Aviation Daily on Airports

uWink Self-serve Technology Lands At Ft. Lauderdale Airport

I'm still trying to catch up from last week's Airports Conference International (ACI) conference.  I had the chance to see so many cool new concepts, it's hard to get them onto the blog while still doing my normal work.

One of those concepts is uWink. uWink is a self-service and entertainment touch-screen that has just been installed at the Chili's restaurant at Ft. Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport. uWink uses touch-screen terminals at tables that allow customers to order customized food and drinks directly from the kitchen, play dozens of different electronic games and pay the check when they are ready directly at the table. Some of the games allow interaction and competition among tables or even the entire restaurant.

And the screens offer menus in Spanish and English, and will add German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Chinese, Hindi, Russian, and French in the future. uWink was founded by CEO Nolan Bushnell, who also launched video game pioneer Atari in the early 1970s and the Chuck E. Cheese family restaurant and entertainment center chain. 

Lucky you -- you can click here for my second attempt at video, which lasts 3:43 minutes.  I recorded Chief Technology Officer Brent Bushnell giving a demonstration of uWink. Please be gentle -- I'm still learning this stuff!

The Towers And Tarmacs Radio Show - Oct. 1

We've been gone awhile, but now Madhu and I are back.  Today we talk about two big airport-related stories -- the GAO report rejecting FAA's authority to impose slots and the city of Chicago taking a big leap forward on plans to privatize Midway Airport.  Click here to listen to this week's 10:19-minute podcast.  Enjoy!

And visit us at our permanent home -- www.aviationweek.com/tarmacs.

Dyson Brings Airblade To ACI Exhibit

I have a confession -- I am a compulsive hand washer.  I'm that person that keeps hand sanitizer in her purse, backpack, glove compartment and baby bag.  I wash my hands before and after the restroom, and I hate bathrooms that have paper towel holders or those annoying air hand dryers.

Which is why I am so happy that Dyson -- the people who make those high-tech vacuums -- are using that same technology to bring public restroom hand dryers to the next level. The Airblade produces a 400 mph stream of clean, warm air, blown through a gap the width of an eyelash. 

The sheet of air feels like a squeegee, blowing the water off your hands and leaving them completely dry in only 12 seconds. And your hands are soft and smooth once it's done.  You can click here to see my  1:46-minute very amateur video of how it works.

I first used the machine at the restroom in the National Press club here in Washington.  The machine costs about $1,400 for each unit.  Think of all the paper towels that will be saved, also helping with the environment.  I hope to see these units at an airport near me -- soon.

And please visit us at our permanent home -- www.aviationweek.com/tarmacs

Things With Wings Radio Show - 9/30

Our guest today is Ben Mutzabaugh, Today In The Sky blogger and airline reporter for USA Today.  Like me, Ben not only covers the industry, but is a big geek about it.

In today's show, we talk about, among other things, how he puts the blog together, the ongoing saga that is  Alitalia and Delta's decision to add first-class seats to its Shuttle product.  Click here to listen to our 12:45-minute chat.  Enjoy!

And remember -- our regular home is www.aviationweek.com/wings

Wearing Your Feelings On Your Sleeve -- In Bright Orange

Today's Aviation Daily includes a story (subscribers only) by my colleague Darren Shannon on an ongoing -- but still unsuccessful -- campaign by the union for United’s pilots to force out President and CEO Glenn Tilton. So now they've decided to go after his wallet.

The Air Line Pilots Assn. continued its blistering series of attacks on Tilton Sept. 29, issuing a release in which it “demanded” that UAL Corp.’s board cut the pay of the U.S. airline industry’s “worst airline executive.” In August, the union called for Tilton to resign or be fired and launched a Web site that “highlights the failures of Glenn Tilton’s management.”

And as part of that campaign, bright orange rubber bracelets with the words "Glenn's Gotta Go" have been making its way around the United system.  One just happened to show up in my mailbox yesterday.  You can see what it looks like, here.  Hope may spring eternal, but it seems that Tilton will go when he's good and ready.

Things With Wings Radio Show - 9/26

I was at the Airports Council International/ACI-North America annual conference this week.  One good thing about events like this is that everyone shows up.  I saw USAToday.com travel columnist David Grossman hanging out in the press room and cornered him to do this week's radio show.

We discuss, among other things, what airlines have been doing in the name of high fuel prices.  Click here to listen to my 9:10-minute podcast. Enjoy!

And remember -- our permanent home is www.aviationweek.com/wings

You really don't want to know why I still have to use this site to do posts with podcasts on our official site, but if you drop me an email at [email protected], I will.

ACI Graduates 1st Class From Airport Management Program

Today's issue of Airports includes my story (subscribers only) on the first class to graduate from the Airports Council International/ICAO Airport Management Professional Accreditation Program (AMPAP). The participants were honored Sept. 22 at the annual world assembly here in Boston.

The first class had 17 graduates from airports ranging from Conakry Airport in Guinea to Dallas/Fort Worth Airport. The program leads to the International Airport Professional (IAP) designation, giving recipients recognition as having expert knowledge in airport management and represents all five regions of ACI. Course topics include master planning, marketing, safety and security, operations and strategic business planning.

I had the chance to speak with two of the graduates at a reception held at the Harvard Club to honor them.  Click here and here to listen to 2 short podcasts with two of the program's graduates.

And for more information on AMPAP, contact administrator Monica Tai Chew at mtaichew@iap.aero or www.iap.com.

Towers And Tarmacs Radio Show - 9/17

This week's guest on the radio show is Tom Kinton, CEO of Massport.  Kinton and his team are serving as the hosts for the joint Airports Council International and ACI-North America world assembly in Boston Sept. 21-24.

Kinton discusses attendee and exhibitor numbers, offers his tips on conference highlights and gives a preview of the evening event at the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library.  Click here to listen to the 9:50-minute podcast.  Enjoy!

And don't forget to visit us at our permanent home -- aviationweek.com/tarmacs -- for all the latest news and commentary on airports.

The Things With Wings Radio Show For 9/16

My guest this week on the Things With Wings Radio Show is Evan Sparks.  Evan is the owner of the Evan Sparks' Aviation Policy blog, which has been on my Google Reader since he started it last summer.  His day job is as an editor with the American Enterprise Institute here in Washington, D.C., but like the rest of us, he's become hooked on the soap opera that is aviation.

In this week's podcast, we discuss the Obama and McCain campaigns' positions on aviation, and prospects for British Airways' antitrust immunity request.  Click here to listen to the 11:18-minute interview.  Enjoy!

And don't forget -- our permanent home is at www.aviationweek.com/wings

The Towers And Tarmacs Radio Show - Sept. 4

OK, I know we're a bit late this week. But there's way too much going on. This week, Madhu and I chat about the new energy task force report released by the American Association of Airport Executives, Boston Logan adding more than 1,000 power ports in its terminals, the expanded parking available at Hartsfield-Jackson and last, but not least, congestion in the New York Airports.

Click here  to listen to our 11:30-minute podcast. Enjoy! And don't forget -- our regular home is at www.aviationweek.com/tarmacs