The AirSafe.com Foundation and the One Laptop Per Child Project

This podcast from November 24, 2007 discusses how the AirSafe.com Foundation's latest effort will evaluate the unique capabilities of the One Laptop Per Child Project's computers and will share the lessons learned with the public. For details on what the AirSafe.com Foundation can do and how individuals may contribute, please visit the Foundation's web site at http://www.airsafe.org.

You can find a link to this podcast at http://podcast.airsafe.org/, or you can download it at http://airsafe.com/podcasts/show25.mp3.

African Airline Safety Issues Discussed on the Voice of America

In recent years, several high profile airliner crashes in Africa have called into question the level of safety and security of the continent's airlines. In the November 6, 2007 edition of the Perspectives program of the Voice of America, Dr. Todd Curtis was one of several noted aviation experts who spoke about the role of aviation in Africa and also about the factors that contribute to Africa's a relatively high accident rate.

For more information about the show, or about how to subscribe using iTunes, visit the podcast page at AirSafe.com. You can also download the episode directly at http://www.airsafe.com/podcasts/show24.mp3.

Discussion Concerning a GAO Report About Airport Security Vulnerabilities.

During a 2007 audit of airport security procedures, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) investigators sucessfully passed through TSA checkpoints with components for a number of improvised explosive devices. In this interview from November 15, 2007 on Minnesota Public Radio, Dr. Todd Curtis of AirSafe.com and Dr. Randolph Hall of USC discussed the security implications of these findings.

For more information about the show, or about how to subscribe using iTunes, visit the podcast page at AirSafe.com. You can also download the episode directly at http://www.airsafe.com/podcasts/show24.mp3.

Interview the BBC on October 30, 2007 Concerning Problems with Abandoned Airliners in Nigeria

In this BBC interview from October 30, 2007, Dr. Todd Curtis discusses the problem of airliners abandoned at Nigerian airports, the steps being taken by the Nigerian government to sell of the aircraft, and how this situation and compares with how such aircraft are treated in the U.S. For more information about the show, or about how to subscribe using iTunes, visit the podcast page at AirSafe.com. You can also download the episode directly at http://www.airsafe.com/podcasts/show22.mp3.

Todd Curtis Interview from January 21, 2007 on WCCO Radio in Minneapolis

In this podcast, Dr. Todd Curtis is interviewed by Jearlyn Steele from her show "Steele Talking" on WCCO radio in Minneapolis. This interview covered a variety of aviation safety and security topics with an emphasis on TSA issues. For more information about the show, or about how to subscribe using iTunes, visit the podcast page at AirSafe.com. You can also download the episode directly at http://www.airsafe.com/podcasts/show21.mp3.

NASA Refuses to Release Research Results

Dr. Todd Curtis was featured in an October 22, 2007 broadcast of the BBC World Service radio program that focused on an Associated Press report that NASA had ordered that the data from a multi-year survey of 24,000 pilots not be released because of the possible negative impact on the public's perception of aviation safety. This BBC also interviewed Congressman Brad Miller of North Carolina.

For more information about the show, or about how to subscribe using iTunes, visit the podcast page at AirSafe.com. You can also download the episode directly at http://www.airsafe.com/podcasts/show20.mp3.

New Plane Crash Video Resource at AirSafe.com

AirSafe.com and the AirSafe.com Foundation launched its newest blog today, AirSafe.com Crash Videos at http://planecrashes.blogspot.com/. This blog features a range of crashes involving jet airliners, general aviation, and military events. You can find out about this blog, the other AirSafe.com blogs, as well as other featured site content at the AirSafe.com Special Features page.

New Airline Complaint Resource

The AirSafe.com Foundation has created another resource for sharing the experiences of airline passengers. 'Complain About Your Airline' presents a sample of the most interesting inputs from the AirSafe.com Complaint Page. From common problems like lost baggage to unusual events like gate agents losing passports, it seems like there is no end to how a passenger's trip can be turned into a nightmare.

Podcast of CNN Interview Featuring Dr. Todd Curtis of AirSafe.com

Dr. Todd Curtis was featured in an August 29, 2007 broadcast of the CNN program American Morning. The interview focused on actions taken by airlines and civil aviation authorities in the aftermath of a a fire that destroyed a China Airlines 737-800 aircraft after a landing in Okinawa, Japan earlier that month. For more information about the show, or about how to subscribe using iTunes, visit the podcast page at AirSafe.com. You can also download the episode directly at http://www.airsafe.com/podcasts/show18.mp3.

Bird Strike Video Collection

Bird and wildlife strikes to aircraft have long been a potentially fatal risk for both crew and passengers. A new site from AirSafe.com has collected some of the more interesting videos that show either bird and wildlife strikes or the aftermath of those strikes.

Visit strikevideos.blogspot.com to check out the videos and visit the Bird Strike Committee USA site at birdstrike.org for more information about this issue.

Fatal and Significant Events of 2006

This is a presentation summarizing the fatal events of 2006.

Tail Strike Video

Here is an interesting piece of video from LiveLeak.com. It appears to show a commercial jet airliner performing a go-around after experiencing a tail strike. From the flight attendants accent, my guess is a UK registered aircraft. If anyone has a clue as to the aircraft type, airline, location, or date, please contact AirSafe.com.

Fatal 737 Crash in Angola

June 28, 2007--A TAAG Angola Airlines 737-200 crashed during a landing in M'Banza Congo, Angola. The aircraft was on a scheduled domestic flight from Luanda to M'Banza Congo. The aircraft crashed and broke apart during the landing. One of the seven crew members and four of the 71 passengers were killed. For further information about this and other recent fatal events, visit AirSafe.com at http://www.airsafe.com/events/last_15.htm.

How a Fleeing Murder Suspect on an Airliner May not Be Considered a Threat

In a post-9/11 world, the average passenger would think that if law enforcement informed an airline that a potential threat to passengers was on board an aircraft, that it would be reason enough to at least perform a precautionary landing. An event from March 2007 is clear evidence that this assumption is no longer valid. For details, please check out the story "Snake on a Plane" from June 14 edition of the Phoenix New Times

Uganda Passenger's Protection Association (UPPA)

AirSafe.com has always supported any efforts by passengers and passenger organizations to address issues of passenger service, saftey, and security. A new organization in Africa, the Uganda Passenger's Protection Association (UPPA), is one such organization. Based in Kampala, Uganda, the organization will work with the Uganda Passengers Protection Centre and other partner organizations to lobby the Ugandan government to strengthenexisting regulations, improve aviation infrastructure, and enhance other safety standards and policies that attend to the rights and needs of passengers. It will also under take research in passengers protection programs and provide related technical services to support its goal of cutting accidents in half by 2015.

If you are interested in supporting this organizaiton, I encourage you to contact them at the following address:

Nyenje B. (National coordinator)
Plot 15 Luwum Street Maria's Galleria' Building.
P.O.Box 5034, Kampala - Uganda
Tel: +256 - 772 - 406 908
Office: +256 - 412 234332
uppauganda@yahoo.com

The First 'Conversation' Video

The very first AirSafe.com created video has been up and running on YouTube for a while, with nearly 4,000 views. It is a recap of the significant events of 2006. To see the video, you can click on the link in the title, or use the following URL: http://youtube.com/watch?v=cDlrZ0MvPZo

Future videos will certainly cover the yearly roundup of serious events. Please feel free to add suggestions for future videos.