On July 28 2011 Asiana Cargo Flight OZ 991, a Boeing 747-48EF/SCD, flying from Seoul’s Incheon International Airport (ICN) to Shanghai’s Pudong International Airport (PVG) reported a fire in the cargo hold then crashed into the sea roughly 65 miles west Jeju City, on Jeju Island, killing the two pilots on board, Sang-Gi Choi, 52…
Anyone who flies with any frequency knows the drill at the airport, shoes off, jacket off, 3-1-1 bag out, laptop out, leave your knives in your checked bag and make sure your H&K MP5 is packed in a secured case and is declared with the airline. All the fun of the airport screening process…
Since the inception of the Transportation Security Administration’s (TSA) Behavior Detection Officers (BDO) program in 2003, it has been less than effective by design and deployment. Currently, TSA BDOs seek out potential security threats through Screening Passengers by Observation Techniques (SPOT). SPOT focuses on involuntary physical and physiological reactions, such as micro facial expressions,…
A day after Star Alliance rejected Air India, following a three and a half year courtship, the Indian Government has announced it will inject INR5,000,000,000 (approx US$113,000,000) as equity in the financially failing airline. This equity cash stake in the government run airline will be paid out in two payments. This cash infusion follows…
I don’t tend to post one-liner jokes on Flying With Fish, but sometimes something’s are to good to pass up … The Transportation Security Administration’s (TSA) policy and procedures covers a vast range of topics to address passenger security, including outlining the procedure for screening service animals. Among the animals directly addressed in the…
Two days ago I wrote Air India May Be Forced Out Of Star Alliance Before It Joins … … early this morning Star Alliance’s Chief Executive Board, in Frankfurt, officially notified Air India’s management in Mumbai that their courtship for membership, which began on the 13th of December 2007 in Beijing, was effectively over….
Gulf Air, Bahrain’s national flag carrier, has facing some significant hurdles recently. On the heals of Gulf Air dealing with financial troubles, an inability to break free of government funding as intended, increased competition in the region and route restructuring, Bahrain has been rocked by political unrest, riots and a public violent divide as citizens…
This Sunday, the 31st of July is the deadline for Air India to meet more than 75 requirements to join Star Alliance, the world’s largest airline alliance. After 18 months of Air India delaying its entry into Star Alliance, since being invited to join the alliance in December 2007, the airline claims to now meet…
A week ago I wrote TSA’s 25,000 Security Lapses & How They Can Be Reduced and referenced the use of Aztec barcodes as a security feature stating “TSA has not worked with airlines to implement these impossible to forge barcodes.” I received a few comments and emails stating Aztec barcodes could be forged. Some…
Last week the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit handed down a ruling requiring the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) to seek out public comments on the use of Advanced Imaging Technology (AIT) scanners. While the Court of Appeals ruling stemmed from a lawsuit brought by the Electronic Privacy Information Center,…
