Auburn University's aviation program in jeopardy - WSFA.com: News Weather and Sports for Montgomery, AL.
This item demonstrates one STEM education issue. Willing students but a paucity of programs and paths to jobs. This university has a nationally known program...and yet is willing to let it wither away. It would be interesting to see what is invested onthe football team.
Thursday, April 18, 2013
Sustainable Agriculture in the Heart of Connecticut Industry
http://www.massarofarm.org/wp/
In New England - here is a "Green" place worth visiting - Massaro Community Farm. Connecticut, although in the Northeast Corridor "Megalopolis" is actually a "Green" State in that about a third of it is still wooded - and when you fly over it at 35,000 feet it certainly is green. Massaro Community Farm is a non profit, certified organic farm on a 57 acre parcel of land operated collaboratively between the Town of Woodbridge, Connecticut and a Board of Directors comprised of local citizens. The property was deeded to the town by the Massaro Family, who had farmed the land since 1916. The farm operation includes a 150-member CSA,* and a series of education and family-related events throughout the year. The organization's vision is to enhance the quality of life for generations to come.
*What the heck is a CSA? Community-Supported Agriculture or CSA, has become a very popular food system consumer participates in the farming life by offsetting the capital investment required of the farmer and sharing the risk as well as the food with other participating subscribers. Each week during the season, subscribers receive a bag or two of freshly-picked seasonal farm goods.
In New England - here is a "Green" place worth visiting - Massaro Community Farm. Connecticut, although in the Northeast Corridor "Megalopolis" is actually a "Green" State in that about a third of it is still wooded - and when you fly over it at 35,000 feet it certainly is green. Massaro Community Farm is a non profit, certified organic farm on a 57 acre parcel of land operated collaboratively between the Town of Woodbridge, Connecticut and a Board of Directors comprised of local citizens. The property was deeded to the town by the Massaro Family, who had farmed the land since 1916. The farm operation includes a 150-member CSA,* and a series of education and family-related events throughout the year. The organization's vision is to enhance the quality of life for generations to come.
*What the heck is a CSA? Community-Supported Agriculture or CSA, has become a very popular food system consumer participates in the farming life by offsetting the capital investment required of the farmer and sharing the risk as well as the food with other participating subscribers. Each week during the season, subscribers receive a bag or two of freshly-picked seasonal farm goods.
Security on LYNX
Security Built into LYNX Plans and Operations
The Charlotte LYNX has security plans and mitigation efforts incorporated into its planning as this study shows.http://www.rideonnews.com/deis/Chapter%2016%20-%20Safety%20and%20Security.pdf
It can be expected in the wake of the terrorist attack in Boston that questions will be raised about the safety and security of LYNX light rail. The Queen City needn't be complacent but there are security operating procedures in place and being improved. Exact details can't be divulged - to keep the bad guys guessing.
The Charlotte LYNX has security plans and mitigation efforts incorporated into its planning as this study shows.http://www.rideonnews.com/deis/Chapter%2016%20-%20Safety%20and%20Security.pdf
It can be expected in the wake of the terrorist attack in Boston that questions will be raised about the safety and security of LYNX light rail. The Queen City needn't be complacent but there are security operating procedures in place and being improved. Exact details can't be divulged - to keep the bad guys guessing.
Hotel Security after Boston - and Mumbai
This item is from Travel Agent Central:
Trend Watch – As Suspects in Boston Bombings Surface, What's Next for Travel Security?
http://www.travelagentcentral.com/trends-research/trend-watch-suspects-boston-bombings-surface-whats-next-travel-security-40155
April 17, 2013
By: Adam Leposa
The LA Times and Associated Press are reporting that police have identified possible suspects in the Boston Marathon bombings. But as the investigation continues, what will this event mean for the future of travel security? Travel Agent caught up with Todd Seiders, director of risk management at Petra Risk Solutions and former director of loss prevention at Marriott, on how hotels and public events can work to increase traveler safety in the future. “The Boston Marathon bombing is just another example of how hard it is to secure public places and events,” Seiders says. “According to the news, bomb dogs had swept the finish line area 1 hour prior to the start of the marathon. So obviously police did everything they could to secure the area, and the bombs were brought in during the event.” Because of the nature of their business, implementing TSA-style security measures at hotels would not be a good idea, Seiders says. “They would have to limit the entry into their buildings, search bags, confirm you have business there and inconvenience everyone. The general public will not stand for that (look at the continuing uproar about the TSA at airports).” Complicating the issue is the fact that hotel staff members are, by and large, trained to please potential guests, which can render them vulnerable to security threats. “There is a constant clash between hotel security experts and seasoned hotel management people, whose pay and bonuses depend on guest satisfaction surveys and comments,” Seiders continues. “Hotel security experts need to find more guest friendly ways to provide security, and hotel managers need to take security more seriously. A large number of hotels do not have a dedicated security staff, so security falls on the guest service staff, and guest service staff is trained never to say no or to offend or interfere with the guest experience.” Seiders recommends hotels install HD cameras to monitor open public spaces, exits and entrances, both to deter crime and to aid investigation should one occur. Staff should be trained to pick up and investigate unattended bags or luggage, and hotels should work closely with their local police of sheriff department, along with Homeland Security, to discuss security and terrorism. “Hotel staff is scared to death that if they upset a guest and have a complaint, they will always get in trouble,” Seiders says. “This prevents hotel staff from acting in a security role and questioning suspicious behavior. Attitudes about hotel security need to change all around.”
Mark’s Comment: What goes for public transportation "see something, say something" goes for the hotel and hospitality industry too. In a free democracy that is not living in terror of the terrorists, citizens have to be trained to be aware of their surroundings and not depend on others to look out for them except at the macro national or regional law enforcement level. Certainly unattended luggage will continue to be problematic in a hotel lobby, for instance, but left items not entrusted to a bell hop should certainly be reported; or if spotted by staff placed in a secure area as a "customer service." Random patrols of major hotel lobbies by alert, courteous and well-armed law enforcement could provide a sense of security to travelers and serve to deter terrorists. Also, good customer service should not deter service staff or front desks from alerting security to suspicious behavior without confronting a guest.
Trend Watch – As Suspects in Boston Bombings Surface, What's Next for Travel Security?
http://www.travelagentcentral.com/trends-research/trend-watch-suspects-boston-bombings-surface-whats-next-travel-security-40155
April 17, 2013
By: Adam Leposa
The LA Times and Associated Press are reporting that police have identified possible suspects in the Boston Marathon bombings. But as the investigation continues, what will this event mean for the future of travel security? Travel Agent caught up with Todd Seiders, director of risk management at Petra Risk Solutions and former director of loss prevention at Marriott, on how hotels and public events can work to increase traveler safety in the future. “The Boston Marathon bombing is just another example of how hard it is to secure public places and events,” Seiders says. “According to the news, bomb dogs had swept the finish line area 1 hour prior to the start of the marathon. So obviously police did everything they could to secure the area, and the bombs were brought in during the event.” Because of the nature of their business, implementing TSA-style security measures at hotels would not be a good idea, Seiders says. “They would have to limit the entry into their buildings, search bags, confirm you have business there and inconvenience everyone. The general public will not stand for that (look at the continuing uproar about the TSA at airports).” Complicating the issue is the fact that hotel staff members are, by and large, trained to please potential guests, which can render them vulnerable to security threats. “There is a constant clash between hotel security experts and seasoned hotel management people, whose pay and bonuses depend on guest satisfaction surveys and comments,” Seiders continues. “Hotel security experts need to find more guest friendly ways to provide security, and hotel managers need to take security more seriously. A large number of hotels do not have a dedicated security staff, so security falls on the guest service staff, and guest service staff is trained never to say no or to offend or interfere with the guest experience.” Seiders recommends hotels install HD cameras to monitor open public spaces, exits and entrances, both to deter crime and to aid investigation should one occur. Staff should be trained to pick up and investigate unattended bags or luggage, and hotels should work closely with their local police of sheriff department, along with Homeland Security, to discuss security and terrorism. “Hotel staff is scared to death that if they upset a guest and have a complaint, they will always get in trouble,” Seiders says. “This prevents hotel staff from acting in a security role and questioning suspicious behavior. Attitudes about hotel security need to change all around.”
Mark’s Comment: What goes for public transportation "see something, say something" goes for the hotel and hospitality industry too. In a free democracy that is not living in terror of the terrorists, citizens have to be trained to be aware of their surroundings and not depend on others to look out for them except at the macro national or regional law enforcement level. Certainly unattended luggage will continue to be problematic in a hotel lobby, for instance, but left items not entrusted to a bell hop should certainly be reported; or if spotted by staff placed in a secure area as a "customer service." Random patrols of major hotel lobbies by alert, courteous and well-armed law enforcement could provide a sense of security to travelers and serve to deter terrorists. Also, good customer service should not deter service staff or front desks from alerting security to suspicious behavior without confronting a guest.
Wednesday, April 10, 2013
DC Streetcar Seeks Enhanced Connectivity
An article in Railway Age Magazine (see http://www.railwayage.com/index.php/passenger/light-rail/study-eyes-extension-for-dc-streetcar-startup.html?channel=61) highlights some changes in the plan for the District of Columbia's budding streetcar system. Modifications and extensions are called for to link it with the Metro system. As a note, across the Potomac in Arlington and Alexandria, Virginia streetcar lines are also being developed.
Perhaps this could be a case study for Charlotte's first steps with a streetcar. Another Railway Age article (see http://www.railwayage.com/index.php/passenger/light-rail/here-come-the-streetcars.html?channel=61 ) suggests indirectly that differentiating between light rail as in the case of LYNX and streetcar lines is really not appropriate and the two can and should be linked as the technologies are quite similar.
Of course, local political and budgetary concerns might be different from elsewhere in the US, but these concepts are worth a thought.
- Mark Carolla, April 10, 2012
Saturday, March 30, 2013
Catawba River District: Schoolyard Gardens: Entrepreunrism, Environmental Education and Social and STEM Learning
The River District has worked with a team of experts to create a transformational gardening and farming project involving six public schools in the Charlotte Area. Whitewater Academy, Whitewater Middle School, River Oaks Academy and Mountain Island Elementary in Mecklenburg County are working in coordination with Rivendell Farms. Catawba Heights Elementary and Ida Rankin Elementary in Gaston County are working with the Gaston County Cooperative Extension.
The River District has also have formed the Farm To School Team of volunteer experts to guide in the program to grow to include a working farm, a food hub to process produce from school gardens and small farms, and school meals that include nutritious food that students helped grow.
The Catawba River District has formed the K-20 Learning World, a collaboration of educators to help us nurture the learning of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) through activities focused on environmental themes. Their experts include STEM leadership from Charlotte-Mecklenburg and Gaston County Schools, Discovery Place Science Museum and UNC
Each school is developing a master campus plan that includes components such as schoolyard gardens, composting, wildlife habitats, outdoor classrooms and other STEM-focused projects. At the middle school level, connections to job/career awareness are integrated into the curriculum. They plan to expand schoolyard gardens and incorporate construction-related projects appealing to middle and high school students. However, economically disadvantaged areas such as those served by some River District schools need additional financial help to effectively implement farm to school principles.
These are great concepts. As an educator a trained historian and having just taught a high school Marketing class as a substitute I believe that middle schools and high schools could integrate such activities into their social studies (historic methods of agriculture etc.) and marketing curriculums - and biology too!
The small non profit Catawba River District is seeking funding to invite 65 area schools already participating in schoolyard gardens to develop a product for sale at the 2014 Southern Spring Show.
Check out their website at www.catawbariverdistrict.org for more information and volunteer and donating opportunities. - Posted by Mark Carolla
Friday, February 15, 2013
Uncertain Course for Charlotte Airport and Charlotte Economy as US Airways and American Airlines Merge
As a long time airline and transportation analyst I have some concerns regarding the US Airways - American Airlines merger and how it might affect Charlotte. Although I reside and work about 400 miles north of Charlotte next to Washington's Dulles International Airport I advise and work with Edna Chirico, a consultant in Charlotte and have a keen interest in Charlotte's economy and Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT). Under the long time stewardship of almost legendary and extremely capable Jerry Orr CLT has truly made North Carolina "first in flight." This post is an update of an assessment that I provided some days ago.
The just announced merger of US Airways and American Airlines will have a major effect on the economic fortunes of the Charlotte, North Carolina Airport. Snobs from elsewhere in the US sometimes refer to Charlotte as “Mayberry with an Airport.” (Mayberry being the rural North Carolina town of an Andy Griffith Show and Mayberry RFD television comedy series of the 1960’s.) Charlotte, with its financial and business presence with several Fortune 500 firms located there, including several such as Chiquita Brands with international operations and equities isn’t exactly Mayberry. Notably, there are 194 German-owned firms in the Charlotte area including 59 U.S. headquarters; making Germany the most largely represented foreign country in the region. Charlotte Douglas Airport (CLT) is the sixth largest airport in the United States when it comes to flight operations, but about 90 per cent of passenger traffic is US Airways hub traffic connecting through CLT and does not represent locally generated travel. CLT is home to over 15,000 direct airport jobs. The big variable in this merger is that Charlotte does not generate nearly as much originating traffic as other major US Airways and American hubs such as Miami, Chicago, JFK New York, and Philadelphia do.
What will happen to CLT now that US Airways takes over American? An excellent April 9, 2012 article by Ely Portillo in the Charlotte Observer quoted Aviation analyst Henry Harteveldt of Cambridge, Mass.-based Atmosphere Research Group, as stating it’s risky to invest in more capacity with the future of the airport’s No. 1 carrier up in the air. “Charlotte’s future is so heavily tied to US Airways’ status as an independent airline, and right now there is a lot of uncertainty,” he said. “There really is a risk.” (Read more here: http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2012/04/09/3158982/airport-bets-a-billion-on-future.html#storylink=cpy ) According to the same Observer article respected and veteran CLT Airport Director Jerry Orr said at the time “he’s not concerned about the possibility of a US Airways merger. He said there always will be room in the Southeast for a hub besides Atlanta, and Charlotte Douglas can be that hub as long as it is well-run and stays low-cost for airlines. That might be wishful thinking. US Airways CEO Doug Parker [said] the airline remains committed to a Charlotte hub, even in the event of a merger. “I suspect in any sort of individual scenario that involves US Airways or any other airline in the future, that Charlotte will be a hub airport,” he told the Observer.” If past actions on the part of American, US Airways and Delta are any indicator such talk is cheap when you consider their past history. The citizens of Pittsburgh, St. Louis and Cincinnati can tell the sad tales of woe. Since deregulation in the 1970’s the airline oligopoly that has evolved or devolved in the United States has been interested only in market share, dividends and cost-cutting. They are no longer effectively regulated as a public utility. According to MSN News: “In the shakeout of American's merger with US Airways, experts believe American's hubs in Chicago, Dallas-Fort Worth, New York, Los Angeles and Miami are likely to emerge as winners, if only because those markets can support a large amount of traffic on their own. That leaves US Airways' facilities in Philadelphia, Phoenix and, especially, Charlotte, N.C., most at risk.” http://news.msn.com/us/airline-merger-could-squeeze-some-hub-airports
Other communities in the United States have been shortchanged and hurt by the consolidation and formation of oligopolies in the airline industry in the advanced throes of deregulation. (Note: I am neither a fan of deregulation nor consolidation of the US Airline Industry and believe those factors have adversely affected customer service, the economics of aviation, jobs and professionalism and the availability of decent air transport to many communities.) I would respectfully suggest those who care about and serve Charlotte to not be sanguine or Pollyannaish and to have a “Plan B” regarding the status of US Airways’ hub at CLT as this merger evolves. Here, again according to the Charlotte Observer is what happened elsewhere in the US when airlines “consolidated:”
· Pittsburgh International Airport, a former US Airways hub, was stuck with a new, $1 billion terminal after US Airways cut hundreds of flights there. Airport officials have said they expect to be paying back debt for the expansion until 2018. That, in turn, has kept its operating costs high.
· Lambert-St. Louis International Airport started on a $1 billion expansion plan in 2001, the same year American Airlines bought bankrupt TWA, which had dominated the airport. Despite pledges to keep St. Louis as a hub, American cut hundreds of flights there and soon discontinued the hub, costing St. Louis direct service to many destinations. I am very familiar with that disaster for St. Louis and consumers. I used to fly between Washington Dulles on a comfortable MD-80 on TWA and for a bit after the hostile takeover on American. Soon you could only fly on United or American Eagle subcontracted “regional carriers” in cramped small commuter jets.
· Closer to home at Raleigh when American Airlines closed its hub in 1995 it was by far the airport's biggest tenant, at one point flying 73 percent of its passengers and offering about 200 daily departures. Raleigh’s airport managed to attract Southwest Airlines and other carriers, but never regained major hub status.
There are some salient geographic, operational and even historic airline considerations we need to consider now that US Airways has swallowed American:
First the good news - there is opportunity in chaos: During this merger it will take months if not years to rationalize American and US Airways respective route structures. Charlotte City, the Airport or somebody working for and with them should be studying those now and thinking of them now. The city and local business needs to be preparing a case as to why Charlotte Douglas should remain a hub.
Second, consider US Airways history: For Charlotte, there is one important word regarding the history of US Airways: Piedmont, the iconic North Carolina-based local service carrier of the 1950’s through the 1980’s. US Airways has a family tree of many former local service carriers such as Allegheny (which served mainly Pennsylvania and adjacent states) which merged in 1967 with Indianapolis-based Lake Central Airlines then in 1971 with Upstate New York and New England’s Mohawk, in 1987 the West Coast’s PSA; and in 1987 with Piedmont (a marriage Jerry Orr is quite familiar with). Then, in 2005 America West of Phoenix bought out and merged with US Air and became US Airways. The thing to consider is that US Airways is a hodge-podge of a multitude of local service carriers that has taken decades to rationalize. Charlotte, as a former Piedmont hub might “go back to the future” and serve as a smaller American (US Airways + American, that is) hub for the Southeast utilizing for the most part “regional airlines” subcontracted aircraft in American livery. A review of flights out of Charlotte show that many with a US Airways flight number and painted in US Airways colors are not “real” US Airways flights but rather regional airlines contracted to US Airways. The opportunity in this chaos is that many passengers hate transiting through Atlanta, JFK and especially Miami. But geography and the economics of flying might offset any concerns regarding convenience. Has customer convenience and service been a salient factor in air travel in the United States in recent years?
Third, and most ominously we should consider operational geography. This US Airways acquisition of American US Airways would gain three important hubs at New York’s JFK, Philadelphia and at Miami that are closer and less costly for fuel to Europe and Latin America and the Caribbean respectively than Charlotte. When we look at an airline route map a Mercator Projection is misleading as flights from Asia, Europe and the Middle East don’t come from the east over the Atlantic over Kitty Hawk, but follow a Polar Great Circle. In some circumstances using Charlotte as a hub could cost a lot more in expensive fuel. It also could be redundant. Fourth, consider the important German market. US Airways is a member of the Star Alliance, but not the Star Alliance linchpin that United is. American is the US bulwark of the Oneworld Alliance, and the new carrier would probably affiliate that way. That raises questions on Lufthansa’s flight from Munich to Charlotte if there are no Star Alliance regional connections to connect with in Charlotte – shifting connections to United at the closer to Europe Dulles Airport (IAD) hub in Northern Virginia.
Fifth, consider Latin America, Chiquita and Brazil. Will 700 Chiquita staff in Charlotte justify non-stops daily from the Caribbean and South America rather than using the myriad of current American flights into their fortress Miami? No need for direct flights from CLT to Sao Paulo or Rio or Buenos Aires as passengers already arriving in Miami on American or their Oneworld ally and code share partner LAN would be funneled to Charlotte – at less cost to the new airline through Miami. Unfortunately Miami’s role as “the Capital of Latin America” and cultural and immigration heritage links mitigate against a shift in many American flights to Charlotte especially as it would cost more in fuel costs. Then again, as mentioned above, the opportunity in this chaos is that many passengers hate transiting through Miami with its awful Immigration and Customs lines, and perhaps the Latin American Chamber of Commerce in Charlotte can play a role in influencing future US Airways decisions.
Finally there is the fact that Charlotte generates relatively little traffic to justify the economics of being a hub. As noted by MSN News, Adie Tomer, an associate fellow at the Brookings Institution, said that with 1.8 million people, the city just isn't big enough. "There's a lot of advantages to Charlotte, but they don't have the local base to fall back on, so they have to constantly incentivize the airline itself to keep flying through there," he said. "They just really have a connectivity that vastly outranks their metropolitan economic standing."
What about a Plan B? A not so obvious plan would be to start suggesting to the regional airlines flying smaller aircraft out of Charlotte that they could fill the gap left by a US Airways, soon to be American downgrade of CLT’s status. They would be left in a lurch by such a move. However, one should note that the jobs for those airlines are much lower paying – in some cases barely above minimum wage even for pilots and the volume of flights would not generate nearly as much economic activity and associated jobs that the current situation does.
In short, Charlotte remaining a US Airways hub in its current state is not a done deal and there are serious factors suggesting it might not. There will be an uncertain course for the Charlotte Airport and its boosters (which I regard myself) to navigate in coming months. We have a lot of work ahead of us.
http://news.msn.com/us/airline-merger-could-squeeze-some-hub-airports
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