FAA Bans US Flights To & From Tel Aviv

Via the Washington Post:

The Federal Aviation Administration on Tuesday afternoon ordered U.S. carriers to stop flying to or from Ben Gurion International Airport in Tel Aviv, prohibiting them from traveling through Israel’s largest airport after a rocket landed nearby. Airlines were banned from flying to Tel Aviv for a 24-hour period beginning on Tuesday at 12:15 p.m. The FAA said it will issue additional guidance by the end of that period.  This prohibition came after a rocket landed about a mile away from the airport, the FAA said. “The FAA immediately notified U.S. carriers when the agency learned of the rocket strike and informed them that the agency was finalizing [the notice],” the agency said in a statement. “The FAA will continue to monitor and evaluate the situation.” Even before the FAA’s notice was sent out, several U.S. airlines began canceling flights on Tuesday morning and afternoon.

United has suspended all service to and from Tel Aviv until further notice.

FAA Approves Use Of Most Electronic Devices For Take-Offs & Landings

Soon you'll no longer have to stop playing Candy Crush during take-off.

Airplane travelers will soon be able to watch videos and play games with their electronic devices throughout their entire flight -- and not just above a certain altitude -- the Federal Aviation Administration said Thursday in a long anticipated announcement. But don't expect to be chatting on your cell phone. A ban on using cell phones for voice communication remains in effect. The FAA, following months of study by a group of aviation experts, said that airlines can soon allow passengers to use portable electronic devices such as tablets, laptop computers, e-readers and cell phones in airplane mode throughout the flight -- with some circumstantial restrictions.

Each airline must submit proof that their planes can withstand any interference before they can adopt the new ruling.

FAA To Ease Rules On Electronics

The FAA is expected to relax its rules about using electronic devices on flights.

For fliers, the new rules would likely mean an end to familiar admonitions to turn off and stow all electronic devices. Cellphone calls are expected to remain off limits, however. The draft doesn't make any recommendations regarding phone use because the FAA didn't authorize the panel to delve into that particularly controversial area. Details are still being debated by the group and inside the FAA and could change. Still, the draft report reflects a consensus that the existing rules, essentially unchanged since the 1960s, have been overtaken by dramatic changes in technology and passenger expectations.

FCC To FAA: Drop Electronics Rule

Via New York Times:

Now the United States government is telling the United States government to allow devices on airplanes during takeoff and landing. Julius Genachowski, chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, sent a letter to the Federal Aviation Administration Thursday, urging the agency to allow more electronics on airplanes. Mr. Genachowski said the F.A.A. should “enable greater use of tablets, e-readers, and other portable devices” during flights. The letter was first obtained by The Hill. The letter, which was addressed to Michael Huerta, the acting administrator of the F.A.A., went on to promote the importance of allowing people to use these devices on planes as more Americans become increasingly reliant on devices for work and pleasure.

LAX To FLL In 24 Hours

Another flight nightmare from Spirit Airlines.

Passengers on-board a Spirit Airlines flight landed in South Florida nearly a day after taking off from Los Angeles. Flight 310 departed LAX at 10 pm PST Saturday night, but was forced to make an emergency landing in Houston due to an unruly passenger. The 81-year-old man, who is blind, was kicking and screaming. He was taken into custody, but later released. The pilot decided not to press charges. Passengers were kept on the tarmac for several hours until they were allowed off. Once at the terminal, the airline said passengers would be shuttled to Dallas to catch another flight. Spirit Airlines does not fly to Fort Lauderdale from Houston. Irate passengers began yelling and screaming. Theresa Shaviano recorded the confrontation on her cell phone camera. "It was terrible. It was unreal. It was painful," she said. The airline eventually decided to fly in another plane.

Everybody got a refund.

JetBlue Gets Dough For Fast Lane

Yesterday the feds gave over $4M to NYC-based JetBlue so that the airline can transition away from ground radar and towards using GPS for its flights from JFK to Florida and the Caribbean. The new system means JetBlue flights so equipped will be shorter and faster.

Years in the planning, the system known as NextGen is expected to deliver an unprecedented level of precision that the FAA says will relieve air traffic congestion, allow more direct routing on flights, reduce flight delays and promote fuel efficiency. "This is just good business, really, independent of the FAA investment," JetBlue Airways chief executive Dave Barger said Thursday. "I'll be delighted to make the rest of the investment."

All commercial aircraft are required to be on the new system by 2020.

Little Kid Runs JFK Air Traffic Control

Well, this is reassuring. An air traffic controller at JFK took his kid to work with him and let the child deliver a few directions to pilots over the radio. Gothamist notes: "To be fair, he does sound pretty darn cute." The FAA is vowing that heads will roll.

Flying SUX

Sioux City, Iowa, which had petitioned the FAA to have their airport designation code, SUX, changed to something less mockable, has decided to embrace and market their memorable name. Go to FlySUX.com for information about their airport and to buy Fly SUX apparel. Interestingly, one of the alternatives to SUX offered by the FAA was GAY, but the city turned them down. Apparently, Sioux City would rather SUX than be GAY.