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Southwest Airlines Mobile Boarding Passes

Wednesday, 28 May 2014 19:45 Mark Gardner

Southwest Airlines

DALLAS, May 28, 2014 /PRNewswire/ --Southwest Airlines (LUV) today announced mobile boarding passes are now available for Customers traveling throughout the United States. Today's announcement marks the completion of the domestic rollout of the technology that will make getting through the airport quicker and greener. With the airline's mobile boarding passes, Customers can use their smartphones or other electronic devices to get through security checkpoints and to board their aircraft.

The airline has worked tirelessly to enhance the Customer experience and to bring the technology to all airports it serves in the United States. Testing began in the fall of 2013 in Austin, followed by successful pilot programs in Houston and Dallas.

"Mobile boarding passes are a great tool to help our Customers quickly get through the airport and on their flights," said Kevin Krone, Southwest Airlines Chief Marketing Officer. "This was a high priority for Southwest, and it's just one of the many ways we are improving the overall Customer Experience."

This announcement comes on the heels of an update last week to their iOS and Android apps adding information about upcoming trips to the homepage. Customers can now quickly view the information that matters most while traveling, like flight status, boarding position, and gate information. Travel information will update in the app beginning 24 hours prior to a flight allowing Customers to check in and access their mobile boarding pass from the homepage.
To download the app or learn how to use mobile boarding passes, visit southwest.com/mobile.

Last Updated on Thursday, 12 June 2014 22:03

SpaceX Expected to Unveil Manned Dragon Spaceship on May 29

Wednesday, 28 May 2014 02:08 Mark Gardner

SpaceX Expected to Unveil Manned Dragon Spaceship on May 29

The world is about to get its first look at SpaceX's new astronaut taxi.

Next Thursday (May 29), the company will unveil the crewed version of its Dragon spacecraft, which SpaceX hopes will be ferrying astronauts to and from the International Space Station a few short years from now.

"Sounds like this might be a good time to unveil the new Dragon Mk 2 spaceship that ‪@SpaceX has been working on [with] ‪@NASA. No trampoline needed," SpaceX's billionaire founder and CEO Elon Musk wrote in a Twitter post late last month. "Cover drops on May 29. Actual flight design hardware of crew Dragon, not a mockup." READ MORE: Space.com

Argus: Fractional Flying Bounces Back in April

Saturday, 17 May 2014 18:13 Mark Gardner

Argus: Fractional Flying Bounces Back in April

MAY 13, 2014

$While business aircraft flying continued its upward trajectory in April, the big news was that year-over-year activity at the fractionals rose for the first time since September 2011. In fact, fractional light jet flying, which includes Learjet 45s at Flexjet, soared by 38.2 percent from April 2013. (Photo: Flexjet)$

While business aircraft flying continued its upward trajectory in April, the big news was that year-over-year activity at the fractionals rose for the first time since September 2011. In fact, fractional light jet flying, which includes Learjet 45s at Flexjet, soared by 38.2 percent from April 2013. (Photo: Flexjet)

May 13, 2014, 4:16 PM

Though TraqPak data released today by aviation services company Argus indicates that business aircraft flying continued its upward trend last month, climbing 1.4 percent year-over-year, this wasn’t the big news. “The bigger story was the turnaround in the fractional market, which posted the first year-over-year increase since September 2011,” Argus said.

In fact, the fractional segment posted a 1.5-percent gain from April last year, thanks to “significant increases” in light and large-cabin jets, which offset a 53.1-percent decline in fractional turboprop activity attributable to the Avantair shutdown. But again, the Part 135 segment shined brightest last month, logging a 3.7-percent rise in flying versus a year ago. Activity at Part 91 operators was unchanged, as increases in jet flying exactly counteracted a 3.4-percent decline by Part 91 turboprops.

Kirobo the COOL Space Robot!

Friday, 20 December 2013 09:08 Mark Gardner

Kirobo the COOL Space Robot!

In this video, Kirobo talks to the First Japanese Commender of the International Space Station, Koichi Wakata.

Wakata said Kirobo happy to meet new colleagues and ask them about the feeling of being in nature graffiti zero.
"I am now used to it, no problem at all," replied Kirobo.

Although Kirobo paused before answering and Wakata speak more slowly, the conversation reportedly went smoothly over time.

The developer said the talks Kirobo robot is not set but she is designed to give the same response as human beings and also learn while doing conversation.

They believe the future is open to the robots talk like Kirobo, not only as a friend on long space missions but also for people who are lonely on earth.

In principle Kirobo process questions put to him and choose the word in his treasury to formulate relevant answers.

Kirobo will return to Earth in 2014.

Last Updated on Monday, 23 December 2013 23:08

Tablets will overtake PC Sales by 2015

Wednesday, 11 September 2013 19:30 Mark Gardner

Tablets will overtake PC Sales by 2015

With newer and cheaper models coming out, tablet shipments are expected to soon outpace PC shipments.(Credit: Sarah Tew/CNET)

As a slew of new tablets were announced over the last few days, data shows that tablet shipments will soon surpass those of personal computers.

A report by research firm IDC predicts that for the first time more tablets will be shipped in the fourth quarter of 2013 than PC shipments; and, by 2015, annual tablet shipments will top PC shipments.

"The device world has seen several iterations of cannibalization impacting different categories, with the last few years focused on tablets cannibalizing PC sales," IDC clients and displays program vice president Bob O'Donnell said in a statement.

By the numbers, tablet shipments are expected to reach 84.1 million units in the fourth quarter, while PC shipments will be 83.1 million. PC shipments are looking to drop by 10 percent for all of 2013.

IDC says that while people will continue to buy top-of-the-line tablets, cheaper models will overpower the market in the near future.

Broken Monitors, Just a Bunch of Broken Monitors!

Monday, 02 September 2013 06:07 Mark Gardner

Broken Monitors, Just a Bunch of Broken Monitors!

Last Updated on Tuesday, 10 September 2013 00:38

XCOR Aerospace Announces Significant Propulsion Milestone on Lynx Suborbital Vehicle

Thursday, 28 March 2013 14:13 Mark Gardner

XCOR Aerospace Announces Significant Propulsion Milestone on Lynx Suborbital Vehicle
by Staff Writers
Mojave CA (SPX) Mar 28, 2013

The XCOR Lynx rocket propulsion system is tested under full piston pump power. To view a video of the rocket test please go here.

XCOR Aerospace has announced a first in aviation and space history, the firing of a full piston pump-powered rocket engine. This breakthrough is the foundation for fully reusable spacecraft that can fly multiple times per day, every day.

It is a game changing technology that has the power to fundamentally alter the way we as a society view, visit, and utilize the abundant resources around our planet and in our solar system.

The initial portion of XCOR's pump test program culminated in a 67-second engine run with the propulsion system mated to the flight weight Lynx fuselage. After the installation of the flight sized liquid oxygen tank, the next test sequence will extend the engine run duration to the full powered flight duration of the Lynx Mark I suborbital vehicle.

"Through use of our proprietary rocket propellant piston pumps we deliver both kerosene and liquid oxygen to our rocket engines and eliminate the need for heavy, high-pressure fuel and oxidizer tanks. It also enables our propulsion system to fly multiple times per day and last for tens of thousands of flights," said XCOR Chief Executive Officer Jeff Greason.

FAA to close Towers at smaller Airports April 7, 2013

Sunday, 24 March 2013 22:19 Mark Gardner

FAA to close Towers at smaller Airports April 7, 2013

FAA said it will begin closing 149 contract air traffic control towers April 7 to comply withmandatory budget cuts.

The towers scheduled for closure are run by certified FAA contractors at smaller US airports that mostly handle general and business aviation traffic, though a small percentage of commercial flights will be affected. FAA pointed out that it scaled back from its original proposal to close 189 contract towers to comply with budget sequestration, which mandates more than $620 million in agency spending be reduced over the next six months.

“We heard from communities across the country about the importance of their towers and these were very tough decisions,” US transportation secretary Ray LaHood said in a statement.