Monday, November 8, 2010

Transportation Communications Newsletter

Monday, November 8, 2010 – ISSN 1529-1057

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November TCN Fundraiser

Twice a year I hold a fundraiser to help support the Transportation Communications Newsletter. If you've been a subscriber of the TCN for more than a few months you probably know my putting together the TCN is mostly a labor of love. I never intend to charge a subscription fee for the TCN because I believe that would exclude many who might not be able to pay. A number of you have provided financial support to the TCN through donations however. During this month I'll be asking you to consider making a donation to the TCN. I've tried to make it as easy as possible. At the bottom of the newsletter is the address where you can mail a donation. You may also donate online via PayPal. Thank you very much!

AVIATION

1) FAA Proposes Safety Management Systems for Airlines

Link to article in Military & Aerospace Electronics:

http://www.militaryaerospace.com/index/display/article-display/5296887662/articles/avionics-intelligence/news/2010/11/faa-proposes_safety.html

Link to news release from the FAA:

https://www.faa.gov/news/press_releases/news_story.cfm?newsId=12118

2) Google Offers Free In-Flight Wi-Fi for the Holidays

Link to article on CNNMoney.com:

http://money.cnn.com/2010/11/08/technology/google_free_inflight_wifi/index.htm

Link to blog post from Google:

http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2010/11/happy-holidays-from-google-chrome-free.html

GPS / NAVIGATION

3) Faulty GPS Tells Polish Soldiers in Afghanistan They are in Africa

Link to article in The Daily Telegraph:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/poland/8117416/Faulty-GPS-tells-Polish-soldiers-in-Afghanistan-they-are-in-Africa.html

Link to article in Gazeta Wyborcza:

http://wyborcza.pl/1,75478,8627654,Mylace_GPS_y_za_milion.html (in Polish)

OTHER

4) Don't Let the View Ruin Your Wi-Fi

As Amtrak and Greyhound expand free Wi-Fi service, computer screens will compete for passengers' attention.

Link to commentary on CNN:

http://www.cnn.com/2010/OPINION/11/07/greene.wifi.scenery

RAILROADS

5) Amtrak Ridership Up: Credit 'Have iPhone, Will Travel' Crowd

Link to Gannett News Service article:

http://www.suntimes.com/news/transportation/2874074,CST-NWS-amtrak08.article

ROADWAYS

6) I-5 'Smart Signs' Cut Crashes, Not Travel Times

Link to article in The Seattle Times:

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2013373837_smartsigns08m.html

7) New Web Site Lets Drivers Track Wildlife Along Stretch of I-90 in Washington State

Link to article in The Seattle Times:

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2013366199_i90wildlife07m.html

Link to I-90 Wildlife Watch: http://www.i90wildlifewatch.org/

SAFETY / SECURITY

8) Child Safety Traffic Signs 'Don't Work' Says Dublin City Council

Link to article in the Evening Herald:

http://www.herald.ie/national-news/city-news/child-safety-traffic-signs-dont-work-2411813.html

TRANSIT

9) Clipper Card Has Some Worried About Privacy Issues

Link to article in The Examiner:

http://www.sfexaminer.com/local/Clipper-Card-has-some-worried-about-privacy-issues-106793253.html

10) Blogging Underground Secrets Into the Light

A hidden art project in an abandoned New York City subway station is revealed by bloggers.

Link to column on CNET News:

http://news.cnet.com/8301-13577_3-20021990-36.html

TRAVELER INFORMATION / TRANSPORTATION MANAGEMENT

11) Alabama DOT Uses Webcams to Monitor Traffic

Link to article in the TimesDaily:

http://www.timesdaily.com/article/20101108/NEWS/101109794?Title=Webcams-used-to-monitor-traffic-conditions-in-Shoals

12) For Traffic, Real-Time Information is Too Late

Link to blog in Wired:

http://www.wired.com/autopia/2010/11/ibm-thoughts-on-a-smarter-planet-6

VEHICLES

13) Automakers Put Smart Phones to Work in Your Car

Link to article in USA Today:

http://www.usatoday.com/money/autos/2010-11-08-carapps08_ST_N.htm

14) GM Goes 4G to Alter Road Tests

Link to CNET blog:

http://reviews.cnet.com/8301-13746_7-20022079-48.html

15) Will Your Automobile Become the 'Fifth Screen?'

Link to article on Connected Planet:

http://connectedplanetonline.com/bss_oss/news/Will-your-automobile-become-the-5th-screen-1108/

News Releases

1) Buenos Aires’ Largest Toll Concessionaire, Ausol Autopistas del Sol, Selects TransCore’s RFID Technology for Next Generation Electronic Toll Collection System

2) Phoenix Bands Record Songs on How to Use Public Transit for Valley Metro Riders

3) New 'Pocket Aviation' iPod and iPhone App Provides Aviation Enthusiasts with Six Individual Canadian Aircraft Slideshows and Over 150 Images

4) First iPhone Spy Software Allows Users to Silently Track GPS Locations, Messages, Photos and Calls

Upcoming Events

Navigation Strategies USA – January 25-26 – San Jose, California

http://www.thewherebusiness.com/navigationusa/

Today in Transportation History

1950 **60^th anniversary** The first dogfight between two jet-powered aircraft took place during the Korean War.

http://www.acepilots.com/jets/f80.html

TCN Donations

Checks or money orders may be mailed to:

Bernie Wagenblast

1 Aberdeen CT

Cranford, NJ USA 07016-2911

Please make checks payable to Bernie Wagenblast.

You may also donate online via PayPal at:

https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=10069680

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