FAA

FAA investigates collision close call on runway at JFK New York

/ Roadtirementvintage / 7 Comments

CBS News New York reports: A close call last week at John F. Kennedy International Airport could’ve been a potential disaster involving several planes. Officials say just before 5 p.m. on April 17 a Swiss Air flight bound for Zurich was moments away from takeoff when the pilot spotted other planes crossing the same runway. The Swiss aircraft had just begun its taxi for takeoff and aborted the procedure upon seeing the crossing traffic. The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating the incident. 

Photo courtesy Swiss Air

The report quotes a professional air safety investigator who used to work for the National Transportation Safety Board as saying that the Tower Controller cleared the Swiss Air for take off. At the same time the Ground Controller cleared three aircraft  to cross the active runway. The Swiss Air pilot hitting the brakes avoided what could have been a multi-plane collision disaster. Once again scary news makes one pause when thinking about traveling by air.

 

 

 

 

 

Alaska Airlines resume flights after FAA grounding

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Photo by Roadtirement

All scheduled flights by Alaska Airlines were grounded by the FAA “out of an abundance of caution,” the airline said. Wednesday the airline was performing an upgrade to its system that calculates weight and balance when a problem was detected that forced the shutdown order from FAA officials. An hour after the grounding, Alaska determined that the problem had been resolved and the order was lifted, much to the relief of all parties concerned.

 

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FAA grounds all Alaska Airlines flights

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According to CBS News Bay Area: All Alaska Airlines flights nationwide were grounded Wednesday morning due to a computer issue, the airline said. The Federal Aviation Administration said the airline asked the FAA to institute the ground stop Wednesday morning.

Apparently the airline was performing an upgrade to its system that calculates weight and balance when a problem was detected that forced the shutdown order from FAA officials. The stop order was instituted at 7:50 a.m. PT Wednesday morning. Alaska apologized to passengers for the inconvenience and said that it was working to resolve the issue as quickly as possible.

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