Category Archives: transportation

Tiny Talking Robot Kirobo Returns from Space

Posted on 12 February 2015 by Ken Zino

After 18 months on board the International Space Station, humanoid communication robot Kirobo returned to Earth as a passenger on SpaceX’s CRS-5 Dragon cargo supply spacecraft, which successfully splashed down in the Pacific Ocean earlier today. Continue reading →

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Volkswagen Group Selects Jacksonville as its Port

Posted on 11 February 2015 by Ken Zino

Currently the German automaker is using Houston, San Diego, Davisville and Brunswick, the former port in the south, Port Canaveral and Tampa. Presumably, all these ports were also considered for the consolidation. Continue reading →

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Nissan and NASA to Develop Autonomous Drive Vehicles

Posted on 8 January 2015 by Ken Zino

NASA did not press release the deal, leaving it to French and Japanese owned Nissan to crow about the research in an attempt to downplay what is sure to be controversial – U.S. taxpayer resources supporting – yet again – offshore corporations. Continue reading →

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FAA Clears Santa One. NORAD Tracking

Posted on 24 December 2014 by Ken Zino

The Federal Aviation Administration said today that Santa One, a reindeer-powered sleigh that Santa Claus uses to deliver presents to children around the world, has been cleared for its Christmas Eve flight.

The combined air defense command for North America, Canada and the U.S., dubbed North American Aerospace Defense Command or NORAD will be tracking the general aviation aircraft, err sleigh – see http://www.noradsanta.org/ as it hosts an annual mission to track Santa Claus as he journeys across the globe to deliver presents on December 24. Continue reading →

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Shanghai Yancui Import ships Hazardous Materials into US

Posted on 22 October 2014 by Ken Zino

At least it was not Ebola. Nonetheless, workers at a DHL sorting facility in Erlanger, Kentucky discovered the bottle emitting smoke. Why it took the FAA this long to act is also an indictment of the continuing failure of federal agencies to do their job. To be fair and un-Fox-like it appears that the FAA has a scarce amount of attorneys working on a high volume of cases caused by corporate scofflaws, so it takes time to act. Continue reading →

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BMW Motorrad Sets All Time Sales Record in Q3 and YTD

Posted on 15 October 2014 by Ken Zino

BMW Motorrad recorded retail growth in almost all sales regions during the first nine months of the year. Continue reading →

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Billions of Taxpayer Dollars to New York, New Jersey Transit

Posted on 22 September 2014 by Ken Zino

U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx today announced that 40 projects have been selected to receive a share of $3.59 billion in federal disaster relief funds to help public transportation systems affected by Hurricane Sandy. Continue reading →

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FAA Warning on Syria as US remains Ensnared in Conflict

Posted on 18 August 2014 by Ken Zino

There is no question the ongoing armed conflict and volatile security environment in Syria poses a serious threat to civil aviation. Continue reading →

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FAA Unmanned Aircraft Systems Test Sites in Place

Posted on 18 August 2014 by Ken Zino

The unmanned planes represent the latest government and/or private industry assault on personal privacy. If you think speeding cameras are bad, wait a couple of years. They also pose a real safety threat to other aircraft, and depending on how you cut the statistics they are up to 300 times more likely to crash than small, manned aircraft that are currently used for surveillance and traffic enforcement. Continue reading →

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Great Weather! Great Woodward Dream Cruise

Posted on 18 August 2014 by Ken Zino

The world’s largest single-day car enthusiast event, drawing more than 1.5 million enthusiasts – it’s claimed – annually to Woodward Avenue. Continue reading →

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Pork or Progress as FAA Funds Natural Gas Shuttles?

Posted on 31 July 2014 by Ken Zino

The grant gives money to purchase six compressed natural gas buses to transport airport passengers and employees from the terminal to parking and rental car facilities. This project is part of the airport’s program to minimize vehicle emissions within the airport footprint. Continue reading →

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An Inflatable Drive-In Coming Returns to LeMay Museum

Posted on 23 July 2014 by Ken Zino

LeMay, aka America’s Car Museum or ACM, is hosting the drive-ins free of charge on a 3.5-acre show field adjacent to the 165,000 sq. ft. museum – the largest automotive museum in North America. ACM inflates a 40-foot screen for viewing the movies against a backdrop of the Tacoma skyline and Puget Sound. Continue reading →

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BMW Motorcycle Debuts Worlds First Cornering ABS

Posted on 18 July 2014 by Ken Zino

Claimed benefits of ABS Pro to the rider are a sensitive response and a high level of brake and ride stability together with the best possible deceleration on turns. Continue reading →

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Anti-Green Aviation Industry Finally Getting the Lead Out

Posted on 10 July 2014 by Ken Zino

The general aviation industry through trade groups, airplane and engine makers, as well as members of Congress who fly has fiercely resisted doing anything about this destructive and toxic use of lead in so-called 100 low lead fuel (100LL) going back to the last century. Continue reading →

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Gibbs Adds 2-Seat Quadski to 2014 Lineup

Posted on 25 June 2014 by Ken Zino

In the expensive toy or useful tool world of amphibious vehicles, Gibbs with its high-speed sports approach is expanding its line to include a two-seat Quadski XL. Compared to the standard solo seat Quadski, XL has seating for two at an overall length of 140.2 inches, compared to 128.3 inches for the standard model with increased storage capacity. Prices for the small one start at about $40,000 and float up from there. Continue reading →

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