Transportation Communications Newsletter: Tuesday, November 22, 2011

Transportation Communications Newsletter

Tuesday, November 22, 2011 – ISSN 1529-1057

November TCN Fund-Raising Drive

Twice a year, I hold a month-long fund-raising effort to support the TCN. November is one of those two months. For those who have already donated, I very much appreciate the support! Near the bottom of the newsletter you'll find information on how you can contribute. In addition to monetary gifts, there are other ways you can support the TCN. These include buying ad space in the TCN, utilizing my transportation voiceover services or simply letting others in the field know about the TCN so they too can subscribe. Thank you!

AVIATION

1) American Airlines Loses Parts of Flight-Data Distribution Lawsuit

Link to article from Bloomberg:

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-11-22/travelport-says-judge-dismissed-most-of-american-airlines-monopoly-claims.html

2) Qantas Twitter Campaign Takes Nosedive

Link to story from the Australian Broadcasting Corporation:

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2011-11-22/qantas-twitter-hashtag-backfires/3686940

Link to Qantas' Twitter page: https://www.facebook.com/Qantas

GPS / NAVIGATION

3) Student Pilot Blames GPS After Landing on Florida Road

Link to story on WTVT-TV:

http://www.myfoxtampabay.com/dpp/news/local/nature_coast/pilot-country-estates-hard-landing-112211

PUBLIC INFORMATION / EDUCATION

4) California DOT Releases Bay Bridge Testing Data

Link to article in The Sacramento Bee:

http://www.sacbee.com/2011/11/21/4071682/caltrans-releases-bay-bridge-testing.html

RAILROADS

5) Elmira, New York Rips Norfolk Southern for Failure to Report Derailment

Link to article in the Star-Gazette:

http://www.stargazette.com/article/20111121/NEWS01/111210386/Elmira-rips-railroad-failure-report-derailment

ROADWAYS

6) Remote-Controlled Helicopter Helping Drivers Navigate New Utah Intersection

Link to story on KSL-TV:

http://www.ksl.com/?nid=148&sid=18188948

SAFETY / SECURITY

7) TSA Must Improve Quality, Distribution of Threat Info, GAO Says

Link to article in Homeland Security Today:

http://www.hstoday.us/briefings/today-s-news-analysis/single-article/tsa-must-improve-quality-distribution-of-threat-info-gao-says/b13875655f0f0b260e0bd21f97361573.html

Link to report from the Government Accountability Office:

http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-12-44

TRANSIT

8) Senator Charles Schumer Says Metro-North Customers Would Benefit from Better Communications

Link to article in The Journal News:

http://www.lohud.com/article/20111122/NEWS01/111220318/Schumer-Metro-North-riders-need-their-own-bill-rights-from-MTA

Link to news release from Senator Schumer:

http://schumer.senate.gov/Newsroom/record.cfm?id=334951

TRAVELER INFORMATION / TRANSPORTATION MANAGEMENT

9) Edmonton's Cutting Edge Traffic Management

Link to article from the City of Edmonton:

http://www.transformingedmonton.ca/index.php/2011/11/16/edmontons-cutting-edge-traffic-management/

10) Guide to Improving Capability for Systems Operations and Management

Link to report from the Transportation Research Board:

http://www.trb.org/Main/Blurbs/165286.aspx

VEHICLES

11) Nebraska Agrees to Pro-Pot License Plates
Link to article in the Lincoln Journal Star:
http://journalstar.com/news/state-and-regional/govt-and-politics/state-agrees-to-pro-pot-license-plates/article_bfee68e4-9895-5022-858f-c3cc337017f8.html

12) Australians Short-Changed On Car Technology

Link to article in The Sydney Morning Herald:

http://smh.drive.com.au/motor-news/australians-shortchanged-on-car-technology-20111122-1nsce.html

13) Open Source and the Open Road

Link to article on LinuxInsider:

http://www.linuxinsider.com/story/Open-Source-and-the-Open-Road-Part-1-73808.html

News Releases

1) FAA Allows Airline Operators to Use Cubic Global Tracking Solutions Devices On-Board Aircraft

2) Maritime Surveillance Operation Acts to Stop Illegal Fishing in Pacific

3) Sprint Becomes First US Carrier to Launch Wireless Emergency Alerts on Its Mobile Network

4) Chicago Mayor, CTA President Announce Installation of Security Cameras at 'L' Stops Completed Ahead of Schedule

TCN Donations

Checks or money orders may be mailed to:

Bernie Wagenblast

1 Aberdeen CT

Cranford, NJ USA 07016-2911

You may also donate online with a credit card via PayPal at:

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

Upcoming Events

Webinar: Searching TRID – TRB's TRIS and ITRD Database – December 1

http://www.trb.org/Main/Blurbs/166186.aspx

Today in Transportation History

1881 **130^th anniversary** Herbert James Symington, former president of Trans-Canada Airlines, and a founder of the International Air Traffic Association, was born in Sarnia, Ontario.

http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.com/index.cfm?PgNm=TCE&Params=A1ARTA0007836

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