A dog chasing birds
One of the biggest enemies for a large jet airliner is still a bird. Birds can get sucked into an engine and especially during a crucial time like take off can cause a lot of havoc. According to the FAA from 1990 to 2007 there have been about 80,000 bird strikes, 11 people have died from the result of bird strikes, and bird strikes have cost almost $300 million in damages.
There have been many different methods used to get rid of flocks of birds around airports (sounds, sprays, killing, etc), but Southwest Florida International Airport is one of 20 airports trying something a little different: using a dog to keep the birds in line.
Thanks Kate for the tip!
Source: USA Today Image: Mark Beaudin via USA Today
A first officer of United Airlines was arrested in London’s Heathrow Airport after having a failed breathalyzer. Authorities were alerted by concerned ground staff moments before the plane was to take off.
He was in the cockpit of the Boeing 777. Passengers witnessed the pilot being escorted off the plane. This had to be a good and bad feeling for passengers. Knowing they wouldn’t have a drunk pilot, but the idea their pilot could have been drunk is a bit unnerving.
Source: FoxNews Image: Thomas Becker
In a time where gas makes major headlines daily (or at least the consequences of gas prices) who doesn’t want to save a little money on it?
An analysis by the Associated Press found that if the airline industry could switch from their current (and completely aged) air traffic control system to a new satellite system it could save the industry up to $5,000,000,000 (yes billion) per year in fuel costs. This is because under the current system airlines are having to inefficiently having to fly from beacon to beacon and most times that is not the most (fuel or time) efficient route.
Currently the government is saying it would be amazing to have this new system up and running by 2020 (by which time I would probably be out of date again). But of course with the current airline economy, they don’t have too much money to spare to get NextGen (creative new name) started.
Source: MSNBC Image: FrancoisRoche