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Clash of the Titans: Holy Father vs TSA

Maybe this is widely known, but I hadn't heard until recently that Benedict XVI had joined the ranks of critics of the TSA: Details here . Now perhaps I can dare hope for an Encyclical about the inanity of the repetitive "current threat level...

Published 25 Feb 2010 13:58 by James Fallows

Filed under: Aviation, Terrorism/Security

Bad week in small-plane news

A crash in East Palo Alto two days ago after an early morning take-off apparently in fog, killing three employees of the Tesla electric-car company; the notorious suicide/murder/terror crash in Austin yesterday; a landing in the wee hours this morning...

Published 19 Feb 2010 19:34 by James Fallows

Filed under: Aviation

Buzzard Strike (updated)

This is the most bizarre aviation video I have seen in a long time. It was shot in Miami just before the Superbowl, and it shows the results of a bird strike in a helicopter. Bird strikes are unpleasant for all involved, starting with the bird. Small...

Published 14 Feb 2010 20:30 by James Fallows

Filed under: Aviation

More on frolics and other language points

I mentioned recently the odd use of the term "frolic" in the FAA's complaint about the pilots who "forgot" to land in Minneapolis, and also my friend Cullen Murphy's exercise in writing an entire article in "E-Prime,"...

Published 14 Dec 2009 20:34 by James Fallows

Filed under: Aviation, Language

If you've been wondering about NW flight 188

That's the one that "missed" Minneapolis, overshot by 150 miles or so, then did a U-turn over Wisconsin before returning for a safe landing. Afterwards the two pilots said they had been "distracted" by a discussion about new scheduling...

Published 11 Dec 2009 14:52 by James Fallows

Filed under: Aviation

Another gift possibility

In the Atlantic's special on-line "Editors' Choice" gift guide , I aim very high with my own wish-list item, on the principle of "if you don't ask, you'll never know." But in case you're not quite motivated to get...

Published 6 Dec 2009 12:49 by James Fallows

Filed under: Aviation

Gift thoughts for the holidays

I am a fan of nearly every kind of small aircraft, but I might draw the line here: It's a personal helicopter, really two rotors on a hat. Action video here , from Makezine (thanks to Dave Proffer). As it happens, one of my upcoming New Year's...

Published 1 Dec 2009 2:38 by James Fallows

Filed under: Aviation

Airspace over the Hudson

One more thing to be thankful for: a sensible response to the tragic airplane-helicopter crash over the Hudson River in August. As of this week the FAA has applied new traffic-separation rules for small airplanes, airliners, and helicopters flying above...

Published 25 Nov 2009 20:03 by James Fallows

Filed under: Aviation

More on the undercover TSA officers

Two days ago I mentioned the delightful story about the TSA's plan to place "behavior detection officers," or BDOs, in airports and to disguise them in ... TSA uniforms. Herewith several relevant responses. 1) About the plan's underlying...

Published 12 Nov 2009 10:26 by James Fallows

Filed under: Aviation, Terrorism/Security

What has happened to the F-35?

Seven years ago I wrote in the magazine about the genesis of the F-35 fighter plane, known back then as the Joint Strike Fighter or JSF. (" Uncle Sam Builds an Airplane ," June, 2002.) At the time, the JSF was supposed to be the solution to...

Published 9 Nov 2009 14:32 by James Fallows

Filed under: Aviation, Terrorism/Security

In defense of the TSA

On the "man bites dog" front, and in the spirit of fairness, here are two items on behalf of the TSA. Or at least in opposition to some lines of criticism (like this recent one from me). First: I can't believe that I've learned only...

Published 7 Nov 2009 11:25 by James Fallows

Filed under: Aviation, Terrorism/Security

Unemployment and airplane crashes

A man in Florida sends what may be the ideal example of reader mail, combining as it does aerodynamic theory, politics, economics, and presidential rhetoric. If only there were a China- or beer-related angle... Seriously, his critique of how the Obama...

Published 7 Nov 2009 9:05 by James Fallows

Filed under: Aviation, Politics, Economics, Language

Ongoing TSA / Security Theater watch

The monthly "Airport Policy News" reports by Robert Poole, of the Reason Foundation, are a steady source of nuggets about economic, technological, and political developments in the aviation world. I would send a link to the latest report I'm...

Published 6 Nov 2009 9:38 by James Fallows

Filed under: Aviation, Terrorism/Security

The Prius of the sky

A contest for fuel-efficient small airplanes has a winner: a modified VariEze that gets 45 mpg at over 200 MPH with two people aboard, and nearly 100 mpg at a lower "maximum range" speed. Details from Wired here , Tree Hugger here , and the...

Published 4 Nov 2009 20:28 by James Fallows

Filed under: Aviation, Technology

More on the Minneapolis "overflight"

According to numerous accounts in the last hour -- AP here , Reuters here , WSJ here -- the current story from the Northwest flight crew that forgot to land in Minneapolis is that they were so absorbed in using laptops in the cockpit that they neglected...

Published 26 Oct 2009 15:06 by James Fallows

Filed under: Aviation

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Jim Fallows' Aviation blogs

Clash of the Titans: Holy Father vs TSA

Bad week in small-plane news

Buzzard Strike (updated)

More on frolics and other language points

If you've been wondering about NW flight 188

Another gift possibility

Gift thoughts for the holidays

Airspace over the Hudson

More on the undercover TSA officers

What has happened to the F-35?

In defense of the TSA

Unemployment and airplane crashes

Ongoing TSA / Security Theater watch

The Prius of the sky

More on the Minneapolis "overflight"