FAA to Re-Review Electronics Ban

By Matt Griffin
Lately, it has seemed, you couldn’t pick up a newspaper or open your ACI-NA Daily Clips (contact ACI-NA if you would like to sign-up) without finding an article or opinion piece dedicated to the highly-sensitive subject of personal electronics on airplanes.

This topic has grown from a dull rumble just 10 years ago to an all out roar thanks to the rapid acceptance of the iPad, smartphones, and e-readers. One only needs to look around them to see the popularity of these devices. In fact, as I write this article on my train ride into work this morning, at least half of the passenger within my eyeshot appear to be reading from one of these devices (I hope the engineers radios are still working!)

It appears that the FAA has finally decided to heed the cry of the traveling public, just this past week they have agreed to take a “fresh” look at this issue.  They are exploring ways to bring together the airlines, airframe and avionics manufacturers, electronics manufactures, and the regulators, the FAA and FCC, to discuss the certification of a number of these personal electronics.

After a little bit of research (a Google search and review of a Wikipedia page), there appears to be a lot of circumstantial evidence, but nothing that can conclusively support the idea that the use of personal electronics cause an interference to aircraft avionics. It appears, as the regulations are written today, the approval process is on a device by device basis.  So that is to say, the Amazon Kindle could go through the approval process and be cleared for flight whereas the Barnes & Noble Nook is not.  This could lead to misunderstandings in the cabin and just as much policing by flight attendants, if not more.

I don’t mean to sound negative, in my humblest opinion, given the amount of money being made in the personal electronics market it is certainly in the best interest of these manufacturers to help develop (and possibly fund) a solution to this problem.

One last note, don’t plan on joining a conference calls at 30,000 feet just yet, these talks will not include the usage of cell phones.  The FCC bans the use of these devices for a whole different issue.

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by on March 21, 2012  •  Permalink
Posted in Airlines, BIT, Policy Issues, Travels
Posted by webmaster on March 21, 2012

http://www.aci-na.org/blog/2012/03/21/faa-to-re-review-electronics-ban/

Airports to Honor Senator John Kerry with 2012 Congressional Leadership Award

By Morgan Dye

Airports Council International – North America (ACI-NA) will honor Senator John Kerry (D-Mass.) with the 2012 Commissioners Congressional Leadership Award for his ongoing support of the aviation industry.

Senator Kerry was first elected to the United States Senate in 1984 and has won re-election four times since. Now serving his fifth term, he holds senior positions on the Finance, Commerce, and Small Business Committees. It was in large part due to the Senator’s efforts that private activity bonds (PABs) were exempt from the Alternative Minimum Tax for 2009 and 2010. Congress’ approval of these measures saved the airport industry and local communities over $1.8 billion in financing costs during that time.

Senator Kerry recently authored language supporting a one year extension of the AMT exemption for private activity bonds and was successful in getting the language included in the Highway Trust Fund and Reauthorization which is pending before the U.S. Senate. Senator Kerry remains committed to ensuring this language remains in the final bill.

“We are pleased to award Senator Kerry with this year’s Commissioners Congressional Leadership Award,” said Herb Hilliard, Chair of ACI-NA’s Commissioners Committee and member of the Memphis/Shelby County Airport Authority.  “Senator Kerry has long recognized the economic impact of airports on their local communities and that relief from the AMT on private activity bonds allows airports to invest in infrastructure creating tens of thousands of jobs.”

ACI-NA will present the 2012 Commissioners Congressional Leadership Award to Senator Kerry at the annual ACI-NA Commissioners Reception, on Wednesday, March  14, from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. EDT in 253 Russell Senate Office Building on Capitol Hill. The reception is being held in conjunction with the 2012 ACI-NA/AAAE Washington Legislative Conference. For more information on purchasing tickets to the reception, visit http://www.aci-na.org/sites/default/files/ticket_order_form.pdf.

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by on March 12, 2012  •  Permalink
Posted in Airports, Policy Issues
Posted by mdye on March 12, 2012

http://www.aci-na.org/blog/2012/03/12/airports-to-honor-senator-john-kerry-with-2012-congressional-leadership-award/

Boeing and ACI-NA Host 787 Webinar

 

 

 

By Matt Griffin
On Tuesday, Boeing and ACI-NA hosted a webinar to update members on the general and technical specs of the 787.  Representatives from Boeing provided ACI-NA member airports and associates information on general characteristics of the 787 including parking and ground servicing of the aircraft, electrical and pre-conditioned air specifications, and wireless connectivity features and requirements.  Additionally, a quick update was provided on the development of other Boeing aircraft.

Presentations

If you have any questions please contact Chris Oswald or Matt Griffin.

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by on March 1, 2012  •  Permalink
Posted in Air Cargo, Airlines, Airports, BIT, Environmental Affairs, runway
Posted by webmaster on March 1, 2012

http://www.aci-na.org/blog/2012/03/01/boeing-and-aci-na-host-787-webinar/

Congressional Retirements – They Just Keep Coming

By Annie Russo
Back in January, I blogged about all of the congressional retirements already announced and those that we expected to come especially as redistricting maps are finalized by many states.  Both senators and their colleagues in the House have not disappointed on this front, with now 21 House members and 10 senators retiring completely from public office at the end of the year.

In surprising announcements Monday night and Tuesday morning, each chamber will lose a seasoned Republican veteran in the next Congress. Three-term Maine Sen. Olympia Snowe late Monday announced that she would not be running for re-election in November.  Snowe, a member of both the Senate Commerce and Finance Committees, has been a friend to airports advocating for the alternative minimum tax exemption, AIP funding and EAS funding during her tenure in both the House and Senate.

On Tuesday morning, Congressman David Dreier from California announced that he would not seek re-election this November as well.  Dreier, a Capitol Hill veteran having served since 1980, is best known for his tenure in the top Republican spot on the powerful House Rules Committee.  Dreier is considered by many to be a victim of the California redistricting map, which essentially eliminated his district. Certainly, Dreier’s institutional and parliamentary knowledge of the House will not be easy to replace.

As we continue to creep closer to Election Day and primary filing dates, we can expect a few more surprise announcements.  I don’t think we’ve seen the end of the wave just yet.

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by on March 1, 2012  •  Permalink
Posted in Policy Issues
Posted by webmaster on March 1, 2012

http://www.aci-na.org/blog/2012/03/01/congressional-retirements-they-just-keep-coming/

Kneaded by TSA

By Stephenie Brooks
Faced with the prospects of an eight-hour total travel time—including flight time and layover—what passenger wouldn’t welcome a free massage? But who would expect if from TSA? That’s right. You read it correctly: TSA!

While traveling over the weekend from an airport in the Mountain States, I was the recipient of this unexpected treatment. After going through the AIT, I stepped aside while my gumby image cleared. I was then asked if a female TSA agent could check my hair. I was surprised, but didn’t make a fuss. At six-feet, the agent had to stand on her tippy toes to check my hair. Luckily for her, I was not wearing my customary 3-inch (minimum) heels. After three quick kneads to my scalp it was over. “Free head massage,” she commented smilingly as I grabbed my bags and headed to the gate.

Sitting in the departure lounge thinking about the incident, I smiled. At least I hadn’t been kneaded south of my neck nor did I have to warn her not to “touch the junk in my trunk.” However, I did wonder if in this part of the U.S. whether or not people were used to seeing dreadlocks. (In case you don’t what they are or look like, here’s an image). In a more cosmopolitan city, my dreadlocks don’t even warrant a second glance. But then again, neither would I have received a free head massage . . . compliments of TSA.

After doing some research and talking with a security expert, I learned that in certain cases a travelers’ hair or headwear could potentially conceal items, and may need to be screened by TSA Transportation Security Officers. The TSA Blog  and public Web site provided some useful information about the reason I received a free massage.

1 Comment
by on February 15, 2012  •  Permalink
Posted in Airport Security, Airports, Travels
Posted by webmaster on February 15, 2012

http://www.aci-na.org/blog/2012/02/15/kneaded-by-tsa/

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