attalion
s
TATE
Page 7 » Thursday, October 21, 1999
ir-traffic system upgraded
lontroilers, safety officials hope new equipment will limit delays
:anley's !>
ay, said a
Jhtvioler.
infrontof
lesdayor:"
ley,32,fe;
im her
a thetter:
usband.fei
astweektf
mley’s nos
e counselff
which bep'
i ley was o
onth. Sheii
jesbuttai'i
ife.
etweent^f FORT WORTH (AP) —Controllers responsible
her ex .; : J some 160,000 square miles of airspace in the
Ithwest said they are flying high with some
jg-overdue new equipment that makes their
rark easier and planes less likely to be delayed.
1 ■The Fort Worth Air Route Traffic Control Cen
ter started putting the new equipment, essen-
flly better computers and more dynamic dis-
|a\to use in June. It was the first of 20 centers
|und the nation to get both pieces of the new
Item up and running.
Industry officials and control center work-
celebrated the upgrade yesterday at an of-
Jal dedication.
■The old radar displays, which were 30 years
I, did not have the advanced features of the
Isplay System Replacement: high-resolution
"or displays, improved weather information
customizable settings for each operator,
he new computers can track aircraft flight
|ormation such as speed, altitude and aircraft
?and allow controllers to efficiently handle
Ire planes.
“It does a lot of things the old system didn’t
do, and it’s a lot faster,”’ Bill Shedden, a con
troller at the center, said.
“[The new equipment] does a
lot of things the old system
didn’t do, and its a lot faster.”
— Bill Shedden
Air-traffic controller
The old system used vacuum-tube technol
ogy, and replacement parts for much of the
equipment was becoming scarce. The only dif
ficulty in making the transition, Shedden said,
was having to look down at the new key
boards to find keys that used to be next to dis
play screens.
Controllers at the center are separate from
the control towers at Dallas-Fort Worth Inter
national Airport. They handle planes shortly af
ter takeoff and just before landing.
The center’s coverage extends to portions of
Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas, Oklahoma and
New Mexico. Controllers there directed more
than 2 million planes in 1998.
The upgrade in Fort Worth is part of the
Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) na
tionwide overhaul of air-control equipment.
The agency is spending $1,055 billion nation
wide to install the same systems put into place
in Fort Worth.
“Four and half years ago we signed the con
tract,” Monte Belger, the FAA’s associate ad
ministrator for air traffic services, said. “At that
time we set a schedule and set a budget. And we
have met that schedule and met that budget.”
Belger likened the switch to changing the
control panel of an aircraft in flight and added
that the process in Fort Worth would be a
model for other centers still changing to the
new equipment.
:hsuci
)ell to pay for
hild insurance
gs began
wen! to Si:
adedtoNe
?re, incM'
rkinginfe
e world is
at Tokyo!)
Japan,
AUSTIN (AP) — Computer tycoon
iichael Dell and his wife will help as
uny as 33,000 Austin-area children
[inexpensive health insurance.
The Dells will help pay insurance
tofthelanrlremiums for children in Travis and
st ofttefewlliamson counties until a new fed-
ent"’UteBral program begins in May.
he musical™ Their donation jump starts plans to
■romote the Children’s Health Insur-
Bush asks West Virginia
to extradite accused killer
gig, he a
’t wanttos
nnoyedtk
job ...anil
ng-
it blew®
ent came In
■ of fame."
n Stella,teal
od map.ts
to bemffiolt 1
abilities, in
nee Program, which beginning next
lay will provide low-cost health cov-
age for Texas families earning up to
/ice the poverty level.
For a family of four, twice the fed-
ral poverty level is. an annual income
fabout $32,000.
According to the Texas Healthy Kids
orp., some of those 33,000 children
re eligible for Medicaid. But most of
heir families earn too much or own
omething, such as a car or land, that
t that hifl
wised Mi
ember his
i down on
said,
movies Hoi
ice and Tre\
the New i
? off-'
r,” based a]
takes them ineligible under Texas’
tringent Medicaid limits.
AUSTIN (AP) — Gov. George
W. Bush asked West Virginia au
thorities yester
day to send to
Texas a man ac
cused in the no
torious yogurt-
shop murders.
Robert
Springsteen Jr.,
of Charleston,
W.Va., is one of
four men charged
murder in the killings of four teen
age girls during a 1991 robbery. He
could face the death penalty or up
to life in prison if convicted.
Bush sent the extradition re
quest by overnight mail to West
Virginia Gov. Cecil Underwood,
Bush’s office said.
Once the request is reviewed.
BUSH
with capital
Underwood can issue an extra
dition warrant to have Spring
steen sent to Texas to stand trial.
Underwood’s office did not im
mediately return calls yesterday.
His spokesperson, Dan Page, ear
lier said the West Virginia gover
nor would act quickly once the re
quest is received.
Page said the fact Texas has a,
death penalty and West Virginia
does hot “is not an issue in this
case at this point.”
Springsteen has refused to be
extradited voluntarily. Kanawha
County (W.Va.) Circuit Judge
Charles King set a final extradi
tion hearing for Nov. 4. Spring
steen is being held without bond
in Charleston.
Police said Eliza Hope
Thomas, 17; Amy Ayers, 13;
Jennifer Harbison, 17 and sister
Sarah Harbison, 15, were shot
at an I Can’t Believe It’s Yogurt!
store. Thomas and Jennifer
Harbison worked at the store,
which was set on fire after they
were killed.
Springsteen, Michael James
Scott, 25; Forrest Wellborn, 23;
and Maurice Pierce, 24, were ar
rested Oct. 6 and charged with
shooting the four girls in the head
on Dec. 6, 1991. Scott, Wellborn
and Pierce were arrested in Texas.
The four are charged with
capital murder.
Wellborn was 15 and Pierce
was 16 at the time of the killings,
so they have been charged as ju
veniles. Prosecutors want to
have them certified to stand trial
as adults.
LEARN TO
STR.0fVlB01_l - 1-fOAGIE.S
Medium One Topping Pizza
$3.50
* Order 3 for free delivery
Need
Birth Control?
Call the Experts.
FLY NOW
At United Flight Systems
THE EXPERIENCED FLIGHT SCHOOL
new
a
Call 1 -800-230-PLAN and be
connected to the nearest clinic * www.pphouston.org
P Planned Parenthood®
of Houston and Southeast Texas, Inc.
Learn to
fly with
the
Cessna
Pilot
Center
Exclusive
Integrated
Flight
Training
System
ret voor e.>ot
Gel little aS
,or a a S montW.!
College Station
Easterwood Airport
409 260-6322
www.unitedflight.com
i Easily
awarded
student loans
(24 hr.
award notice]
Private thru
advanced
training
Aircraft rental
t Pilot Shop
FA.A.
approved 141
school
VA eligible
Benefits
more reason to
sign up For our
O D ET
bnt
course
The Best Teachers
Our teachers have not only achieved GRE scores j n
the top 95th percentile, but they have also passed
our rigorous training program. Our instructors a re
gifted teachers who know what it takes to bring OU f
tne best in their students ~
Classes start Nov. 30*hi
jm THE
PRINCETON
REVIEW
Better Scores, Better Schools
(409) 696-9099 • www.review.cor^
Autograph Signing at
Brazos Valley Christian Books
Come meet and greet the artists of
The 40 ACRES Tour
Featuring Caedmons Call
including
Bebo Norman and Jill Phillips
Artists will be signing their CD’s and Cassettes
after the concert
at the Bryan location of
Brazos Valley Christian Bookstore
FREE PIZZA
(while it lasts)
All CD’s $3.00 off
during the autograph party.
Saturday, October 23 10:00 PM
3808 S. Texas Ave in Bryan
Texas Avenue
TAMU
I PET PARADISE |
T&e Selectee 'Diet | nil ff|
1104 C Harvey Rd.
College Station
693-4575
1873 Briarcrest
Bryan
774-PETS
! PET PfiRfiDISE
115 % Off
1 * Not valid on dog or cat food,
aquariums, & sale items
* Expires Nov. 30, 1999
: PET PARADISE
Science Diet
: $2 Off
I
Expires Nov. 30, 1999
I
I
I
I
l
I
urtprovisettioruil comedy
YOU WILL DIE...
laughing!
Saturday, October 23
9:00 pm in Rudder Theatre
• Tickets are $4 in advance
$5 at the door (MSC Box Office)
www.freudianslipimprov.com
.260-2660
’Jl tOTIIJiff 7 25S University Drivo
Join Us For Messina
Hof's Fun Murder
Mystery Dinner,
Saturday, October 30
Break out
the poodle
skirts and
beehive
hairdos... no
bees please,
as the Class
of '59 meets
at Messina
Hof Winery & Resorts for laughable drama,
Euopean roods and award winning wines.
High school friends gather to reminisce,
but the fun turns fatal as they discover
that an old classmate, now a famous
rock n' roll star, was murdered.
Immerse yourself in bobby sox
and penny loafers for only $85 per
very cool couple, plus tax and gratuity.
Please call
Designer Events,
778-9463, #34
for reservations or more information.
www.messinahof.com • winemaker@messinahof.com