In February, ICAO's Committee on Aviation Environmental Protection agreed to a new noise standard for new-design aircraft entering into service in 2017 (and for lower-weight aircraft entering into service in 2020).
News
Safety Programs Motivate Behavior Change in Truck and Bus Industry
April 2, 2013
"Safety is number one" at the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, said the agency's deputy administrator, Bill Bronrott.
Cross-Disciplinary Team Helps NHTSA Improve Safety of Hybrid and Electric Vehicles
April 2, 2013
Hybrid electric vehicles (HEV) and electric vehicles (EV) operating at low speeds may be a hazard to pedestrians and bicyclists. Research by the National Center for Statistics and Analysis (NCSA) found that the incidence rate of pedestrian crashes was higher for HEVs than for...
NTSB Calls On Volpe Engineering Psychologist for Expert Testimony
March 29, 2013
The National Transportation Safety Board recently called on Volpe engineering psychologist Dr. Jordan Multer to serve on an expert panel during an investigative hearing into a fatal train accident that took three lives and caused an estimated $14.79 million in damages.
Cracked Up—Broken Rails Are Serious Business
March 7, 2013
Nearly all cracks in rails are hidden—so says Dr. David Jeong, senior mechanical engineer at Volpe, The National Transportation Systems Center. Jeong and his colleagues, in support of the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), have been examining the mechanics of metal fatigue...
Research Provides Snapshot of Alternative Jet Fuel Production
March 7, 2013
A recent analysis by staff at Volpe, The National Transportation Systems Center, aims to identify whether and to what extent industry-planned alternative jet fuel production can contribute to aviation carbon neutral growth goals. The international aviation industry has committed...
The Uncertainty of the "Made In" Label in Today's Global Economy
March 5, 2013
"If you want to buy an American car, you need to buy it from a Japanese company," said Stephen Carmel, a Senior Vice President at Maersk Line Limited. Carmel spoke about the "made in" label's irrelevance in today's global economy during a February 16 Straight from the Source...
Volpe Engineer Kevin Green Receives Prestigious SAE Award
February 28, 2013
Volpe engineer Kevin Green recently received SAE International's Barry D. McNutt Award for Excellence in Automotive Policy Analysis. This distinguished award recognizes individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the development of improved federal automotive policy.
Rights-of-Way Increasingly Being Considered for Innovative Uses
February 21, 2013
Some states are exploring the implementation of alternative energy technologies and alternative fuel facilities along publicly-owned highway rights-of-way (ROW) to curb the impacts of climate change and achieve other benefits. In a report prepared for the Federal Highway...
Cutting-Edge Research Could Help Reduce Highway Noise
February 14, 2013
Finding a dream home and then hearing a loud highway just beyond the property line is a common complaint from potential home buyers. Staff at Volpe, The National Transportation Systems Center, are conducting research to understand how to reduce the amount of motor vehicle noise...