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Eyeing L.A.'s Olympic bid, Metro seeks to accelerate two rail projects -- Citing L.A.'s quest to host the 2024 Summer Olympics, Los Angeles County transportation officials are seeking to fast-track two of Metro's most anticipated rail projects. In letters sent Tuesday and obtained by The Times, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority formally asked to join a Federal Transit Administration pilot program that could accelerate construction on a subway to the Westside and a rail connection to Los Angeles International Airport. Laura J. Nelson/Los Angeles Times
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Phones, computers go down for hours at LAX headquarters, but flights go on -- At LAX, the nation's second-busiest airport, computer problems and telephone outages hampered the work of thousands of employees for almost five hours Wednesday. Though the administration of Los Angeles World Airports was repeatedly interrupted, officials said airline service was not affected at Los Angeles International Airport, which now handles more than 70 million passengers a year.
Nancy Castles, an airport spokeswoman, said the disruptions to computer and phone networks were reported at 9:17 a.m. Dan Weikel/Los Angeles Times
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Woman dies on flight from China to Los Angeles -- A woman died while on a Delta Airlines flight from Shanghai, China to Los Angeles Tuesday afternoon. Delta Airlines flight 186 arrived at Los Angeles International Airport shortly after 6 p.m. The woman appeared to have an unknown medical condition, according to airline officials. One of the passengers on board was a doctor and attempted to assist the woman. She died before the flight landed. Los Angeles City Fire officials and paramedics headed to the airport and said the woman was in cardiac arrest. ABC7
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Newport Beach OKs new equipment to monitor aircraft noise -- The Newport Beach City Council took a step toward replacing the aging equipment that monitors aircraft noise emanating from John Wayne Airport with new technology. The council voted unanimously Tuesday night to sign off on the replacement of 10 monitoring stations, three of which were placed in the arrival corridor and seven in the departure corridor near Newport Heights and the Back Bay. The proposal ultimately will need county Board of Supervisors' approval. Hannah Fry/Daily Pilot
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US Airways ticket counter moves to Terminal A at John Wayne Airport -- Beginning Thursday, the US Airways ticket counter will be located in Terminal A, next to American Airlines. Passengers being dropped off, checking in luggage and needing assistance from a ticket agent should proceed to Terminal A on the departures (upper) level of the Thomas F. Riley Terminal. Nicole Knight Shine/OC Register
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FAA extends public comment period for air traffic control proposals -- The Federal Aviation Administration is extending the public comment period for the environmental analysis of new air traffic control measures proposed for Southern California. The public now has until midnight on Oct. 8, an additional 30 days, to comment on the draft environmental assessment for the Southern California Metroplex project. The project, which includes most of the region and six major airports, is a comprehensive proposal to replace conventional air traffic control methods with new satellite-based procedures. Dan Weikel/Los Angeles Times
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United ouster highlights tensions with airports -- The federal investigation that led to the ouster of United Continental Holdings Inc. Chief Executive Jeff Smisek spotlights the often thorny relationship between airlines and airport authorities that, while little-noticed by fliers, is critical to how carriers run their businesses. Mr. Smisek's abrupt departure, along with that of two other senior United executives, flowed from a federal probe into the airline's relationship with David Samson, former chairman of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, which runs New York's three main airports. Ted Mann, Doug Cameron & Susan Carey/Wall Street Journal
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Frequent-fliers wonder if new CEO will mean a new United Airlines -- Tuesday's abrupt resignation of United Airlines CEO Jeff Smisek comes amid a federal investigation that's raised the specter of political patronage and allegations of corruption in the state of New Jersey. But for United's customers, interest in the airline's executive shake-up is more basic: "What will it mean for us?" The ouster of Smisek and two other high-ranking company executives follows a series of IT breakdowns -- two alone this summer -- that have snarled flights and frayed passengers' nerves since United's merger with Continental in 2011. Ben Mutzabaugh/USA Today Brett Snyder/The Cranky Flier
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United Airlines' new chief Munoz pulled from railroad CEO track -- United Airlines' new chief executive officer spent the last dozen years helping run a railroad that hauls coal, grain and autos around the U.S. Moving people around the world on airplanes can be a lot tougher. Oscar Munoz, the president of CSX Corp., was named CEO of the world's second-largest airline after the surprise ouster of Jeff Smisek. He takes over a carrier struggling with tardy flights, poor labor relations and frustrated investors -- a legacy stemming in part from the 2010 merger that has left United eclipsed by American Airlines Group Inc. and Delta Air Lines Inc. in benefiting from the industry's consolidation. Michael Sasso & Thomas Black/Bloomberg Business Jad Mouawad/New York Times
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Why United's upheaval isn't all bad -- United Continental Holdings shareholders got a shock late Tuesday from the resignation of the airline's chief executive and two top executives. But there may be some light at the end of this proverbial tunnel. The abrupt departures came as fallout from a federal investigation into United's relationship with the former chairman of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. There is no allegation of wrongdoing, but the moves clearly rattled investors. Charley Grant/Wall Street Journal
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5 challenges for United Airlines -- The ouster of Jeff Smisek gives new United Continental Chief Executive Oscar Munoz an opportunity to revitalize the world's second-largest airline after years of management missteps-but will be no easy task. Here is what you need to know. 1. Anyone But Jeff - Mr. Smisek alienated many staff and customers during his five-year tenure with stalled contract talks with unions and a series of botched efforts to integrate United and Continental following their 2010 merger. Doug Cameron/Wall Street Journal
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Dear United Airlines: We'd like to suggest these 8 favors for the rest of us -- Dear United Airlines management, I've always thought we were friends. And now -- reading about your top executives' alleged kindnesses toward a big shot at the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey - I realize there's an easy way to be sure. I just have a few requests. Don't worry. I'm not asking you to reinstate a money-losing flight between Newark and Columbia, S.C., just to ease my weekend escapes. Christopher Reynolds/Los Angeles Times
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| British Airways 777 Engine Fire |
NTSB to investigate airplane fire on Las Vegas tarmac that injured 27 -- The National Transportation Safety Board is looking into what caused a British Airways plane to catch fire on takeoff from Las Vegas, sending flames and smoke billowing from the tarmac area and injuring 27. The agency said on Twitter it was sending three investigators to the scene to begin its inquiry. The plane was bound for London and had been cleared for takeoff when its left engine caught fire at 4:14 p.m. Tuesday, according to the Federal Aviation Administration and McCarran Airport officials. Christine Mai-Duc/Los Angeles Times
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Vegas plane fire passengers escaped with lives - and bags -- Passengers on the British Airways jet whose engine caught fire just before takeoff in Las Vegas escaped with their lives - and some with their carry-ons, as well. While flight crews tell people to leave belongings behind in an evacuation, pilots say they seem increasingly inclined to grab whatever they brought on board. And sometimes even a selfie or two. "We're always shaking our head," said Chris Manno, a veteran pilot with a major US airline who took to social media Wednesday to slam those pictured on the Vegas tarmac with bulky cabin bags. Justin Pritchard/AP
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Aviation safety advances helped stave off BA plane fire disaster -- The escape from a dramatic blaze on a British Airways plane on take-off from Las Vegas underlines advances in aviation safety, according to experts, who note parallels to past incidents that caused widespread fatalities. The US National Transportation Safety Board will lead an investigation into exactly how the Boeing 777-200 suffered a catastrophic failure to its left engine while accelerating down the runway, but the pilot's response and the plane's containment systems meant the fire was swiftly extinguished without serious harm to passengers - terrifying though it may have been for those on board. Gwyn Topham/The Guardian
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Pilot who saved burning British Airways flight in Las Vegas: 'I'm finished flying' -- The pilot credited with saving the lives of dozens of passengers on a burning British Airways plane said it was the first time in 42 years of flying that he'd ever faced a life-threatening emergency - and it happened on one of his last runs before retirement. "It's safe to say I'm finished flying," Chris Henkey told NBC News Wednesday by phone from a hotel in Las Vegas, where he was waiting to brief investigators. Henkey, 63, has been praised for his calm under pressure and has become an instant celebrity in his native England. Jon Schuppe/NBC News
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Pilots' union takes flight subsidy fight to Reagan airport -- The Air Line Pilots Association union is taking the fight over foreign airline flight subsidies that has roiled the nation's aviation industry to Washington, D.C.'s Ronald Reagan National Airport. The union said Wednesday that is launching a new campaign called "A Deal Is A Deal" to persuade lawmakers, who frequently fly through Reagan airport, to look into allegations that Middle Eastern airlines are receiving unfair subsidies from their home governments. Keith Laing/The Hill
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Americans still view airline industry positively -- Americans continue to view the airline industry slightly more positively than negatively, despite the frequent news reports about increased airline fees, cramped seats and customer frustration. The industry's current positive ratings are consistent with what Gallup has found since 2013 and with ratings before the economic downturn. From 2007 through 2012, as was true for many industries, more Americans viewed the airline industry negatively than positively. Rebecca Riffkin/Gallup Poll
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The Martin Agency will lead McCann Worldgroup's effort to keep American Airlines -- The Martin Agency, best known for its abundant and popular work for Geico, appears to be its parent company's best bet for retaining the American Airlines account. American, which is in the process of retiring the US Airways brand after acquiring the rival carrier, launched its global agency review in July. The Martin Agency is pitching for the business on behalf of McCann Worldgroup, which is putting forth Martin instead of Dallas-based incumbent TM Advertising. Marty Swant/Adweek
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Airline passengers don't always go paperless -- When I travel I tend to stop by the airline kiosks in the airport and print out my boarding pass. (I also get ink residue on my fingers when I read the "newspaper.") And, it seems, most people also tend to print out their travel documents, despite the ease of putting them on their smart-phones. A new survey shows that 58 percent of U.S. air travelers regard themselves as "careful planners" who double check their travel documents and turn up at the airport early. These passengers are happy to use technology for planning and throughout the journey. Skip Descant/The Desert Sun
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Lockpickers 3-D print TSA master luggage keys from leaked photos -- The TSA is learning a basic lesson of physical security in the age of 3-D printing: If you have sensitive keys-say, a set of master keys that can open locks you've asked millions of Americans to use-don't post pictures of them on the Internet. A group of lock-picking and security enthusiasts drove that lesson home Wednesday by publishing a set of CAD files to Github that anyone can use to 3-D print a precisely measured set of the TSA's master keys for its "approved" locks-the ones the agency can open with its own keys during airport inspections. Andy Greenberg/Wired
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5 remembrance events for 9/11 in the Los Angeles area -- Here's a roundup of events honoring the victims of the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. Holly Andres/Los Angeles Daily News
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9/11 death and injury total still rising -- The 9/11 death and injury toll is still rising as this week's 14th anniversary of the terrorist attacks approaches. Nearly 21,000 people have filed eligibility claims with the September 11th Victims Compensation Fund as of Sept. 6, up more than 4,000 from this time last year, according to updated data that fund officials released Wednesday. More than 9,000 claimants have been determined eligible for compensation of medical bills and other expenses, and more than 6,000 have received compensation decisions. Kevin McCoy/USA Today
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Boeing boosting 767 production in Everett -- Boeing announced internally Wednesday it will boost production of its 767 jet in Everett in response to demand for the freighter model, after a big order from FedEx in July. According to a person with knowledge of the program, Boeing plans to add about 150 jobs in the next couple years to the 767 workforce of roughly 2,000 to 2,500 assembly mechanics. Boeing makes 18 of the widebody twinjets per year now, and had earlier announced it would move up to 2 jets per month, or 24 per year, early in 2016. Dominic Gates/Seattle Times
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UPS pilots union calls for strike vote -- The union representing United Parcel Service Inc. pilots on Wednesday called for a strike vote as contract negotiations enter their fifth year and the delivery giant's all-important holiday peak season approaches. A "yes" vote by the company's 2,500 pilots would authorize the Independent Pilots Association's executive board to request a release from federally mediated negotiations with UPS which, if granted, would allow the pilots to strike. The union expects to report an affirmative vote on Oct. 23, however, a strike doesn't look likely at this point. Laura Stevens/Wall Street Journal
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| California Public Utilities Commission |
State Senators confirm Michael Picker as head of Public Utilities Commission -- State senators have confirmed Gov. Jerry Brown's appointment of a former adviser to lead California's troubled utilities commission. Senators said Tuesday that they are satisfied that Michael Picker is moving the Public Utilities Commission in the right direction after he replaced Michael Peevey as commission chairman. Democratic senators praised Picker for improving transparency and accountability, refocusing the commission on public safety, and bringing other reforms. AP
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LA City union leaders celebrate health care win for employees in new contract -- Los Angeles City Hall union leaders are celebrating a major victory in their fight with Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti over who should pay for health care costs. A letter sent last week to Coalition of L.A. City Unions members obtained by this news organization touts numerous "wins" in a new four-year contract for 20,000 city workers. "No out-of-pocket costs toward premium!" the letter reads. Dakota Smith/Los Angeles Daily News
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Lawsuit says new L.A. streets plan creates more air pollution, not less -- Westside-based advocacy group filed a lawsuit Wednesday challenging Los Angeles' sweeping new 20-year transportation plan, saying officials failed to properly vet its effects on public safety, air pollution and other aspects of city life. The nonprofit group Fix the City said in its lawsuit that Mobility Plan 2035, which calls for the addition of hundreds of miles of new bus- and bike-only lanes, will lead to increased tailpipe emissions as drivers find themselves on streets with fewer car lanes and greater congestion. David Zahniser/Los Angeles Times
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