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| AVflash! Wait 'til TSA Gets Its Hands on You | back to top |  |
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Security Goes Down Under
Private aviation is looking better all the time, especially for those who like to travel in comfortable clothes. Separate reports from different parts of the country suggest the TSA is ready to get down and dirty in the name of security and is conducting full-contact pat-downs of passengers' genitals and buttocks. Owen JJ Stone, a radio personality known as Ohdoctah, appeared on the Alex Jones talk show in Austin, Texas, Tuesday and said a TSA airport screener put his hand inside his sweat pants and ran it around the full circumference of his body, pausing at everything along the way. Meanwhile, in Orlando, a Missouri man wearing shorts had a similar experience. Stone said he was told it was a new rule that applied to those wearing baggy clothing. At many airports, the alternative is a full body scan, which is supposed to take a "for their eyes only" peek under the clothing of those who get the extra security treatment. Well, apparently some of those machines have hard drives that will save at least 35,000 images, as recent visitors to the federal courthouse in Orlando are discovering.
For whatever reason, U.S. Marshals saved the images, and they were available to Gizmodo via a freedom of information request. The images are remarkably low-resolution but they were nevertheless retained despite assurances by security officials that there is no way for the machines to store or transmit the pictures and that they are deleted as soon as the subject has been cleared.
Airline Pilots Resist New TSA Procedures
Leaders of two unions representing pilots at US Airways and American Airlines have advised their members to decline to be screened by new advanced-imaging-technology full-body scanners and request a pat-down instead. "No pilot at American Airlines should subject themselves to the needless privacy invasion and potential health risks caused by the AIT body scanners," wrote Dave Bates, president of the Allied Pilots Association, which represents 11,000 pilots at American, in a letter to members. The new scanners produce ionizing radiation, which can be harmful to health, especially when added to the high doses of radiation that pilots already are exposed to on the job, Bates said. Mike Cleary, president of the US Airways pilot group, said the TSA procedures are "blatantly unacceptable," and the alternative pat-down procedure also has problems. Cleary said the pat-down process "has already produced a sexual molestation in alarmingly short order."
The new scanners, which produce a detailed image of a person's body sans clothing, also have been criticized on privacy grounds. Bates also adds that the alternative, the "enhanced pat-down," is a "demeaning experience." Pilots who submit to one while in uniform should insist that it's done in a out-of-view area to protect their privacy and dignity. One professional pilot, Michael Roberts, refused to submit to either a full-body scan or a pat-down, creating a stalemate that he now hopes to resolve in court. He spoke about the issue with AVweb's Glenn Pew; click here for the podcast. |
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| Dreamliner Suffers Another Delay | back to top | |
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Dreamliner Fire Stops Testing For Now
Boeing says it can't say when it might resume flight testing of the 787 Dreamliner after an onboard fire forced an emergency landing in Laredo, TX last week. The company has received ferry permits from the FAA to fly two 787s back to Seattle, one from Victorville, CA and the other from Rapid City, SD. The airplane with the fire remains in Laredo as the company tries to figure out what caused it. The company appears to be zeroing in on that cause since it knows the duration of the fire (30 seconds) and the duration of the emergency (90 seconds) but it does not know the short, medium or long-term consequences of what might be the most significant glitch so far in the troubled program. "...Boeing cannot comment on the potential impact of this incident on the overall program schedule," Boeing said in a statement.
The fact that it had an inflight fire notwithstanding, the company tried to put a brave face on saying the emergency demonstrated "many aspects of the safety and redundancy in the 787 design." So far, the first delivery, to All Nippon Airways, is scheduled for less than six months from now. |
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| Meanwhile, in China ... | back to top | |
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First Flight For China's First Light Helicopter
The AC311 light civilian helicopter, the first of its kind to be developed and manufactured in China, flew for the first time last week, Xinhua has reported. The aircraft is being developed by Avicopter, which is a part of the China Aviation Industry Corp., or AVIC. Avicopter said the rotors are composite, and can be powered by a Honeywell LTS101-700D-2 engine or a Chinese turbine engine, the WZ-8D. The avionics are "highly integrated," the company said. Avicopter said it has two customers so far for the helicopter, but expects to sell up to 500 copies over the next 10 years. The helicopter is on track to be certified in China in 2012.
Earlier this year, the company also flew a large helicopter for the first time, the AC313, which can hold up to 27 passengers and two crew. Also, Avicopter reportedly is working on a joint program with a Russian company to produce a large helicopter that would weight up to 35 tons.
China's Big Show This Week In Zhuhai
Air Show China started Tuesday in Zhuhai and it may be the one to watch in terms of how the market there will evolve. China seems determined to be a player in aerospace and will use this show to announce "hundreds" of orders for the Aviation Industry Corp. of China's (AVIC) Comac C919. Most of the customers for the single-aisle competitor for the A320 and 737 will likely be domestic carriers but those types of numbers will undoubtedly hurt the projections being made about China as the burgeoning half-trillion-dollar market for airliners going into the next two decades. Frost and Sullivan analyst Julius Yeo told Bloomberg the C919 is likely to be every bit as good as its European, American competitors (not to mention those from Russia, Canada and Brazil) and that will cut into bottom lines. "In the long term, definitely, Airbus and Boeing's market share will be diluted." Against that backdrop, all the usual suspects will be at what has become a must-attend show.
Embraer set up an office in China earlier this year and is staffingf the show from there. Cessna has a strong contingent and most other GA manufacturers have a presence, from aviionics to engines. The show runs until Sunday. |
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| Forging a Way Past the Downturn | back to top | |
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Gulfstream Launches Major Expansion
Announcing a half-billion-dollar expansion plan may seem out of place in today's economy, but Gulfstream said this week it's ready to start on a seven-year build-up to prepare for the future demand for business jets and support services. "We want to ensure Gulfstream is well-positioned," said Joe Lombardo, president of the company. "We are already beginning to see signs of a modest recovery. In the third quarter of 2010, we booked more orders than we had in any quarter since the downturn began in mid-2008. Furthermore, as flying hours have increased, Gulfstream service centers have enjoyed a significant increase in service volume." The plan includes building new facilities at the company's base at the Savannah airport, as well as renovating and expanding several existing facilities at two other sites. The company also expects to create 1,000 new jobs.
Gulfstream has been based in Savannah since 1967. Initial manufacturing facilities for five Gulfstream models are sited there -- the G650, G550, G500, G450 and G350. The largest of the company's five final-phase manufacturing facilities and the largest of Gulfstream's 10 service centers also are in Savannah. Gulfstream said it will utilize sustainable design and construction elements in its projects and will aim to provide opportunities to local small businesses. |
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| Pilots, Organizations Tired of Being So Tired | back to top | |
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FAA's Fatigue Rules Critiqued
The FAA's long-awaited proposal to create new rules that aim to prevent pilot fatigue is meeting with criticism from both airline operators and pilots. Capt. Chesley Sullenberger said at a news conference last week the rules need to be changed before they go into effect "to protect the safety of the flying public." He and First Officer Jeffrey Skiles spoke out against the rules, especially a change that would increase a pilot's maximum daily flight time from eight hours to ten hours. "We're here to tell you that you cannot reduce pilot fatigue by increasing the amount of time a pilot is at the controls," Skiles said. The Air Transport Association, representing airline interests, also protested the FAA proposal, saying it would "create onerous and duplicative regulations" and would cost almost $20 billion over the next 10 years, 15 times the FAA's estimate. The Air Line Pilots Association, however, filed comments generally supporting the FAA's plan, saying it is based on the available science and is "sorely needed."
ALPA added that it expected airline operators to argue that the changes would be "extremely costly," but ALPA believes the true costs will be "minimal." Several other organizations representing pilots, including the Coalition of Airline Pilots Associations and the Allied Pilots Association, were critical of the proposal. Monday was the last day to file official comments on the proposed rules. The full text of all comments filed to the FAA docket is available online. |
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| Opinion & Commentary | back to top | |
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AVweb Insider Blog: TSA to Air Travelers — Drop Dead
Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano says if you don't like being x-rayed or groped in an airport security line, take the bus. On the AVweb Insider blog, Paul Bertorelli tells you how to take part in pushing back against TSA excesses or, if you happen to like them, where to send the love letter.
Read more and join the conversation.
AVweb Insider Blog: EPA Leaves GA Hanging on Avgas
AVweb editor-in-chief Russ Niles was on hand for the EPA's statements at the AOPA Summit about the future of avgas — and while he managed to stay awake, the EPA's stance was disappointing, to say the least. On the AVweb Insider blog, Russ explains how the EPA should be leading the discussion, not hiding in the shadows.
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| Who's Where | back to top | |
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Caldecott Promoted at Piper
Simon Caldecott has been named VP of Operations for Piper Aircraft. He joined Piper from Hawker Beechcraft in 2009 to take over the Altaire jet program.
Who's Where? You Tell UsGet a promotion or a new job? Your colleagues want to know about it, and AVwebBiz can get the word out. Drop us a line about the staff appointment, with a nice recent photo, and we'll do our best to include it in our new section, "Who's Where." The items will be permanently archived on AVweb for future reference, too. |
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| AVweb Media: Look, Listen, Laugh and Learn | back to top | |
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Pro Pilot Plans to Challenge TSA in CourtFile Size 12.6 MB / Running Time 13:46
Michael Roberts is a professional pilot who refused to submit to a TSA full-body scan, or pat down, complicating things for himself and his employer, and bringing a direct Fourth Amendment challenge to the authority of the TSA that he now plans to resolve in court. AVweb spoke to Roberts and asked why he did it, how his actions have affected his relationship with his employer and what he hopes comes of it all. Roberts said he wasn't motivated by politics and is grateful to have the choice to refuse the scan. But that doesn't get him past the TSA checkpoint to do his job. "I'm not willing to sacrifice my personal civil liberty for a job or ... a false sense of security."
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| AOPA Summit Revisited | back to top | |
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AOPA Summit 2010: News Coverage Round-Up
Looking for podcasts, videos, and news coverage from the 2010 AOPA Summit in Long Beach, California? Start here, with our special issue of AVwebAudio that rounds up all the podcasts and videos from the show. Then visit our AOPA news page, where you'll find all stories from this (and previous) years relating to AOPA Summit meetings. |
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| Help Us Celebrate AVweb's 15th Anniversary | back to top | |
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15 Years and Now 15 Grand Giveaways ... It's Your Chance to Win an iFly 700 GPS from Adventure Pilot
Win an iFly 700 GPS from Adventure Pilot as we celebrate our 15th Anniversary! All you have to do is click here to enter your name and e-mail address. (You only have to enter once, and you'll be entered in our prize drawings for the entire year — so if you've already entered, you're all set.)
And no, we're not going to rent or sell your name, ever. Tell your friends, and invite them to sign up for AVweb so they can qualify for our 15 Grand Giveaways prize drawings, too. (We won't spam them, either — but we hope they will sign up for our newsletters.)
Deadline for entries is 11:59pm Zulu time Sunday, November 28, 2010. (That's a couple of days later than our usual Friday deadline, because of the Thanksgiving holiday.)
Click here to read the contest rules and enter.
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| The Top Reporter on Our Crack Staff ... Is You! | back to top | |
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AVweb's Newstips Address ...
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Our best stories start with you. If you've heard something 200,000 pilots might want to know about, tell us. Submit news tips
via email to | Names Behind the News | back to top | |
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Meet the AVwebBiz TeamAVwebBiz is a weekly summary of the latest business aviation news, articles, products, features, and events featured on AVweb, the internet's aviation magazine and news service.
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