Air traffic at DME was disrupted immediately after the bombing.  Some flights were diverted to Moscow's Sheremetyevo airport, or to St. Petersburg.  Other en route flights returned to their departure cities.

Here is a news video about the incident, posted on YouTube by Russia Today:



If the video does not play or display properly above, click here to view it on YouTube.

Music video: 'Ooo I wanna get you out of Teterboro...'

by B. N. Sullivan

A pilot in my family turned me on to this terrific music video -- written, performed and produced by his friend,  Mike Wagner.  The catchy lyrics are set to an old Beach Boys song, and the video is very entertaining.

Out in New Jersey(s)
There’s a place called Teterboro
That’s where everybody goes
To be a part of it all

Lots of jets on the ramp
Loaded up waiting to start engines
They’ll be there for an hour
Before they even have the chance
Down in Teterboro

You can find the rest of the Teterboro lyrics on Mike's blog, and you can find a link to download an audio-only version there, too.



If the video does not play or display properly above, click here to view it on YouTube.

Kudos to Mike Wagner for doing such a great job with the video, and thanks to Pat Sullivan for sending it to me.

Flight attendant union calls on TSA to fully implement CrewPASS

by B. N. Sullivan

The Association of Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA-CWA) has once again called upon the U.S. Transportation Security Administration (TSA) to fully implement CrewPASS, an identification credential for aviation workers that promotes expedited screening of those who most frequently pass through airport security.

In a press statement issued yesterday, Patricia Friend, AFA-CWA International President, said, “TSA has devoted many resources to enhancing aviation security but, as recently announced screening procedures take effect, it is flight attendants who are adversely affected by lengthy airport security lines.

“Flight attendants are subject to extensive background checks so there is no reasonable explanation why this highly vetted group of aviation employees continues to be exposed to lengthy airport security lines which may affect their ability to report to the aircraft on time.  AFA-CWA supports a multi-layered aviation security system and we urge the TSA to continue work on improving airport security screening effectiveness.”

For years, AFA-CWA has been urging TSA to devote serious resources to the appropriate development and full implementation of an aviation workers’ identification credential that will promote expedited screening of those who most frequently must pass through airport security.  This credential could employ biometrics, such as fingerprints, to quickly screen flight attendants and others.  This would ultimately allow TSA to focus on more effective screening of the hundreds of airport vendors and thousands of aircraft passengers who daily pass through the screening checkpoints.

RELATED:

• Legislation will expedite crew access at U.S. airports
• TSA launches expedited security screening for flight deck crews

Catastrophic earthquake in Haiti disrupts air traffic

by B. N. Sullivan

A magnitude 7.0 earthquake occurred 10 miles southwest of Port-au-Prince, Haiti shortly before 5:00 PM Local time on January 12, 2010. The initial quake was followed by numerous aftershocks. Early reports from the area indicate massive damage to buildings and infrastructure and innumerable casualties. In short, this appears to be a truly catastrophic natural disaster.

Air traffic between Haiti and the rest of the world has been disrupted. The last commercial flight to leave the island was American Airlines Flight AA 1908, which was reportedly boarding at Toussaint Louverture International Airport (PAP) as the earthquake struck. The aircraft managed to depart about one hour later and safely completed its scheduled flight to Miami.

The Palm Beach Post interviewed a passenger from Flight AA 1908 after he arrived in Miami. The passenger said he had been inside the terminal at PAP when the earthquake struck.

“It felt like a plane had hit the building, that’s how strong it was,” he said as he emerged from Customs tonight about 9:15 p.m. “But it turned out to be an earthquake.”

He said passengers panicked.

The airline officials told the passengers to wait, but most those who had been scheduled to fly decided not to, he said.

“The airport building itself, was badly damaged, cracked,” he said. The lights went out.

When the flight finally took off, he looked down on the area surrounding the airport.

“I saw buildings that fell down,” he said. “There were some lights still on, but not everywhere. You could see helicopters flying to give help.”

The Wall Street Journal quoted an American Airlines spokeswoman who said that the PAP airport, which was damaged by the earthquake, was closed Tuesday night(Jan. 12) and would remain closed Wednesday (Jan. 13). She also said that 176 passengers had originally been scheduled to board Flight AA 1908, but that the majority "chose to stay behind" after the quake struck. In the end, only 49 passengers and 11 crew members flew to Miami on the Boeing 767 aircraft.

Spirit Airlines, which also flies between the U.S. and Haiti, issued a statement a short time ago, saying:

Spirit has cancelled Wednesday's flights between Fort Lauderdale and Port-au-Prince, Haiti, and will reinstate service as soon as the airport is open.

Spirit is currently reaching out to first-responder organizations and other early-stage disaster relief resources/agencies in order to assist with transporting medical and other professionals, as well as equipment to Port-au-Prince as soon as we are able to operate flights to that airport in an effort to assist as much as possible until the U.S. government and larger relief and humanitarian organizations can gear up what is expected to be a major relief effort.

Several news reports have mentioned that the control tower at PAP was destroyed.

Tis the season... for de-icing

by B. N. Sullivan

A wicked snowstorm in the eastern United States caused the cancellation of many hundreds of flights today. Several airports closed while snow removal got underway, and at others, air traffic was greatly reduced.

'Tis the season for snow in the northern hemisphere. We all can bet that there's a lot more snow to follow before Spring returns.

Earlier this month I left Denver International Airport (DIA) in the middle of a snowstorm. The accumulation was not enough to cripple the airport, but early morning departures required de-icing. Fortunately DIA is used to snow, and well equipped to handle it. Here are a couple of photos I shot on the de-icing pad at DIA on the morning of December 8, 2009. I had a pretty good view from my exit row window seat on a United Airlines Boeing 767. [Click on the photos for a larger view.]

The first photo shows a United Airlines Boeing 757 being sprayed with de-icing fluid.



And then it was our turn.



I wish all the readers of Aircrew Buzz a safe winter flying season. Stay warm!

Alternative to the crash pad: Crews living in LAX parking lot

by B. N. Sullivan

I have to admit I was taken aback for a moment when I read a story in today's Los Angeles Times about some airline employees -- including pilots, flight attendants and mechanics -- who are living part-time in a parking lot at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). Instead of opting for the usual crash pads, about 100 crew members from assorted carriers have chosen to park their RVs in a particular parking lot at LAX to use them as a home away from home.

They have formed something of a crew colony there, and they even have an unofficial 'mayor'. This is not done on the sly, but in a very organized way, sanctioned by the airport authority

According to the L. A. Times article:

For several years, clusters of RVs were scattered around the airport's parking lots until LAX officials decided to consolidate them in Lot B. Now operating as an organized camp overseen by the airport, it has an unofficial mayor, a code of conduct and residency requirements, including background checks, regular vehicle inspections and proof of employment at an air carrier.

"There might be a few other places like this nationally, but I think this is rather unique," said Michael Biagi, who heads the land-use division at Los Angeles World Airports.

Today, the colony has more than 100 residents -- mostly men -- from around the country, including captains, first officers, mechanics, flight attendants, support staff and employees of air cargo companies. There are at least two married couples, who work as flight attendants. About 10 people are on a waiting list.

Apparently the RVs used by these airline employees as parking lot crash pads range from relatively cushy motor homes to bare-bones campers on the backs of pick-up trucks.

This idea is a new one on me, but hey -- whatever works! (I'll give them extra points for being inventive, too.)

Here's a slide show about the LAX parking lot residents. Does anyone know of any similar RV camps near other airports?

[Photo Source]

Japan Airlines Boeing 747 vs Baggage Container

Earlier today at Los Angeles International Airport, the number one engine of a Japan Airlines Boeing 747-400 had a run in with a metal baggage container -- or maybe it was the other way around. The baggage container reportedly was "sucked into the engine" as the aircraft was preparing to depart.

Here's what the Los Angeles Times reported about the incident:

The accident occurred about 1:30 p.m. when Flight 61 to Narita, Japan, pulled back from Gate 101 at the Tom Bradley International Terminal. Airport officials said the vacuum created by the air intake of the left outboard engine was so strong it pulled the empty container off a baggage cart that was either parked or driven too close to the aircraft.

Not surprisingly, that airplane did not go to Tokyo today.

Here's the video:



If the video does not play or display properly above, click here to view it on YouTube.

FAA and Bird Strike Data: Now you're doin' it right!

You may have heard that the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) recently proposed to keep the agency's database on aviation bird strikes private. Today the agency reversed itself and announced that FAA bird strike data will be available to the public by the end of this week.

Earlier, FAA officials had expressed concerns that the bird strike data might be misinterpreted in ways that would damage the image of the aviation industry and airports. They also feared that if the database was available to the public, some organizations (i.e., airlines, airports, etc.) might feel inhibited about reporting full and accurate information about bird strikes, so as not to tarnish their reputations.

Fortunately, the folks at the FAA have had a change of heart and have decided to withdraw their proposal to 'protect' the bird strike database. An FAA press release issued a short time ago says:

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) will make its entire Bird Strike database available on a public website this Friday, April 24. Portions of the database have been publicly available since the information was first collected in 1990, but the public will now be able to access all of the database's fields.

The FAA is also withdrawing a proposal to protect the data, after a 30-day comment period closed earlier this week. The FAA has determined that it can release the data without jeopardizing aviation safety.

The FAA has redacted a very small amount of data in the database containing privacy information, such as personal phone numbers.

Over the next four months, the FAA will make significant improvements to the database to improve the search function and make it more user-friendly. In its current format, users will only be able to perform limited searches online, but will be able to download the entire database.

The FAA also plans to work with the aviation community to find ways to improve and strengthen bird strike reporting.

The database can be accessed through http://wildlife-mitigation.tc.faa.gov/public_html/index.html#access

Okay, FAA. Now you're doin' it right!

Rapper Coolio busted for drugs at LAX

The Los Angeles District Attorney's office announced today that Grammy-winning rapper Artis Leon Ivey -- AKA 'Coolio' -- has been charged with one felony count of drug possession, plus two misdemeanors arising from his arrest last week at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX).  

This past Friday, screeners at LAX allegedly discovered crack cocaine and a crack pipe in Coolio's luggage as he was preparing to board a Southwest Airlines flight, according to Reuters.  He was charged today with one felony count for possession of the drug, and a misdemeador charge for the pipe.

According to Reuters, the performer also was charged with misdemeanor battery because he allegedly "grabbed an airport screener's arm to prevent the search of his luggage."

Coolio is slated to be arraigned on April 3, 2009. If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of three years in state prison.

UPDATE Apr. 3, 2009:  Coolio pleaded not guilty to the charges against when he appeared at  court today for arraignment.  He is free on bail, and will appear before a judge on April 20, in Los Angeles.

Chicago-O'Hare air traffic controller blamed for near mid-air collision

This past July, there was a near mid-air collision at Chicago-O'Hare International Airport between a departing American Eagle ERJ-145, and a Learjet LR60 that was arriving on an intersecting runway. No one was injured, and neither aircraft was damaged in the July 22, 2008 incident, but it was a very close call: according to ground radar (ASDE-X) analysis and radar replay, the LJ60 passed 325 feet above and slightly behind the departing E145. 

A 'probable cause' report issued recently by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) cites "[t]he LC-10 [Local Control] controller's failure to ensure the appropriate separation between two airplanes operating on runways where flight paths intersect" as the cause the incident.

Here is the timeline of events, from the NTSB report:

At 1243:09, the ORD tower local control 10 (LC-10) controller instructed the E145 pilots to taxi into position and hold on runway 32L at taxiway M. The LC-10 controller issued a wake turbulence advisory to the pilots and advised them to expect about a 2 1/2 minute delay before "we can getcha rollin". The E145 pilots acknowledged the clearance. The runway 32L/taxiway M intersection is approximately 8,800 feet from the runway 9R final approach path.

At 1244:57, the LJ60 pilot contacted the north local controller (NLC) and reported over Lance, the runway 9R outer marker, located about 4.1 nautical miles from the approach end of the runway. The NLC cleared the LJ60 pilots to land on runway 9R and advised them to "plan a left turn on runway 32R" during their landing roll. The LJ60 pilots acknowledged the clearance and repeated the exit information.

At 1245:27, the LC-10 controller cleared the E145 for takeoff stating, "...runway 32L at [taxiway] M, cleared for takeoff, turn right heading 330 [degrees]." The controller did not provide any information regarding the LJ60 that was about 2.5 miles from the runway 9R runway threshold. The E145 pilot acknowledged the takeoff clearance. At 1245:45, EGF298 commenced its takeoff roll.

According to the local monitor's statement, he recognized the potential conflict between the E145 and LJ60 and told the LC10 controller to advise the departing aircraft to stay low.

About 1246:13, when the LJ60 was about 3/4 of a mile from runway 9R, the NLC instructed the LJ60 pilots to "...go around maintain 4,000 [feet msl]." According to the LJ60 pilot-flying's (PF) statement, the pilot not flying observed the E145 on runway 32L and told the LJ60 pilot flying (PF) "Climb, climb, there is an MD80 on takeoff roll on [runway] 32R."

At 1246:19, the LC-10 controller advised the E145 pilots to "...stay low...stay low traffics above you."

At 1246:26, the ASDE-X data revealed that the closest recorded proximity occurred as the LJ60 passed about 150 feet laterally and about 325 feet above the E145. About 13 seconds later, the NLC instructed LJ60 pilots to "Turn right heading 140 [degrees], contact Chicago departure control on 127.4." The pilots acknowledged the clearance.

At 1246:27, the LC-10 controller instructed E145 pilots to "Climb and maintain 5 [thousand feet], sorry about that." A few seconds later, the pilots acknowledge the clearance.

At 1246:43, the E145 pilots said, "...it was interesting." About 19 seconds later, the LC-10 controller instructed the E145 pilots, "Contact Chicago departure 125.4." [NTSB ID: OPS08IA011A]

The report also includes statements from the pilots on both aircraft. The crew on the Lear spotted the ERJ nearly concurrently with the controller's go-around instruction. The PNF (pilot not flying) told the NTSB "...We never received a TCAS (Traffic Collision Avoidance System) advisory - either alert or resolution - during the go-around."

Meanwhile, the ERJ captain, who was the PF, said, "...As I called gear up after rotating, I see a Learjet at 11 o'clock converging directly with our flight path. I immediately leveled the aircraft at 200 feet above the runway to avoid a collision and maintained runway heading. The tower issued an alert to level off two seconds later, as the Lear [jet] passed directly over our cockpit. I am estimating 600 feet separation. The controller apologized."

The American Eagle first officer, who was the PNF, said, "...From my vantage point, all I saw was an aircraft directly above us moving left to right at no more than 200 feet of separation vertically. The Captain immediately initiated a level off at no more than 200 feet AGL until we were instructed to continue the climb. The tower apologized and continued working aircraft, handed us off to departure where the flight continued without further incident."

The NTSB report notes that "The LC10 position, located on the south side of the tower cab that has an external view of the runway 32L/9R intersections. The tower was equipped with digital radar and ASDE-X displays. ORD managers reported that the ASDE- X did not have crossing runway logic installed, and the ASDE-X did not alarm during the incident.

Storm causes several FOD incidents at Pittsburgh

A storm moved through western Pennsylvania on February 12 packing what the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review described as "vicious winds" that caused problems for operations at airports in Allegheny County. 'Foreign object debris' (FOD) struck several aircraft that were either landing or attempting to take off during the storm, causing minor damage.

An article in the Tribune-Review described sustained winds of more than 50 mph, with a 92 mph gust recorded at Allegheny County Airport.

The high winds blew sand and pebbles onto the runways at Pittsburgh International Airport, forcing officials to close them for more than an hour to allow workers to clear the debris, Allegheny County Airport Authority spokeswoman JoAnn Jenny said.

Four flights were affected during the closure that lasted from 3:15 p.m. until 4:28 p.m, Jenny said. She said the runways were not damaged.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) posted preliminary incident reports this morning about four aircraft that sustained minor damage from blowing debris.

• Air Wisconsin Flight 4025, a CL-600 (registration N442AW), was struck by debris on landing.
• An ExpressJet Airlines Embraer 145XR (registration N12145), operating as Continental Express Flight 2035, rejected takeoff after being hit by debris.
• The windscreen of an Embraer 145EP (registration N801HK), operating as Trans States Airlines Flight 3541, was struck by debris during takeoff roll.
• Debris struck the windscreen of Hawker Beechcraft 400A (registration N440CT) that was preparing to take off.

Each of the aircraft taxied back to the ramp without further incident. No one was injured.

Sounds like it was definitely a rough night for flying.

JetBlue Opens New Terminal 5 At JFK Airport

Terminal 5, JetBlue's new home at New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK), officially opened yesterday. According to the airline, all JetBlue departures from JFK will now operate from "T5," as will all domestic arrivals and international arrivals that pre-clear U.S. customs prior to arriving in New York.

A press release about T5 issued by JetBlue says, in part:

One of the first terminals in the U.S. to be completely designed and built post 9/11, T5 focuses on efficiency and customer comfort. The 635,000-square-foot terminal boasts 26 gates distributed throughout three concourses and includes a 55,000-square-foot central retail and concession Marketplace. T5 is designed to accommodate up to 20 million annual customers with up to 250 daily departures.

"From day one Terminal 5 will welcome more than 30 percent of JFK's annual customer traffic," said Dave Barger, CEO of JetBlue Airways. "The terminal is designed specifically with our customers in mind, and we have created a new standard in both comfort and service that everyone can enjoy. Its unique amenities will create a stress free on-the-ground experience for JetBlue customers that will match the innovative and award-winning experience JetBlue is known for in the air."

Some of T5's features:

• two check-in areas with a total of 65 e-ticket kiosks and 40 traditional check-in counters
• a large central security checkpoint capable of accommodating 20 screening lanes
• an automated "in-line" baggage system to move bags from the check-in lobby through screening and to the ramp
• free Wi-Fi throughout the terminal
• grandstand seating under a 40-foot-diameter digital ring of LCD monitors
spacious gate areas with ample seating
• a children's play space
• twenty-two concessions
• 25 specialty retail stores
• nine full-serve restaurants, bars and cafes
• eight quick-serve eateries
• grab-and-go gourmet markets
• three coffee bars, and six bars/lounges

Also included: an innovative gate area program called re:vive that allows customers to use touch-screen monitors to order meals for delivery to the gate areas.

According to information provided by JetBlue, T5 was designed by Gensler and created in collaboration with Turner Construction Company, Arup, AECOM (as DMJM Harris) and Rockwell Group. The terminal was majority funded by and built in collaboration with the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, Kennedy Airport's operator. The design of JetBlue's new T5 began in March 2004 with groundbreaking occurring in December 2005.

T5 is located behind the well-known Eero Saarinen-designed TWA terminal, which remains under the control of the Port Authority. The Port Authority is rehabilitating and restoring the landmark structure and plans to reopen it to the public at a later date.

[Photo Source]

GAO nixes FAA airport slot auction plans

Remember the flap about the FAA's plan to conduct an auction for takeoff and landing slots at airports in the New York City area? The plan did not sit well with many, including the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, which operates the airports, and the Air Transport Association, which filed suit against the FAA in August to challenge the legality of such an auction. Late yesterday, the U.S. General Accountability Office (GAO) issued a formal opinion on the case. In short, the GAO said that the FAA does not have legal authority to auction slots. The GAO also said it would block attempts by the FAA to carry out such an auction.

Response to the GAO opinion from opponents of the slot auction plan was immediate. In a press release, the Air Transport Association said that it "applauds the Government Accountability Office (GAO) report that affirms the airlines’ position that the Department of Transportation (DOT) lacks legal authority to conduct auctions."

The word "applaud" also was used in the Port Authority's response to the GAO's ruling, which added that, "It’s wrong to raise prices for everyone by implementing an untested and unauthorized scheme, particularly in this economy."

Both ATA and the Port Authority's Task Force have been advocating for increasing capacity and "airspace redesign" to reduce delays and congestion at New York area airports.

For the record, here is the exact wording of the Summary of the GAO's opinion, issued on September 30, 2008:

This responds to a Congressional request for our legal opinion regarding the authority of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to auction airport arrival and departure slots. As part of its efforts to reduce congestion in the national airspace, in April and May 2008, FAA issued proposed regulations to conduct such auctions at three New York-area airports--LaGuardia Airport (LaGuardia), John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK), and Newark Liberty International Airport (Newark)--at some time in the future. In August 2008, FAA announced that it was proceeding to auction two specific slots at Newark on September 3, an action that has since been administratively stayed. On September 16, 2008, FAA announced that "[i]n accordance with rulemaking activity that is not yet complete" and "if the rule is adopted," it may auction slots at Newark, LaGuardia, and JFK starting on January 12, 2009. As agreed with your staff, this opinion addresses whether FAA has authority to auction slots and if it does, whether it may retain and use funds obtained through such auctions.

We conclude that FAA currently lacks authority to auction arrival and departure slots, and thus also lacks authority to retain and use auction proceeds. For the first time since it began regulating U.S. navigable airspace nearly 40 years ago, FAA now asserts that it may assign the use of that airspace using its general property management authority. According to FAA, slots are intangible "property" that it "constructs," owns, and may "lease" for "adequate compensation" under 49 U.S.C. 106 (l)(6) and (n) and 40110(a)(2). An examination of those statutes read as a whole, however, makes clear that Congress was using the term "property" to refer to traditional forms of property. It was not referring to FAA's regulatory authority to assign airspace slots, no matter how valuable those slots may be in the hands of the regulated community. Related case law confirms our conclusion. The only other source of authority for FAA to raise funds in connection with its slot assignments is the Independent Offices Appropriations Act (IOAA), 31 U.S.C. 9701, commonly referred to as the "user fee statute," but that authority is currently unavailable. Since 1998, Congress has, through annual appropriations restrictions, specifically prohibited FAA from imposing "new aviation user fees," and we conclude that proceeds from FAA's proposed auctions would constitute such a fee. Accordingly, in our opinion, FAA lacks a legal basis to go forward with the Newark auction or any other auction, and if FAA were to go forward with auctioning slots without obtaining the necessary authority and retained and used the proceeds, GAO would raise exceptions under its account settlement authority for violations of the "purpose statute," 31 U.S.C. 1301(a), and the Antideficiency Act, 31 U.S.C. 1341(a)(1)(A).

For those who may be interested in reading the full text of the GAO's decision, here is the link: B-316796, Federal Aviation Administration--Authority to Auction Airport Arrival and Departure Slots and to Retain and Use Auction Proceeds, September 30, 2008 - GAO (16-page 'pdf' file')

Security concerns prompt airlines to suspend service to Pakistan and Bolivia

Yesterday British Airways announced the cancellation of all flights from London to Islamabad, Pakistan for an indefinite period of time, due to security concerns. The suspension of BA's six weekly flights to Pakistan comes in the wake of the bombing of the Marriott Hotel in Islamabad several days ago that killed more than 50 people and injured hundreds. Islamabad is the only destination city in Pakistan served by British Airways.

Then, on this side of the Atlantic, American Airlines confirmed today that it has suspended flights to and from Bolivia on security concerns due to the South American country's current political unrest. American Airlines runs the only daily nonstop air service between the U.S. and Bolivia. American says it hopes to resume flights between Bolivia and the U.S. in early October.

Airport service workers vote to authorize strike at LAX

Service workers at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) have voted overwhelmingly to authorize a strike. About 95% of the workers, represented by Airport Workers United, which is part of Service Employees International Union Local 1877, voted in favor of giving union negotiators the go-ahead to call a strike at any time.

The union has been seeking increases in pay and benefits for those employed as sky caps, baggage handlers, wheelchair attendants, airplane cabin cleaners and security personnel who monitor terminals and cargo areas. A Los Angeles Times article about the strike vote quotes union spokesman Mike Chavez who said that workers are paid an average of $10 an hour and 97% have no health care for their families. As a result, job turnover rate has gone up to 50% in some cases. The workers are asking for better job training, increased pay, improved medical coverage, equipment and staff support.

The airport service workers do not work directly for airlines. Rather, they work for several companies that provide services to the airlines under contract. The union is trying to negotiate contracts individually with each of the employers.

The union represents about 5,000 airport service workers, half of whom work at Los Angeles International Airport. The rest work at airports throughout California, including at San Jose International Airport, San Francisco International Airport and Oakland International Airport. If a strike is called, presumably it could affect those airports as well as LAX.

No date has been set for a strike. Union representatives said contract negotiations had stalled, but are scheduled to begin again next week. Should talks break down, a strike may be called.

UPDATE Aug. 29, 2008: About 1,500 workers at Los Angeles International Airport walked of the job yesterday after the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Local 1877 called a strike. According to a press release issued by the union, they returned to work today, following a call by the Mayor of Los Angeles for all parties to go back to the negotiating table.

Air Transport Association sues FAA over airport slot lease auction

The Air Transport Association (ATA), the trade group for airlines in the U.S., has filed suit against the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), challenging the legality of the FAA's planned auction of takeoff and landing slots at airports in the New York City area. In the suit, the ATA alleges that the FAA does not have authority to conduct such auctions. The suit, called a Petition for Review, was filed earlier today (Aug. 11, 2008) in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia.

Earlier this month, the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) announced FAA plans to auction slots at Newark Liberty Airport. (The FAA is an agency of the DOT.) The auction is planned for September 3, 2008. The DOT said that the funds generated from the auction "will be used to reduce delays and enhance capacity at New York-area airports."

“This auction will allow us to implement market mechanisms on a small scale, gauge interest and determine a slot’s market value,” DOT Secretary Mary Peters said. “However, the real winners in this auction will be consumers, who stand to benefit from more reliable air service that costs less in terms of both time and money.”

The ATA contends that FAA does not have authority to conduct auctions, and also notes that carriers have given up slots to help reduce congestion, while auctioning these slots would only add to congestion.

From an ATA news release about the suit against the FAA:

“FAA’s claim that it can use its property management authority to auction slots is intellectually dishonest and a disturbing end run around Congress,” said ATA President and CEO James C. May. “Every transportation administration except this one has acknowledged that it does not have the authority to implement auctions and other so-called market mechanisms. Yet this administration believes it can ignore the statutory limits of its authority to remake the industry as it sees fit.

“We said that we would challenge the FAA decision in a court of law and we are doing just that. Today we have started the process to protect our members’ rights,” said May.

ATA’s lawsuit, a petition for review filed in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia, states that the FAA slot auction is, in effect, a final rule that “should be held unlawful and set aside because these actions are in excess of the FAA’s statutory authority; constitute unauthorized regulatory action disguised as property management; are contrary to express statutory limitations imposed by Congress in the 2008 Consolidated Appropriations Act; are without observance of procedure required by law; and are arbitrary, capricious, an abuse of discretion, and otherwise not in accordance with law.”

“FAA’s plan is not only unlawful, it is both surprising and perplexing. It is surprising because the end result will be more flights during the busiest times of the day at Newark, even as we suffer through yet another delay-plagued summer, and it is perplexing because the announced slot auction precedes formal rules to auction slots at Newark and other airports,” said May. “Sadly, FAA believes that it has the right to make up the rules as it goes along. FAA should focus its efforts on fulfilling its responsibility to provide the infrastructure and air traffic resources necessary to meet the public’s demand for safe air transportation services, instead of finding new ways to inhibit economic growth and further tax an already overtaxed traveling public.”

The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, which manages the airports, also opposes the auction. The Port Authority issued a statement on August 5, 2008, which said, "As we've made clear numerous times, the solution to combating flight delays is increasing capacity, improving customer service and replacing a decades-old air traffic control system -- not auctions that will raise ticket prices for the exact same delays. We will continue to block any effort by the DOT and FAA to implement this auction system at our airports."

For more information:

• Questions and Answers on ATA Slot Auction Lawsuit Against FAA
• ATA Petition on Slot Auctions
• ATA Slot Lease Auction and Congestion Management Comments

FAA will install new Runway Status Lights at major airports across the U.S.

The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced today that Runway Status Lights soon will be installed at major airports across the country. The lights, which warn pilots when it is unsafe to cross or enter a runway, are currently being tested at Dallas Ft. Worth and San Diego International Airports.

The FAA expects to award a contract this fall to install the Runway Status Lights at: Atlanta, Baltimore Washington International, Boston, Charlotte, Dallas-Ft. Worth, Denver, Detroit, Dulles, Ft. Lauderdale, Houston Intercontinental, John F. Kennedy, LaGuardia, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Minneapolis, Newark, O’Hare, Orlando, Philadelphia, Phoenix, San Diego, and Seattle airports. The installation will be accomplished over the next three years.

In a statement about the new system, acting Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Administrator Robert Sturgell said, "Severe runway incursions are down, and, we’re putting technology and procedures in place to keep it that way. We’re making changes on the runway and in the cockpit that are going to make a significant difference."

And there's more:

Sturgell also announced that the FAA will provide up to $5 million to test in-cockpit displays that increase runway safety. The funding will cover technology that includes either an aural runway alerting system that lets pilots know where they are on the runways they are entering, crossing, or departing; or an electronic flight bag, which is an electronic display system that gives pilots information about a variety of aviation data. Most electronic flight bags incorporate a feature called airport moving map that shows aircraft positions on the airfield.

In return for the funding, aircraft owners are expected to equip their aircraft to participate in a test bed program that will evaluate operational and safety data. The in-cockpit displays have the potential to help reduce pilot errors, which are now the cause of most runway incursions.

The FAA is also soliciting industry proposals to acquire and install low-cost ground surveillance systems at airports that are not scheduled to receive Airport Surface Detection Equipment (either ASDE-3 or ASDE-X) under current FAA programs. The goal is to increase surface situational awareness and safety margins at selected airports by making basic ground surveillance technology available. The FAA has evaluated two such systems at an airport in Spokane, Washington. This new procurement will support a pilot project deployment to six additional airports during 2009. More airports will be added after a final investment decision is approved. The FAA expects to make initial awards for the pilot project by the end of August 2008.

Sturgell said that improving runway safety and reducing the risk of runway incursions are two of the FAA’s top priorities.

New Delhi's Airport: What a zoo!

How many times have you heard someone say, "It's a zoo!" to describe a busy airport scene? At New Delhi's Indira Ghandi International Airport (DEL) this week, that expression is close to being the literal truth.

It's the monsoon season in India, so it has been raining heavily lately. Problems such as torrential downpours and ponding on runways are frequent during this season, but according to a story in the Hindustan Times, there is an additional factor hindering traffic at the airport in New Delhi: animals on the runway. Lots of animals. Lots of kinds of animals.

Some 100 flights were delayed this past Monday when monitor lizards, jackals, and birds took over a runway, presumably seeking to a place to dry out and warm up after being drenched by the rains. In addition to these sunbathing critters, ponded water near the runways and taxiways attracts (are you ready for this?) ducks!

Animal welfare groups had to be called in to rescue the big monitor lizards and chase away the jackals and birds. The Hindustan Times article notes, "This is not the first time IGI airport authorities sought help from voluntary organisations to clear animals from the airport premises as monkeys, jackals and peacocks sometimes disrupt flights during the monsoons."

All of this animal control activity takes time. Meanwhile, many flights are canceled or delayed. The Hindustan Times adds:

But then flight delays are probably the good news. For a menagerie on the runway is one of the worst nightmares of pilots and ATCs. For instance, on its landing roll, it’s nearly impossible for a 747 to avoid an animal on the runway — a risk that is multiplied manifold if an engine sucks in a bird while taking off.

It is no use depending on surface-movement radar to detect small objects like cattle or birds on the runway. Airport authorities should work out plans to avoid animals incursions on runways. Tried-and-tested methods like deploying noisemakers or fireworks, along with fencing and animal population management will help them maintain clear safety zones at the airport.

Remember this if you are scheduled for a trip to DEL in the near future. It's a zoo. A real zoo.

[Photo Source]

Video: Dallas Love Field Time Lapse

This Southwest Airlines video was posted to YouTube earlier this month. The introduction says:

This time-lapse sequence was shot at 1 frame per second.

It was shot from the roof (deck) of Southwest Airlines Headquarters and begins with a segment at 6:00 a.m. as the airport and our Headquarters are waking up. Then, it switches to mid afternoon.

The 2 minute, 44 second run time represents about an hour and a half of actual time, and our famous 25-minute turn becomes a less-than-one-minute turn.

The first half minute of the film is a bit dark (presumably because it was shot so early in the morning) but once the sun gets a bit higher in the sky and the airport comes fully to life, it's pretty snappy. The focus is on Southwest operations, of course, but take note of the number of biz jets that zoom into and out of the frame, too.



(If the video does not play or display properly above, click here to view it on YouTube.)

Actor Dennis Farina nabbed at LAX with loaded handgun

Various news media are reporting that actor Dennis Farina was taken into custody at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) on Sunday morning, May 11, 2008, after TSA agents at a security screening checkpoint discovered a loaded handgun in his briefcase. Mr. Farina, who was preparing to board a United Airlines flight from LAX to Chicago, claimed he forgot that the firearm was in his briefcase.

It gets worse: the loaded .22 caliber semi-automatic pistol that he forgot he had with him was not registered, nor did Mr. Farina have a permit to carry it.

Initially, Mr. Farina was taken to the LAPD Pacific station and booked for the misdemeanor charge of carrying a concealed weapon, and bail was set at $25,000. Later it was discovered that the firearm was not registered, at which point the charge was upgraded to a felony. Bail was then increased to $35,000. Mr. Farina was transferred to the LAPD Van Nuys station, according to Los Angeles TV station KTLA.

Mr. Farina should know better. Not only has he played cop and detective roles in movies and TV series, such as Law and Order, Crime Story, and Miami Vice, he used to be a law enforcement officer in real life, too. He worked for the Chicago Police Department for nearly 20 years before becoming an actor.

[Photo Source]