WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Transportation Security Administration has been without an administrator since 2007 and the minority leader of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee is calling for a reorganization of TSA, saying it is “a bloated, ineffective bureaucracy.” Rep. John Mica (R-Fla.) recently released a review of a TSA program known as SPOT (Screening […]
Opinion
Learning the ropes from a seasoned pro
In 2001 a fellow by the name of Sam Hoerter published the second edition of “The Airport Management Primer.” This document is chock full of interesting observations and unique insights. It is an absolute goldmine of information that is pertinent to the management and operation of airports large and small. For an intellectual assault on […]
A million dollars here, a million dollars there…
The issue of airport funding is always entertaining. Not because it’s of no great importance to the aviation community, but for exactly the opposite reason. It isn’t important to those who dole out the dollars. And that’s almost entertaining enough to make a responsible citizen cry. Ironic, isn’t it? ABC News produced a report for […]
How about video game cockpit?
The letter about glass cockpits from Lou Wagner of Bethune, S.C., was 100% correct. Glass cockpits should not be called glass cockpits. I would give it a non-professional name like “video game cockpit.” Yes, it is modern, operated by electrical power. But what happens if you lose your electrical power — and that has happened […]
FBI deputy director nominated to head TSA
The Transportation Security Administration has been without an administrator for more than a year, but perhaps the third attempt to fill the post will be the charm as President Obama announced his intention to nominate FBI Deputy Director John S. Pistole to head that section of Homeland Security. Pistole has been with the FBI since […]
More on the Death of Common Sense
LETTER TO THE EDITOR Re: The Death of Common Sense: Common sense has been driven out of most airports, but it does still exist here in the boondocks. If the runways are grass — or dirt — and the aircraft do not have radios, or they are not used too much, and the pilots cannot […]
As the Luscombe turns
The past several weeks have brought some great flying weather to northern Georgia, but unfortunately we haven’t been able to take advantage of those precious flying days. Henry’s mom or “Granny,” as she is known in our house, has taken a turn for the worse. It’s gardening season, and I know the last place she […]
In celebration of lunch at the airport
To be honest, I am not particularly fond of participating in business lunches. My method is to either work, or eat, but not to do both simultaneously. But even I can violate a personal rule now and then. So I convinced myself that the no-working-lunch thing was more of a guideline than a rule, and […]
Flying in Alaska
I regularly attend aviation events all over the country and have been doing so for around 40 years. I always enjoy seeing the numbers and variety of aircraft at these events, whether the event is primarily for sport aviation enthusiasts or features high-end business aircraft. Oshkosh and Sun ‘n Fun always amaze me by the […]