Bush on travel woes: ‘We've got a problem’

[brooklynite]

Source: MSNBC

WASHINGTON - President Bush promised on Thursday to take steps to reduce air traffic congestion and long delays that have left travelers grounded.

“Endless hours sitting in an airplane on a runway with no communication between a pilot and the airport is just not right,” he said.

Bush met in the Oval Office with Transportation Secretary Mary Peters and acting Federal Aviation Administrator Bobby Sturgell. The president urged Congress to look at legislation to modernize the FAA, and instructed Peters to report back to him quickly about ways to ensure that air passengers are treated appropriately and progress is made to ease congestion.

“We’ve got a problem,” Bush said. “We understand there’s a problem. And we’re going to address the problem.”

Read more: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21013418/

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Once again, the Bush Administration steps up to a problem.....months after the problem manifests itself and causes anguish to the public...

[av8rdave]

1. we always have communication with the airport, even during delays

once again, our brilliant leader gets it wrong. What a moron!

[0007]

6. You mean moran don't ya?



[mike_c]

2. ummm-- if the administration starts proposing changes to air travel procedures...

...I'd want to look really closely at the fine print. Internal passports, anyone? The Secure Traveler rules would ease a great deal of "congestion" at airports, I'm sure....

[brooklynite]

3. Have you heard about security "reservations"???

TSA considers reservations for airport security

Like golfers who reserve tee times and diners who reserve restaurant slots, airline passengers may be able to reserve the time they go through airport security.
The Transportation Security Administration is exploring whether it can guarantee a short wait at checkpoints with a reservation system aimed at enticing travelers to go through security at off-peak times.

"It's like Open Table, only for checkpoints," TSA chief Kip Hawley said, referring to an online restaurant reservation system.

The concept is preliminary. The TSA is asking businesses for ideas on creating a reservation system that would reduce the checkpoint lines that grow long during peak travel periods in the early morning and late afternoon. "If we have a smoother flow going through, that's a much calmer environment and a better security environment," Hawley said.

Travelers reserving checkpoint slots probably would have to arrive earlier than usual, perhaps by as little as 20 to 30 minutes, Hawley said. They also would probably have to pay — either a fee for each reservation or an annual subscription for unlimited reservations at participating airports.

http://www.usatoday.com/travel/flights/2007-09-24-reservations_N.htm

[daleo]

8. Perhaps the rich can hire their own private security guards to "screen" them

As long as the airport gets a cut, everybody's happy...

[Olney Blue]

4. Thanks for clarifying the obvious, chimpster.

[trof]

5. Airlines are having a tough enough time without the dumbass-in-chief

mucking it up even more.

[TheMadMonk]

7. This problem has been looming for at least 20 years.

It was recognised, and solutions suggested a long long time ago. And ever since the Airlines and various governments have been playing shuttlecock over who should cough up the necessary "ready" to address these problems.

Looks like the airlines have won.

[Orsino]

9. This is NOT "stepping up to a problem."

This is * buying time. Specifically, fending off a question until he thinks we've forgotten it.