Flight Safety: Ensuring That Your Next Flight is a Safe One

If you have ever flown you likely are aware of several government organizations dedicated to the oversight of the aviation industry. Alphabet soup sounding names such as the FAA, DOT, and NSTB are often mentioned, but each organization has a distinct role in ensuring passenger safety. Let’s take a look at three federal agencies tasked with ensuring that your next flight is a safe one.

Federal Aviation Administration – The Federal Aviation Administration, or FAA, is responsible for the safety of civil aviation. According to their web site [1], the FAA is tasked with the following responsibilities:

• Regulating civil aviation to promote safety

• Encouraging and developing civil aeronautics, including new aviation technology

• Developing and operating a system of air traffic control and navigation for both civil and military aircraft

• Researching and developing the National Airspace System and civil aeronautics

• Developing and carrying out programs to control aircraft noise and other environmental effects of civil aviation

• Regulating U.S. commercial space transportation You can learn more information about the FAA, how it is managed, governing responsibilities, and even hiring information at www.faa.gov

U.S. Department of Transportation – The Department of Transportation, or DOT, overseas the operation of 13 governmental agencies, including the Federal Aviation Administration. The chief responsibilities of the DOT is to, “keep the traveling public safe and secure, increase their mobility, and have our transportation system contribute to the nation’s economic growth.” [2] Visit www.dot.gov for more information.

The National Safety Transportation Board – The National Safety Transportation Board, or NSTB, is an independent federal agency appointed by Congress and tasked with investigating every civil aviation accident in the US as well as in marine, roads, and other transportation areas. Since its inception in 1967, the NSTB has investigated over 124,000 aviation accidents. Visit www.nstb.gov for more information.

Of course, today there is a fourth agency involved to some degree in ensuring passenger safety. The Department of Homeland Security, or DHS, was created in direct response to the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. This department oversees several other agencies including the Transportation Security Administration, the organization that hires, trains, and deploys transportation security screeners at airports across the U.S.

You may not know an FAA, DOT, NSTB, or DHS employee when you see one, but together they are all tasked with ensuring that your next flight is a safe one.

Sources:

[1] www.faa.gov; [2] www.dot.gov

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Copyright 2005 -- Matthew Keegan is the owner of a successful article writing, web design, and marketing business based in North Carolina, USA. He manages several sites including the Corporate Flight Attendant Community and the Aviation Employment Board. Please visit The Article Writer to review selections from his portfolio.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Matthew_Keegan

L/MAC-2, MARINE ALARM

Any craft left in the quiet of a marina during weekdays or long storage periods out of the water is susceptible to theft; even fenced marinas are easily accessed by water. Many stolen items are not even covered by insurance because they are about the same value as the deductible, and the damage incurred by break-in can keep your boat out of action for some time.
The L/MAC (Low power/Marine Alarm Control) system will discourage vandals from spending time on your power or sail boat, at home or foreign ports, by sounding the horns and flashing the lights to attract attention. A 12VDC, very low power standby ensures that shore power is not required.

larms are timed, then the Control Unit shuts off the horns and lights automatically, to prevent excessive battery discharge, and resets for another alarm. The system provides a safe exit and entry period, as well as an instant sleep alarm, and verification test each time you use it. The memory function indicates if an alarm occurred while you were away. You can used the system at the dock, while anchored or off-season by leaving a fully charged battery on board with the system switched ON.

GARMIN Fixed GPS 128

Featuring a large, high-contrast, 4.25" LCD display and GARMIN's popular 12 parallel channel receiver, the GPS 128 gives navigators more than just a handheld without the bulkiness and high cost of most fixed-mount units. If you've got an enclosed bridge or cabin, the GPS 128's remote-mount antenna makes this unit your best bet.



The GPS 128 also features a customized moving map display with user-selectable waypoint symbols and comments, and dedicated zoom keys to help to make operation straight forward and intuitive. User-selectable highway or compass navigation pages provide graphic steering guidance to your destination, eliminating the guesswork when you're trying to find your favorite hotspot.

Marine Safety Equipment

Simrad SA50 SART 96 hrs standby and 5 year battery life IMO SOLAS approved
GME MT400 406/121.5Mhz EPIRB
Tron 45S 406 EPIRB manual bulkhead mount 4 yr battery life minimum 24hrs operation
Jotron Tron 45SX 406 EPIRB manual bulkhead mount. 4yr battery life minimum 48hr operation
Tron 40S 406 EPIRB Manual bulkhead mount
Tron 40S 406 EPIRB Auto bulkhead mount
Tron 40GPS 406 EPIRB Auto bulkhead mount
Tron SART Bulkhead mount
Tron TR20 GMDSS VHF 5 year lithium battery
Tron TR20 Plus GMDSS VHF 5 year lithium battery
Tron AIR GMDSS approved
McMurdo Rescue 406 EPIRB Manual 6yr battery life minimum 48hrs operation
McMurdo Rescue 406 EPIRB Auto 6yr battery life minimum 48hrs operation		£
Auto housing for Rescue and Precision EPIRB
McMurdo Precision 406 GPS EPIRB Manual 6yr battery life minimum 48hrs operation
McMurdo Precision 406 GPS EPIRB Auto 6yr battery life minimum 48hrs operation
McMurdo Fastfind 406 PLB Manual 6yr battery life minimum 48hrs operation -20 degrees C battery
McMurdo Fastfind 406 PLB Manual 6yr battery life minimum 48hrs operation -40 degrees C battery
McMurdo Fastfind Plus 406 GPS PLB Manual 6yr battery life minimum 48hrs operation -20 degrees C battery
McMurdo Fastfind Plus 406 GPS PLB Manual 6yr battery life minimum 48hrs operation -40 degrees C battery
McMurdo Rescue SART Manual 5yr battery life minimum 96hrs operation
ACR Sat 2 406 Cat 2 EPIRB Manual 5 year warranty & battery life. 406 and 121.5Mhz
ACR Rapid Fix 406 Cat 2 EPIRB Manual 5 year warranty & battery life. 406 and 121.5Mhz. Uses ships GPS for accurate location.
ACR Global Fix 406 Cat 2 EPIRB Internal GPS for pinpoint location. Manual 5 year warranty & battery life. 406 and 121.5Mhz

MarineGuard 44 (MG44) Security Syste

MarineGuard's 44 Security System (MG44) is designed for boats under 40 feet where you can get under the decking. The system includes the security control panel which is encased in epoxy to protect it from the harsh marine environment, a white siren to provide an audible alarm, two key-chain transmitters to arm and disarm the system and a chime mounted on a white switch plate.

Key Benefits

• Weather-Resistant equipment to best protect your system from salt-water, wind and extreme temperature changes.
• Audible siren. Deters intruders from remaining on your boat once the alarm system has been triggered.
• Optional item: You can have the lights on you boat turn on when you disarm your security system. This way you will always climb aboard a lit boat. You can also tie your lights into your security system so that, if your security system fires, the lights will flash. This provides an even greater deterrent to theft.

MARINE ALARM SECURITY SYSTEMS - FS201 Keypad Alarm

he model FS201 is armed and disarmed by a weather-resistant programmable keypad whose advanced features will satisfy the security needs of any medium to large size boat.


The command keypad provides system status and identifies troubled zones. Service personnel may enter temporary codes to allow entrance. The encapsulated membrane keypad surface mounts and is tamper resistant. The FS201-DSP comes with an internal deck motion processor.


Kit Contents - Part # FS201 & FS201-DSP

* Command keypad with six feet of cable
* Control module. Dimensions - 4.5" X 3.0" X 1.25"
* Five amp fuse and water resistant fuse holder
* Stainless steel mounting hardware
* Warning decal
* 16 Pin plug Easy to follow instructions

Sure Action MarineGuard Marine Alarms

Features

• Personal Notification
  • Text email notification of alarm condition.
  • Messages are sent to your computer, cell phone or pager.
  • No need to buy dedicated phone/communication systems.
  • Use your current email address or cell phone/pager number.
• Professional Security Monitoring
  • Be assured that your vessel's trouble signal will be responded to promptly.
  • Provide up to five contacts.
  • Know that your situation will be addressed even if you are unable to receive notification because your phone is off or you are away from your computer.
• Tracking Stolen Property
  • Cellular GPS tracking system covers USA.
  • General Range: Up to 8 miles offshore.
  • Never a busy signal. As long as you can receive a cellular call, the signal will get through.
  • Transmits vessel coordinates (5 minute intervals).
  • Remote operation via website.
• S.O.S. Button
  • Provides extra assurance while you are on your vessel.
  • If there is an emergency, simply press the button. Your coordinates will be sent to a central station where the correct authorities will be notified. *Can only be used with professional central station and GPS monitoring package.

Sure Action MarineGuard Marine Alarms

MarineGuard 40 (MG40) Control Panel - Use with Contacts & Photoelectrics Only



Includes control panel, siren, (2) keychain transmitters and status LEDs.

Security system designed for boats under 40 feet. Boat owner can install Deck Sensors under boat's decking.

Key Benefits

- Weather-Resistant equipment to best protect your system from salt-water, wind and extreme temperature changes.
- Audible siren. Deters intruders from remaining on your boat once the alarm system has been triggered.
- Optional item: You can have the lights on you boat turn on when you disarm your security system. This way you will always climb aboard a lit boat. You can also tie your lights into your security system so that, if your security system fires, the lights will flash. This provides an even greater deterrent to theft.
- Deck Sensors. MarineGuard's Deck Sensors are the only security device available that will not trigger falsely when installed properly. In addition Deck Sensors are invisible and most importantly they detect intruders before the thief has the opportunity to reach the cabin or fly bridge.