It seems that airport safety is getting better and has been for several years. The FAA reported today that there were fewer incidents on runways this year by 50% year over year. The FAA statement indicates:
U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Administrator Randy Babbitt announced today that the number of serious runway incursions at the nation’s airports dropped 50 percent from 2009, the second consecutive year that the number of serious incursions was cut in half.
“We continue to make terrific progress in the area of runway safety and the credit should go to the entire aviation community,” LaHood said. “I’m thrilled that we’ve further reduced serious incursions, and I look forward to additional improvements in the years ahead.”
“The goal we are working towards is zero runway incursions,” Babbitt said during a press conference at Boston’s Logan Airport where he highlighted runway safety technology. “I’m confident that the right combination of education and technology will help us get there.”
The number of serious runway incursions at the nation’s airports dropped from 12 in fiscal year 2009 to six in fiscal year 2010, which ended on Sept. 30. Today’s announcement reflects a steady, significant improvement in runway safety over the last decade. In fiscal year 2000 there were 67 serious runway incursions. Of the six incursions this fiscal year, three involved commercial aircraft.
Several years ago the FAA launched an intensive effort to improve runway safety. That effort included the expedited installation of new technology at airports, expanded requirements for improved signage and markings at airports, and improved pilot training on runway conflict scenarios. Since then, the FAA and pilot groups also have conducted extensive outreach and training for general aviation pilots.
During the press conference, Babbitt announced that the Runway Status Lights system at Boston’s Logan Airport has completed a successful testing period. The runway safety system gives direct warnings to pilots of potential runway incursions or collisions through a network of red lights that are embedded in the airfield pavement. The lights warn pilots when it is unsafe for a pilot to enter, cross or proceed down a runway. Pilots must stop when the red lights are illuminated and may not continue without clearance from air traffic control.
The new technology, which is also being used at Dallas/Ft. Worth, San Diego and Los Angeles, was successfully tested for 90 days at Boston. The FAA partnered with the Massachusetts Port Authority (Massport) to install the system. The FAA funded the design and development of the system, as well as the equipment. Massport paid for the installation of the airfield lighting equipment.
Runway Status Lights systems are scheduled to be installed at 23 airports across the country beginning next year.
Technology it seems is making our lives easier to handle and it seems it is also making our lives much safer as well.
I am a big advocate of the technology world. I run in circles that believe that technology and specifically applications and software are what will fuel our next economy. When I see things that talk about applications and technology I tend to pay attention. Something that is a hot item in the world of mobile phones is Plane Finder. AIN recently reported that the application that costs the user $2.99 from a UK based company is all the rage. It was reported:
[the application] displays aircraft transmitting ADS-B Out signals–and only ADS-B–in a user’s geo-referenced area, whereas Pinkfroot’s planefinder.net Web site shows ADS-B-equipped aircraft across the world moving atop various map backgrounds, including Google Earth. In the iPhone and Android apps, touching an aircraft brings up its ID, type, operator’s name, altitude, groundspeed, heading, route and its manufacturer serial number, in addition to clickable pages of other information. While this is pretty straightforward database information, the clever twist is augmented reality, where pointing the mobile device’s camera at a visible overflying aircraft integrates the smartphone’s GPS position with the aircraft’s altitude and its ADS-B’s GPS position to display its bearing and distance, as well as the same full data block. Spotters are thrilled; not surprisingly, homeland security officials aren’t.
I would say that homeland security might be very interested in the use for this application to say the least. I would also think that those paparazzi that are tracking celebs might also find a use for the aircraft finder for their own “research”. Finally, I would be interested if this application might also be used by corporate espionage to find out what planes are flying to what places and landing at what times times to determine when meetings are held, where executives are going and when. All information that could be assisted with the pointing of your iPhone at over head aircraft.
We continue to see advances in technology that are allowing us to do things that we could never do before when we shop of when we make big purchases. We can see the products we are searching for and researching our big purchases is becoming much easier. This is not any different when researching and buying a very large purchase like a vacation home, a vehicle, or even, you guessed it, your next corporate jet. Corporate jet inventories are up all over the world and wit that you have a large amount of jets to choose from. At L&L International we have listed out our inventories to help you search for the corporate jet you are looking for and can provide you further information as you request.
Not only can you search through our current inventory, but we can also help you search and find other aircraft. You can be sent photographs and with the idea that we can send video and other media over the Internet you can get further information on request. You need not be in the city or even the same country as the aircraft you are searching for, and we can provide that assistance to you by using technology. If there is anything that you need to make your search or purchase of a corporate jet purchase easier we can give you the assistance you are needing. If you are buying a corporate jet, looking to lease a jet or if you have any needs at all please contact us.
I was reading an article recently in Business Jet Traveler that said corporate jets are analogous to time machines because they save business travelers time that would normally be spent in normal business channels. Business jets can also afford you a more productive tool for getting work done while in transit. The article came up with eight ways that you can better use your time while flying via a business jet:
- Meetings in a secure environment;
- Make your clients feel special;
- Provide a seat to someone;
- Flying where you need to go;
- Use your time for other things; and
I like the ideas that they talk about in the article but as someone that has flown quite a number of times in the last few years I can see some of the little things that are also important that could help you save time. I have waited to check-in to a flight in long lines that cause me to stand pulling the luggage along while trying to do some work on my mobile phone. I have had flights delayed due to passengers that have had problems or issues, and I have sat on a runway tarmac for unruly periods while they figure out why a light bulb is blinking. I have had problems with technology not working because I ran out of AC power and I wished I could take care of some phone calls while in flight.
These are some classic examples of what can be done on a business jet but could not otherwise be performed. Time is money in most businesses and your time is especially important. Adding time to a business trip can make the difference when your company is trying to compete or if you are trying to meet some company goals. Business jets are a secret weapon of sorts or in the case of the business traveler, they are a time machine. This may translate into a money machine.
Operation Skyshield will have its 50th anniversary tomorrow on September 10, 2010. Only the World Trade Center attacks has resulted in the entire North American continent being shut down to all aircraft since the tests that were run by the U.S. and Canadian governments in Operation Skyshield. In an attempt to test the effectiveness of air defense systems, all aircraft were first grounded on September 10, 1960. The governments did this as merely a test and those results have never been shared. The operation was one of the largest air drills in aviation history and has not been done but three other times in the 60’s. Today’s air traffic is much more exponential than it was in the 60’s which would cause much more difficulties as a result. No other drills have been conducted in modern times.
As of this post, Facebook has more than 500 million users and is still climbing. Many of you are also on Facebook and we would love to be your friend and follow along with your social stream. If you have a business that is related to the world of business aviation and corporate jets or even if you support the industry in other ways through corporate travel or perhaps you provide jet charter services or any other type of related industry business we want to know about you. If you are a pilot or anyone that helps support the industry, let us know. We enjoy being on Facebook ourselves and you can find us on Facebook and perhaps “Like” our page.
In addition to finding us on Facebook at our Corporate Jet Insider page, we can also be found using Twitter. We are sending out our 140 character messages about our posts, the industry and things we find interesting in the world do business aviation. These bits of information are important to our readers, our customers and those looking for a little bit of Corporate Jet Insider information. We want to follow your Twitter stream too. Leave us some information on how we can find you or your Twitter account. We love having new people to follow and those that can provide useful information.
We will continue to bring you the information you are searching for here related to our corporate and business aviation business, but we are also out in the networks looking for and providing useful information. Thanks for following along with us in the online social networking world.
After reading about Avtrak in some aviation news I had a look at there operation. They are here close to me in my area and I wanted to get familiar with their operation. AIN reports that Avtrak is expanding its operations in Mexico and is soon growing beyond its capacity at its current location and will be moving its headquarters to Centennial Airport in Colorado. This is good news for companies in the aviation industry and it shows that this company is working hard to get ahead during down times. Their VP of marketing, Dennis Steinbeck, echos that sentiment in his statement to AIN, “We are one of the fortunate companies that have been expanding during one of the worst times in our industry.”
Avtrak is a maintenance tracking company and from their site they state:
Avtrak’s easy to use, web based services are recognized as the preferred maintenance tracking service by maintenance professionals worldwide. Avtrak’s services are considered the perfect blend of technology and highly qualified support people.
It is good to see that there are companies still expanding and growing and taking advantage of their hard work during this time of difficulty in the economy. If they can do it, I am positive we can all benefit from some hard work and some hustle.
I wanted to highlight the fact that we take for granted the “no frills” flights of commercial airlines and many people only dream of being able to have the best possible experience with first class flights, if they can afford what that ticket will cost them. I get a chance to see first hand some of the interiors of corporate jets and they are far above anything that even first class commercial flights can provide. I was reading recently at AirlineTrends.com that Virgin America is stepping up its game with in flight entertainment or “IFE”. The article states:
Virgin America has upgraded its ‘Red’ in-flight entertainment system with a number of innovative features, including the first ever seatback digital shopping platform, an open tab service, and Google Maps with terrain view. Already on Virgin America, passengers can use the IFE system to watch live satellite television, chat with other passengers, play 3D games such as Doom, and offset carbon emissions for their flight. Passengers can also purchase snacks, meals, and alcoholic beverages from their seats via Red. Flight attendants receive the orders via a tablet PC and bring the ordered items to the seat.
I love that commercial airlines are trying to make the experience of flying that much better for those that don’t have the use of their corporate private jets. I wonder when we will have headsets with a virtual screen where we can wear a helmet and get the feel of flying in a Gulstream or a or that Dassault Falcon while sitting in the back of the plane listening to soft music while the child behinds us screams because their ears hurt. Until that time, I will let companies like Virgin America try to keep up with the world of luxury flights.
There is always a number of people buzzing in the technology community when Apple comes out with a new product or there is a new press conference about its latest news. The Apple community is very loyal and they have a very sought after following in the mobile market. I am an Apple user in their laptops and computers, but I have not yet adopted the iPhone. It has to do with the service I use, but I still look forward to seeing what is the latest in the world of Apple. On Friday, Steve Jobs the leader of Apple held a press conference on the latest iPhone4 and I was one of the ones that paid attention to what was being said. The conference ended and they opened it up for questions and right out of the box, the first question asked Jobs how he was feeling and about his health. He responded by saying he felt better last week while he was on vacation in Hawaii and not working. This made me think about the way he travels.
Steve Jobs has been known for his salary of $1 per year, but he also has a number of things that are required under his compensation agreement. Part of that is his corporate travel. Steve Jobs chooses to travel on a corporate jet owned by the Apple company and I assume his latest trip to Hawaii was no different. What business jet does Steve Jobs use? He travels around in a well publicized Gulfstream V. The Gulfstream which is pictured here is top of its class and a great way for the Apple executive to get around on his many travels.
Jobs no doubt has many reasons to travel on the Gulfstream and security is probably a main component of that idea. With the secrecy of what goes on in Apple and the number of corporations looking to beg, borrow or steal from the innovations and for journalists looking to get the scoop on what is going on at Apple, I can bet that security is a big decision why Gulfstream is sailing through the skies with this top executive. You too can own a Gulfstream V for your corporation.
[Photo via John R. Beckman at Airliners.net]
I have been giving some thought to a few of the posts that talk about security and ease of travel that is brought out by many companies as to why they have decided to purchase a corporate jet or have decided to go with a private aircraft for their executive travel. It has to do with the flexibility issue of travel. I have been sitting in a line at an airport wondering if I had any chance to make my flight due to some mishap or weather problem or perhaps just a broken light that needs replaced in the galley. I also sit and wonder if I will make that connecting flight or if I will be sleeping in my own bed at the end of the day.
The stress of travel can take its toll over time and it does take a lot of that — Time. I have no control over the time I leave or the delays that occur and have no flexibility in how I travel. If a company has a private business aircraft that changes drastically. Yes, it still has to deal with weather issues, but ti does not have to deal with weather in other cities that cause delays in the system. It doesn’t fall prey to the problems of schedules and can be ready for travel anywhere in a short period of time. Executives like to have that flexibility and that is not as much of a perk as it is a business necessity in some cases.
