We setup redundant systems and an airline training centers to make sure the pilot training side wouldn't fail (apparently the cost of having pilots come back was huge - go figure...). In the end the training center was actually more redundant and reliable than the actual reservation systems at the airline and we enjoyed 98.5% uptime (save for small things like the power company killin power to the entire builiding without notifying us). To make matters more interesting this system was spread over two locations that are 600 miles apart.
Essentially we had redundant routers put in place nin each center so that if one failed the traffic would kick over to the second. In addition we had developed a small application that resided on the classroom computers that would check the application servers holding the training material. If the primary server was down it simply switched to the secondary server (there were three application servers in one center and two in another).
Furthermore, our database servers (two in one location, one in another; the primary server was located in the larger center and all machines went there first) had a product called DoubleTake installed which would cause the backup server to assume the identity of the primary server in the event of a failure. DoubleTake also allowed us to mirror image the data on our servers fo consistency in the event of a failure. This was important because if we had a WAN failure the database server in the smaller facility would activate and act as the database server for that facility (this actually happened - we had our IT work farmed out to a large support company, which I shall not name, that actually once failed to notice a T1 line had failed for OVER A MONTH!!!).
There were a few glitches, such as the need to wait until afterhours to bring back the primary server in the event of a failure (if you didn't you would be bringing up another server with a duplicate IP address due to the DoubleTake software which caused all sorts of problems so both actually had to be brought down), but for the most part it works very well.
Heck, even if all that failed we had stand alone machines that could run off of a CD. I think that may be a little difficult for a hospital to do though.
Considering that United is one of the biggest advocates of the Electronic Flight Bag which is essentially a pen-based laptop that is used IN THEC COCKPIT of the aircraft. They have been testing this technology for years and had a great amount of success with it.
As for the TCAS system, while it is mandated by the FAA (at least in the US), some may argue that it doesn't work all that well. The pilots are told to follow the TCAS rather than ATC instructions. This has led to a few "interesting scenarios."
However, while ATC usually keeps the aircraft apart, in high traffic areas TCAS can be useful. Especially when Joe pilot in his little Cessna flying VFR wanders across your approach unbeknownest to the tower. Of course visual awareness on the crews part is important there as well.
Airlines, however, tend to be a little paranoid about electronic devices. Northwest is the best telling you that "we have been cleared to land so please turn off all of your electronic devices, blah, blah, blah." I'm not too sure about the experiences of others, but all the times I've flown into Greater Pittsburgh I have never been cleared to land at 12,000 feet when not even established on the approach. But hey, that's just me.
but I don't think it justifies that 10% beer tax that our wonderful mayor has been pushing for so long. Of course now that all of the exits from Pittsburgh are being systematically closed to prevent people from leaving the city, at least we will have something to do.
Actually, all sarcasm aside, this seems like a pretty good idea. I'll have to walk around with my Powerbook and see what I can pick up. It is a lot cheaper than the DSL line I have now.
Yep..You read it correctly. It can be used to reuse Acrobat pages in a Flash file. It is actually an extensive system. The idea is to be able to find and reuse content.
Look at the AICC website for information on this topic. I know that at the last meeting this was a big topic, and I believe that even Artesia was there. There is another firm that I am aware of that actually has a product that will convert Powerpoint and PDF files to the SWF format and catalog all of the contents into their management system. I don't want to say too much as I think it is still in beta and there is an NDA, blah, blah, blah.
This is becoming a larger and larger issue among companies. I know of one company that is spending close to $3 Million US to get their content organized. In addition, I think there is also a movement to integrate Content Management Systems with Learning Management Systems. I guess this is a good idea.
This is exactly the problem. America is falling into a "reaction based on paranoia" mentality that is hindering the country.
Consider this: If you fly into Washington Regan (DCA) you must remain seated for thirty minutes prior to landing. This means that when I fly to DCA I am not permitted to stand from the time the door is closed on the flight (I depart from Pittsburgh, the flight is 35 minutes from wheels up to touchdown). What purpose does this serve other than to hassle the passengers? It has already been proven that if someone rushes the cockpit other passengers will stop them (this occured on an American flight to Chicago). Furthermore, does anyone really think that someone intent on taking a plane down is going to remain seated because the pilot or FAA says so?
To make matters worse the media consistently reports that this airline or that airline is going to go bankrupt because of the fear of flying. This prevents people from buying tickets for future flight because they fear that the airline won't exist (I work for an airline and this is keeping our load factors down to 60% meaning that only 60% of a plane is full at any given time).
If the government wants to do something they should make it easier to fly, not more difficult and restrictive (I believe that it is possible to do this without comprimising security - please tell me how these randon searches are helpful?). A simple ad campaign telling people to travel isn't going to cut it.
The private sector isn't any better off. If you are flying to the Winter Olympics you have to first land at one of four "gateway" airports to have you aircraft and pasengers inspected. Then you have to file a flight plan and get a password to fly on to Salt Lake City. For this hassle, what is the point of flying there (and yes there are those that argue that people on private planes can afford the extra cost, but should they have to...)?
In addition, the government is moving to build a database that will track all of the individuals applying for a pilots license. Is this going to work? Probably not. The government already has a database of suspected terroists and their profiles. That failed miserably on 911 when some 16 people boarded those various planes completely undetected.
The more that we move to build nataional databases the more that we restrict ourselves. I agree with the previous post that suggested that those that want the complete security and limited freedoms of as city state move to one. As far as flying goes, there is only one way to keep people completely safe: Put them in one airplane completely naked, and have their luggage follow them in another airplane (having said that there is probably some government bill pondering this very idea...).
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We setup redundant systems and an airline training centers to make sure the pilot training side wouldn't fail (apparently the cost of having pilots come back was huge - go figure...). In the end the training center was actually more redundant and reliable than the actual reservation systems at the airline and we enjoyed 98.5% uptime (save for small things like the power company killin power to the entire builiding without notifying us). To make matters more interesting this system was spread over two locations that are 600 miles apart.
Essentially we had redundant routers put in place nin each center so that if one failed the traffic would kick over to the second. In addition we had developed a small application that resided on the classroom computers that would check the application servers holding the training material. If the primary server was down it simply switched to the secondary server (there were three application servers in one center and two in another).
Furthermore, our database servers (two in one location, one in another; the primary server was located in the larger center and all machines went there first) had a product called DoubleTake installed which would cause the backup server to assume the identity of the primary server in the event of a failure. DoubleTake also allowed us to mirror image the data on our servers fo consistency in the event of a failure. This was important because if we had a WAN failure the database server in the smaller facility would activate and act as the database server for that facility (this actually happened - we had our IT work farmed out to a large support company, which I shall not name, that actually once failed to notice a T1 line had failed for OVER A MONTH!!!).
There were a few glitches, such as the need to wait until afterhours to bring back the primary server in the event of a failure (if you didn't you would be bringing up another server with a duplicate IP address due to the DoubleTake software which caused all sorts of problems so both actually had to be brought down), but for the most part it works very well.
Heck, even if all that failed we had stand alone machines that could run off of a CD. I think that may be a little difficult for a hospital to do though.
Kris
As for the TCAS system, while it is mandated by the FAA (at least in the US), some may argue that it doesn't work all that well. The pilots are told to follow the TCAS rather than ATC instructions. This has led to a few "interesting scenarios."
However, while ATC usually keeps the aircraft apart, in high traffic areas TCAS can be useful. Especially when Joe pilot in his little Cessna flying VFR wanders across your approach unbeknownest to the tower. Of course visual awareness on the crews part is important there as well.
Airlines, however, tend to be a little paranoid about electronic devices. Northwest is the best telling you that "we have been cleared to land so please turn off all of your electronic devices, blah, blah, blah." I'm not too sure about the experiences of others, but all the times I've flown into Greater Pittsburgh I have never been cleared to land at 12,000 feet when not even established on the approach. But hey, that's just me.
Kris
Actually, all sarcasm aside, this seems like a pretty good idea. I'll have to walk around with my Powerbook and see what I can pick up. It is a lot cheaper than the DSL line I have now.
Kris
Yep..You read it correctly. It can be used to reuse Acrobat pages in a Flash file. It is actually an extensive system. The idea is to be able to find and reuse content.
Kris
This is becoming a larger and larger issue among companies. I know of one company that is spending close to $3 Million US to get their content organized. In addition, I think there is also a movement to integrate Content Management Systems with Learning Management Systems. I guess this is a good idea.
Kris
This is exactly the problem. America is falling into a "reaction based on paranoia" mentality that is hindering the country.
Consider this: If you fly into Washington Regan (DCA) you must remain seated for thirty minutes prior to landing. This means that when I fly to DCA I am not permitted to stand from the time the door is closed on the flight (I depart from Pittsburgh, the flight is 35 minutes from wheels up to touchdown). What purpose does this serve other than to hassle the passengers? It has already been proven that if someone rushes the cockpit other passengers will stop them (this occured on an American flight to Chicago). Furthermore, does anyone really think that someone intent on taking a plane down is going to remain seated because the pilot or FAA says so?
To make matters worse the media consistently reports that this airline or that airline is going to go bankrupt because of the fear of flying. This prevents people from buying tickets for future flight because they fear that the airline won't exist (I work for an airline and this is keeping our load factors down to 60% meaning that only 60% of a plane is full at any given time).
If the government wants to do something they should make it easier to fly, not more difficult and restrictive (I believe that it is possible to do this without comprimising security - please tell me how these randon searches are helpful?). A simple ad campaign telling people to travel isn't going to cut it.
The private sector isn't any better off. If you are flying to the Winter Olympics you have to first land at one of four "gateway" airports to have you aircraft and pasengers inspected. Then you have to file a flight plan and get a password to fly on to Salt Lake City. For this hassle, what is the point of flying there (and yes there are those that argue that people on private planes can afford the extra cost, but should they have to...)?
In addition, the government is moving to build a database that will track all of the individuals applying for a pilots license. Is this going to work? Probably not. The government already has a database of suspected terroists and their profiles. That failed miserably on 911 when some 16 people boarded those various planes completely undetected.
The more that we move to build nataional databases the more that we restrict ourselves. I agree with the previous post that suggested that those that want the complete security and limited freedoms of as city state move to one. As far as flying goes, there is only one way to keep people completely safe: Put them in one airplane completely naked, and have their luggage follow them in another airplane (having said that there is probably some government bill pondering this very idea...).
-Kris