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Get 2008 air traffic control technology in 2020!

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ba_10-12-08-thumb-400x267In 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is saying it would be amazing to have this new system up and running by 2020 (by which time I would probably be out of date again).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

No Porn in the Friendly Skies

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american_10-12-08-thumb-400x268The idea of passing the time on a long flight by surfing the web (or maybe getting some work done) is very appealing. At a time where internet is pretty on all other forms of transportation (buses, trains, ferries, even your personal car), it is about time for the airline industry to catch up. However, with allowing access to the internet in a very cramped, very public place, American Airlines is planning to not allow passengers to surf any porn sites.

Although there haven’t been any reports of passengers surfing the naughty pages, it is probably a good idea to do this now before little Sally, the underage flying alone child, sees something she shouldn’t.

Source: NY Times

Man ties up passengers on Southwest flight

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sw_10-12-08-thumb-400x533Not quite a surprise that alcohol was involved in this, but 29-year-old Ezra Wallace decided the two girls sitting next to him, ages 9 and 16, need to get their hands bound with athletic tape.

Wallace stated that, “he had half a pint of vodka, including two shots, just before boarding the plane.” He continues stating that he vaguely remembers tying their hands and it was all in “good fun.”

One of the flight attendants noticed his odd behavior and moved the two girls (whom Wallace did not know) to another aisle. It took action from the girl’s mother to prompt an investigation.

Source: AP Image: Neil1960