Category Archives: aviation

FAA Publishes Guidelines for Vertiports

The design standards are a critical step for the  guidance of airport owners, operators and infrastructure builders or developers to begin designing facilities that will support operations of AAM aircraft that are electrically powered and take-off and land vertically – either at ground level or on top of structures. Continue reading

Posted in aviation, safety, transportation | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Air Travel Consumer Complaints Up 2.7X Pre-Pandemic levels

DOT uses the data from the ATCR, consumer complaints, and other information it secures from the airlines to inform its enforcement activities and the adequacy of existing rules. Judging by DOT’s own data, clearly its so-called rules from its Office of Aviation Consumer Protection are ineffective to laughable in AutoInformed’s view. However if you are in the automobile business, it’s an incentive to use vehicles for your transportation needs. Free marketing from the Airline industry and the US Government. Continue reading

Posted in aviation, customer satisfaction, quality, transportation | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

US Gets Warrant to Seize Russian Oligarch Airbus

It’s just the latest example of successful maneuvering by the ‘get tough on criminals’ Biden Administration – “Russia, if you’re listening” which, critics note, is in stark contrast to the former administration’s pandering to Russia and its state sanctioned hackers. Russia are you listening now? Continue reading

Posted in aviation | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Hyundai Motor and Safran MoU on Advanced Air Mobility

The major air industry event occurred as sweltering temperatures continued to assault people globally. It is perhaps ironic that Farnborough, founded in Saxon times, is mentioned in the Domesday Book of 1086. Continue reading

Posted in aviation, global warming, mobility company, transportation | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

DOT Wants Airlines to Seat Families Together for Free

“Today’s announcements are the latest steps toward ensuring an air travel system that works for everyone,” said Secretary Pete Buttigieg. “Whether you’re a parent expecting to sit together with your young children on a flight, a traveler with a disability navigating air travel, or a consumer traveling by air for the first time in a while, you deserve safe, accessible, affordable, and reliable airline service.” Continue reading

Posted in aviation, customer satisfaction, transportation | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Infrastructure Law Funds Improving Airport Terminals

“Americans deserve modern airports that meet the needs of their families and growing passenger demand. Funded through President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, today’s grants will improve airport terminals while also creating good jobs in communities across the country,” said US Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. Continue reading

Posted in aviation, transportation | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

US DOT Gives Spirit Slots at Newark as Airlines Bilk Flyers

This comes as as weary people attempt to resume some sort of normal post-covid routines after the disastrous Trump mis-administration that ignored the deadly effects of a corona virus that is still mutating. Let the finger pointing start, or rather continue. That said AutoInformed notes once again that airlines are in effect a free international marketing tool that promotes the use of automobiles and automobility. Continue reading

Posted in aviation, transportation | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

FAA Awards Drone Research Grants to Seven Universities

The universities receiving grants are University of North Dakota, University of Kansas, Drexel University, The Ohio State University, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Mississippi State University and Oregon State University. Continue reading

Posted in aviation, safety, transportation | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

FAA – Largest Fines Ever for Two Unruly Passengers

“If you are on an airplane, don’t be a jerk and don’t endanger the flight crews and fellow passengers. If you do, you will be fined by the FAA,” U.S. Transportation Sec. Pete Buttigieg said when he announced the fines. Continue reading

Posted in aviation, fools 'n frauds | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

BTS – Aviation Fuel Cost at 7-Year High

At $2.60, the cost per gallon of fuel in February was the highest since October 2014’s $2.68. Also noteworthy in February 2022 was the 55.8% year-over-year increase in fuel consumption on domestic flights, reflecting an increase in domestic air travel from last February. Combined with the 60.9% year-over-year cost per gallon increase, the increase in fuel consumption resulted in a year-over-year domestic fuel cost increase of 150% ($1.27 billion). Continue reading

Posted in aviation, transportation | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Failed Negotiations, Lockout – Rolls-Royce Canada on Strike

“We find it unconscionable that the company in the middle of negotiations opted for a lockout rather than a social dialogue, particularly bearing in mind that the 530 specialized workers at the Côte-de-Liesse factory have been without a collective agreement since March 2020,” said IndustriALL general secretary Atle Høie. Continue reading

Posted in aviation, labor issues | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

US Airline Passengers Up in Jan 2022. Still Down from 2020

This of course was long before Putin’s war against democracy in Ukraine and economic sanctions were imposed, with more likely. Following are BTS data points. Continue reading

Posted in aviation, economy, transportation | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

US Scheduled Airline Passengers Up Under Biden

During 2019, the last full calendar year before the onset of COVID-19 and the botched Trump Administration non- or anti-response, domestic flights accounted for 88% of all passengers, and international flights accounted for 12%. During 2021, domestic flights accounted for 91% of all passengers, and international flights accounted for 9%. Continue reading

Posted in aviation, economy, transportation | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

FAA Warns Broadband Could Pose Safety Threat to Airlines

Broadband deployment is currently underway but there is scarce data on it’s actually safety effects on flying. In short, your smartphone or someone else’s or the Verizon and AT&T cellphone towers (they own the frequencies that appears to be the most problematic with potential overlap interference) could kill you if it affects airline navigation, particularly in the safety critical instrument-approach-to-landing phase of flying. The device does not have to be in use on the plane. “There have not yet been proven reports of harmful interference due to wireless broadband operations internationally, although this issue is continuing to be studied,” said the FAA. Broadband is also being proposed by some automakers and suppliers as a way to wirelessly recharge electric vehicles. Continue reading

Posted in aviation, news analysis, safety | Tagged , , , , | 4 Comments

Building Back – FAA First-Year Airport Funding $2.89B

Many of these enhancements are crucial for automakers, suppliers and millions of workers as just in time delivery practices have collided with the non-vaccinated covid resurgence and the semiconductor shortage. The money will come from the Airport Infrastructure Grant program, one of three new aviation programs created by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. The law provides $15 billion over five years. The FAA estimates the backlog of airport modernization and safety projects totals $43.6 billion. Continue reading

Posted in aviation, economy, milestones, transportation | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment