Travelers
With Implants Face Increased Scrutiny From Airport Security
Anyone who has boarded an airplane since September 11, 2001, has observed
security personnel asking passengers to slip off shoes and remove watches.
And few travelers have escaped the drone of a metal detector after it
senses a foreign object in someone's pocket.
Now researchers in the United Kingdom have studied the experiences of
travelers with orthopedic implants and reported the results today at the
71st Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons (AAOS)
in San Francisco, March 10-14, 2004.
Researchers found that detection of implants has risen from an average
of 10 percent before September 11 to more than 50 percent after. Yet,
detection rates were variable and seemed based, at least in part, on the
type of material used in the implant. About 70 percent of device wearers
surveyed had not been informed that their implants could set off security
devices at all.
TSA
Launches Privacy Initiative
March 8-- The U.S. Transportation Security Administration (TSA) today
announced a major privacy education initiative that it says support its
employee's efforts to follow the letter and spirit of the nation's privacy
laws.
House proposes funding for Amtrak rehab
March 11 -- Certain rail tunnel safety and rehabilitation programs in
the busy Northeast Corridor between New York and Washington would be funded
under a bill introduced March 10 in the House of Representatives.
Rep. Peter King (R-N.Y.), a member of the House Financial Services Committee, sponsored the bill (H.R. 3931) that would make available $898 million for Amtrak to upgrade tunnels in New York, Baltimore and Washington.
However, Amtrak would have to submit an approved engineering and financial plan for that project to the Transportation Secretary in order to receive the funds.
Northwest
Airlines Selectively Matches Delta Air Lines Price Increase
March 5 – Northwest Airlines today announced that it has selectively
matched an $8 – $9 round-trip domestic price increase announced
yesterday by Delta Air Lines on some of its fares.
Chautauqua
Airlines, Republic Airlines and Shuttle America have joined United Express
March 8 -- United Airlines announced that Chautauqua Airlines, Republic
Airlines and Shuttle America have joined United Express. Under a new agreement,
United has authorized Republic to fly sixteen seventy-seat regional jets
under the United Express livery. Chautauqua will operate sixteen fifty-seat
regional jets for United Express and Shuttle America will fly ten Saab
340 turbo prop aircraft.
US Airways
Express Expanded Onboard Cell Phone Use Policy
March 9-- US Airways Express announced today that it has expanded its
onboard cellular phone use policy to allow customers to use their phones
sooner after landing, following approval from the Federal Aviation Administration.
The expanded policy was implemented on US Airways mainline flights in
October 2003.
Effective immediately, customers now can turn on and use cellular phones, two-way pagers and PDAs onboard US Airways Express aircraft with 20 or more seats while taxiing to the gate, once advised by the flight crew. Customers traveling on 19-seat Beech 1900 aircraft will be able to use cell phones once the flight has parked at the final destination.
Rail network explosions in Madrid
Northwest Airlines Selectively Matches Delta Air Lines Price Increase
TSA Launches Privacy Initiative
United to Offer Saturday Non-Stop Service between Denver and Cancun, Mexico