"Germany's national railway company, Deutsche Bahn, plans to test larger, armed drones to try to reduce the theft of small drones introduced earlier. The idea is to use airborne infra-red cameras to collect evidence, which could then be used to prosecute vandals who steal property at night. A company spokesman said drones would be tested at rail depots soon."
If it has good enough heading and position information, it'd make a bitchin' heads-up display alternative for pilots. Student pilot lost? Ask your google glasses to point out the nearest airport. Got an emergency in the clouds? It'll show you where the nearest runway is. Link it to the transponder and let it highlight traffic out in the real world. Plenty of applications for it in aviation.
The police definitely would have been interested. I've had (on at least three separate occasions) flights that I was flying held at the gate at departure time so the cops could board and remove people who purchased their tickets with stolen credit cards.
That's got to be one of the DUMBEST things to buy dishonestly. I mean, purchasing something that guarantees you will be at a certain place at a certain time? Duh?
It's really not that big of a deal. I've had all of those problems on a SINGLE TRIP in the embraer. (Ok, the electrical issue was caught before it was an actual fire, but still). It's a new type, this kind of stuff happens.
Not only could you photoshop the barcode, but hell, you could photoshop the name, the destination, the flight number, pretty much anything you wanted... The brainless goons at the security checkpoint wouldn't know the difference. (They don't scan tickets or anything).
In my experience (working for a contractor for a major US airline), you could even use a photoshopped (printed at home) boarding pass to get on the plane. When they scan it at the gate and the computer beeps saying "no such thing", generally the non-english-speaking gate agent will just scan it a few more times, give up, and let the person on the plane. When the passenger count from the computer later doesn't match up to the number of people on the plane, they'll just "go with what's on the plane" in the interest of getting the plane out on time. This happens on a DAILY BASIS. "Security" is a joke.
Seriously, none of this will matter in a few years. At the rate we're LOSING space capability we won't even be able to use a telescope by the end of the decade. 40+ years ago we could land on the moon, now we're paying the russians to send people into space for us. It's embarassing. What the hell is left to have partisan fights over?!? Where we're going to spend the money they yank from what used to be the space program budget?
Er... This already happens. Most (new) cars have this installed. Fortunately mine doesn't, but you can bet your ass the first one I buy that DOES will have it immediately removed/deactivated/destroyed.
Shit, I don't know if you've ever built a decent car audio system, but at canadian prices, a dollar a watt for a decent system would be WAY cheaper than what it currently costs.
With 20 minutes and the internet, the bloatware is easily removed and the speed issues disappear. I didn't install any "alternate" version, I just deleted the bloatware.
But what's stopping me from just removing the power wire to the damn thing? No problem then. "No officer, I had no idea they messed up installing that spy device and now my car has no evidence against me!"
At 0155, the captain made a mandatory position report with the Shanwick Oceanic control centre
This aroused the FO.
Does anyone else find this to be a bit creepy? I mean, did the guy wake up and say "ooh, baby, I love the way you gave that position report". (Or did they mean it "roused" the FO?)
I will confirm the fact that phone use during taxi, takeoff, or landing IS potentially harmful to the airplane. Ever leave your phone near your computer speakers and get a text message? That DITDITDITDAAAAAAATTTDITDIT noise it makes is sometimes audible over the communications radios. One phone is annoying. Fifty phones may overwhelm the ATC transmitter. (Keep in mind that the antennas on most airliners are on the top and bottom back where the passengers are, NOT in the cockpit).
As for ipads and kindles? No problem whatsoever.
(And yes, I am an airline pilot. I have experiences this stuff personally.)
The ones who thought it was a good idea were the bean counters who figured they could save themselves a few bucks by not having two different dashboards for left or right drive cars. But you know, "safety is our first priority... right after money." (Like the airlines!)
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This company is going to be distributing free drones to anyone who cares to grab/knock one out of the air... Sounds like a good business model.
"Germany's national railway company, Deutsche Bahn, plans to test larger, armed drones to try to reduce the theft of small drones introduced earlier. The idea is to use airborne infra-red cameras to collect evidence, which could then be used to prosecute vandals who steal property at night. A company spokesman said drones would be tested at rail depots soon."
Fixed that for ya.
If it has good enough heading and position information, it'd make a bitchin' heads-up display alternative for pilots. Student pilot lost? Ask your google glasses to point out the nearest airport. Got an emergency in the clouds? It'll show you where the nearest runway is. Link it to the transponder and let it highlight traffic out in the real world. Plenty of applications for it in aviation.
No, you're thinking of the TCAS system. That isn't in any way attatched to the ACARS or ADS-B systems.
Plus, the pilots are used to seeing "normal" ACARS messages every day, if something odd came across, they'd notice something was up IMMEDIATELY.
If I had just figured out how to eavesdrop on imessages, this is JUST the sort of thing I would make public....
The police definitely would have been interested. I've had (on at least three separate occasions) flights that I was flying held at the gate at departure time so the cops could board and remove people who purchased their tickets with stolen credit cards.
That's got to be one of the DUMBEST things to buy dishonestly. I mean, purchasing something that guarantees you will be at a certain place at a certain time? Duh?
It's really not that big of a deal. I've had all of those problems on a SINGLE TRIP in the embraer. (Ok, the electrical issue was caught before it was an actual fire, but still). It's a new type, this kind of stuff happens.
As far as I've noticed, VERY few companies look for competence at the board of directors level.
Not only could you photoshop the barcode, but hell, you could photoshop the name, the destination, the flight number, pretty much anything you wanted... The brainless goons at the security checkpoint wouldn't know the difference. (They don't scan tickets or anything).
In my experience (working for a contractor for a major US airline), you could even use a photoshopped (printed at home) boarding pass to get on the plane. When they scan it at the gate and the computer beeps saying "no such thing", generally the non-english-speaking gate agent will just scan it a few more times, give up, and let the person on the plane. When the passenger count from the computer later doesn't match up to the number of people on the plane, they'll just "go with what's on the plane" in the interest of getting the plane out on time. This happens on a DAILY BASIS. "Security" is a joke.
See, who says the US isn't investing in high speed rail! Whose $100B do you think that is?
Uh, I hate to tell you, but I did pay for that road. Taxes, and all that.
You forgot the Q400 in a drastic nose-up pitch. (possibly about to stall)
When I first read the headline I read "Mammoth Tool Discovered in Downtown SF". I thought "Why is that news? plenty of THOSE around there"
Seriously, none of this will matter in a few years. At the rate we're LOSING space capability we won't even be able to use a telescope by the end of the decade. 40+ years ago we could land on the moon, now we're paying the russians to send people into space for us. It's embarassing. What the hell is left to have partisan fights over?!? Where we're going to spend the money they yank from what used to be the space program budget?
Er... This already happens. Most (new) cars have this installed. Fortunately mine doesn't, but you can bet your ass the first one I buy that DOES will have it immediately removed/deactivated/destroyed.
The reality is, if the ticket is $25 cheaper than flying on a regular airliner, the self-loading cargo will gladly book that flight.
I don't believe enough people use google+ to even qualify as a "rash". (let alone enough that have been banned)
Shit, I don't know if you've ever built a decent car audio system, but at canadian prices, a dollar a watt for a decent system would be WAY cheaper than what it currently costs.
Seriously, who the hell uses their real information on a goddamned twitter account?!?!
Are you kidding me? Ballmer is the worst? Have these people never been on an airline?!?!?!
With 20 minutes and the internet, the bloatware is easily removed and the speed issues disappear. I didn't install any "alternate" version, I just deleted the bloatware.
But what's stopping me from just removing the power wire to the damn thing? No problem then. "No officer, I had no idea they messed up installing that spy device and now my car has no evidence against me!"
At 0155, the captain made a mandatory position report with the Shanwick Oceanic control centre
This aroused the FO.
Does anyone else find this to be a bit creepy? I mean, did the guy wake up and say "ooh, baby, I love the way you gave that position report". (Or did they mean it "roused" the FO?)
I will confirm the fact that phone use during taxi, takeoff, or landing IS potentially harmful to the airplane. Ever leave your phone near your computer speakers and get a text message? That DITDITDITDAAAAAAATTTDITDIT noise it makes is sometimes audible over the communications radios. One phone is annoying. Fifty phones may overwhelm the ATC transmitter. (Keep in mind that the antennas on most airliners are on the top and bottom back where the passengers are, NOT in the cockpit).
As for ipads and kindles? No problem whatsoever.
(And yes, I am an airline pilot. I have experiences this stuff personally.)
The ones who thought it was a good idea were the bean counters who figured they could save themselves a few bucks by not having two different dashboards for left or right drive cars. But you know, "safety is our first priority... right after money." (Like the airlines!)