Colorado Avalanche Threat Strands Thousands of Travelers
Lithium Battery Ban on Planes Begins Tomorrow
Pilot Error Rate Dropped, Accident Rate Remains Stable
Controller Miscommunication Blamed for Close Call at LAX
Passenger’s Roamin’ Hands Causes Flight Diversion
COLORADO AVALANCHE THREAT STRANDS THOUSANDS OF TRAVELERS - CNN
More than 2,000 travelers were stranded at Red Cross shelters Monday as avalanche threats closed a stretch of Interstate 70 west of Denver. Deep snow that fell into more than two dozen mountain ravines—known as avalanche chutes—and heavy winds that obscured visibility forced the state to close the highway overnight. The Red Cross opened seven shelters for stranded travelers.
Link: CNN
LITHIUM BATTERY BAN BEGINS TOMORROW - Time Magazine
As of January 1, air travelers will no longer be able to pack loose lithium batteries in their checked luggage, in a move designed to reduce the risk of fires. Passengers can check lithium batteries that are already installed in electronic devices (i.e. cameras and cell phone), and loose batteries may be brought onboard as carry-on if they are packed in plastic bags or in the original packaging. The FAA has found that fire-protection systems in the cargo hold can’t put out fires caused by lithium batteries.
Link: Time Magazine
PILOT ERROR RATE DROPPED, ACCIDENT RATE REMAINS STABLE - MSNBC
A new study suggests that pilot error in U.S. airliners has “significantly declined” between 1983 and 2002. The study, conducted by researchers at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, showed that the proportion of mishaps involving pilot mistakes has decreased about 40 percent, although the overall rate of U.S. airline accidents has remained stable during that period. This decline has been attributed to improvement in pilot training, technology on flight decks and cockpit resource management techniques (CRM) that impact decision-making onboard. Pilot error is generally defined as pilot or flight crew carelessness, flawed decision-making, mishandling of the aircraft, or poor crew interaction.
Link: MSNBC
CONTROLLER MISCOMMUNICATION BLAMED FOR CLOSE CALL AT LAX – Phoenix News
Two airplanes came within 8,000 feet of each other on a LAX runway due to miscommunication between the air traffic controller and two pilots. The incursion took place on Wednesday night between an American Airlines plane arriving from Mexico and a Mexicana Airlines plane that was preparing for take-off.
Link: Phoenix News
PASSENGER’S ROAMIN’ HANDS CAUSES FLIGHT DIVERSION- USA Today
A United Airlines flight was diverted to Pittsburgh after a man was charged with federal air marshals for groping a female passenger. The 46-year-old man was brought up on charges of abusive sexual conduct. The pilot made the decision to divert the plane, headed from Dulles International Airport to Seattle, to Pittsburgh in order to remove the man from the aircraft.
Link: USA Today
