The IRE Resource Center is a major research library containing more than 23,250 investigative stories — both print and broadcast. These stories are searchable online or by contacting the Resource Center directly (573-882-3364 or rescntr@ire.org) where a researcher can help you pinpoint what you need. Browse or search the tipsheet section of our library below. Stories are not available for download but can be easily ordered by contacting the Resource Center:
Search results for "airline industry" ...
-
Flying Cheap
The February 2009 crash of Continental Flight 3407 revealed "a little-known trend in the airline industry: major airlines have outsourced more and more of their flights to obscure regional carriers." These smaller carriers operate with different safety practices with pilots that are often paid less, with less training and fewer flight hours.
Tags: airlines; aviation safety; Federal Aviation Administration; flight safety; transportation
-
Fatal Flying on Airlines No Accident in Aviator Complaint to FAA
Florida aviation company, Gulfstream, is found to have lax pilot training standards as well as relaxed policies on aircraft fitness for flight. Death and accidents have occurred due to the neglect and Gulfstream's pilots are prevalent in the airline industry.
Tags: Gulfstream; Florida; airline; regional; pilots; training; mechanical; aircraft; aviation;
-
Meet the Robinsons
The investigation found just 1 percent of commercial airlines carry armed federal air marshals, and cities most vulnerable include New York City and Washington, D.C. Air marshals who are critical of the Transportation Security Administration agreed to go on camera only in silhouette because of past retaliation by the agency - a fact well-documented in government whistle-blower reports.
Tags: Transportation Security Administration; air marshal; airline industry; Sept. 11; whistle-blower; watch list
-
Northwest Prepares for Strike
The report documents the plans made by Northwest Airlines to hire and train mechanics to replace those who took part in strike action against the company.
Tags: airlines; airports; Northwest; industrial action; strikes; airline mechanics; picket lines
-
Dallas/Fort Worth Contractors' Dispute
This story is about the failure of Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport to pay subcontractors in a timely manner for the airport's largest capital development project since it was built, a 2.7 billion dollar project.
Tags: business; construction; contractors; travel; airplanes; 9/11; airline industry; travel; Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport
-
"Whistle stop: Did Northwest Airlines try to muzzle a whistleblower?"
This story investigates the circumstances in which an airline mechanic was fired after reporting a series of safety violations to the FAA. By detailing the mechanic's plight through arbitration testimony, Department of Labor documents, GAO files and other public records, the story shows how industry lobbying and a relaxation of federal oversight have resulted in the "virtual elimination" of whistleblower protections for airline workers.
Tags: airlines; FAA; deregulation; union; transportation
-
Pilot shortage siphons experienced instructors from flight schools
This story analyzes the fact American air carriers that operate internationally are taking away experienced pilots from both flight schools' instructor positions and regional airlines. The consequence of this trend is new pilots have to learn from unexperienced teachers. McCartney says this raises "questions about the quality of America's future pilots." The story adds the FAA was "looking into the matter." The fact big international airlines lure experienced pilots draws regional and small to hire people who sometimes can't meet the traditional requirements, such as having 20/20 vision without glasses. So these companies lower those requirements. Despite the concern raised, McCartney says "there isn't any evidence that possible lack of experience has posed any safety problems at either major or regional airlines.
Tags: National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB); Federal Aviation Administration (FAA); Council on Aviation Accreditation; United Airlines; AirNet Systems Inc.; Embry-Riddle University; Northwest Airlines; Palm Springs International Airport; Airbus Industrie
-
Ticket Shock. Business fares increase even as leisure travel keeps getting cheaper. Technology, obscure science make it easy for airlines to manipulate pricing. Fear of undercutting rivals.
This article talks about advances in the airline industry and explains why the industry was becoming increasingly profitable in 1997. It also includes some information about "yield management," the computer system that allows airlines to predict how many last-minute business travelers will show up at the last minute looking for a flight.
Tags: airlines; flight; planes; airport; airline industry; money; yield management
-
Fly the Fiery Skies
After the Valujet crash, the Clinton administration, the FAA, and the chiefs of the country's largest airlines promised that the installation of fire detectors in many aircraft was a top priority for the industry. Six months later, not one new extinguisher or detector was installed. The problem this poses is particular to smaller planes more than larger but the danger is real. The Halon fire fighting agent present in most planes cannot work correctly in the cargo holds of smaller planes. If there are no detectors or extinguishers, then a fire caused by standard hair products could quickly consume a plane with no warning to the crew until it is too late.
Tags: FAA; fire; fire detectors; fire extinguishers; air crashes; Halon; valujet; hazardous materials
-
The Zombie: No. 19603 Still Flies After 27 Years' Service To a Number of Airlines
The Wall Street Journal reports on the extraordinary life expectancy of planes model Boeing 737. As for many years the industry has trained pilots ways to fly to keep planes running longer, this has caused for old planes to remain in service and accumulate. The story finds that, in the long run, "a jet surplus undermines airline stability" and leads to ticket pricing wars.
Tags: business; United Airlines; air-fare; maintenance and repair costs; aircrafts; finances; competition