Dr. Curtis interview about FAA rules on passenger electronics

An April 19, 2012 bird strike near JFK brings up issues about FAA rules on the use of electronic devices by passengers, and why those rules may have to change.

The issue was the FAA response to a video posted by a passenger that showed the birds striking the aircraft. For details on that story, including the video shot by the passenger, check out the AirSafeNews.com article on this event.

You can also listen to the interview Dr. Curtis gave to WTOP radio about this event.

BBC interview on new laser penalties

On 1 June 2011 the FAA announced that it will now use a rule originally used against someone on board the aircraft who interfered with a flight crew, and apply it to people on the ground who deliberately point lasers at aircraft. With this change, someone who points a laser at an aircraft can be fined up to $11,000.

The program The World Today from the BBC interviewed Dr. Curtis about some the issues associated with pointing lasers at pilots (5:02).

While this threat to aircraft has not resulted in a crash of a military aircraft, airliner, or private aircraft, flashing a laser at an aircraft could compromise aviation safety by distracting or incapacitating pilots during critical phases of flight. For more on this issue, including links to FAA studies on the effects of lasers on pilots, check out the AirSafeNews.com article on the FAA's new laser rules.

Interview with Rudy Maxa about the biggest plane crashes of 2010

In this January 8, 2011 interview with Rudy Maxa's World, Dr. Todd Curtis of AirSafe.com discussed the most significant plane crashes and noteworthy safety and security events of 2010, including the crash of an A330 in Libya with a sole survivor, a near midair collision over Burbank, and the absence of fatal passengers events of airlines of the US and Canada.

Listen to the interview
Plane crashes and significant events of 2010

For more information on airline safety, visit AirSafe.com or AirSafeNews.com.

Two recent BBC interviews featuring Dr. Curtis of AirSafe.com

British Airways chairman calls for changes to US security procedures
On October 26, 2010, at the annual conference of the U.K. Airport Operators Association. British Airways chairman Martin Broughton called for changes to the security requirements for international flights bound for the US. He claimed that a number of elements in the current security program, including separate checks of laptop computers and forcing people to take off their shoes for screenting are completely redundant and should reviewed. He also pointed out that the requirements for international flights to the US and domestic flights within the US were not consistent.

The following day, Dr. Todd Curtis of AirSafe.com spoke with the BBC radio program Europe Today about Broughton's concerns and why these security differences exist. Also interviewed in the following segment was former British Airways executive Jamie Bowden.
Listen to the interview (8:30)

Related AirSafeNews.com Articles
AirSafeNews.com article on the attempted bombing
Description of four key US terrorist and TSA security databases
US security rules and baggage restrictions

Two Qantas Engine Failures near Singapore
This BBC Radio 5 interview with Dr. Todd Curtis of AirSafe.com on November 5, 2010 came in the wake of two unusual engine failure events. On November 4, 2010, a Qantas A380 had an engine failure about 15 minutes after taking off from Singapore's airport. The following day, a Qantas 747 had another failure about two minutes after taking off from the same airport. Both planes landed safely.
Listen to the interview (3:34)

Related information
Significant Qantas events

BBC Interview About Attempted Bombing of Northwest Flight 253

As the investigation into the unsuccessful bombing of Northwest Airlines flight 253 enters its early stages, there are already several security issues that are being discussed by the media, including short term security measures and issues with US government terrorist databases.

Listen to the interview (4:09)

The Bombing Attmept on Northwest Flight 253 and TSA's Accidental Release Secret and Sensitive Security Information

After the unsuccessful bombing attempt last week on Northwest Airlines Flight 253, not much is known for sure, including how the suspect was able to overcome all the various layers of security. One possibility was that the information accidentally released earlier this year by TSA may have helped the suspect.

The TSA manual was reviewed by Dr. Curtis of AirSafe.com, and there did not appear to be any obvious or even indirect connection between the actions of the suspected bomber and the information in the manual.

The video and audio podcast below provides an overview of the information that was in the manual, and the links at the bottom of the article go to previous AirSafeNews.com articles on the TSA manual, as well as to the edited and unedited versions of the TSA manual. AirSafeNews.com encourages its readers to review the information, and to contact AirSafeNews.com if they have any insights or opinions on either the TSA manual release, or the recent bombing attempt.

Video and Audio Podcast Links (2:23)
Audio: MP3 | Video: iPod/MP4 | WMV | YouTube

Related Information
Full TSA report
Redacted TSA report
TSA prohibited and restricted Items

Related AirSafeNews.com Articles
AirSafeNews.com article on the attempted bombing
Description of four key US terrorist and TSA security databases
BBC interview with AirSafeNews.com's Dr. Todd Curtis

WGN Radio Interview About Attempted Bombing of Northwest Flight 253

As information about the unsuccessful bombing of Northwest Airlines flight 253 continues to be uncovered, some are questioning the usefulness of some of the security measures being implemented, and whether profiling may be needed to deter attacks. The following interview was with WGN radio in Chicago on 29 December 2009

Listen to the interview (14:39)