Related article OCT 2008 (Wired) ……. The Transportation Security Administration is writing some rules
(.pdf) it says will increase the security of general aviation, a category so broad it covers everything that isnt a military or scheduled commercial flight. The edict, if adopted, would hold the operators of small planes to a rash of new regulations, some of which mirror those now in place for commercial aircraft.

The TSA puts a forward spin on the regs, which would, among other things, require fingerprinting and background-checking of flight crews, cross-referencing pasenger manifests with no-fly lists and conducting “safety threat assessments” on passengers and crew members. “General aviation operators are excellent security partners and this will give them a strong common framework for security,” TSA
Administrator Kip Hawley said in announcing the proposed rules. “This will reduce risk while supporting the open nature of the general aviation industry.”

The people who will have to follow the new rules dont see it that way.

The new guidelines would apply to all general aviation aircraft over 12,500 pounds, a category that by some estimates includes more than 10,000 aircraft nationwide. The feds would tap an unspecified third party to establish and run a “compliance assurance program.” In other words, aircraft operators would face annual inspections.

The general aviation community bristles at many of the proposed rules because not only will they be time consuming and annoying, but some of them will incur financial costs. For example, nearly 300 general aviation airports will be required to adopt potentially expensive security programs and theyll almost certainly pass those costs on to those who use those airports.

The Experimental Aircraft Association, which represents private pilots and aircraft enthusiasts, has had a look at the TSA proposal and isnt happy with it. These new regulations would compel many operators of large vintage aircraft, warbirds, turboprops and others over 12,500 pounds to comply with new, costly, and burdensome requirements which, frankly, do not appear to equate with their risk assessment profiles, says Douglas Macnair, vice president of government relations. General aviation aircraft are not carrying the public and are in all instances pilots are personally acquainted with their passengers.”

The EAA also plays the patriotism card, saying the proposed rules would bring restrictive requirements to range of aircraft “flown in tribute to those who fought to secure the very freedoms now being threatened.” Take that, TSA.

The EAA has compiled a fairly comprehensive list of aircraft that would fall under the new rules. It includes the DC-2 and DC-3, the Sikorsky S-61 helicopter and the Convair CV-240, the last of which was manufactured in 1956. The TSA will seek 60 days of public comment before moving forward.

Duration : 0:1:48

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As the holiday travel rush approaches, air travelers grounded by delays should take a moment to think about why they’re stuck in airports or on the tarmac. There’s a good chance Washington is to blame.

“The air traffic control system in the United States is technologically obsolete,” says Robert W. Poole, Jr., director of transportation studies at Reason Foundation, the nonprofit that publishes Reason.tv. “This model is basically the same model that we have used since the beginning of air travel.”

The technology the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) uses to navigate $200 million jets is less advanced than the GPS technology drivers use to navigate $20,000 cars.

Poole says the system could safely handle more planes if the FAA used modern technology that would provide real-time information about where planes are. But the funding process, overseen by pork-hungry members of Congress, often thwarts technology upgrades.

The only way to get the politics out of our air traffic system is to take the system away from the politicians. Why not let a private corporation manage the skies?

That may sound like a far-out, free-market idea, but Canada doesn’t think so.

Our neighbors to the north often take pride in their lavish government programs, yet they allow a private corporation called Nav Canada to manage their air-traffic control system. Canada’s approach, often called commercialization, has some surprising supporters in the U.S., including Al Gore, who pushed for commercialization when he was Bill Clinton’s vice president.

“Your Flight Has Been Delayed” is written and produced by Ted Balaker. Director of Photography: Alex Manning; Field Producers: Paul Detrick and Hawk Jensen. The host is Nick Gillespie.

Approximately 7.28 minutes. Go to http://reason.tv for downloadable versions.

Duration : 0:7:29

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Technorati Tags: air travel, Airlines, christmas, FAA, flight delays, nick gillespie, reason, reason magazine, reason.tv, ted balaker, thanksgiving

Watch as the world moves through 24 hours how air traffic moves from the east to west and west to east

Duration : 0:1:12

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Technorati Tags: 2010 air travel, 24 hours of flying, 24h, air travel, the world travels

We need a new “system” for air travel that is convenient and doesn’t waste our time. When it comes to air travel today, no one enjoys it. Why can’t we reinvent air travel so that it serves the travelers intent. Time and convenience is our intent and there is a better way.

Duration : 0:3:59

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Technorati Tags: air travel, Airlines, private aviation, social currency, social flights, social media, travel

Infinite Security CEO Larry Wansley argues we should be doing more to improve the human aspect of flight security.

Duration : 0:2:4

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Technorati Tags: air travel, airport security, american airlines, fligh security, infinite security, larry wansley, new york city, security

(WTNH) — The long lines are gone and the departures board is back to normal, but a few travelers at Bradley International Airport are still feeling the ripple effects from the weekend snow storm.

Duration : 0:4:26

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Technorati Tags: air travel, Connecticut, flying tips, travel tips

It maybe two years behind schedule, but has the future of air travel finally arrived? Watch the take-off and landing of Boeing’s new greener, cleaner,.

Follow us on twitter at http://twitter.com/itn_news

Duration : 0:1:35

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Technorati Tags: air travel, aircraft, boeing 787, british airways, dreamliner

Pilot fatigue, pilot training and pilot distraction are all things that have been in the news for all the wrong reasons.

Duration : 0:1:54

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Technorati Tags: air travel, pilot distraction, pilot fatigue, pilot training, safety

Demand from Middle East airlines will top 1,400 new jets over the next 20 years, say the world’s biggest planemakers. It will be driven by economic growth and ambitious state development plans.

In the short term, demand from carriers like Oman Air is expected to generate steady business for manufacturers in the region.

[Mauro Kem Jr, Embraer Vice President]:
”It’s a very nice deal we had today with Oman Air, the first customer in the Gulf area, it’s a deal for five Embraer 175 aircraft worth some 177 million dollars, deliveries to be started in 2011, so it strengthens our position here in the Middle East area. We have all the customers already, We this we have some 55 airplanes already sold in just about five years, a very good growth.”

Boeing, the No. 2 plane maker behind Airbus, projected the region would need about 1,700 new jets over the next 20 years worth US$300 billion. The U.S. manufacturer says it expects Mideast carriers to double their fleet of planes to 1,860 by 2028.

In a presentation at the Dubai Air Show, Boeing said growth and rising incomes in emerging markets in the Middle East, China and India will balance global aircraft demand.

Meanwhile, Airbus projected carriers in the Middle East will need 1,418 new passenger aircraft worth $243 billion to satisfy demand.

Airlines around the world were crippled by reduced spending on travel, a drop in global trade and rising oil prices; many have grounded planes and cancelled or deferred aircraft orders. In contrast, some Mideast carriers have added to fleets and expanded routes.

Industry players see airlines returning to profitability over the next two years.

[Steward Cordner, VRO Business Jet]:
In terms of the industry, another 18 months before it really starts to pick up again, and it will be slower than it was before.

Abu Dhabi carrier Etihad Airways expects revenues of US$3 billion in 2009, while Boeing predicts that Mideast carriers will need 150 freighters over the next 20 years.

Duration : 0:2:36

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Technorati Tags: air travel, Airbus, Airline, Business, Gulf area, Middle East, NTD, NTDTV, Oman Air, Planemaker

Option2Air business travel is a superior option to air-travel between select cities in the midwest.

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Technorati Tags: air travel, Airlines, Akron, Business, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus, Corporate, Dayton, Detroit, Dublin, Executives, Luxury, Michigan, Ohio, Option, Option2Air, Productivity, Time, to, travel, Troy, Value