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Travel Safety & Security Update

DVT is again in the headlines after highly-respected medical journal The Lancet revealed new research. Exhaustive research from Dutch scientists showed the condition is more likely to occur on an aircraft than sitting for long periods at home or in a cinema. The researchers point to low air pressure, poor oxygen levels, stress and air pollution as all being possible factors for an eight-hour flight being potentially more harmful than other sedentary activities. The tests looked at 71 healthy participants before and after a series of activities, but flying was found to be the most likely to cause DVT. Recent cases against airlines, including British Airways, have been lost in the courts, but continuing pressure from passengers, doctors and campaigners will make carriers consider again the need for optimum seating for profits against room for people to move around a cabin. http://www.thelancet.com Mar 12, 2006

Low cabin air pressure increases risk of blood clots. Low cabin air pressure and poor oxygenation enhance the risk of deep-vein thrombosis, a study says. "Clearly, the research again offers interesting findings but there are conflicting views on just how long-haul flying affects travelers," Virgin Atlantic Airways said. Mar 10, 2006

Lawmakers seek further review of foreign ownership plan. The House of Representative Appropriations Committee approved a resolution for a four-month review of the White House's proposal to relax foreign ownership restrictions on U.S. airlines. The committee said the plan could raise security concerns. Controversy over a Dubai-owned company managing U.S. port operations prompted the resolution. Mar 10, 2006

Chertoff says bird flu could affect U.S. fowl in several months. Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff said the U.S. should be prepared for the possibility that at some point in the next few months fowl may be infected with the H5N1 strain of the bird flu, adding that the Department of Agriculture has dealt with other strains of bird flu for years. Airlines are working with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to improve in-flight reporting of sick passengers to destination airports. The H5N1 strain of the bird flu virus can not yet be passed from person to person. Mar 10, 2006

Bird flu slows growth in summer travel bookings. Concerns about the avian flu have slowed growth in bookings for summer travel, according to European travel company TUI. The company expects bookings to improve unless there is a wider outbreak of the bird flu. Mar 9, 2006

New York flights delayed by computer glitch. A computer glitch in an air-traffic control center delayed flights in the New York area for up to two hours Tuesday. Controllers lost their radar data and had to redo their work after computer trouble began around 2:15 p.m. Mar 8, 2006

DOT clarifies Secretary Mineta's remarks on user fee exemptions. The DOT clarified Secretary Mineta's remarks regarding exempting general aviation from user fees. DOT says the FAA proposal does not call for a peruse charge on all aviation services, rather, it would exempt recreational pilots who fly mainly in propeller aircraft. Sources in Washington say, instead, look for some user fees, some new taxes and perhaps new bonds used to raise money for FAA modernization. The new funding proposal is now under review by the White House Office of Management and Budget.

Mar 8, 2006

FAA exempts some airports from changes to safety rule. The Federal Aviation Administration has temporarily exempted some major airports from revised rules intended to lower the risk of an arriving airplane flying over or landing on top of another plane waiting on a runway. The air-traffic controllers union told the FAA the change could boost congestion and unintentionally increase risks. Mar 8, 2006

US FAA announced yesterday that Wide Area Augmentation System use is being extended from the current 250 ft. above an airport's surface down to 200 ft. for instrument approaches for all users equipped with "appropriate" avionics. As a result, "WAAS-equipped commercial operators will gain access to Category I equivalent approach services at qualifying airports where there are no instrument landing systems." FAA will expand the application of these lower minima approaches beyond current ILS airports. The first procedures that allow operations down to 200 ft. will be published in 2007. "This is a significant milestone, moving us closer to our ultimate goal of a satellite-based airspace system," said FAA Administrator Marion Blakey. Mar 7, 2006

FAA hopes to generate revenue with user fees. The Federal Aviation Administration wants to generate revenue by collecting fees from users of the air traffic system. Currently, the FAA's revenue is linked to the airline ticket tax, but officials say those prices have no relationship to the agency's costs. Airlines support a user fee system. Air Transport Association President James May said large carriers now pay 90% of the user fees but operate just two-thirds of the flights. Mar 7, 2006

Homeland Security would control port deals under bill. One lawmaker said she will introduce a bill that would allow the Department of Homeland Security to approve foreign takeovers of companies involved in national security. Senate homeland security panel Chairman Susan Collins, R-Maine, said she will introduce the legislation this week. An interagency committee now approves acquisitions such as the Dubai port deal. Mar 6, 2006

Chicago Midway

Chicago to retrain security officers after breach. A security breach at Chicago's Midway Airport has prompted the city's Aviation Department to plan retraining sessions for airport security officers. Over the weekend, a man walked through an open security gate and onto the airfield. Chicago Mayor Richard Daley said he was not concerned and called the breach "only one incident." Mar 9, 2006

New York airports, Raytheon

Raytheon to design security system for New York airports. Raytheon will design an antiterrorist surveillance system for four New York airports. The system would monitor the perimeters of the airports and include radar sensors, video motion detectors, closed-circuit TV monitors and electronic fences. Mar 8, 2006

Philadelphia airport

Philadelphia group urges new air traffic routing system. The Federal Aviation Administration should adopt a new air traffic routing system to reduce flight delays in Philadelphia, according to a group of business leaders. In a letter to the FAA, the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce said flight delays are reaching unacceptable levels. The FAA is expected to recommend an "airspace redesign" alternative next year. Mar 6, 2006

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