| Captain 'Sully,' hero pilot, joins CBS News and NYC hotel plans panic buttons for maids |
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NEW YORK — Retired pilot Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger expects a lot more from his new job at CBS News than waiting for a plane to crash so he can be a talking head.Sullenberger, who became a national hero two years ago when he landed a crippled U.S. Airways jet in the Hudson River and saved 155 lives, starts in June as the network's on-air aviation and safety expert. He wants to keep a close eye on the industry where he worked for decades."We can't assume that because aviation has continued to get safer " accidents are relatively rare now " that we're doing everything right," said Sullenberger, who retired last year as an active pilot. "We have to keep actively looking for continuous improvements, looking for systemic deficiencies and fixing them, and not just blaming individuals when there are systemic issues out there."Recent stories about sleeping air traffic controllers should be a warning for the industry, he said. [Read the full article] WASHINGTON — People who point powerful lasers at planes and helicopters " which can temporarily blind pilots " could face fines as high as $11,000 per violation, the head of the Federal Aviation Administration said Wednesday.A Harvard math whizand Red Sox fan has figured out the shortest possible road trip to all 30 stadiums this summer.The FAA is using a new legal interpretation of existing regulations that prohibit interference with the operation of an aircraft to levy the fines, Randy Babbitt, the agency's administrator, said at a news conference.Pilots have reported over 1,100 such incidents in the U.S. so far this year, and officials said they are concerned that eventually there will be an air crash.The incidents have increased rapidly around the world over the past six years as online sales of new, powerful handheld lasers have soared. In 2005, there were fewer than 300 such incidents reported in the U.S. Last year, there were 2,836 incidents. [Read the full article] Both Delta Air Lines Inc. and United Continental Holdings Inc. are raising fees to check a second bag on flights to Europe. The first bag is still free. Previously they both charged $50 for a second bag. Now Delta will charge $60 if it's checked online, $75 at the airport. United and Continental are charging $70 to check a second bag.Delta is also adding a $30 fee for a second bag between the U.S. and most of Latin America. Its previous fee of $150 for overweight bags on flights to Europe will drop to $75. The Delta changes begin with tickets bought on Wednesday.Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.Both Delta Air Lines Inc. and United Continental Holdings Inc. are raising fees to check a second bag on flights to Europe. The first bag is still free. Previously they both charged $50 for a second bag. Now Delta will charge $60 if it's checked online, $75 at the airport. [Read the full article] 
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