Washington Wire.

By Barbara Cook / August 04, 1996

Washington Wire

Woodside: Fire Peña

Woodside Travel Trust, while applauding the Clinton Administration for its decision to step up security at the nation's airports following the TWA explosion, reiterated its call for the President to fire Transportation Secretary Federico Peña and FAA administrator David Hinson. In a letter to Vice President Al Gore, Woodside president Ivan Michael Schaeffer said, "Responsibility for the ongoing mismanagement of U.S. air safety rests squarely on Secretary of Transportation Federico Peña and FAA administrator David Hinson. We once again suggest the immediate termination of these officials in favor of those more capable of dealing with the enormous responsibilities with which they are charged."

FAA Sets Small-Plane Rules

The Federal Aviation Administration has ordered that small airplanes flying behind Boeing 757 aircraft must trail by four miles rather than three to eliminate the possibility of a loss of control caused by the larger plane's wake turbulence.

The law, which became effective July 1, was a response to a recommendation from the National Transportation Safety Board after its investigation of three accidents involving smaller aircraft that flew in the wake of 757s. The FAA described the rule as temporary, noting that it is still in the process of studying the hazards involved for planes that fly in the wake of these jetliners. The agency said it is completing tests on the 757's wing design and the wind turbulence that some pilots claim it generates.

Fewer Bumping Notices

Business travelers will no longer see signs about airline bumping policies at airports, airline ticket offices and travel agencies under terms of a Department of Transportation rule change. DOT noted that passengers already receive ample notice of carrier overbooking on ticket stuffers. For passengers traveling on ticketless carriers, the airline is required to send prospective travelers a copy of the consumer notice. Due to the number of ways for passengers to receive warning of bumping policies, DOT decided it could eliminate one layer of the notices.

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