September 19, 2018
The blast of high-pressure natural gas that led to dozens of home explosions last week in Massachusetts very likely damaged the system’s antiquated pipeline network and could lead to a long period of testing and repairs before full service is …
August 3, 2018
A single personal electronic device that overheats and catches fire in checked luggage on an airliner can overpower the aircraft’s fire suppression system, potentially creating a fire that could rage uncontrolled, according to new government research. Regulators had thought that …
July 27, 2018
Flaws in jet engine fan blades like one that cracked and broke loose in April, killing a Southwest Airlines Co. passenger, have been discovered on planes operated by several carriers, and the manufacturer is moving to further tighten inspections. General …
July 11, 2018
The passenger rail cars on an Amtrak train that derailed near Seattle, Wash. last December, killing three people, were allowed by federal regulators to stay in service even though they didn’t meet current crash-protection standards, federal investigators said Tuesday. The …
July 9, 2018
The U.S. government’s ability to police hobbyist drone use was upheld by an appellate court Friday in a ruling that helps set the stage for a series of new restrictions and requirements aviation regulators hope to enact soon. The U.S. …
July 6, 2018
Hopes for more legroom in increasingly cramped airplane cabins were dashed when U.S. regulators, responding to a court order, said they found no need to impose new standards on airlines. The Federal Aviation Administration, in a letter dated Monday, said …
June 27, 2018
The next time you hop on a bicycle to head across town, consider this: your helmet may not perform well enough in an accident. A first-of-its-kind study using the latest techniques for simulating head injuries found significant variations in how …
June 15, 2018
Government aviation inspectors allowed unsafe aircraft to operate in U.S. commercial flight operations, a whistleblower investigation has concluded. The Federal Aviation Administration’s own review confirmed the allegations, according to the Office of Special Counsel, the agency charged with investigating complaints …
May 4, 2018
The fan blade that failed on a Southwest Airlines Co. plane last month, killing a passenger, had been inspected seven times since late 2012 but without the sophisticated technology airlines are now under orders to use. The inspections relied on …
May 1, 2018
On-demand robotic flying taxis and drone deliveries are years away from reality, but the U.S. Department of Transportation has removed at least one barrier to their operation. Responding to work by companies including Boeing Co., Intel Corp. and Uber Technologies …