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Despite all the technology which wants to let you use a cell phone on a plane, the Department of Transportation (DoT) doesn’t seem to be impressed. At a meeting of the International Aviation Club last week, DoT counsel Kathryn Thomson said they’d be taking the next step on what could end up as a formal ban on cell phone usage in-flight, attendees said.
The DoT, for their part, responded to formal requests by saying they’re developing a “notice of proposed rulemaking”. That notice is said to be released in December, and would outline their objection to in-flight call activity. It would then be open to commentary until February, when the DoT would make their final judgement.
It seems the issue is with voice calls, not text or other forms of communication. The FCC recently opened up cell phone usage on flights, leaving the adjudication of that program in the hands of airlines. Those airlines would like the same from the DoT.
The DoT seems to think calls are disruptive, and may feel it falls under their jurisdiction to provide a “safe and adequate” means of transportation for us.
This isn’t the first time we’ve heard of the DoT positioning themselves to ban calls. In December of 2013, Secretary Anthony Foxx said the agency would “begin a process that will look at the possibility of banning these in-flight calls”. that was step one, it seems. Step two is incoming.
Source: slashgear
An aerospace company based in Boston called Spike Aerospace is working on a new aircraft that it believes will be the fastest business jet on the planet. The aircraft is called the S-512 and Spike says that the jet will be capable of cruising at Mach 1.6 and will have a max speed of Mach 1.8.
That supersonic speed means that the aircraft, capable of carrying 18 people, will be able to rocket from New York to London in three to four hours. The trip currently takes six to seven hours inside most aircraft. Spike Aerospace certainly has the talent to build the jet, which is in the design and development stage right now.
The company boasts engineers with experience from Gulfstream, Eclipse, and Airbus. The aircraft will be as luxurious as you would expect of a jet costing up to $80 million dollars. The aircraft would have a range of 4000 nautical miles. It measures 131-feet long and has a 60-foot wingspan with a cabin measuring 40 feet long and 6-feet 2-inches high and wide.
One of the biggest challenges with supersonic civilian aircraft is the FAA regulations governing sonic booms. Spike admits that getting the sonic boom into acceptable levels will be a major challenge in the design of the aircraft. The company hopes the aircraft will be ready to deliver to customers in December 2018. More details on the aircraft are promised in early 2014.
SOURCE:
Gizmag
