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19 Nov 2010 10:29

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U.S.: TSA apparently realizes having pilots do full-body scans is stupid

  • We’ve had a number of very good discussions with pilots and hope to be announcing something very soon in terms of a good way forward for the pilots for that very reason, using a risk-based intelligence driven process.
  • Transportation Security Administration chief John Pistole • Revealing that the invasive full-body security measures, which have inexplicably been used on pilots EVEN THOUGH THEY COULD THEORETICALLY JUST CRASH THE PLANE BY FLYING VERY POORLY, could go away. Now, this doesn’t help normal passengers, who are forced to hear how the TSA is trying to change the conversation by suggesting that people’s desire to not go through the full-body scans are a “myth,” very much, but it’s a start. source

20 Oct 2010 22:20

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U.S.: Pilot to TSA: I’m not getting in a full body scanner – and you suck

  • I just kind of had to ask myself ‘Where do I stand?’ I’m just not comfortable being physically manhandled by a federal security agent every time I go to work.
  • Expressjet Airlines pilot Michael Roberts • Explaining why he chose not to get in the full-body-scan machine on his way into work one day last week. This is kind of a bold stand to take, and it plays into the whole spiel that Gizmodo pushed around the time of the Underwear Bomber, which is that the Transportation Safety Administration offers the wrong kind of resources in the wrong place, and that stronger intelligence is better than forcing everyone to take off their shoes. Glad to see a pilot agrees. source

07 Apr 2010 20:17

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Biz: United we merge: U.S. Airways and United Airlines wanna shack up

  • Because, hey, who needs consumer choice, anyway? The two airlines are in the kind of talks that saw Delta Air Lines and Northwest Airlines merge recently, a move which confused the pilots. They’ve almost merged a few times already, most recently in 2008. But with the warm feeling of precedent slicking the runway, the skies could clear. It might just happen this time. source

27 Oct 2009 22:42

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U.S.: The FAA does the smart thing and shames The Laptop Jockeys

  • Guess who lost their licenses?! The Federal Aviation Administration gave the cynics of the world a reason to cheer today as they took away the licenses from the two losers who were too busy on their laptops to land the plane in Minneapolis like they were supposed to. The Northwest Airlines pilots, who were out of radio contact for 91 schedule-software-training minutes, have ten days to appeal the decision. But considering the hype the case has gotten, it might be tough to fight. source

26 Oct 2009 20:29

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U.S.: Ahahahahaha. The pilots who missed their stop? On their laptops.

  • The pilots are likely gonna lose their jobs. We sure hope so. Last week, the uproar over a plane that disappeared just before it was supposed to land initially had people thinking the plane was hijacked. Then, the pilots were drunk. Then, the pilots were arguing. Here’s what it really was: The pilots were on their laptops, while one was showing the other Delta Air Lines’ new scheduling system – which is changing for the pilots due to the continuing merger of Delta and Northwest Airlines. We’re not sure if we believe this. We bet they were just playing Canabalt. source

02 Jun 2009 10:31

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World: Are you a pilot based in China? You may get quarantined for swine flu!

  • 400+ pilots and plane crew were quarantined in the wake of the swine flu scare
  • 250 of them were hospitalized; the rest were asked to quarantine themselves at home source