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FAA to Expand Public Access to Airport Delay Information


WASHINGTON, D.C.–(ENEWSPF)–December 9, 2009.  As part of the Obama Administration’s new Open Government initiative, the Department of Transportation’s Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) will expand public access to its frequently-updated information on airport delays through an Airport Status and Delays Web service registered on Data.gov.

“In this day and age of constant travel we want to make sure the flying public has access to the most current information possible,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood.  “The Open Government initiative is so important because it lowers the information barrier that has existed for too long between citizens and their government.”

The Web service combines the FAA’s information about ground delays, airport closures, ground stops and arrival or departure delays with local weather provided by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA.) Travelers and those waiting for them can use the service to view real-time updates on the status and causes of airport delays, as well as the current weather picture, through queries for individual airports.

To advance the development of new and enhanced information products, the information will be provided in multiple formats so the data can be used in a variety of interactive Web applications, including those on mobile devices.

“We want to give travelers easy access to information about ongoing delays and weather so they can make good decisions before and during a trip,” said FAA Administrator Randy Babbitt. “We hope this information will be used in many creative new ways.”

In addition to the new Airport Status and Delays information, the Department of Transportation also has publicly released a Wildlife Strike Database for Aviation and has publicly released tools allowing citizens to search information such as Airline On-Time Performance and Causes of Flight Delays, the Fatalities Analysis Report System (for roadway crashes), Railroad Accident Data, Monthly Transit Service data and Highway-Rail Grade Crossings information.

 

Source: dot.gov


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