The TSA on Monday (3/15) begins using full-body scanners at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport, the country's busiest. The airport's first Advanced Imaging Technology Unit is deployed in United Airlines' Terminal One.
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By Planet Data
Wednesday, 17 March 2010
FAA Implements Safety Management System
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced this week that its Air Traffic Organization is operating under a Safety Management System (SMS).
According to the FAA, "[SMS] enables the FAA to manage the risks associated with changes in the National Airspace System that include installing, modifying and removing equipment, as well as modifying and implementing procedures and airspace changes." This is a vital step in the FAA's NextGen technology upgrade initiative. In fact, FAA administrator Babbitt called SMS a "huge boost for NextGen."
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Planet Data
According to the FAA, "[SMS] enables the FAA to manage the risks associated with changes in the National Airspace System that include installing, modifying and removing equipment, as well as modifying and implementing procedures and airspace changes." This is a vital step in the FAA's NextGen technology upgrade initiative. In fact, FAA administrator Babbitt called SMS a "huge boost for NextGen."
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Planet Data
Bomb Scare on Indian Domestic Flight
There was a bomb scare on a Delhi to Bangalore Indigo Airlines flight today. Press Trust of India (PTI) reports that Delhi airport police received information that a bomb was on board the plane. Once it landed at Bangalore's Bengaluru International Airport the plane was evacuated and searched. Police told PTI that no explosives were found.
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By Planet Data
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By Planet Data
British Airways Flight Attendants to Strike in March
The Union representing British Airways flight attendants announced on Friday (3/12) its intention to strike over two consecutive weekends in March. Unite says that walkouts are planned March 20 - 23, and March 27 - 30. And that future labor action could be taken after April 14. It is being reported that Unite's decision has forced British Airways to withdraw its latest compromise proposal.
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By Planet Data
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By Planet Data
Tuesday, 16 March 2010
Strikes, Politics and the BA Blues
Once again the threat of strikes is in the air with the logic of "Fear Motivation
" and "Damage Optimization" coming from the British Airways
(BA) union Unite, who are calling on Cabin Crew Members to take action.
The strike itself will comprise of a 3 day action starting on the 20th of March and a 4 day walk-out commencing on the 27th of March..
There is business, political, public and even Government anger about the planned strike mounting. Of course there are always 2 sides to every story and the case of the Crew has not really been listened to by the media and public at large. This is because its hard to listen under the threat of a strike and the mere fact that the Management of BA have assured members that "Cabin Crew face no pay cut or reductions in terms of conditions" moreover, "they remain to be the best rewarded Cabin Crew in the UK airline industry.
Prime Minister Gordon Brown
after a prolonged delay recently branded the strike as "unjustified and deplorable". This only really means something when one considers that Unite the Trade Union involved donated 11 million GBP to the ruling Labour Party, which is somewhat of an embarrassment for the reportedly bad tempered Mr. Brown. Worse still is that the political director of Unite is the former spokesman for Mr. Brown. Oh what tangled webs!
Fingers crossed it may turn out to be hot air like the planned strikes of last Christmas. Either way with employee turmoil, rising fuel costs, a recession and lower passenger demand, BA still have the Blues.
" and "Damage Optimization" coming from the British Airways (BA) union Unite, who are calling on Cabin Crew Members to take action.The strike itself will comprise of a 3 day action starting on the 20th of March and a 4 day walk-out commencing on the 27th of March..
There is business, political, public and even Government anger about the planned strike mounting. Of course there are always 2 sides to every story and the case of the Crew has not really been listened to by the media and public at large. This is because its hard to listen under the threat of a strike and the mere fact that the Management of BA have assured members that "Cabin Crew face no pay cut or reductions in terms of conditions" moreover, "they remain to be the best rewarded Cabin Crew in the UK airline industry.
Prime Minister Gordon Brown
after a prolonged delay recently branded the strike as "unjustified and deplorable". This only really means something when one considers that Unite the Trade Union involved donated 11 million GBP to the ruling Labour Party, which is somewhat of an embarrassment for the reportedly bad tempered Mr. Brown. Worse still is that the political director of Unite is the former spokesman for Mr. Brown. Oh what tangled webs!Fingers crossed it may turn out to be hot air like the planned strikes of last Christmas. Either way with employee turmoil, rising fuel costs, a recession and lower passenger demand, BA still have the Blues.
Monday, 15 March 2010
Al Ain’s The Palm Sports Resort hosts The Emirates Show Jumping Championship 2010
The event marks debut of the resort’s world-class equestrian facilities
The Emirates
Show Jumping Championship 2010 will this week be held in Al Ain’s signature The Palm Sports Resort, signifying the event’s debut in Abu Dhabi
’s ‘Oasis City’ and the launch of the resort’s championship equestrian facilities.
Held under the patronage of H.H. Dr. Sheikh Sultan bin Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Member of the Executive Council / Chairman of The UAE Equestrian Federation & H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Chairman of both Abu Dhabi Finance Department and The Palm Sports Resort in Al Ain, The Emirates Show Jumping Championship will run from 18-20 March and is being held in conjunction with The UAE Equestrian Federation.
“The staging of this prestigious event at The Palm Sports Resort is a key win for Al Ain, and proves we have the facilities required for an event of world-class standing,” commented H.E. Mohammed Rashid Al Nasseri, General Manager, The Palm Sports Resort.
“Over the past 18 months considerable investment has been made to the resort’s infrastructure, with particular focus on the equestrian centre aimed at attracting high-profile national and international events. It is our ambition to raise the profile of Al Ain and The Palm Sports Resort onto the world-stage as an equestrian destination of choice.”
The recently completed The Palm Sports Resort Equestrian Centre will include a 3km racetrack - the longest in the UAE – a purpose-built show jumping grandstand, an indoor arena for dressage events and equestrian instruction as well as an additional 100 air-conditioned livery and stables facilities.
“Our plan is for the Equestrian Centre to host between four or five Arab thoroughbred races annually, as well as national and international show jumping competitions,” adds H.E. Mohammed Rashid Al Nasseri.
More than 200 competitors are expected to participate in The Emirates Show Jumping Championship 2010, featuring some of the nation’s best riders. Fences will be between 90 to 150 cm and fierce competition is expected for the total prize fund of AED 235,000.
The competition starts on 18 March at 5pm and at 3pm on both March 19 and 20. Entry is free of charge and spectators are welcome.
Further Information: www.palmsportsresort.com
The Emirates
Show Jumping Championship 2010 will this week be held in Al Ain’s signature The Palm Sports Resort, signifying the event’s debut in Abu Dhabi’s ‘Oasis City’ and the launch of the resort’s championship equestrian facilities.Held under the patronage of H.H. Dr. Sheikh Sultan bin Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Member of the Executive Council / Chairman of The UAE Equestrian Federation & H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Chairman of both Abu Dhabi Finance Department and The Palm Sports Resort in Al Ain, The Emirates Show Jumping Championship will run from 18-20 March and is being held in conjunction with The UAE Equestrian Federation.
“The staging of this prestigious event at The Palm Sports Resort is a key win for Al Ain, and proves we have the facilities required for an event of world-class standing,” commented H.E. Mohammed Rashid Al Nasseri, General Manager, The Palm Sports Resort.
“Over the past 18 months considerable investment has been made to the resort’s infrastructure, with particular focus on the equestrian centre aimed at attracting high-profile national and international events. It is our ambition to raise the profile of Al Ain and The Palm Sports Resort onto the world-stage as an equestrian destination of choice.”
The recently completed The Palm Sports Resort Equestrian Centre will include a 3km racetrack - the longest in the UAE – a purpose-built show jumping grandstand, an indoor arena for dressage events and equestrian instruction as well as an additional 100 air-conditioned livery and stables facilities.
“Our plan is for the Equestrian Centre to host between four or five Arab thoroughbred races annually, as well as national and international show jumping competitions,” adds H.E. Mohammed Rashid Al Nasseri.
More than 200 competitors are expected to participate in The Emirates Show Jumping Championship 2010, featuring some of the nation’s best riders. Fences will be between 90 to 150 cm and fierce competition is expected for the total prize fund of AED 235,000.
The competition starts on 18 March at 5pm and at 3pm on both March 19 and 20. Entry is free of charge and spectators are welcome.
Further Information: www.palmsportsresort.com
Sunday, 14 March 2010
Airport charges: security is Member States' responsibility, say EU MEPs
measures that go beyond common EU requirements should be paid for by Member States, not by passengers, said Transport Committee MEPs in a vote on Monday that could put Parliament on a collision course with the Council of Ministers. MEPs want national governments to bear the costs of imposing measures that are stricter than common EU standards and methods. They amended the Commission's proposal for a directive on aviation security charges to require public financing for these "more stringent" measures.
For example, under the draft directive as amended by the Transport Committee, Member States would be required to foot the bill if they choose to introduce body scanners, which are not yet listed as a common EU aviation security method, in their airports.
Cost transparency
Substantial investments are needed for security measures, such as metal detectors, luggage checks, and security staff, which are imposed on Member States by EU legislation (Regulation 300/2008).
Member States are currently free to apply their own rules on how airport security charges are shared: in some countries, e.g. Luxembourg
, the government contributes, but in most cases the airport authorities pass on the costs to airlines, which then pass them on to passengers. The European Commission's proposal stops short of regulating methods for financing security measures. Instead it would lay down common principles that Member States and airport authorities must respect when determining their cost recovery systems: transparency, consultation of airline companies, and non-discrimination. The Commission's aim is to prevent any distortion of competition.
MEPs support these proposals, but want to reinforce the directive by requiring public financing for "more stringent" security measures. They argue that governments, rather than passengers, should pay for national security measures that aim to protect citizens from acts of terrorism.
Member States would remain free to decide how to share the costs of measures already covered by EU regulations 300/2008 and 272/2009: metal and explosive detectors, sniffer dogs, hand searches, liquid screeners, etc.
Clash with Council seems inevitable
Member States are opposed to a directive that would impose public financing, but MEPs are determined, if necessary, to take the fight all the way to the Parliament/Council conciliation committee: Transport Committee Chairman Brian Simpson, Chairman (S&D, UK), said he would recommend rejecting the proposal as a whole if EU ministers did not accept Parliament's position.
Rapporteur Jörg Leichtfried (S&D, AT), even suggested the EP could use its right to veto future Commission proposals on the use of body scanners in airports, if the public financing amendment were to fail.
In fact, according to the committee position, if body scanners were included in the list of common EU aviation security measures, then Member States would not be obliged to finance them, as they would no longer be considered a "more stringent" measure.
Finally, MEPs voted to include all commercial airports, against the wishes of many Member States who wish to restrict the Directive to airports serving more than 5 million passengers per year.
Committee vote: 34 in favour, 0 against, 5 abstentions.
Plenary vote: April
Rapporteur: Jörg Leichtfried (S&D, Autriche)
In the chair: Brian Simpson (S&D, UK)
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