Funny. And I agree. Apparently so do the birds.

(Written on 08/30/2017)(Permalink)

I guess I am no longer stunned by the injection of politics and irrelevant opinions into the most mundane of topics. Folks, these kids did something cool. They tackled a real world problem and came up with a solution. They and their teacher should be lauded for working for safer aviation in the public interest. This is actually what makes America great. It has nothing to do with PETA, cynical and dismissive opinions that the invention is bunk or cockamamie "better" ideas. It's about THE KIDS and their effort not about you and your verbal gas and hot air. Grow up, people, or at least think before you press "Post".

(Written on 08/26/2017)(Permalink)

This is about a small group of rich people in Sunset Park who have spent a gizillion dollars to stop planes from flying over their houses. I doubt they will ever realize in property value the amounts of money they have spent. There is no "People's Republic of Santa Monica" going on here. The issue is NIMBY (not in my backyard) pure and simple. It is about lawyers, influence peddling, campaign contributions and wealthy and selfish snobs. Most of the rest of the city doesn't care about the airport (by a few hundred votes) and the FAA caved when they held all the cards. The city does not even control the land the airport is on. It is perpetually leased to the Federal Government. Shameful, and another instance of a narrow group acting against the public interest. The template here does not bode well for GA or suburban airports surrounded by growth which is why the FAA should have stood up to the airport opponents. How the city can justify 3.5 million for an action which will be moot in

(Written on 08/18/2017)(Permalink)

You haven't the slightest idea what you are talking about. The system is responsible for all flight delays? Horse manure. And competition keeps our drug prices low and we have the fastest and cheapest Internet service in the world, right? Super businessmen will solve it all. Baloney. I have my problems with FAA management and their vision and planning but the system works, is reasonably efficient and is safe (strips and all). Like the TSA and other critical services, I will suffer some bureaucracy in exchange for direct public control. Government is not business and most attempts to make it so fail and sometimes spectacularly. Mr. Carlson below makes some terrific points about FAA services and the marketplace (or lack thereof). If the FAA needs to be fixed, we can fix it. Hard to go back from handing it over to somebody else.

(Written on 08/08/2017)(Permalink)

Funny that the guy who probably flys in one regularly, posts something like this. Must smell big money somewhere. Oh, could it be the privatization of the ATC system? As a former FAA contractor, it is the safest system in the world, personed by the best ATCs anywhere and it is transitioning to all the technologies mentioned. Trump that, fool.

(Written on 08/04/2017)(Permalink)

I am guessing you are one of those special individuals who benefited from government services and now in your dotage have decided no one else should have them. Drivel is easy to post, Scrooge. It only requires a keyboard and an Internet connection. Instead of trolling, you might try logic or common sense if either of these concepts has any meaning to you. I'll have the argument about ATC services if you had any constructive thoughts but blanket assertions regarding "Big Brother" do not qualify.

(Written on 07/14/2017)(Permalink)

It is incredibly short sighted, unrealistic and selfish to believe that government services are some sort of cafeteria where you get to choose what you pay for. I don't live in Louisiana but are you telling me that we have no responsibility to our fellow citizens for the impact of Katrina or for the system that protects you every time you fly? There is such a thing as the greater good. You are entitled to your opinion but to it is ridiculous puffery to argue your narrow interests should be the test of all things government.

(Written on 07/14/2017)(Permalink)

As a long time FAA contractor, this privatization scheme has no clear purpose which is what worries me. The system is a safe (way safe) as constituted and modernization is well under way (slowly but I am not sure that is a bad thing). On my watch, all of the NAS computer systems were replaced with modern equipment and GPS is being integrated with ATC operations as we speak. I suspect the motives of the administration and the House and why would we want to trust the airlines with more influence. ATC's are arguably the weirdest group of people you would ever want to meet (the only group that is weirder are IT people which is what I am) but with few exceptions, they do their job with incredible passion and never lose sight of the mission. Yes, there are problems with FAA management but these are open to the light of day and can and are being addressed. The system is a national asset which works just fine and there is no reason to give it away.

(Written on 07/14/2017)(Permalink)

This is exactly what the position taken by the city council. Ridiculous, particularly since a 100 aircraft a day fly over the city to land at LAX.

(Written on 02/10/2017)(Permalink)

As former FAA, traffic issue has been dealt with for many years. There is close coordination between the SMO and LAX controllers on air operations and strict rules for pilots using either facility. After all, at present, a direct line from 24R at LAX and 21 at SMO cross about a mile or two off the coast. This really is about a powerful neighborhood interest group and a city council that does not value the airport as a local and regional asset. I don't think they care if it's a commercial development or a park. The want the field closed and don't care about the loss of revenue. As noted, it is the FAA that has caved here basically giving up when they had winning cards. It would cost the federal government to take over operations but the expected revenue would probably cover the expense. I believe what they have done is give other NIMBY groups across the country ammunition that will force other closings. A sad state of affairs.

(Written on 02/06/2017)(Permalink)