Tag Archives for air traffic control.
Two regional jets lined up for the same Greensboro runway ended up just 300 feet apart, triggering alarms and a desperate breakout maneuver. The close call raises serious questions about why controllers tried to push the airport like it was LaGuardia.
Russia’s rocket firings inside U.S.-controlled Pacific airspace forced transpacific flights, including FedEx and UPS cargo jets, to detour hundreds of miles off course.
Spirit Airlines flight 1300 from Fort Lauderdale to Boston was traveling through New York airspace and beginning descent on Tuesday when it encounterd Air Force One about 8 miles off and became non-responsive to air traffic control. “I’m sure you can see who it is,” the controller warned.
Probably the best observation here is “For the first time in my life, I see a purpose for the word ‘lavatory.’”
There’s something to rethinking how air traffic control works entirely in a digital world. But if we’re realistic, and can only expect incremental improvement, surely this is one we can accomplish?
The tower controller mistakenly issued takeoff clearance to American Eagle flight AA4736. Communication was further complicated by a Spirit Airlines pilot inadvertently blocking transmissions. As American 4736 accelerated down the runway, tower controllers received an automated collision alert and attempted to retract the takeoff clearance.
The Trump administration wants to fix air traffic control by throwing an indeterminate amount of money at upgrading aging technology. Their plan takes the approach laid out in the opening to The Hitchhikers’ Guide To The Galaxy.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer – who has supported an unqualified nominee to run the FAA and blocked air traffic control staffing fixes – is taking on the Trump administration’s nominee to run the FAA. Bryan Bedford, the CEO of Republic Airways, has a long and distinguished career in aviation management – but he sought to have the FAA declared structured pilot training equivalent to mindless hours and this is anathema to the big pilot union.
A Southwest Airlines pilot narrowly averted disaster this morning when their Boeing 737-800 (registration N8517F) was preparing to land at Chicago Midway airport. Flight 2504 from Omaha was in the gradual pitch-up just prior to touchdown when it initiated a go around as a business jet crossed the runway. The plane climbed out, and landed safely 15 minutes later.
Why is it that airlines give up control of their aircraft to the government from the moment it pushes back to the moment it arrives at its destination?
Gary Leff is one of the foremost experts in the field of miles, points, and frequent business travel -- a topic he has covered since 2002.
Co-founder of frequent flyer community InsideFlyer.com, emcee of the Freddie Awards, and named one of the "World's Top Travel Experts" by Conde' Nast Traveler (2010-Present) Gary has been a guest on most major news media, profiled in several top print publications, and published broadly on the topic of consumer loyalty. More About Gary »
