Flight simulator interfaces are shockingly realistic. But flying is really all about what these simulators can’t ever replicate.
This breakdown of a near-collision between two planes in Austin is a hair-raising read. It is also a narrowly-averted disaster that has been predicted for the last 20 years.
Let’s prevent the next mass casualty event now, okay? Safety is a system, and the Austin airport needs better gear for flying in low visibility.
[fallows.substack.com]
Reuters reports that a whopping 3,900 US flights have been canceled today. That’s in addition to “nearly 2,700” flights that were supposed to take off yesterday.
Frustrated holiday travelers can thank severe winter weather conditions, which are currently moving through the midwest towards the northeast. Delays are likely “from Boston to D.C. Metropolitan area airports, Seattle-Tacoma and Portland International Airports and Aspen”, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said.
The TSA has announced that registering for PreCheck is getting $7 cheaper, letting you get or renew a five-year membership for $78.
In an age where seemingly everything is getting more expensive, it’s nice to see something actually going down in price. Still, I don’t think you should sign up — mostly because I love short PreCheck lines, and those will go away if more people have it.
Despite concerns about how C-band 5G would affect vital equipment on planes, the FAA has largely given AT&T and Verizon the thumbs-up to roll the tech out.
As this report from IEEE Spectrum points out, though, several pilots have blamed it for malfunctions. It’s possible they’re only noticing the issues because of the hubbub, but the article does a great job at explaining the reports.
[IEEE Spectrum]
Perhaps this time will be the one
