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Google Founders' Jets Caught On WSJ's Radar

theodp writes "Via an FOIA request, the Wall Street Journal acquired records of every private aircraft flight recorded in the FAA's air-traffic management system for 2007 through 2010, using them to build a private jet tracker database. Among the high fliers who found their records unblocked were Google founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin, whose 767 and Gulfstream reportedly burned an estimated 52,000 gallons of aviation fuel and $430,000 on two round-trips from the U.S. mainland to Tahiti to catch last summer's total eclipse of the sun. A Google spokeswoman confirmed the pair's jaunt, but added that Page and Brin mitigated the greenhouse gas emissions from their aircraft usage by purchasing an even greater amount of carbon offsets. Tech-boom billionaire Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban seemed unfazed by the prospect of his past plane movements becoming public: 'I have a plane,' Cuban quipped. 'I bought it so I could use it. Shocking, isn't it?'"

6 of 427 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Sorry to sound apologetic... by Neil+Boekend · · Score: 5, Funny

    It sounds like these private planes are an ideal weapon for terrorists! Ban them!

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    Well, I might have a way, but it only works on a semi spherical planet in a vacuum.
  2. Re:Could Facebook be behind it all? by TheRaven64 · · Score: 3, Funny

    Is that another installment of Anonymous Coward's attempt to decomprehensiblize the English language?

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    I am TheRaven on Soylent News
  3. Geez, What's the Problem Here? by RobotRunAmok · · Score: 4, Funny

    They bought their indulgences (carbon credits) from The Church of Global Warming. Their sins are forgiven.

    Look, stupid new religions based on politics and pseudo-half-science I can abide, but I won't tolerate hypocrisy: if the Google boys put sufficient money in the collection plate, they should be cut sufficient slack. The consequences of indiscretion, today as in the Middle Ages, should only be for the poor...

    1. Re:Geez, What's the Problem Here? by Bigbutt · · Score: 3, Funny

      Heck, they happen all the time. It's happening right now in fact. They should invest in space flight. Then they could go up whenever they like and view a solar eclipse.

      [John]

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      Shit better not happen!
  4. Re:Sorry to sound apologetic... by ProbablyJoe · · Score: 3, Funny

    Damn right, noisy jets should get off the air above my lawn!

  5. Re:Sorry to sound apologetic... by ciderbrew · · Score: 3, Funny

    If she swallows, does that count as the in-flight meal?