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E L L I O T T' S TRAVEL NOTES
Travel news, opinion and analysis

April 30, 2004

Snoozing Airline Pilot Suspended
A pilot for Japan's All Nippon Airways has fallen asleep at the controls for several minutes while on a domestic flight and had to be awakened by a government inspector who was traveling in the cockpit. A spokesman for the airline said on Friday that the 50-year-old pilot, whose name was not released, dozed off while flying on March 23 from Tokyo's Haneda airport to the western prefecture of Yamaguchi, a trip that takes about an hour. An official from the Transport Ministry, who was in the cockpit for a routine inspection, woke the pilot after he fell asleep as the plane was cruising at 12,000 meters (36,000 feet), but he dozed off again and had to be awakened a second time. "He was asleep for two or three minutes," the spokesman said. Reuters | Posted 4:30 a.m.
-- AP: Incident called 'extremely regrettable'

• So let me get this straight. Airline pilots can pass every drug test in the world, every psychological exam we can throw at them, and they can still endanger the entire flight by falling asleep at the controls? No wonder so many of us prefer to drive. Send us your comments.

US Tries to Improve Air Security Again
Security at America's airports could change dramatically, yet again. After spending billions of dollars and training almost 50,000 new federal security screeners to help safeguard against another Sept. 11, the Transportation Security Agency (TSA) will again allow private companies to scan your carry-ons and wand your shoes. That's a result of the original legislation that created the new federal security system. Republican lawmakers wanted to be sure that private companies, if they proved they could perform as well, would eventually be able to compete for the government's business. It even set up a pilot program at five airports to test the idea. Christian Science Monitor | Posted 4:45 a.m.

Bill Would Limit Travel Agent Liability
Ontario is taking steps to limit the liability of travel agents if an airline or cruise line goes out of business, Consumer and Business Services Minister Jim Watson said yesterday. Currently, if an airline or cruise line goes out of business, consumers who booked for the service through a regulated Ontario travel agent can be reimbursed through the province's travel industry compensation fund to a limit of $5 million or $5,000 a person for any single "event" or bankruptcy. After that amount, the travel agent, who already contributes to the fund, is liable for the loss. But the legislation introduced yesterday, if passed, will allow changes to be brought in so travel agents are no longer liable for any amounts that are above what the fund provides. London Free Press | Posted 5 a.m.
-- Star: Bill is 'of little comfort' to travelers

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• And finally ... I'm on assignment today traveling. Hence the early update. I'll be back on Monday with another edition of the blog. See you then! Posted 5:10 a.m. | Send us your comments.

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