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☆ Exclusive: Many airlines will not meet U.S. 5G upgrade deadline -IATA
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-06 | by ( David Shepardson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

WASHINGTON, Feb 6 (Reuters) - The world's biggest airline trade body warned many airlines will be unable to meet looming U.S. deadlines to retrofit airplane altimeters to ensure they are not susceptible to 5G wireless interference and warned it could impact the summer international travel season. The FAA last month said it was proposing a requirement that passenger and cargo aircraft in the United States have 5G C-Band-tolerant radio altimeters or approved filters by early 2024. The Transportation Department did not comment while the FAA said in response to request for comment on the letter "the FAA has made its position clear." The FAA, Verizon and AT&T are now negotiating to reach a new agreement that seeks to extend some voluntary mitigations beyond July 1, sources told Reuters. Reporting by David Shepardson; Editing by Lisa ShumakerOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Republicans criticize Biden for waiting to shoot down Chinese balloon
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-05 | by ( David Lawder | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

[1/3] The suspected Chinese spy balloon drifts to the ocean after being shot down off the coast in Surfside Beach, South Carolina, U.S. February 4, 2023. Schumer said downing the balloon into the ocean likely enables U.S. intelligence officials to examine its remnants. The Pentagon will brief senators on the balloon and Chinese surveillance on Feb. 15, Schumer said. Trump on Sunday disputed Austin's statement that Chinese government surveillance balloons had transited the continental United States briefly three times during his presidency. Speaking on Fox News Channel's "Sunday Morning Futures" show, Trump's former director of national intelligence John Ratcliffe also denied such balloon incidents.

☆ Southwest to testify at U.S. Senate hearing after meltdown
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-03 | by ( David Shepardson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

REUTERS/Alyssa Pointer/File PhotoWASHINGTON, Feb 3 (Reuters) - Southwest Airlines (LUV.N) Chief Operating Officer Andrew Watterson will testify on Feb. 9 before the U.S. Senate Commerce Committee after a holiday meltdown forced the budget carrier to cancel thousands of flights. The hearing titled "Strengthening Airline Operations and Consumer Protections" will also include Southwest Airlines Pilots Association President Captain Casey Murray, Sharon Pinkerton, a senior official with Airlines for America, an industry group, and Paul Hudson, who heads Flyers' Rights, a passenger advocacy organization. The hearing will review causes and impacts of recent air travel disruptions including the Southwest December holiday operational woes that resulted in more than 16,000 flight cancellations. Southwest Chief Executive Bob Jordan has repeatedly apologized for the mass cancellations and said the carrier is looking at all options to prevent a repeat. The U.S. Transportation Department (USDOT) is investigating whether Southwest engaged in "unrealistic scheduling of flights" in December.

☆ The Biden administration gave Southwest a deadline to issue refunds for the flight chaos over Christmas. A month later, some passengers were still waiting to be paid.
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-02 | by ( Kelsey Vlamis | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Pete Buttigieg gave the airline a deadline for refunds, but it came and went. John Erickson, a Southwest passenger who was stuck in Denver for three days after Southwest canceled his flight, told WFLA the airline told him it would take months to receive his refund. In a statement provided to Insider, Southwest rebuked the possibility it engaged in unrealistic flight schedules. Southwest previously told Insider last week it was still working daily to process refund and reimbursement requests from passengers. The spokesperson said DOT "will hold Southwest accountable if it fails" to issue timely refunds or reimbursements.

☆ Transportation Sec. Buttigieg answers questions about the infrastructure package
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-01 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailTransportation Sec. Buttigieg answers questions about the infrastructure packageSec. Pete Buttigieg, U.S. Transportation Secretary, joins 'Squawk Box' to discuss the federal government's infrastructure package, the electric vehicle portion of the infrastructure package and more.

☆ U.S. awarding $800 million to improve roads, cut traffic deaths
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-01 | by ( David Shepardson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

WASHINGTON, Feb 1 (Reuters) - The Biden administration will announce Wednesday it is awarding $800 million to redesign roads, improve sidewalks and make other upgrades to address the sharp increase in U.S. traffic deaths. Traffic deaths jumped 10.5% to 42,915 in 2021, the highest number killed on American roads since 2005. After declining for decades, traffic deaths jumped sharply after COVID-19 lockdowns expired in 2020 and more drivers engaged in unsafe behavior. Other projects include mid-block crosswalks, rumble strips, narrower lanes and backplates with reflective borders to improve traffic signal visibility. The United States has 4 million miles of roads and nearly 300 million vehicles that travel more than 3 trillion miles annually.

☆ U.S. airline group blasts White House competition efforts
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-01 | by ( David Shepardson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/3] Passengers are seen at the Southwest Airlines check-in area at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport ahead of the Fourth of July holiday in Atlanta, Georgia, U.S., July 1, 2022. REUTERS/Elijah NouvelageWASHINGTON, Feb 1 (Reuters) - A group representing major U.S. airlines on Wednesday blasted White House proposals on competition in the industry as "short-sighted" and said they would "drive-up costs and reduce choices" for consumers. The Biden administration has taken steps it says will inject more competition into the airline industry. A4A on Wednesday said "the White House should get the facts straight amid efforts to impose new policies and regulations on our nation’s aviation industry." The White House declined to comment.

☆ A high school basketball coach is still out $10,000 after Southwest canceled a flight and left his whole team stranded in Las Vegas for 5 days over Christmas. They ended up chartering a bus to drive 1
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-29 | by ( Kelsey Vlamis | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

A Seattle high school basketball team spent Christmas in Vegas after a canceled Southwest flight. "He was like, 'I just want to get those kids home safely,'" Virginia Bethea said. Michael and Virginia Bethea even went out and bought each of the kids a Christmas gift. "This is probably the best Christmas, in all honesty," Virginia Bethea said, adding "just to be able to serve people through this time. "They put more Black boys in college than all high school basketball programs combined in the state of Washington," Virginia Bethea said.

☆ Two companies race to deploy robotaxis in San Francisco. The city wants them to hit the brakes.
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-27 | by ( David Ingram | David Ingram Covers Tech For Nbc News. | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +6 min

SAN FRANCISCO — San Francisco is trying to slow the expansion of robotaxis after repeated incidents in which cars without drivers stopped and idled in the middle of the street for no obvious reason, delaying bus riders and disrupting the work of firefighters. Some believe self-driving cars will never happen on a wide scale, but they’ve been gaining momentum in San Francisco. San Francisco doesn’t want robotaxis operating in the city’s downtown core, for example, or during morning and evening peak commuting times. He also provided letters in support of Cruise written by local San Francisco merchants associations, disability advocates and community groups. City officials argue that stopped robotaxis are hazards that can cause human drivers to react dangerously.

☆ Transportation Department probe will look at whether Southwest overscheduled flights
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-26 | by ( Https | Media-Cldnry.S-Nbcnews.Com Image Upload Newscms Phil-Helsel-Circle-Byline-Template.Jpg | Phil Helsel | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +1 min

The U.S. Department of Transportation is in the initial phases of an investigation into Southwest Airlines' travel meltdown, and the agency will look at whether executives overscheduled flights, a spokesperson said. The Department of Transportation is “probing whether Southwest executives engaged in unrealistic scheduling of flights which under federal law is considered an unfair and deceptive practice,” the agency spokesperson said. Southwest Airlines did not immediately respond to a request for comment Wednesday evening. “DOT will leverage the full extent of its investigative and enforcement power to ensure consumers are protected and this process will continue to evolve as the Department learns more,” the department spokesperson said Wednesday. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg called the cancellations unacceptable and said his department would look at its scheduling system.

☆ Can Pete Buttigieg Fix the FAA?
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-26 | by ( Holman W. Jenkins | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Why didn’t Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg rush over and fix Southwest Airlines ’ crew-scheduling snafu? Why didn’t he save the day with his programming skills after outside contractors rummaging around a Federal Aviation Administration computer closet deleted vital software that caused the nation’s air traffic control system to crash? Of course such criticism is unrealistic. We should be asking instead whether we’re glad Mayor Pete is on the job to straighten things out. He has yet to excel at federal spin but we should also be looking for something else: whether he will use the opportunity to move forward a stalled reform agenda that is no mystery to anyone and lacks movement only for want of investment of political capital.

☆ DOT is probing whether Southwest's schedules were 'unrealistic' during holiday meltdown
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-25 | by ( Leslie Josephs | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

The Transportation Department said Wednesday that it is in the initial phase of an investigation of Southwest Airlines ' holiday meltdown and looking at whether the carrier's schedules was unrealistic. The company and labor unions have pointed to outmoded scheduling platforms that weren't designed to handle the number of flight changes that occurred over that period. "DOT is also probing whether Southwest executives engaged in unrealistic scheduling of flights which under federal law is considered an unfair and deceptive practice," a DOT spokesperson said. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg has previously vowed to hold Southwest accountable for the disruptions, which left hundreds of thousands of travelers stranded. "Our holiday flight schedule was thoughtfully designed and offered to our Customers with the backing of a solid plan to operate it, and with ample staffing," Southwest said in a statement late Wednesday.

CNN —The US Transportation Department said it is in the early stages of an investigation into the Southwest Airlines holiday travel meltdown in December. The probe includes an examination of whether Southwest is scheduling more flights than it can handle. “DOT is in the initial phase of a rigorous and comprehensive investigation into Southwest Airlines’ holiday debacle that stranded millions,” a spokesperson for the department said. Various Southwest employees will also receive additional “gratitude” pay for working through the meltdown. DOT is also probing whether Southwest executives engaged in unrealistic scheduling of flights which under federal law is considered an unfair and deceptive practice.

☆ Southwest CEO maps out a recovery after holiday meltdown: 'We have work to do'
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-25 | by ( Leslie Josephs | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +8 min

Tayfun Coskun | Anadolu Agency | Getty ImagesSouthwest CEO Bob Jordan's message, after a holiday meltdown derailed the travel plans of millions, is clear: "I can't say it enough. The low-cost airline is working with General Electric to improve the capabilities of software that helps Southwest work out crew reassignments. Southwest said it offered premium pay to flight attendants and $45 million in "gratitude pay" to pilots because of the meltdown. He said that a recent fare sale was successful and that many customers are redeeming the frequently flyer points for Southwest flights. "This payment constitutes full and final settlement of your claim with Southwest Airlines."

☆ Transportation Sec. Buttigieg on spending the $1.2T infrastructure bill money
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-23 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailTransportation Sec. Buttigieg on spending the $1.2T infrastructure bill moneyU.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg joins 'Power Lunch' to discuss the distribution of funds from the 1.2 trillion dollar transportation bill, assisting the U.S. aviation sector after the FAA shutdown, and more.

Labor shortagesAs the pandemic swooped in, air travel was among the industries most affected, as more than 90% of flights were grounded. Today, labor shortages exist throughout the economy, but the problem drags on in the air travel sector, where more extensive employee training is usually required. Steven Senne / APOutdated technology and infrastructureThere is near-universal agreement that the infrastructure underpinning segments of America's air travel system is outdated and vulnerable. Rep. Sam Graves, R-Montana, said the incident highlighted "a huge vulnerability in our air transportation system." Air travel should be predictable and consistent, and you shouldn’t have to wonder if air traffic control is going to be working today as you head to the airport.

☆ Biden admin releases first plan to support Asian American, Pacific Islander and Native Hawaiian communities
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-17 | by ( Kimmy Yam | Kimmy Yam Is A Reporter For Nbc Asian America. | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +3 min

The Biden administration on Tuesday released its first national agenda aimed at addressing the range of disparities that Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander communities face. More than two dozen officials and community leaders gathered to formally unveil a strategy that was spearheaded by the White House Initiative on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders. Among the administration’s priorities are combating anti-Asian hate and discrimination, the disaggregation of data across the communities and better language access, according to the report. In the strategy, the agencies laid out some of their previous work pertaining to the communities, in addition to new goals. And I’ve been so heartened by the support of this administration that has gone beyond the usual political rhetoric."

☆ Delta CEO called last week's FAA outage 'unacceptable' and said the agency needs more funding
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-17 | by ( Taylor Rains | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Air traffic was temporarily halted last week after an FAA system, known as Notice to Air Missions, crashed. Over 10,000 flights were delayed, but Delta Air Lines CEO Ed Bastian said he doesn't blame the agency. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer is pushing to confirm President Joe Biden's pick for FAA Administrator. In a separate interview, American Airlines CEO Rob Isom told CNBC that there needs to be more investment in FAA technology. "With recent events, including airline troubles and last week's tech problem, this agency needs a leader confirmed by the Senate immediately."

☆ U.S. lawmakers call FAA outage 'unacceptable,' demand a fix
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-14 | by ( David Shepardson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

REUTERS/Jim Vondruska/File PhotoWASHINGTON, Jan 13 (Reuters) - A group of more than 120 U.S. lawmakers told the Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) its computer outage on Wednesday that disrupted 11,000 flights was "completely unacceptable" and demanded the agency explain how it will avoid future incidents. On Thursday, the FAA said its preliminary analysis showed the computer outage was caused by a procedural error related to a corrupted data file. The Senate committee email also said it appears the groundstop actually lasted from 7:21 a.m. Buttigieg tweeted at approximately 8:50am that the groundstop had been lifted, was the NOTAM system full operational at that point?" The Senate email asked "what additional resources does FAA need to expeditiously update the NOTAM system?"

☆ One woman describes the chaos aboard the Amtrak Auto Train that was delayed for 20 hours: 'I will not be going on another train, that's for sure'
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-14 | by ( Lloyd Lee | Hannah Getahun | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

An Amtrak Auto Train was severely delayed due to a freight derailment that occurred Monday night. The Auto Train is a 900-mile train service that goes from Lorton, Virginia, to Sanford, Florida. "I will not be going on another train, that's for sure," she told Insider on Wednesday, exhausted from her long journey. Amtrak told Insider that the incident forced the Auto Train to take a detour. One of the therapy dogs that were aboard the Amtrak Auto Train.

☆ U.S. lawmakers call FAA outage 'unacceptable,' demand fix plan
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-13 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/2] Passengers exit a bus at Terminal 2 as they wait for the resumption of flights at O'Hare International Airport after the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) ordered airlines to suspend all domestic departures due to a disruption in the system, in Chicago, Illinois, U.S., January 11, 2023. REUTERS/Jim Vondruska/File PhotoWASHINGTON, Jan 13 (Reuters) - A group of more than 120 U.S. lawmakers told the Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) its computer outage Wednesday that disrupted 11,000 flights is "completely unacceptable" and demanded the agency explain how it will avoid future incidents. Lawmakers want details of what went wrong with a pilot messaging database that led to the first nationwide grounding of departing flights since the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks. They want Buttigieg to provide an "estimated cost to commercial airlines and passengers due to the delays resulting from the outage." Reporting by David Shepardson; editing by Diane CraftOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Aging, outdated technology leaves air travel at risk of meltdown
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-13 | by ( Brian Fung | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +13 min

As early as 2012, the FAA decided it wanted to replace aging legacy voice switches used in air traffic control communications with new, internet-based communications technology. Trying to integrate old systems with newer ones — always in real time, because the global aviation industry never sleeps — can also create its own opportunities for catastrophic mistakes. Many more things can go wrong than you might expect — highlighting the sheer complexity of the aviation industry, and underscoring how there isn’t a quick easy fix for IT-related travel disruptions. But it has had lasting effects on FAA technology. That bureaucratic myopia is its own cause of today’s technological malaise in the aviation industry.

The software that failed and forced the Federal Aviation Administration to ground thousands of flights on Wednesday is 30 years old and not scheduled to be updated for another six years, according to a senior government official. This system was installed in 1993 and runs the Notice to Air Missions system, or NOTAM, which sends pilots vital information they need to fly, the official said. Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in Arlington, Va., was busy Wednesday after an FAA outage canceled and delayed flights. ET “to allow the agency to validate the integrity of flight and safety information” as it worked to restore the NOTAM system. The FAA lifted the ground stop around 8:50 a.m., and normal air traffic operations began resuming gradually.

☆ FAA is years away from upgrading the system that grounded all US flights
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-12 | by ( Pete Muntean | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

The Notices to Air Missions (NOTAM) database failure triggered the FAA to implement the first nationwide stop of air traffic in more than 20 years. “The core operating system for the database has been around since the 1990s,” the source said. “Regardless of the improvements made to the system in recent years, it still has the heart of an 89-year-old man.”CNN has reached out to the FAA for comment on updates to the NOTAM system to date and its modernization timeline. Late Wednesday, the FAA continued to downplay the possibility of a cyberattack as the root cause of the system failure. “The FAA needs more funding,” Kirby said in an on-stage interview before aviation leaders.

☆ Flight disruptions ease after FAA outage, as officials vow to investigate system failure
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-12 | by ( Leslie Josephs | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Travelers as flights are cancelled at Ronald Reagan National Airport (DCA) in Arlington, Virginia, US, on Wednesday, Jan. 11, 2023. Air travel disruptions eased on Thursday, a day after a severe pilot safety-alert system failure sparked the delay of close to half of U.S. flights. The FAA said a preliminary review traced the outage to a "damaged database file." Unable to fix the problem, the FAA rebooted the system, and ordered the ground stop, which it lifted around 9 a.m. on Wednesday. "When there's a problem with a government system, we're going to own it, we're going to find it, and we're going to fix it," he told reporters Wednesday.

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