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Last update - 11:12 25/07/2008 FAA finds serious flaws in flight safety at Israeli airports By Zohar Blumenkrantz, Haaretz Correspondent Tags: FAA, Ben Gurion Airport  The Federal Aviation Administration of the United States uncovered severe security shortcomings during a tour of Israel's aviation security system this week. The U.S. body plans to issue a report on its findings in 90 days that some fear could lead to cutbacks in the number of flights Israeli airlines will be allowed to make to the United States. During a meeting with officials from the Israel Civil Aviation Authority Thursday, the FAA cited a lack of proper supervision from civilian authorities as the major problem affecting flight safety. Advertisement Among other findings, the FAA found that Ben-Gurion International Airport suffers from serious flight safety shortcomings and cited Israel's especially crowded airspace as a serious safety concern. The FAA critique comes after a civilian committee headed by former Israel Air Force Amos Lapidot issued findings a year ago highlighting severe shortcomings in flight safety at Israeli airports. The Lapidot public committee found that aviation safety in Israel is in a "catastrophic state." The panel's final report criticized the infrastructure at Ben Gurion International Airport, legislation pertaining to the matter, and air traffic control systems, adding that Israel has not fully seen the technological developments of the last decades in the field of air traffic control. They called to increase supervision on air traffic control systems, and to better train the controllers, many of whom do not always speak in English or use the proper terminology. Amos Lapidot resigned from his post as head of the committee in charge of examining flight safety two months ago, reportedly because the committee would not implement his recommendations. Lapidot told Haaretz Thursday that "we've seen there is no supervision, work isn't done according to regulations, and the airports authority in reality does not operate. The FAA saw this as well." A manager in charge of public relations for the Transportation Authority, Avner Ovadia, on Wednesday told Haaretz that when the full FAA report is issued in 90 days, the authority will deal with its findings. Related articles: Delays expected at Ben Gurion Airport as security is upgraded Panel says aviation security in Israel is in 'catastrophic state' Despite oil leak, pilot waited until last minute to radio Bookmark to del.icio.us   The bigger apple Study shows Tel Aviv is more expensive to live in than New York. When bedbugs bite After 40 years' absence, Israel braces for return of the bedbug.   1.   NO PROBLEM. EL-AL AND ISRAIR 12:29  |  Robert 25/07/08   2.   Good to know 13:20  |  Recep 25/07/08   3.   Flight safety in Israel. 13:20  |  David Nigel Braham 25/07/08   4.   Air disaster 14:05  |  Allen 25/07/08   5.   #3 14:48  |  pik 25/07/08   6.   The American Way 16:09  |  Tex 25/07/08   7.   Not a problem 16:30  |  Chris Linthwaite 25/07/08   8.   After years of politically directed impotence 17:42  |  Mark Lincoln 25/07/08   9.   We do trust in God! 18:08  |  Sens 25/07/08   10.   Hey, didn`t I just read 18:23  |  ecr 25/07/08   11.   Ecr imagine how bad the others are! 19:23  |  x-ray 25/07/08   12.   The Reads Like the Winograd Report 23:32  |  Tod Zuckerman 25/07/08   13.   to Tod; When Israel became a Mizrahi country 09:11  |  AA 26/07/08   14.   FAA antisemitic 10:18  |  Colin Wright 26/07/08   15.   Try Amman instead 10:28  |  Palestinian Brit 26/07/08

Read & React Obama to PM: Iran action legitimate only if talks fail Responses: 179 Shin Bet head Diskin: Truce with Hamas unlikely to hold Responses: 89 Iran convoy attacked reportedly while taking arms to Hezbollah Responses: 116 Report: PA mulling unilateral declaration of statehood Responses: 131 Report: Ex-Mossad chief says strike on Iran could 'affect us for 100 years' Responses: 128 Rosner's Domain Barack Obama, the fashionable darling of the Israeli left The Lebanese are undercutting goodwill in Washington (WTR) Is Jimmy Carter 'tone-deaf' to Jewish sensibilities? (WTR) Will Lebanon pay the price for the prisoner swap deal? More Headlines 12:08 Six Palestinians killed in 3 separate Gaza explosions 07:27 Report: Ex-Mossad chief says strike on Iran could 'affect us for 100 years' 12:21 Lebanese factions clash in north for second day, as death toll rises to eight 05:24 Report: PA mulling unilateral declaration of statehood 07:49 Barak: Law enforcement system must be protected from Olmert's assaults 19:23 Did outcome of early Hitler trial alter the course of history? 11:58 Israeli tourist killed in car accident in India while traveling with her family 10:56 IDF commander: We must deal with settler 'provocateurs' 06:07 Iran convoy attacked reportedly while taking arms to Hezbollah 15:08 Matters of Deterrence / Shin Bet head Diskin: Cease-fire with Hamas unlikely to hold 16:25 Motor racing's Mosley sues German paper over Nazi-themed orgy claim 15:12 When it comes to psychometric exam, Haredi Jews do it better Previous Editions Select Day 25 jul 24 jul 23 jul 22 jul 21 jul 20 jul 18 jul 17 jul 16 jul 15 jul 14 jul 13 jul

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