GulfStream GVI Remote Hijack Security Hole

"The GVI integrated network configuration may allow increased
connectivity with external network sources and will have more
interconnected networks and systems, such as passenger entertainment
and information services, than previous Gulfstream airplane models.
This may allow the exploitation of network security vulnerabilities and
increase risks potentially resulting in unsafe conditions for the
airplane and its occupants.

This potential exploitation of security vulnerabilities may result
in intentional or unintentional destruction, disruption, degradation,
or exploitation of data and systems critical to the safety and
maintenance of the airplane. The existing regulations and guidance
material did not anticipate these types of system architectures.
Furthermore, 14 CFR regulations and current system safety assessment
policy and techniques do not address potential security vulnerabilities
which could be exploited by unauthorized access to airplane networks
and servers. Therefore, these special conditions and a means of
compliance are being issued to ensure that the security (i.e.,
confidentiality, integrity, and availability) of airplane systems is
not compromised by unauthorized wired or wireless electronic
connections between airplane systems and networks and the passenger
entertainment domain." From the Federal Register


see more via Cryptome.

Flying without Security

Wrong Name on Boarding Pass.

Pilot Expedited Screening

ORD.

Cancellations in Europe

via CourthouseNews.

Midnight Express

Texas Pressed to Spare Mexican from Execution.

John B. Bellinger III, who was the State Department's top lawyer in the Bush (W.)administration says "we put at risk Americans, including Texans, who travel and may be arrested overseas. It is surprising that Texas does not recognize the risks it may be creating for its own citizens".

Landfill Attractant and Trash Crash at LGA

Sullenberger's Feat Repeat.?

Travel Apps

From the WeekEnd Journal, in case you missed it.

TSA defends removing Adult Diaper

An entirely new storm.

More coverage.

the Writ

Mandatory Military Detention is what martial law states do, not democracies. So says Andrea J. Prasow of Human Rights Watch.


Maybe we're already there and they just forgot to mention it. Imagine what that would do to the demand for discretionary travel, huh?

And the Home. . of the. . .BRAVE!

Not so much, anymore.

I'm going to ask readers of this blog to do something today, for themselves and for their country and for the men and women who serve so bravely in the wars we are conducting abroad. I'm going to ask you to pass this story along to everyone you know and love and who might be able to bring their own influence to bear upon a deeply regretable episode in our nation's history. We are better than this.

I'm also going to ask you to get in touch with this Immigration lawyer,

Ira J. Kurzban.


To see if there is anything we can do to liberate this young man.

I happen to know a few 8 year olds and I can tell you, they take my word for everything, and it would not occur to them to do otherwise. And I believe this young man's story. And I am filled with shame. Shame for what we do, to those who come when called.

This past weekend, the NYTimes Sunday Magazine carried the story of Jose Antonio Vargas, an illegal immigrant from the Phillipines (and Pultizer Prize Winner while at the Washington Post) who has outed himself as chasing the American Dream without the requisite paperwork. In case you missed it in print, See it here.

Update:

US Drops Deportation Proceedings against Same Sex Marrigage Immigrant.

Now, how about extending that to men and women who have served this country in a time of war? Both are the right things to do. And while you're at it: How about abandoning this idea that you can take a kid away from the only family he's ever known and send him away? How do you think that would feel to a kid? Think he might internalize the trauma and think he's done something bad? Maybe think it's his fault? You can require them to undo this Neanderthal Policy, I know you can.Change always starts with US. If we don't lay down for it, they can't make it stick. Send an email to your Senator, tell him to vote FOR the Dream Act, or he'll be looking for another job. Here's the link:

US Senate.(there's a link in the upper right corner where you can select your state).

Also this weekend: Ray Henry and Kate Brumback of the Associated Press detail the role of incentives in back breaking crop picking labor, in case you missed it in print, see it here: Georgia program tries to replace migrant workers with ex-convicts.

The DREAM Act.

"Why do you love these guys so much?"
"Because. . .they stand on a wall and say. . .Nothing's gonna hurt you tonight."
Demi More in A Few Good Men. by Aaron Sorkin

FAA Proposes Fine Against AirTran

Press Release – FAA Proposes $250,000 Civil Penalty Against AirTran Airways
For Immediate Release
June 23, 2011
Contact: Kathleen Bergen
Phone: (404) 305-5100


ATLANTA – The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is proposing a $250,000 civil penalty against AirTran Airways of Orlando, Fla., for allegedly operating a Boeing 737 on four passenger flights when it was not in compliance with FAA regulations.

The FAA alleges Air Tran did not properly repair or test an angle-of-attack sensor on the aircraft, which warns if there is a potential loss of lift, after it was struck by lightning during a flight on March 20, 2009. The FAA also alleges the airline misused the Minimum Equipment List (MEL) when it decided to defer the repair and continued to operate the aircraft. The MEL sets out a list of what systems must be in working order to fly the plane legally and which items can be deferred temporarily until repairs can be made. Repair or maintenance of a damaged or inoperative angle-of-attack sensor may not be deferred.

AirTran has 30 days from the receipt of the FAA’s enforcement letter to respond to the agency.

International Child Abductions by Parent

Who'd a thunk there'd be a gobmn't report on this.

Disease

See also, Travel.

HairCut

Space Weather News for June 24, 2011
http://spaceweather.com

ASTEROID FLYBY: Newly-discovered asteroid 2011 MD will pass only 12,000 kilometers (7,500 miles) above Earth's surface on Monday, June 27th. NASA analysts say there is no chance the space rock will strike Earth. Nevertheless, the encounter is so close that Earth's gravity will sharply perturb the asteroid's trajectory. Details at SpaceWeather.

SolarPlexus.

Good News for NewsAggregators

FlyOnTheWall.

The projected evaporation of disposable income

And along with it, the evaporation of demand for travel related goods and services.

The Erosion of the 4th

It used to be a mountain, now it's a golf green.

Air France

Air France Forum non conveniens via CourthouseNews.

Little Kid Pat Downs

See, changes to.

"doable"

Open Mike Rant in SWA Cockpit.

Open Mike Nite.

Too Well Lit to be amateurs

Stranded.

Lufthansa Fined

DOT 71-11
Friday, June 17, 2011
Contact: Bill Mosley
Tel.: (202) 366-4570

Lufthansa Fined for Improperly Limiting Reimbursements for Delayed Baggage

The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) today fined the German airline Deutsche Lufthansa AG $50,000 for limiting reimbursements for delayed baggage to less than consumers were entitled under an international treaty.

“Both domestic and international travelers have a right to fair compensation for lost or delayed baggage,” U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said. “We are committed to protecting airline consumers and we will continue to take enforcement action when necessary.”

Under the Montreal Convention, an international agreement that sets liability limits for international air transportation, airlines are liable for damages caused by delayed baggage up to a limit that is the equivalent of approximately $1,821 in U.S. currency, unless the carrier has taken all reasonable measures to prevent the damage or it was impossible to take these measures. The Convention forbids carriers from setting a lower baggage compensation limit for international flights.

Based on a consumer complaint received by DOT, the Department’s Aviation Enforcement Office investigated Lufthansa’s handling of claims for delayed baggage. It found the carrier was limiting reimbursement to 50 percent of the claimed expense in a number of instances for flights to and from the United States. The Enforcement Office also found that Lufthansa had sent letters to passengers with baggage delay claims stating that the carrier would reimburse only 50 percent of the cost of clothing items.

The consent order is available on the Internet at

HERE.

use docket # DOT-OST-2011-0003 to navigate there.

For your killing time app

One of two things people actually buy: ways of feeling. (the other, of course, is solutions to problems)

Mirandizing a juvenille

CourthouseNews Covers It.

Most kids would not feel free to leave when an adult is questioning them, let alone the Police. It's all good. Just because he doesn't have a lawyer on speed dial, like his classmates do, who play golf with their fathers, is no reason to penalize the kid for being insufficiently affluent.

NYTimes.

UAL fined

Press Release – FAA Proposes $584,375 Civil Penalty Against United Airlines

For Immediate Release
June 17, 2011
Contact: Paul Turk
Phone: (202) 267-3883

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

FORT WORTH – The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has proposed to assess a $584,375 civil penalty against United Airlines, Inc., of Elk Grove Village, Ill., for allegedly violating FAA and U.S. Department of Transportation (DoT) regulations for random drug and alcohol testing of safety-sensitive employees.

The FAA alleges United failed to perform required pre-employment drug tests and receive verified negative test results before transferring 13 individuals to safety-sensitive positions, as required by FAA and DoT regulations.

The FAA also cited United for allegedly failing to use a scientifically valid method to ensure that each member of the company’s flight crews, all of whom are safety-sensitive employees, has an equal chance of being selected for random drug and alcohol testing each time a selection is made. The FAA warned United at least twice before that the company’s random test selection methods did not give each eligible flight crew member an equal chance of being selected.

“Drug testing is both a critical and a required safety measure that all operators must follow,” said FAA Administrator Randy Babbitt.

United Airlines has 30 days from the receipt of the FAA’s enforcement letter to respond to the agency.

BTS data

BTS.

Designing Life

J.Craig Ventner on 60 minutes.

What do cars have to do with books you might ask. (that's a line from True Stories., the film by David Byrne of Talking Heads)

Blade Runner, aka what happens to creators when their creations can reach them.

Access to 'Net is a Human Right

Tim Berners-Lee, creator of first Web Browser and first server (circa 1990) says many rights protected by Constitution (i.e. freedom of press and assembly) now happen in cyber-space.

Air Canada On Strike

Agents, Call Center Workers and Airport Check In and Gate Agents.

Gob'mnt se to order workers back.

Check in Remotely, don't check any bags, Show up a day early and wait.

LUNAR ECLIPSE

Some of you will get to see it if you are flying the right routes:

Space Weather News. for June 14, 2011


LUNAR ECLIPSE: On Wednesday night, June 15th, there's going to be a total lunar eclipse visible from every continent except North America.

The Moon will spend 100 minutes fully engulfed in Earth's shadow, making this the longest lunar eclipse in nearly 11 years.

The appearance of the eclipse might be affected by exhaust from Chile's erupting Puyehue-Cordón Caulle volcano, which is also causing spectacular sunsets around the southern hemisphere. Discussion, eclipse maps, and links to live webcasts may be found here.

What is Global Entry?

Previously Known as RegisteredTraveler.

Airline Fee Data

BTS 30-11
Monday, June 13, 2011
Contact: Dave Smallen
Tel: 202-366-5568

BTS Releases 2010 Airline Fee Data;
Airlines Collected Almost $5.7 Billion from Fees in 2010

U.S. airlines collected almost $5.7 billion from baggage fees and reservation change fees in 2010, according to the airline financial data released today by the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS).

The airlines received $3.4 billion from baggage fees., and $2.3 billion from reservation change fees. in 2010. These are the only fees paid by passengers that BTS can identify separately. All other fees paid by passengers are included in larger categories with other types of revenue.

Additional fourth-quarter 2010 data are not yet available.

Airline Fuel Costs and Consumption

Tuesday, June 14, 2011

Contact: Dave Smallen

Tel: 202-366-5568




MEDIA ADVISORY

BTS Releases April Airline Fuel Cost and Consumption Data
The Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS), a part of the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Research and Innovative Technology Administration (RITA), today updated its Airline Fuel Cost and Consumption web page with preliminary April data.

Cost per gallon for U.S. airlines’ scheduled services:

April 2010 $2.29

March 2011 $2.80

April 2011 $2.99

The page provides scheduled service cost and consumption numbers. Use the “Select a Service” dropdown to see all services or non-scheduled.

The Fuel Cost and Consumption page is here.

Preliminary fuel cost and consumption numbers are industry summaries only. Airline fuel costs may be affected by hedging. The next web update is scheduled for July 12.

Individual airline numbers are available through September on the BTS website. Individual airline numbers for October, November, December will be available with the BTS fourth-quarter financial release, release date to be determined. Individual airline numbers for January, February and March will be available with the BTS first-quarter financial release scheduled for June 20. Individual airline numbers for April will be available with the BTS second-quarter financial release scheduled for Sept 19.

Forewarned is Forearmed

Credit Cards that work in Europe. (and some that don't)

Travel Apps for the SmartPhone

Like anyone has any money for that.

Safety vs Liberty, the debate after 9/11

Alienable Rights.



The Constitution After 9/11
By JONATHAN MAHLER
Published: June 10, 2011
David K. Shipler laments the state of the Constitution in the aftermath of 9/11.

Tarmac Delays- One Year Later

DOT 67-11
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
Contact: Bill Mosley
Tel: (202) 366-4570



Long Tarmac Delays Dramatically Diminished During First Year of DOT’s Aviation Consumer Rule


During the first 12 months after a new rule limiting airline tarmac delays went into effect, lengthy delays experienced by passengers aboard aircraft largely disappeared and only a minimal number of flights were canceled to avoid delays on the tarmac, the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) announced today.

“On the one-year anniversary of the tarmac delay rule, it’s clear that we’ve accomplished our goal of virtually eliminating the number of aircraft leaving travelers stranded without access to food, water, or working lavatories for hours on end,” U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said. “This is a giant step forward for the rights of air travelers.”

According to DOT’s Air Travel Consumer Report, there were only 20 total tarmac delays of more than three hours reported from May 2010 through April 2011 by the airlines that file on-time performance data with DOT, compared to 693 reported from May 2009 through April 2010. April was the 12th full month of data since the new rule went into effect on April 29, 2010.

At the same time, the number of canceled flights with tarmac delays of more than two hours – those most likely to be canceled to avoid violating the rule – increased only slightly, from 336 between May 2009 and April 2010 to 387 between May 2010 and April 2011. These additional 51 cancellations compare to over 6 million flights operated by the reporting carriers in a given year.

The rule prohibits U.S. airlines operating domestic flights from allowing an aircraft to remain on the tarmac for more than three hours without providing an opportunity for passengers to deplane, with exceptions allowed only for safety or security or if air traffic control advises the pilot in command that returning to the terminal would disrupt airport operations. International flights of both U.S. and foreign carriers at U.S. airports will be subject to a four-hour tarmac delay limit beginning Aug. 23.

The monthly report also includes data on on-time performance, chronically delayed flights, flight cancellations, and the causes of flight delays filed with the Department by the reporting carriers. In addition, the report contains information on reports of mishandled baggage filed by consumers with the carriers, and consumer service, disability and discrimination complaints received by DOT’s Aviation Consumer Protection Division. This report also includes reports of incidents involving pets traveling by air, as required to be filed by U.S. carriers.

A news release on the report is available here.

The full report is available here.

Detailed information on flight delays is available here.

Frontier Fined for Failing to Display On Time Performance

DOT 69-11
Thursday, June 9, 2011
Contact: Bill Mosley
Tel.: (202) 366-4570

Frontier Airlines Fined for Failing to Display On-Time Performance on its Web Site

The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) today fined Frontier Airlines $40,000 for failing to display on-time performance for its flights on the carrier’s Web site as required by DOT rules and ordered the carrier to cease and desist from further violations in the future.

“Air travelers have a right to know whether the flight they are buying is chronically delayed or canceled,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. “Protecting the rights of air travelers is a high priority for DOT and we will continue to take enforcement action when necessary.”

According to DOT’s airline consumer rule that became effective in April 2010, the 16 largest U.S. carriers must post information on their Web sites about the on-time performance of each of their flights. The information must include the percentage of flights that arrived within 15 minutes of schedule; the percentage of arrivals that were more than 30 minutes late, with special highlighting if these flights were late more than 50 percent of the time; and the percentage of cancellations if more than 5 percent of the flight’s operations were canceled.

DOT’s Aviation Enforcement Office reviewed Frontier’s Web site and information provided by the carrier, and found that its on-time performance data were not available to consumers visiting the site during a period of time in early 2011. Frontier did not discover or correct the problem until after the Enforcement Office notified the carrier.

The consent order is available on the Internet at www.regulations.gov:
docket "DOT-OST-2011-0003".

Pakistan

CRS Report, Courtesy American Federation of Scientists.

Nuc'ler.

India

More than great food.

Print and Throw into Your Carry On

Crisis Abroad (from the WSJ).

ALK pilots get iPads

via USAToday.

The FAA on the use of iPads as Flight Manuals.

What?

10% layoff of TSA workers pending.

Delta charges returning soldiers excess bag fees

UNbelievable. . .someone better clean this up, pronto.

CheckPoint Of the Future (airports)

Via the CBSNews.

Get a Smart Dog, they bite.

The Bureau of Transportation Statistics today released April airline on-time numbers.

Latest Report.



Tuesday, June 7, 2011
Contact: Dave Smallen
Tel.: (202) 366-5568
david.smallen@dot.gov



BTS airport rankings on flight delays and other summary tables can be found here.

The Air Travel Consumer Report released today by the U.S. Department of Transportation can be found here.



Tarmac times here.

Tables posted on the BTS website are here.

Table 1: On-time arrival performance during the first four months of 2011 was the ninth best for the January-April period in the 17 years with comparable numbers and the worst since 2008. Note that the number of reporting carriers has varied.

Table 2: April was the 135th best month of the 196 months with comparable records with on-time performance of 75.50 percent. On-time performance in April 2011 was the second lowest of the last 17 years and below the average of 80.19 for April in the past 16 years.

Table 3: Salt Lake City (82.10) had the best and Newark (55.73) had the worst on-time arrival performance of the 29 busiest airports in April.

Table 4: Phoenix (81.31) had the best and Newark (66.24) had the worst on-time arrival performance of the 29 busiest airports for the four-month January-April period.

Table 5: Seattle (86.44) had the best and Newark (67.22) had the worst on-time departure performance of the 29 busiest airports in April.

Table 6: Seattle (85.10) had the best and Chicago Midway (67.34) had the worst on-time departure performance of the 29 busiest airports for the four-month January-April period.

Tarmac Times: There were four tarmac times of more than three hours in April: One taxi-out and three cancellations. The longest tarmac times in April were two flights that were on the tarmac for 202 minutes. Delta Flight 1076 from Atlanta to Salt Lake City on April 27 was on the tarmac for 202 minutes before being canceled. Three of the four three-hour tarmac times were at Atlanta on April 27. United Flight 19 from New York JFK to San Francisco on April 24 was on the tarmac for 202 minutes before being canceled.

Longest 2011 Tarmac Time: Delta Flight 2523 from Atlanta to Honolulu on Jan. 10 was on the Atlanta tarmac for 211 minutes before being canceled.

Chronically Delayed: The most delayed flight in April was Southwest Flight 103 from Chicago Midway to Newark, which was 90.0 percent not on-time, averaging 131 minutes late.

For other airports and more detailed information,look here.

Causes of Delays.



Tarmac Times.



Chronically Delayed Flights.

TSA not allowed to have a role in expedited security lanes

KnownTraveler. (triage tunnels)

Suprise.

In Line for Security

Try Kylie Minogue's Get Outta My Way on your MP 3 Player.

Terrorist SafeHavens

GAO Report.

Wheelchair Stowage On-board

New Rules.

E.coli

Excellent Coverage and Interviews concerning the E coli outbreak in Europe from Diane Rehms of NPR for the morning of June 6, 2011, click on the LISTEN megaphone in the upper left corner of the show's page.

Or try this link, for a more direct path to the Diane Rehms Show on the E.Coli outbreak.

Outbreak Worsens.

What to eat.?

If you're going for the food, stay home.

Material Witness Warrants

Not So Much>Material Witness Warrants.

Opinion.

Continental & US Airways Violated Pricing Rules

DOT 63-11
Thursday, June 2, 2011
Contact: Bill Mosley
Tel.: (202) 366-4570



Continental, US Airways Fined for Violating DOT Price Advertising Rules


In separate cases, the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) today assessed civil penalties against Continental Airlines and US Airways for violating the Department’s rules prohibiting deceptive price advertising in air travel. Continental was assessed a civil penalty of $120,000 and US Airways $45,000.

“Protecting the rights of airline consumers is a high priority for the Department of Transportation,” U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said. “Passengers have the right to know how much they will have to pay when they buy an airline ticket, and we will continue to take enforcement action when these rules are violated.”

DOT requires any advertising that includes a price for air transportation to state the full price to be paid by the consumer, including all carrier-imposed surcharges. The only exception currently allowed is government-imposed taxes and fees that are assessed on a per-passenger basis, such as passenger facility charges, which may be stated separately from the advertised fare but must be clearly disclosed in the advertisement so that passengers can easily determine the full price they must pay. In Internet listings, these taxes and fees may be disclosed through a prominent link next to the stated fare noting that taxes and fees are extra, and the link must take the consumer directly to a listing of the type and amount of taxes. Under DOT’s recently adopted consumer rule that enhances protections for air travelers, carriers will be required, among other things, to include all government taxes and fees in advertised fares beginning Oct. 24.

A review of Continental’s website by the Department’s Aviation Enforcement Office revealed instances in which the carrier failed to include fuel surcharges in its listed fares. Consumers selecting flights from their nearest airport were shown a base fare that excluded fuel surcharges, and it was only on the third page selected that they were shown the full fare including the surcharge, which often was significantly higher. In one example, a fare from San Jose, Calif., to San Salvador, El Salvador, was shown as $298 on the first two pages, but was listed as $538 once the fuel surcharge was added on the third page.

Earlier this year, US Airway’s homepage advertised fares to Rome for $659. There was an asterisk next to the fare and a statement that additional taxes and fees might apply, but there was no information on the type or amount of fees in either the ad or on the homepage. Although the reference to taxes and fees included a hyperlink, the link did not take the reader directly to an explanation of the additional charges.

The consent orders are available on the Internet at Regulations. docket # DOT-OST-2011-0003.

You don't have to blow us up, just shut us down

We'll be so frustrated, we'll kill each other, you won't have to do a thing.