Vegas Stadiums still not tapped out yet

All,

With the recent Nevada legislative sessions "killing" all proposed Stadiums (UNLV, Behind the Strip, and the 3 stadium prospect from the owners of the Area 51 Baseball team) due to not creating a tax area for supporting the stadiums the projects, the projects are still looking for additional possibilities.

Part of the 3 stadium project across from Mandalay Bay was to also possibly house the DX station into one of the stadiums.

You can read the entire story here:
http://www.lvrj.com/business/proponents-of-stadiums-not-folding-123442734.html

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Ca/Nv Maglev News

Desert Tortoise remains on threatened species Solar projects delayed

All,
We came across this article about how the Desert Tortoise will remain on the threatened list.


This will effect all future projects (Solar, Maglev, DX, Ivanpah Airport, etc..) in the Primm Nv., Ivanpah Nv., and parts of San Bernardino County in Ca.


http://www.vvdailypress.com/news/threatened-28084-species-desert.html
[...]

Desert tortoise to remain on list of threatened species

KAREN JONAS

2011-06-03 14:50:30

A recently released five-year review of the status of endangered and threatened species by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service continues to list the desert tortoise as threatened.

Threatened species are those that are likely to become endangered within the foreseeable future throughout all or a significant portion of its range. Fish and Wildlife is required to review each endangered or threatened species at least every five years.

Because the desert tortoise is a threatened species, all energy projects in the Mojave Desert have to make sure that the reptile is disturbed as little as possible and projects which find larger numbers of the tortoises than expected — such as the Ivanpah solar project near the California-Nevada border — can be shut down or delayed.

As part of the review, new information is considered on the population trends, population distribution, habitat conditions, and conservation measures of the species, according to Fish and Wildlife. A species is determined to be endangered or threatened based on present or threatened destruction of its habitat, disease or predation, inadequate regulations regarding the species, being overused for scientific purposes, and any other natural or manmade threat to the species.

[...]

• DX, (because the tracks are laid at grade level) lots of animal tunneling areas will be required to be built under the tracks.
• MAGLEV (because of the tracks are slightly above grade level) holes are made within the "slip-form" of the track... (from this weeks Maglev Movie Monday).

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Ca/Nv Maglev News

Maglev Movie Monday

All,
Its been a few slow weeks in the MAGLEV world so heres another set of youtube videos to enjoy.


Neil Cummings (President American Magline Group spoke at High Speed Rail Tour 2010.  Here are the powerpoint slides about the CA/NV project and the entire overview.
(Part 1)

(Part 2)



Karl Frank with Hirschfeld Industries discusses Guideway Capital Costs.  Also video showing the milling of the beam from Max Bogel, and new guideway design.
(Part 1)

(Part 2)



Here is a newer Shanghai video that was uploaded this month.  Not anything vital, however you do get to see the conductor operating the safety buttons for the automatic doors (around :50) and it appears that they are doing some repair work on the other track and switch to the maintenance bay as you can see support vehicles (with sheds on flatbed trucks around 2:30).  Be advised that there is mild techno music playing though out the entire video.




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Proposed MAGLEV project Orlando Airport to Disney World needs 90 more days.

All,


Remember back in March that former state Sen. Jim Sebesta was going to announce plans for a MAGLEV line within 90 days from MCO to Disney World just after the Florida HSR project got scrapped.  
http://canvmaglevnews.blogspot.com/2011_03_01_archive.html


Well the 90 days have come and gone.  Mark Holan who originally wrote the article and contacted Jim Sebesta about the project and heres what he had to say.


http://www.bizjournals.com/tampabay/blog/2011/06/fast-rail-prediction-time-frame-expires.html
[...]

http://www.bizjournals.com/tampabay/blog/2011/06/fast-rail-prediction-time-frame-expires.html?s=print 

Fast-rail prediction time frame expires 

Tampa Bay Business Journal - by Mark Holan 

Date: Thursday, June 2, 2011, 1:23pm EDT 

Mark Holan 

Staff Writer 

Email: markholan@bizjournals.com 

Former state Sen. Jim Sebesta wants another 90 days. 

On March 4 he predicted a private company would announce plans within three months for a 

maglev (magnetic levitation) rail line between Orlando International Airport and Disney World. 

The prediction, aired during a BayNews 9 panel discussion, came in the wake of the Florida 

Supreme Court ruling to uphold Gov. Rick Scott’s decision to kill the proposed high-speed train 

between Orlando and Tampa. 

“All I can say is there is stuff going on,” Sebesta said this week from his St. Petersburg home. “It 

is being worked on. Things are happening quietly behind the scenes.” 

Sebesta, a former state Senate Transportation Committee chairman, said he is working on the 

project as a consultant and is bound by a confidentiality agreement. 

“Nothing would warm my heart more that to announce to central Florida that it is on the way,” he 

said. “It’s a real estate development deal, make no mistake about that.” 

Talk of a maglev line between Disney and Port Canaveral, where the entertainment and leisure 

giant operates a cruise ship, has circulated for more than a decade. 

Disney’s press office in Orlando could not immediately comment. 

Tony Morris, president and CEO of American MagLev Technology Inc., which bid on earlier 

efforts to bring rapid rail transit to Florida, said his company is not involved in any negotiations.

Maybe Gov. Scott knows something, which may have influenced his decision to kill the bullet train. 

Orlando is still waiting for the governor’s decision on whether to move forward with SunRail. 

Maybe U.S. Rep. John Mica, the Orlando-based chairman of the House Transportation and 

Infrastructure Committee, figures into the mix. 

Maybe we will know more in the next 90 days.

[...]


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Ca/Nv Maglev News

Alaska Airlines ditches paper flight manuals for iPads

All,
This article has NOTHING to do with Maglev other than future speculation and remote possibility of Maglev staff etc... to use some sort of "ipad" to assist with train schedules, maintenance, passenger lists, etc...


Within the press release (Alaska Airlines) will save 2.4 million sheets of paper and an added weight savings of 50 lbs!


Enjoy the future possibilities...
http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/28/alaska-airlines-ditches-paper-flight-manuals-for-ipads/
[...]

Alaska Airlines ditches paper flight manuals for iPads

By Donald Melanson  posted May 28th 2011 

The iPad has already gotten the go-ahead from the FAA as a replacement for paper flight charts and maps, and now Alaska Airlines has become the first major US airline to hop on board the paperless bandwagon. While it's not quite ready to ditch paper navigation charts just yet (though that is under consideration), the airline has announced that it will be replacing its traditional flight manuals with iPads, which will be loaded up with the GoodReader app and PDFs of 41 different manuals and other materials. According to the airline, that change will result in savings of about 2.4 million pieces of paper, and it says the cost of the project will be offset by fuel savings from the reduced weight, and additional savings that are expected from "fewer back and muscle injuries caused by pilots carrying flight bags," which can weigh up to 50 pounds. Let's just hope those newly lightened flight bags still have room for a charging cable.

Show full PR text

Alaska Airlines Pilots Go Lean and Green With iPads

First major domestic airline to use iPads to replace flight manuals

SEATTLE, May 27, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- As part of an ongoing effort to use technology to enhance flight safety, improve efficiency and protect the environment, Alaska Airlines is issuing iPad tablet computers to its pilots. The 1 1/2-pound iPads replace up to 25 pounds of paper flight manuals that pilots are required to carry when they fly.

The iPads are being distributed to all Alaska Airlines pilots, a process that will be complete by mid-June. This follows a successful trial by 100 line and instructor pilots and Air Line Pilots Association representatives, who evaluated the feasibility of using iPads as electronic flight bags this past winter and spring.

Alaska Airlines is the first major domestic airline to use the iPad to replace paper manuals.

"We've been exploring the idea of an electronic flight bag for several years, but never found a device we really liked," said Gary Beck, Alaska Airlines' vice president of flight operations. "When the iPad hit the market, we took one look at it and said this is the perfect fit."

The iPads contain an app called GoodReader that is loaded with PDF versions of 41 flight, systems and performance manuals, reference cards, and other materials. The electronic manuals include hyperlinks and color graphics, enabling pilots to find information faster and easier. Updating these reference materials can now be accomplished with one tap on the iPad screen instead of the former, labor-intensive process of replacing individual pages with new ones. The iPad is considered a Class 1 electronic device, meaning it is stowed during takeoff and landing under Federal Aviation Administration regulations.

In conjunction with replacing paper manuals, Alaska Airlines is exploring the replacement of paper aeronautical navigation charts with electronic versions on the iPad, eliminating the need for every pilot to carry their own copy. The two initiatives, dubbed "Bye, Bye, Flight Bag," will save about 2.4 million pieces of paper.

The cost of the project is expected to be offset by lower paper, printing and distribution expenses and reduced fuel consumption as some weight is removed from the aircraft. Further savings are expected from fewer back and muscle injuries caused by pilots carrying flight bags that can tip the scales at 50 pounds or more fully loaded.

Note to media: A high-resolution photograph of an Alaska pilot with the iPad on the flight deck of a Boeing 737 is available in the airline's online newsroom image gallery at www.alaskaair.com/newsroom.

Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air, subsidiaries of Alaska Air Group (NYSE: ALK), together serve 90 cities throughout Alaska, the Lower 48, Hawaii, Canada and Mexico. For reservations, visit www.alaskaair.com. For more news and information, visit the Alaska Airlines/Horizon Air Newsroom at www.alaskaair.com/newsroom.

SOURCE Alaska Airlines

[...]


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Ca/Nv Maglev News

New stop spotted for ARC line from ARTIC?

All,
While visiting some links that we visit we noticed a change to the aconnext.com ARC route map.


Previously the ARC route only had (4) stops: Convention/Resort (logo changed from castle to palm tree), Triangle, and ARTIC.  Now included is Haster St.  

You can see the prior changes and station stops here:
http://canvmaglevnews.blogspot.com/2010/06/anaheim-connext-site-updated.html


This is an interesting location for stop as the resort stop is a just around the corner and to the East of Disneyland.

Please keep in mind that no press announcements has been released yet for this new station.


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Proposed Sports complex looking to exist with DX Vegas Station

All,


The Las Vegas Review Journal is reporting today that the vacant site across from the Mandalay Bay and I-15 may now have a proposed (3) stadium complex (hosting the 51's...Las Vegas AAA Baseball team, and a NBA team), and possibly as well the DX Vegas Station.


However, DX is not commenting as they are awaiting to hear from the FRA for the final OK's to the train environmental reports.  DX also has identified land near the RIO hotel and casino as a possible station as well.


Please view the LVRJ.com story below:


http://www.lvrj.com/business/sports-complex-developer-has-eye-on-site-sought-by-desertxpress-122280379.html


There are also previous concerns (within the FRA environmental reports) that this location wouldn't be approved anyways due to the height restrictions for McCarren airport, and the crossing of I-15 with elevated train tracks.

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