Tag Archives: ntsb

DOT Secretary Chao Announces FAA Certification of Commercial Package Delivery, aka Pizza Pie in the Sky

This allows Wing Aviation to begin commercial package delivery in Blacksburg, VA. Wing partnered with the Mid-Atlantic Aviation Partnership and Virginia Tech, as one of the participants in the Transportation Department’s Unmanned Aircraft Systems Integration Pilot Program. Continue reading

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FAA Approves Boeing 787 Battery System Design Changes

The Federal Aviation Administration today approved Boeing’s design changes for modifications to the 787 Dreamliner battery system. The agency claimed that this would address risks at the battery cell level, the battery level and the aircraft level. Previously the FAA had approved the current battery system design, which conspicuously failed on at least two low-time Dreamliner aircraft. Continue reading

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FAA Approves Boeing Certification Plan. 787 Still Grounded

The battery system changes include a redesign of the internal components to minimize a short circuit within the battery pack, better insulation of the cells and the addition of a new containment and venting system to prevent smoke caused by fires from entering the cabin. Continue reading

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Distracted Driving Prompts Technology Forced Compliance

Most fleet managers lack confidence in current enforcement methods, so 27% plan to investigate cell phone use analytics and 21% plan to explore ‘smartphone’ software within the next twelve months to automate and force employee compliance with regulations and company policies. Translation: big brother is going to get bigger, ultimately with privacy and civil liberty implications for all drivers. It is also just a matter of time before the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration gets more involved in regulating all drivers. Continue reading

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CMU Research Backs Ban for Cell Phones When Driving. NTSB Wants States to Prohibit All Non-Emergency Use of Cell Phones

Research by Carnegie Mellon University’s Marcel Just shows that simply listening to someone speak on the other end of a cell phone reduces the amount of brain activity associated with driving by 37%, compared to driving alone. The decrease in available brain resources can cause drivers using cell phones to commit the same type of driving errors that can occur under the influence of alcohol. Continue reading

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DOT Distracted Driving Rule Bans Hand-Held Phone use by Commercial Drivers, but Allows Hands-Free Cell Phones

The latest DOT rule falls far short of a recommendation in September from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) to ban the use of all cell phones – hand-held and hands-free – by commercial drivers except in emergencies. NTSB made the recommendation after a horrific crash in Kentucky between an 18-wheeler and a van killed 11 people. Continue reading

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NTSB Wants Cell Phone Ban for Commercial Drivers

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has recommended banning the use of all types of cell phones by commercial drivers except in emergencies. The Safety Board said cell phone use by the driver of an 18-wheel semi truck was the … Continue reading

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