Posts tagged Flight at Switched

Posts with tag flight

German Scientists Try to Clean Up 'Naked Scanners'

by Terrence O'Brien, posted Dec 1st 2008 at 3:57PM

Airports worldwide are starting to see new full-body scan machines that have the unfortunate side effect of revealing your goodies. Of course, the fact that security agents get an eye-full of your naughty bits has some privacy advocates concerned and has prevented them becoming common place in most countries.

Reuters reports that German scientists are looking to address some of these concerns. They've taken the scanners into the lab to see if they can produce an image with the private parts automatically blurred out. Critics of the highly detailed scanner dubbed it the "naked scanner," and are spearheading the effort to prove the scanner can effectively reveal weapons without producing an image of a passenger's naked body.

The U.S. Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has previously defended the scanners, saying the images produced were family friendly enough to, "make the cover of Reader's Digest." After seeing the images, however, we can safely say that the only way 'Reader's Digest' would ever publish images from the scan is if they were purchased by 'Hustler.' [From: Reuters]

American Airlines Getting In On That Cell Phone Boarding Pass Fad

by Engadget Staff, posted Nov 14th 2008 at 11:51AM

American Airlines has joined its peers at Continental in offering boarding pass barcodes that you can download to and display on your BlackBerry, iPhone, G1, or whatever have you. Presently the airline is only offering the option on domestic, non-stop flights departing from O'Hare -- LAX and Orange County will start on the 17th. Some eastern yanks might be asking, "What, no JFK or Logan? Where's the east coast love, AA?" Don't get too bent out of shape, boys and girls -- tech-savvy business travelers love their BlackBerrys, so we could see this pop up just about everywhere before long.

[Via Mobilitysite]

The Top 11 Ways to Save Time and Money With Your Phone

Send 'X-Ray Messages' to Airport Security With These Steel Plates

by Lee Bains, posted Oct 13th 2008 at 2:53PM

There are certain people and institutions you should never really mess with: 911 operators, your government's computer systems, and T.S.A. security personnel. Apparently, nobody informed designer Evan Roth of the latter.

Probably the kind of guy that wonders, "Just what would that cop do if I reached out for his pistol all of a sudden?," Roth has laser-cut "hilarious" messages and images into stainless steel plates so that trouble-making airline passengers can play a little prank when security folks X-ray their baggage, Asylum reports.

While Roth's stock designs include "Nothing to see here," "Mind your own business" and an image of Osama Bin Laden, the plates are fully customizable. Although these plates are clearly intended for artistic, rather than practical, use, we're certain there will be some airborne jokester unable to resist zipping one of these bad boys into his backpack. For that guy's customized plate, may we recommend the more straightforward "Arrest me, please." [From: Asylum]

GPS Could Save Airlines Billions in Fuel and Reduce Flight Times

by Terrence O'Brien, posted Oct 10th 2008 at 5:05PM

A new GPS system being planned by the FAA, called NextGen, could potentially save airlines 3.3 billion gallons of fuel per year (about $10 billion at todays prices)

The GPS system would replace the currently aging system of aerial highways that use use radar and radio beacons to guide planes. The use of GPS would allow planes to fly the shortest route between two points, shaving time off of flights and saving fuel.

Unfortunately, NextGen isn't expected to be ready until at least 2020, but the airlines are expected to provide $15 billion of the estimated $35 billion the project will cost. The airlines will also have to retrofit their planes with a new $200,000 GPS system. Considering their current struggles to stay profitable, carriers are understandably reluctant to layout such a large amount of cash to start equipping aircraft with a system that is still 10+ years from being functional.

If the system ever actually gets off the ground, it could keep many carriers from slipping into the red, but as with any massive government-funded program it's unlikely it'll be completed on time or on budget. Expect to see the first NextGen equipped planes to be rolled out around 2130 at a price of $3 bazillion per plane. [From: USA Today]

Flying Car for Sale on eBay

by Lee Bains, posted Oct 3rd 2008 at 2:15PM

Moller International will end an eBay auction for its '80s flying car prototype -- dubbed the M200X -- on Tuesday, according to BoingBoing.net.

While there have been any number of flying cars introduced over the years (like this one and this one, for instance), the M200X should really garner the most praise from sci-fi fans, as its UFO-like aesthetics are very much in line with that genre's most memorable images.

That being said, although it's billed as a "flying car," don't expect this thing to usher in 'The Jetsons' age quite yet; judging from the video (after the break), the machine hovers more than it flies, and runs at pretty unremarkable speeds. What is remarkable, though, is that the reserve price for the airborne vehicle is set at $19,000, a price far lower than those of other flying machines.

Plus, we're willing to bet that it gets better mileage than your SUV.

You'll find video of the airborne auto in action after the break. [From: BoingBoing.net]

Continue reading Flying Car for Sale on eBay

Kevlar Containers Could Thwart Suitcase Bombs

by Terrence O'Brien, posted Sep 30th 2008 at 7:10AM

The government is currently considering new luggage containers for airplanes made of reinforced Kevlar, which could protect passenger jets from small suitcase bombs that might go undetected by luggage scanners.

Suitcase bombs have been a worry of officials since the bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 in 1988, when an explosive slipped by scanners into the belly of the jet. Of course, modern scanners are much more sensitive and explosive devices that are small enough to slip by them could easily be contained if detonated within these five foot by five foot luggage containers.

Many airlines are resisting the idea, primarily because the government hasn't offered any financial assistance to institute the program. The containers are heavy (265 pounds) and expensive ($18,000). The airlines are already struggling to stay afloat and can't afford to outfit much of their fleet of aircraft with these containers. Additionally, the weight of the containers reduces the amount of cargo and passengers a plane can carry, further reducing revenue.

The containers are the result of 17 years of research and failed prototypes. Eventually, the government may shell out for containers on flights coming from countries with high levels of terrorist activity, but we probably won't see them on domestic flights any time soon. [From: USA Today]

Air Traffic Controller Text Messages Airplane to Safe Landing

by Darren Murph, posted Aug 25th 2008 at 8:40AM

Here's something you don't hear ~~everyday~~ ever: an Irish air traffic controller helped guide a seriously malfunctioning plane to a safe landing via text message. In a story that's admittedly tough to fathom, a pilot with four passengers aboard his twin-engined Piper plane lost all on board electrical power, communications and weather functions soon after he lifted off.

In an effort to establish any form of contact with someone back on the ground, he phoned a controller at the Cork airport and spoke only momentarily of his troubles before losing voice signal. The quick-thinking controller decided to switch up his conversation method to texting, eventually providing sufficient details to safely guide the pilot in. Can you say "promotion?" [From: Irish Times via Slashdot, image courtesy of StarWars Blog]

Ashes of Star Trek's James Doohan Destroyed in Rocket Launch

by Joshua Topolsky, posted Aug 4th 2008 at 3:20PM

Finely riding that razored edge between tragedy and comedy, the New York Times reports that not only did the SpaceX Falcon 1 rocket lose its three satellites and fail to reach orbit during a recent launch, but it also destroyed the remains of actor James Doohan, best known as the original 'Star Trek's' Chief Engineer "Scotty."

The actor's ashes -- as well as those of over 200 others -- were being carried into orbit by the rocket when complications with the ship's stage separation led to the (assumed) destruction of the craft. This recent mishap puts a sad period on the end of the sentence that already included an earlier loss and eventual recovery of the remains. [Source: New York Times Via Slashdot]

Related Links:

Click Here for the Top 11 Geek T-Shirts

In-Flight Calling Ban Passes Hurdle in Congress

by Donald Melanson, posted Aug 1st 2008 at 1:37PM

It looks like that proposed ban on in-flight calling has now passed its first major hurdle in Congress, with it snagging some much needed approval from the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee in a voice vote on Thursday.

While the so-called "Halting Airplane Noise to Give Us Peace" (or HANG UP, really) would make permanent the current ban on in-flight cellphone use, it'd also go one step further and put a stop to all in-flight voice communications, which its co-sponsors hope will prevent airlines from charging some passengers to use their phones while also charging others to sit in a phone-free section of the plane. Of course, the bill still has a long ways to go before it becomes law, but giving the recent polling on the matter, it would seem to have a better than decent chance of going all the way.

[ITworld Via Slashdot]

Artists Attempt At 'Zero Gravity Art' Ends in Nausea

by Blake Besharian, posted Jul 20th 2008 at 3:06PM

Three British artists, a black cat, and a mouse spent Tuesday aboard a Russian aircraft nicknamed the "vomit Comet" in pursuit of Dalí-esque "zero gravity" art. The plane is usually used to train astronauts, and simulates weightlessness by doing steep ascents and dives, something akin to a giant roller coaster ride.

Apparently only one artist, Nasser Azam, escaped debilitating nausea, and he finished Francis Bacon-inspired paintings with oil pastels. The cat and mouse were supposed to chase each other in zero gravity while one of the artists filmed them. However, both the cat and the artist became ill after about 3 'loops' and had to be secured to the plane for the remainder of the flight. In summary, Nasser Azam, the only artist not to become ill said, "Quite frankly it was euphoric, there were instances when I was painting upside down. We'll go and have a few vodkas - a few stiff ones..."

The flight, which was provided to the artists free of charge, was a unique cultural exchange between the two countries, which have had strained relations since the 2006 poisoning of a prominent Kremlin critic on British soil, and the forced closing of two British council offices in Russia earlier this year. [Source: USA Today]

Older Posts →

This Wednesday: Bird, bear, backpack join forces on XBLA Joystiq hands-on: Skate 2 The Behemoth still tinkering with that Castle Crashers patch	WinFlog powers up your Windows context menus Pownce gets pwned: Six Apart acquires and plans to shutter service Mount remote storage, use web apps as local apps with Gladinet
Mac internet share hits record 8.87% Pixelmator releases 1.3.1 'Welcome to Macintosh' DVD available for pre-order	Waiting for the other shoe to drop: The looming credit crisis Way Off Wall Street: Retirement dreams fade for younger workers Next target for fear mongers: Credit cards
Rumor: LEGO: Harry Potter in construction Video: Epic Prince of Persia gameplay Banjo and Kazooie head to XBLA this week	Mulally driving to Washington, but what car should he drive? Fiends sample Superformance Shelby Cobra Daytona Coupe, GT40 MKI Could you paint a Car-A-Day?
Two former Flagship Studios members form Gravity Bear Atlantica Online publisher working on new FPS title Download: Need for Speed Undercover HD Texture Pack Mod	Deja Vu, Again: Dusty Dvoracek Likely Out For the Season a Third Straight Year MNF Live Chat: Jaguars vs. Texans Eric Moulds Will Punch You* for Offering Compliments or Asking Him for an Autograph

Categories

Resources

Hot Topics

Switched Questionnaire

Hype Check

Web

Paranormal

Time Wasters

Just Tell Me What To Get

TUAW

Most Commented On (7 days)

Viagra Video Game Pulled By FDA (83)

Tennis Star Boris Becker Dumped by Text Message (57)

McCain Supporters Duped by 419 Scam? (24)

Switched Video

How to Avoid ID Theft

Featured Galleries

AOL Tech Network

Latest Reviews from CNET.com

Top Product Reviews