Aviation lunacy isn’t just limited to the TSA. Crain’s Chicago Business reports that United airlines may face a fine of up to $1.5 million for failure to replace a nut on 3 engines in 1999. Why is this lunacy? If there’s a safety issue at United, it’s 3 years old. This suggests FAA isn’t doing a very good job at finding and resolving current problems. There were no accidents or engine failures as a result of the nut. United replaced them. The paperwork is in order. United should have replaced the nut with a stronger one as dictated by the FAA. Maybe they should have done it faster. But this is three years old and not a current safety problem. Why is the FAA examining such old records? Why aren’t they more concerned with guaranteeing…
AmericaWest has a new policy
AmericaWest has a new policy that lets you buy space available first class upgrades from any fare from $50-$200 depending on the length of the flight.
Study: Alcohol Makes
Study: Alcohol Makes Other People Better Looking.
The New York
The New York Post reports on a lost note in a taxicab which may outline the coming executive reshuffling at United Airlines.
The U.S. government
The U.S. government spent $250 million on a military exercise that was rigged to ensure a victory. (Link via Slate.)
Prosperity For All: things are
Prosperity For All: things are better than they’ve ever been. “For many people, owning a home defines the American Dream, and 68 percent of families now do — the highest percentage on record. Three-quarters of Americans drive their own cars. The vast majority of households possess color televisions (98 percent), videocassette recorders (94 percent), microwave ovens (90 percent), frost-free refrigerators (87 percent), washing machines (83 percent), and clothes dryers (75 percent). In the past decade or so, computers and cell phones have become commonplace. . . . 135 million Americans now own mobile telephones.” — from “Off the Books” in the August 2002 issue of Reason. (Link via Dan Pink’s Just One Thing.)
The Comedian is
The Comedian is covering the story with two posts on the failing air marshall program and impending airport delays due to the federalization of security. Check it out.
Airline Bladder Rule Must Go
Airline Bladder Rule Must Go So We Can, Too. From two weeks back — I missed this call for repeal of the American Bladder Control Testing Act of 2001, the rule that says you may not get up to pee during the last half our before landing at Washington’s National Airport. Well, you and I can’t, but Representative Sanford Bishop can…
I mentioned to
I mentioned to a colleague this afternoon that I had almost cleared enough profit from the Impeach Norm Mineta bumper stickers to buy off the blogspot ad. Then I get an email this evening from a reader (and blogger whom I admire) that he had bought the ad off for me. Thanks. I owe you one (or twelve…)!
The new head of the
The new head of the Transportation Security Administration James M. Loy (Mineta is his boss) expressed no desire to undo any of the security changes — despite the fact that: the agency is financially mismanaged its procedures are bankrupting the airlines the air marshall program isn’t working Laura Crane’s bra is considered a threat to national security (Edited to add: welcome Instapundit readers. Check out the rest of the blog — you’ll find things like giveaways of first class upgrades, airline club passes, and drink chits — not to mention tips on how to earn your own free travel.)
