Love for the plug: Alaska Airlines adding power outlets to new seats

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For those who fly on Alaska Airlines and need to keep the gadgets juiced, help is on the way. Starting this fall, the Seattle-based airline will be adding power outlets to every seat for three-quarters of its fleet. The outlets will supply both 110-volt and USB power for tablets and smartphones. It’s part of a… Read More…

Back in the air: FAA approves 787 battery design changes

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After three months of grounding, Boeing’s 787 Dreamliner is set to fly again. The Federal Aviation Administration today approved Boeing’s 787 battery changes and has agreed to lift the grounding order that was placed back in January. After a flurry of overheating lithium ion battery problems and emergency landings in Japan three months ago, the FAA ordered all U.S.-based… Read More…

F.A.A. approves Boeing certification plan to test 787 battery fixes

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The Federal Aviation Administration today approved Boeing’s certification plan to test the 787 Dreamliner’s battery system. Late last month, Boeing presented proposed changes to the FAA and several outlets reported that the FAA was to start flight testing as early as last week. But the FAA denied those reports, calling them “completely inaccurate.” Now, however, it has given… Read More…

Dude, where’s my Dreamliner? Michael Dell’s 787 order may be delayed

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Michael Dell’s most recent purchase may be put on hold thanks to Boeing’s latest woes. According to a report out this afternoon from the Wall Street Journal, the founder and CEO of Dell has an order for the Dreamliner via the International Lease Finance Corp., the largest buyer of 787s. The WSJ noted that it… Read More…

Breaking: FAA orders all US-based airlines to ground Boeing 787 Dreamliners

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After a flurry of problems and emergency landings in Japan, the Federal Aviation Administration today ordered all U.S.-based airlines to ground Boeing 787 Dreamliners. This comes just hours after Japan’s two biggest airlines, All Nippon and Japan Airlines, grounded their fleet of 24 787s. On an All Nippon domestic flight today, instruments triggered emergency warnings… Read More…

Just in case: FAA says Boeing 787 is safe, will still conduct comprehensive review

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Even though both Boeing and the Federal Aviation Administration insist the Dreamliner is safe, the government will still be conducing a “comprehensive” review of Boeing’s 787 following last week’s electrical mishaps. The FAA announced today that it will launch a safety review of the 787′s critical systems, including the “design, manufacture and assembly.” Last Monday,… Read More…

Flying with our gadgets: Do electronic devices really disrupt plane operations?

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“Could you please turn off your _____ (insert electronic device here)?” You’ve certainly heard this instruction given by a flight attendant, either to you or someone else, before the takeoff and landing of an airplane. But let’s be real: is there actually any validity to it? This interesting article from the New York Times shows how… Read More…