March 2009 ~ lpn

Tuesday, 31 March 2009

Cops Bust St. Louis Airport Theft Ring

A couple weeks ago a baggage theft ring was busted at St. Louis' Lambert Airport. Eight contract baggage handlers for Delta Airlines are suspected of going through people's luggage and stealing about 900 items ranging from laptops and iPods to cologne and cigarettes. The ring allegedly operated for more...

By: Progress On 07:11

Thief Admits to Baggage Theft in Texas

A Texas man has admitted to stealing some 400 pieces of luggage during a 7-month period from Dallas/Fort Worth Airport. He is also suspected in more than 200 additional thefts at Houston's Bush Intercontinental Airport and Oklahoma's Tulsa International Airport. The majority of the bags were stolen from D/FW.Read...

By: Progress On 07:09

FAA Wants to Keep Bird Collision Data Secret

The FAA has filed a "little-noticed" rule change that would bar the public from seeing its "extensive" data about aircraft and bird collisions dating back to 1990. According to a report, the FAA's rationale for this is it believes the information could "mislead the public" and prompt some airports...

By: Progress On 07:08

FAA CIO Talks About Cyber Security

This week in Dallas the Federal Aviation Administration held its Information Technology/Information Systems Security (IT/ISS) Partnership and Training Conference. The theme was A Window into the Future. The keynote speech was appropriately delivered by the FAA's CIO Dave Bowen, who did not sugarcoat the cyber security threats the FAA...

By: Progress On 07:05

Logan Airport TSA Screeners Have Scabies

Three TSA security checkpoint screeners at Boston's Logan Airport have been diagnosed with scabies, a contagious skin irritation caused by the human itch mite. All three screeners worked the same shift at the same American Airlines checkpoint. According to this report from the local NBC affiliate, air travelers were...

By: Progress On 07:00

Monday, 30 March 2009

Hong Kong and Singapore

The economic boom in China started off right here: in busy commercial Hong Kong and in the city-state of Singapore, devoted to business, technology and highly specialized electronics.When Beijing was still undecided between a policy of gradual progress and the relentless development that is now occurring, Chinese, European, Filipino,...

By: Progress On 06:16

Thursday, 26 March 2009

Flights Cancelled After Alaska Volcano Eruption

Alaska's Mount Redoubt, located 106 miles southwest of Anchorage, erupted "explosively" and sent a cloud of volcanic ash to an estimated 50,000 feet above sea level Sunday (3/22), according to the U.S. Geological Survey. In response to this activity Alaska Airlines has cancelled 19 flights to Anchorage, and from...

By: Progress On 01:06

14 Dead in Montana Plane Crash

A small airplane crashed Sunday in Holy Cross Cemetery as it approached Bert Mooney Airport in Butte, Montana. All 14 people on board perished in the accident. The NTSB has already dispatched a Go Team to investigate the crash.Read moreBy Planet Data...

By: Progress On 01:05

FedEx Plane Crash Kills 2 in Japan

A FedEx cargo plane en-route from China crashed while landing at Tokyo's Narita airport early Monday morning (local time). Both pilots were killed. Kyodo news reports that the crewmembers were Americans and the accident is "causing widespread flight disruption at Japan's largest international gateway."Read moreBy Planet Data...

By: Progress On 01:04

Air Routes To Close For N Korea Rocket Launch

North Korea says it will close two aviation routes within its air space from April 4-8 during their planned rocket launch of what they are calling a communication satellite. Other world powers such as the United States and Japan say the North Korean launch is for testing a long-range...

By: Progress On 01:03

Australia: Bikers Battle In Airport

A brawl broke out in Sydney, Australia's airport Sunday afternoon between rival biker gangs leaving one man dead. One group had just arrived on a flight from Melbourne when they were attacked by a group waiting for them in the terminal. Police have made arrests and the event was...

By: Progress On 01:01

Monday, 23 March 2009

Greetings from Larnaka Airport

Greetings from Larnaka Airport, where construction of the new state of the art facility is bang on schedule for a November 2009 delivery. The current Terminal is like an old aircraft shed in comparison and it most pleasing to see that Larnaka and Cyprus as a whole will be...

By: Progress On 01:18

Sunday, 22 March 2009

Desperate Times for Desperate Measures in the Airline Industry

Desperate times call for desperate measures; that’s the phrase in the air within the Airline Industry today, especially so in Europe and North America. It seems that an enjoyable in flight experience has practically all but left our skies and what fragments remain of a quality service are slowly...

By: Progress On 15:40

Air Routes To Close For N Korea Rocket Launch

North Korea — North Korea says it will close two aviation routes within its air space from April 4-8 during their planned rocket launch of what they are calling a communication satellite. Other world powers such as the United States and Japan say the North Korean launch is for...

By: Progress On 00:39

Bikers Battle In Airport

Australia — A brawl broke out in Sydney, Australia's airport Sunday afternoon between rival biker gangs leaving one man dead. One group had just arrived on a flight from Melbourne when they were attacked by a group waiting for them in the terminal. Police have made arrests and the...

By: Progress On 00:38

Authorities Uncover Narcotics Smuggling at Peru Airport

Peru — According to an Associated Press report (link below), Peruvian authorities are investigating a drug trafficking ring that allegedly involves police, customs agents and workers at the Lima airport.Read moreBy Planet Data...

By: Progress On 00:36

Argentina Nationalizing Lockheed Martin Plant

Argentina — This Tuesday (3/17), Argentina's President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner announced that she is re-nationalizing a military-aircraft factory that was acquired by Lockheed Martin in the 1990s.Read moreBy Planet Data...

By: Progress On 00:27

Military Airplane Crashes in Ecuador Capital

Ecuador — At least 7 people are dead after an Ecuadorean military aircraft crashed into a residential neighborhood of the capital, Quito, today (3/20). Among the dead are the five people on board the plane and 2 civilians on the ground.Read moreBy Planet Data...

By: Progress On 00:24

Air Travel Affected By French Strike

France — Public and private sector workers launched a massive 24-hour strike Thursday in France to protest the government's handling of the nation's economic crisis. As a result of the labor action and the participation of air traffic controllers, a third of Air France flights out of Orly airport...

By: Progress On 00:22

SMYRNA

An important seaport on the Aegean Sea, Smyrna is the 3rd biggest city in Turkey. It was founded in 3000 B.C. and in 1500 B.C. it was conquered by the Hittites. Following this it became one of the most important cities in the Ionic league. Thereafter it underwent domination...

By: Progress On 00:17

Thursday, 19 March 2009

The thorny issue of Hotel Security

As an avid female business traveller who occasionally travels alone, I know all too well those nagging feelings of insecurity, especially when one checks into a Hotel for the first time. I place my personal (including possessions) security as a high priority and thankfully Hotels are now beginning to...

By: Progress On 12:16

Wednesday, 18 March 2009

Venezuela Military Seizes Sea and Air Ports

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez ordered his military on Sunday (3/15) to seize control of some seaports and airports in states governed by opposition party governors. Some of the seaports have major petroleum-exporting installations.Read moreBy Planet Data...

By: Progress On 05:04

Canada: Bodies Recovered from Helicopter Wreckage

Recovery workers say that over the weekend they located "10 to 13" bodies in the wreckage of the helicopter that crashed off the southeast coast of Newfoundland last week. Of these, 9 were recovered, and efforts are continuing to retrieve the remaining ones before the aircraft is lifted from...

By: Progress On 05:02

North Carolina Sheriffs Get New Aerial Crime Fighting Tool

Last week Sheriffs from four North Carolina counties showed the local press a new aircraft they have at their disposal. It's a 2006 Sky Arrow 600 Sport airplane. It was donated to the communities by the Department of Justice as part of a program that pays for crime fighting...

By: Progress On 05:00

CDC Alerting Travelers on Northwest Flight About TB Exposure

A non-U.S. citizen who flew from Frankfurt, Germany to Detroit last Tuesday (3/10) aboard Northwest Airlines Flight 51 was found to be infected with tuberculosis upon his arrival in Detroit. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is alerting 17 passengers that they may have been exposed to...

By: Progress On 04:59

Canada: Olympic Security May Hurt Regional Airport Travel

Stringent aviation security policies put in place for the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics may force many small regional airports to cancel flights to the host city during the Games. CBC News reports this is because these smaller airports do not have the equipment necessary to machine screen all passengers...

By: Progress On 04:55

Monday, 16 March 2009

Uganda: Transport Plane Crashes in Lake Victoria

An Aerolift Ilyushin IL-76 transport plane crashed and sank in Lake Victoria shortly after take off from Entebbe, Uganda Monday (3/9). The plane was en route to Somalia. A source told RIA Novosti that all 11 people on board, including three high-ranking officers from Burundi, died. Also among the...

By: Progress On 02:08

Pakistan: Taliban Claims U.S. Drone Shot Down

A U.S. drone may have crashed in the northwestern tribal area of Pakistan on Saturday (3/7). The Pakistani military has responded to reports of the incident and is searching for it, but they have not found any wreckage yet. The U.S. has not confirmed the crash, but Taliban militants...

By: Progress On 02:07

$1 Billion for Airport Security Projects

Aviation security projects around the U.S. will see an influx of $1 billion from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. According to the Department of Homeland Security, the plan calls for the allocation of $700 million for checked baggage explosive detection systems and $300 million for checkpoint explosive detection...

By: Progress On 02:06

Shuttle Discovery Set for Wednesday Launch

NASA has finally set a date for the shuttle Discovery's liftoff. It is now scheduled for Wednesday March 11 at 9:20 PM EDT. The countdown clock begins at the T-43 hour mark at 7 PM on Sunday, according to NASA. Shuttle mission STS-119 will be headed for the International...

By: Progress On 02:05

U.S. Navy Plans New Missile Defense Command

The U.S. Navy plans to stand up a new command in April geared towards missile defense. Navy Times reports that Admiral Gary Roughead, chief of naval operations, announced the formation of the Navy Air and Missile Defense Command Wednesday (3/4). The command will be based in Dahlgren, Virginia.Read moreBy...

By: Progress On 02:03

Sunday, 15 March 2009

Greetings from Cyprus Airways flight to Milan

Perpetual Traveller Greetings from the air on board a Cyprus Airways flight from Larnaka - Rome (FCO) - Milan (MXP), which is a new double drop service. Who said that Business class is all but dead in Europe? Despite the fact the plane is a little tired, the food...

By: Progress On 16:01

Thursday, 12 March 2009

Barcelona

Barcelona is the capital of Catalonia, the north-eastern region of Spain, surrounded by the Pyrenees and the Mediterranean Sea. The city is not only one of the busiest ports of this sea, but it is as important as Madrid and the other European capitals, also from a cultural, commercial...

By: Progress On 23:32

Wednesday, 4 March 2009

Green Greetings from the Troodos Mountains

Green Greetings from the Troodos Mountains of Cyprus, which was the centre of activity this past Bank Holiday weekend on the Island. Monday was a National Holiday in Cyprus called "Green Day" whereby traditionally families and loved ones go for a picnic in the parks and rural areas of...

By: Progress On 00:40

Tuesday, 3 March 2009

Worldwide Top 10 Events in March, by Perpetual Traveller

For much of the world the early signs of spring are in the air and soon Northern Europe and North America will slowly start to thaw. We can even forgive ourselves for starting to think about the summer. The only trouble being is that the people on planet earth...

By: Progress On 23:50

Mexico City Ramps Up Airport Security to Fight Crime

In the last several months armed robbers have attacked more than a dozen people exchanging money around Mexico City's international airport. To combat this escalating probem, the federal and local authorities have deployed nearly 800 additional police at the airport and in the surrounding vicinity.Read moreBy Planet Data...

By: Progress On 23:30

Canada / Russia Exchange Rhetoric Over Bomber Incident

The media and Canada's defense minister seem to be making a big deal about the Canadian air force "intercepting" a Russian long-range strategic bomber near Canadian airspace. The primary point everyone is making is that the incident happened less than 24-hours before U.S. President Obama visited Ottawa on February...

By: Progress On 23:29

Big Decrease in Air Transport Traffic in January

According to data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA), both passenger and cargo air transport around the world decreased drastically in January. The Director General of IATA says, "Alarm bells are ringing everywhere. Every region's carriers are reporting big drops in cargo. And, aside from the Middle East...

By: Progress On 23:28

Proceedings from FAA Aviation Fatigue Management Symposium

The Federal Aviation Administration held the Aviation Fatigue Management Symposium last June. This was the first event sponsored by the FAA that focused specifically on managing fatigue in aviation. Today (2/26), the FAA has released the proceedings of this symposium that was not open to the public or media.Read...

By: Progress On 23:27

Illegal Workers Found at Florida Airport

In Florida Tuesday (2/24), a Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) Supervisor noticed 21 people performing work on the grounds of West Palm Beach International Airport. These individuals were not displaying the required airport identification badges. When the Supervisor stopped to investigate, he discovered that 14 of these workers were...

By: Progress On 23:26