American Morning
NTSB Chairman: "Fatigue is a major issue"
CNN's John Roberts talks to NTSB Chairman about a two day forum the NTSB is holding in Washington, D.C., to examine the need for uniform safety standards between major and regional carriers.
The Teaser for Wednesday, October 27, 2010
"The Teaser” is a preview of the guests we have lined up for the next day – so you know when to tune in (and when to set your alarm!). Guests and times are always subject to change.
6:20AM Paula Szuchman, Reporter, Wall Street Journal and Nivi Szuchman, Paula’s Husband, on her WSJ blog talking about the "downside of marriage by e-mail". In the blog she complained about the lack of response she was getting from her husband, leading her to rethink the way we communicate to our spouses. What was her husband’s reaction? What about her readers?
6:40AM David Epstein, Reporter, Sports Illustrated and Dr. Steven Flanagan, Professor and Chair, Dept. of Rehabilitation Medicine at NYU Langone Medical Center, on the magazine’s cover story. Epstein reports on a groundbreaking new Purdue University study on head injuries. It could permanently alter how football is played. Flanagan weighs in on how we can better protect players.
7:40AM Deborah Hersman, Chairman of the National Transportation Safety Board, on the organization’s two-day forum probing the safety of "code sharing" agreements – where one airline places its code on a flight operated by another airline, then sells and issues tickets for that flight. What does this mean for your safety?
7:50AM Sir Michael Caine, Actor and Author, on his legendary career and his new book “The Elephant to Hollywood”. What is his biggest piece of advice for young actors?
8:20AM Max Kellerman, CNN Contributor and Christine Romans, with reaction on LeBron James' new ad for Nike titled “Rise”. Plus, we’ll recap James’ first game with the Miami Heat.
Have questions for any of our guests?
Tweet 'em at Twitter.com/amFIX or post them below and we'll try to use 'em!
Have an idea for a story? Or more questions about something you saw or read on our amFIX blog, Facebook or Twitter?
E-mail your story ideas and questions to am@CNN.com.
The Teaser for Thursday, October 21, 2010
"The Teaser” is a preview of the guests we have lined up for the next day – so you know when to tune in (and when to set your alarm!). Guests and times are always subject to change.
6:40AM Peggy Northrop, Editor in Chief, Reader’s Digest, on the magazine’s eye-raising cover story, “The 50 Secrets Your Pilot Won’t Tell You”.
7:30AM Valerie Jarrett, Senior White House Adviser, with an update on President Obama's campaign swing that will take him to 5 states and 6 cities this week. Will it help the Democrats in the midterms?
7:50AM Dr. Kirk Wilhelmsen, Genetics and Neurology Professor at the Univ. of North Carolina, on the discovery of a gene variant that may protect against alcoholism. People who have the variant feel more drunk from fewer drinks than people who have a different version of the gene.
8:10AM Kathleen Parker, Host, "Parker Spitzer" and Columnist, The Washington Post, with a look at how the women of 2010: Christine O’Donnell, Sharron Angle and Carly Fiorina are making headlines. Plus her reaction to New York Times columnist Maureen Dowd calling this group “Mean Girls”.
8:40AM David Kessler, author "Visions, Trips, and Crowded Rooms: Who and What You See Before You Die", on Clint Eastwood’s new movie “Hereafter” and exploring the question, “what happens after we die?”
Have questions for any of our guests?
Tweet 'em at Twitter.com/amFIX or post them below and we'll try to use 'em!
Have an idea for a story? Or more questions about something you saw or read on our amFIX blog, Facebook or Twitter?
E-mail your story ideas and questions to am@CNN.com.
Pilot refuses full-body security scan, walks out of airport
Pilot Michael Roberts of ExpressJet Airlines refused to undergo the new body-scanning security equipment when he reported to work last week. Today he tells Kiran Chetry why the nude-like screenings are uncomfortable for him.
Cockpit windshield cracks, window heaters may be at fault
(CNN) – "Fire in the cockpit!" It's fair to say that's one thing you don't want to hear at 30,000 feet, but that's just what happened on a United flight last weekend. The Federal Aviation Administration is speeding up an order requiring airlines to inspect windshield heaters on Boeing jets after the incident Sunday night. Our homeland security correspondent Jeanne Meserve has the report.
Testing for toxic air
By Allan Chernoff, CNN
(CNN) – Could the air on board your next flight be toxic?
Cabin ventilation air comes through the engine. So, if there's an oil leak, engine oil mist – containing neurotoxins – can seep into the aircraft. Though relatively rare, it has happened on commercial flights, triggering neurological symptoms like severe headaches, tremors, and dizziness in crew members and passengers.
CNN recently tested the air on board a transcontinental flight. (We're not going to mention the airline because this is an issue affecting all airlines.)
Toxicologist Chris van Netten of the University of British Columbia, who has studied air quality on board planes for years, provided CNN with two portable air monitors. They use small fans to blow air through a filter which can capture contaminants.
On board, I don't sense anything unusual about the air in the cabin, aside from the typical airplane dryness. Once the plane is at cruising altitude I turn on the monitors, which run for about 90-minutes on battery power.
If there are toxins in the air, they should leave residue on surfaces of the cabin. So, wearing a plastic glove, I wipe the cabin wall and tray table back with sterile alcohol swabs which I then store in plastic zip-lock bags.
Shortly after our flight, I’m in a laboratory at The University of British Columbia, presenting the samples to Professor Van Netten, who places our air filters and alcohol swabs into test tubes. His research associate, Tim Ma, adds solvent to extract whatever chemicals the filters and swabs captured. The scientists also analyze strands of producer Laura Dolan's hair to see if it collected toxins from her seat back cushion.
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Welcome to the American Morning blog where you can get daily news updates from American Morning's reporters and producers. Join us for "the most news in the morning," weekdays from 6-9 a.m. ET, only on CNN.
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