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 "airplane" ...
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CBS News Investigates: Air Marshalls
CBS News discovered that the U.S. Air marshals are riddled with internal problems. CBS News obtained information that shows supervisors routinely discriminating and intimidating air marshals according to their race, gender and sexual orientation.
Tags: military; U.S. airplanes; discrimination; sexual discrimination; racism
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DUI Pilots: Warning Signs Ignored
KIRO-TV found that only a small fraction of the pilots caught for abusing alcohol or drugs were actually being monitored by federal regulators. The reporter discovered with computed assisted reporting how easy it is for these pilots to manipulate the system and avoid detection.
Tags: airplanes; DUI; drunk-driving; regulation; pilots
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"Safety for Sale"
The Federal Aviation Administration is under fire after WFAA-TV reveals that thousands of aircraft mechanics licensed by the FAA, had "questionable" training. The poor training and slow reaction by the FAA could be connected to two deadly airplane crashes. The series also revealed that repair facilities hired foreign mechanics through "immigration loopholes" who were unqualified and often could not speak English.
Tags: FAA; Federal Aviation Administration; diploma mills; U.S. aircraft mechanics; mechanic training; foreign mechanics;
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Under the Radar
Every year the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has been given a grant, which then will be distributed to airports. The question is where does this money come from and how is it spent? The answer to the first half is the commercial-airline passengers, who pay the ticket taxes which in turn becomes the grant. The second part of the question is answered by not the improvement of airline travel, but rather the private pilots who fly corporate and recreational planes.
Tags: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA); Federal fund; grants; airports; planes; airlines; commercial-airline; passengers; ticket taxes; pilots; private airplanes; flights
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Bird strike rates at U.S. Airports
Airplanes landing and taking off at airports in Sacramento, Kansas City, and Denver have been the most liekly in the nation to hit birds , according to an NPR analysis of new data from the Federal Aviation Administration. Wildlife researchers believe they can alert birds to oncoming planes if they can come up with an appropriate visual signal, such as pulsating LED lights currently being tested.
Tags: aviation; bird strike; FAA; Federal Aviation Administration; aviation safety; wildlife; wildlife strikes;
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Close Calls
Complaints of near-miss, mid-air collisions from the Aviation Safety Reporting System indicate a growing number of close calls between airplanes in South Florida.
Tags: airplane; collision; air traffic control; aviation; FAA; Aviation Safety Reporting System; ASRS
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Airport Security
"On several occasion, Fox2 discovered open and unattended perimeter gates that appeared to lead to the runways of Lambert St. Louis International Airport. When we alerted security, the Airport Police Chief said it was not a problem because of 'layered security.' Several months later, a homeless man reportedly walked through one of those gates and boarded an airplane. An airline employee found him sleeping on a plane."
Tags: security breach; airline; public parking; Paul Mason;
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Flights to Nowhere
"Essential Air Services" paid airlines millions to fly near-empty planes to cities that most people have never heard of. Thirty years after the program began it has grown into a $127 million a year subsidy. It was found that the government pays for 2.4 million empty seats to be flown a year.
Tags: airplane; fly route; tourist; travel; flight; airfare;
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Dateline NBC: Inside the Cell
Dateline NBC investigates an alleged terrorist plot to blow up a transatlantic airliner in flight using liquid explosives concealed as sports drinks. Some critics challenged the viability of the plot and the new security measures restricting liquids on airplanes. However, Dateline discovered the conspiracy was far more developed than the public had known and that plotters had received direction from individuals linked to al-Qaida's senior leadership.
Tags: al-Qaida; terrorism; airline; explosive; Pakistan; counterterrorism; Great Britain; London
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Sky Harbor Security Risks
This investigation exposed major security lapses at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, the fifth busiest airport in the country. Reporters posed as passengers and used hidden cameras to film unchecked bags being allowed into the secure site of the airport. The story had immediate consequences; the TSA took over operations at the airport and corrected the security problems.
Tags: transportation; hidden camera; airplane; federal government; TSA