Desert Falcon Rising - desertfalconrising.com

  • Increase font size
  • Default font size
  • Decrease font size
Desert Falcon Rising's - Aviation, Space, Science and Technology - Homepage

The NSA Is Building the Country’s Biggest Spy Center (Watch What You Say)

E-mail Print

The NSA Is Building the Country’s Biggest Spy Center

(Watch What You Say)

By James Bamford Email Author March 15, 2012 | 7:24 pm | Categories: Crypto, Cybersecurity, Miscellaneous, NSA, Paranoia, privacy, Surveillance

The spring air in the small, sand-dusted town has a soft haze to it, and clumps of green-gray sagebrush rustle in the breeze. Bluffdale sits in a bowl-shaped valley in the shadow of Utah’s Wasatch Range to the east and the Oquirrh Mountains to the west. It’s the heart of Mormon country, where religious pioneers first arrived more than 160 years ago. They came to escape the rest of the world, to understand the mysterious words sent down from their god as revealed on buried golden plates, and to practice what has become known as “the principle,” marriage to multiple wives.

NSA's Bluffdale Utah Facility

Today Bluffdale is home to one of the nation’s largest sects of polygamists, the Apostolic United Brethren, with upwards of 9,000 members. The brethren’s complex includes a chapel, a school, a sports field, and an archive. Membership has doubled since 1978—and the number of plural marriages has tripled—so the sect has recently been looking for ways to purchase more land and expand throughout the town. But new pioneers have quietly begun moving into the area, secretive outsiders who say little and keep to themselves. Like the pious polygamists, they are focused on deciphering cryptic messages that only they have the power to understand. Just off Beef Hollow Road, less than a mile from brethren headquarters, thousands of hard-hatted construction workers in sweat-soaked T-shirts are laying the groundwork for the newcomers’ own temple and archive, a massive complex so large that it necessitated expanding the town’s boundaries. Once built, it will be more than five times the size of the US Capitol. Rather than Bibles, prophets, and worshippers, this temple will be filled with servers, computer intelligence experts, and armed guards. And instead of listening for words flowing down from heaven, these newcomers will be secretly capturing, storing, and analyzing vast quantities of words and images hurtling through the world’s telecommunications networks. In the little town of Bluffdale, Big Love and Big Brother have become uneasy neighbors.

The NSA has become the largest, most covert, and potentially most intrusive intelligence agency ever. Under construction by contractors with top-secret clearances, the blandly named Utah Data Center is being built for the National Security Agency. A project of immense secrecy, it is the final piece in a complex puzzle assembled over the past decade. Its purpose: to intercept, decipher, analyze, and store vast swaths of the world’s communications as they zap down from satellites and zip through the underground and undersea cables of international, foreign, and domestic networks.

The heavily fortified $2 billion center should be up and running in September 2013. Flowing through its servers and routers and stored in near-bottomless databases will be all forms of communication, including the complete contents of private emails, cell phone calls, and Google searches, as well as all sorts of personal data trails—parking receipts, travel itineraries, bookstore purchases, and other digital “pocket litter.” It is, in some measure, the realization of the “total information awareness” program created during the first term of the Bush administration—an effort that was killed by Congress in 2003 after it caused an outcry over its potential for invading Americans’ privacy. But “this is more than just a data center,” says one senior intelligence official who until recently was involved with the program.

The mammoth Bluffdale center will have another important and far more secret role that until now has gone unrevealed. It is also critical, he says, for breaking codes. And code-breaking is crucial, because much of the data that the center will handle—financial information, stock transactions, business deals, foreign military and diplomatic secrets, legal documents, confidential personal communications—will be heavily encrypted. According to another top official also involved with the program, the NSA made an enormous breakthrough several years ago in its ability to cryptanalyze, or break, unfathomably complex encryption systems employed by not only governments around the world but also many average computer users in the US.

The upshot, according to this official: “Everybody’s a target; everybody with communication is a target.” For the NSA, overflowing with tens of billions of dollars in post-9/11 budget awards, the cryptanalysis breakthrough came at a time of explosive growth, in size as well as in power. Established as an arm of the Department of Defense following Pearl Harbor, with the primary purpose of preventing another surprise assault, the NSA suffered a series of humiliations in the post-Cold War years. Caught offguard by an escalating series of terrorist attacks—the first World Trade Center bombing, the blowing up of US embassies in East Africa, the attack on the USS Cole in Yemen, and finally the devastation of 9/11—some began questioning the agency’s very reason for being. In response, the NSA has quietly been reborn. And while there is little indication that its actual effectiveness has improved—after all, despite numerous pieces of evidence and intelligence-gathering opportunities, it missed the near-disastrous attempted attacks by the underwear bomber on a flight to Detroit in 2009 and by the car bomber in Times Square in 2010—there is no doubt that it has transformed itself into the largest, most covert, and potentially most intrusive intelligence agency ever created.

In the process—and for the first time since Watergate and the other scandals of the Nixon administration—the NSA has turned its surveillance apparatus on the US and its citizens. It has established listening posts throughout the nation to collect and sift through billions of email messages and phone calls, whether they originate within the country or overseas. It has created a supercomputer of almost unimaginable speed to look for patterns and unscramble codes. Finally, the agency has begun building a place to store all the trillions of words and thoughts and whispers captured in its electronic net. And, of course, it’s all being done in secret. To those on the inside, the old adage that NSA stands for Never Say Anything applies more than ever.

READ MORE:  wired.com

Last Updated on Wednesday, 21 March 2012 12:35
 

Underdog!

E-mail Print

UNDERDOG!

 

 

Power your house indefinitely! 440% Over Unity Generator

E-mail Print

Power your house indefinitely!  440% Over Unity Generator

Last Updated on Thursday, 08 March 2012 04:15
 

1906 San Francisco, California - Market Street

E-mail Print

1906 San Francisco, California - Market Street

Music by: Air - Le Femme d'Argent

Last Updated on Sunday, 18 March 2012 23:50
 

Autonomous Quadrotors Fly Amazing Formations

E-mail Print

Autonomous Quadrotors Fly Amazing Formations

Roboticists at the University of Pennsylvania’s GRASP are able to get as many as 20 of their autonomous microcopters to fly in formation and perform complex maneuvers flawlessly.

In an impressive new video, the GRASP — General Robotics, Automation, Sensing and Perception — team makes their swarm of flying microbots flip, change direction, navigate through obstacles and even fly figure-eights with jaw-dropping agility and precision.

READ MORE: Wired

 

Solitude

E-mail Print

Solitude - Black Sabbath

A peaceful song.

Last Updated on Thursday, 07 April 2016 20:09
 

The Science of Riding a REALLY BIG WAVE!

E-mail Print
User Rating: / 1
PoorBest 

The Science of Riding a REALLY BIG WAVE!

Last Updated on Thursday, 22 December 2011 06:13
 

Safety Management System (SMS)

E-mail Print

Aviation Safety

Safety Management System (SMS)

What is a Safety Management System (SMS)?
SMS is the formal, top-down business approach to managing safety risk, which includes a systemic approach to managing safety, including the necessary organizational structures, accountabilities, policies and procedures. (Order VS 8000.367)

The Aviation Safety Organization's Safety Management System Website was created as a public resource for those seeking to learn more about SMS within the aviation industry and the FAA. The website will also provide resources to individuals and aviation product/service provider organizations seeking to learn more about implementing a SMS within their organization.

SMS introduces an evolutionary process in system safety and safety management. SMS is a structured process that obligates organizations to manage safety with the same level of priority that other core business processes are managed. This applies to both internal (FAA) and external aviation industry organizations (Operator & Product Service Provider).

This website will evolve; please continue to visit this site periodically for enhancements, updates and the most current information about SMS, Aviation Safety and the interface with FAA.

SMS Explained Get quickly up to speed! What is SMS? Where did it come from? How does it work?
SMS Rulemaking Activities Information regarding our FAA Aviation Safety rulemaking activities.
SMS International Collaboration Information about our SMS international collaboration efforts.
Reference Library Information at your fingertips. Access a wide range of guide books, articles, websites, and training materials for you and your staff.
SMS Pilot Projects Have you heard about the FAA Voluntary Implementation Efforts and Pilot Projects? Learn about current (and future) planned activities.
FAQs Get the answers to some frequently asked questions.
Specifics by Aviation Industry Type Information tailored to your specific sector (ex: Air Carriers, Air Taxi, Air Tour, Maintenance under 121, Repair Stations, Non-Certificated Repair Facilities, Flight Schools, Simulator Facilities, Airports, etc.)
Contacts Contact information for FAA offices working with SMS.

Please send us your feedback! What would you like to see on this website? Please feel free to email your comments to  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Source: http://www.faa.gov/about/initiatives/sms/

Last Updated on Thursday, 08 December 2011 23:01
 

Marco Tempest - Augmented Reality, Techno-Magic

E-mail Print

Marco Tempest - Augmented Reality, Techno-Magic

From: TED.com

 

Can I (Legally) Use My iPad?

E-mail Print

Can I (Legally) Use My iPad?

 

Since acquiring my Apple iPad® last summer
and stocking it with an ever-evolving suite of aviation apps, this amazing and, yes, magical device has become my favorite tool for 21st century flight planning, flight management, and flight monitoring. Every pilot who sees its capabilities seems to want one, but the first question I usually get — even before the obligatory exchange of best app tips — concerns the legalities of using iPad during flight.

Straight from the Source

For those operating under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) part 91, the single
best source of information about the FAA’s view of iPad use is Advisory Circular 91-78,
Use of Class 1
or Class 2 Electronic Flight Bag (EFB).
AC 91-78 is applicable to instrument flight rules (IFR) or visual flight rules (VFR), preflight, flight, and postflight operations conducted under part 91 unless such use is prohibited by a specific section of 14 CFR chapter I. AC 91-78 provides “information for removal of paper aeronautical charts and other documentation from the cockpit through the use of either portable or installed cockpit displays (electronic flight bags).” Though its July 2007 publication date obviously preceded the iPad’s introduction in 2010, the guidance still applies.

If you aren’t certain about the definition of EFB, AC 91-78 can help. In brief, it defines an EFB as an electronic system that can display a range of aviation data (e.g., checklists, navigation charts, pilot’s operating handbook (POH)) or perform basic calculations (e.g., performance data, fuel calculations). Physical EFBs may be portable (Class 1), attached to a mounting device (Class 2), or built into the aircraft (Class 3).

As far as the FAA is concerned, “The in-flight use of an EFB in lieu of paper reference material is the decision of the aircraft operator and the pilot in command” for part 91. This guidance applies as long as the interactive or precomposed information used for navigation or performance planning is valid, up-to-date, and functionally equivalent to the paper reference material it replaces.

Do I Need Paper Back-ups?

The FAA does not require you to carry paper, but AC 91-78 suggests that pilots consider a secondary source of aeronautical information. The secondary source could be a separate electronic display.

A related point is AC 91-78’s recommendation for implementing an EFB. The idea is to practice with the iPad or other EFB before you leave your paper products at home. Items to evaluate include: workload management
during various phases of flight, integration of the EFB into the cockpit, display and lighting, and system failures. You also need a solid grasp of the aeronautical information apps you are using. You don’t want to be fumbling for the right data at a critical phase of flight.

Other considerations include power and signal strength. Though the iPad’s battery life is excellent, intensive use over a long flight can drain the battery faster than you might expect — especially if you start with less than 100 percent. Several after-market devices are available to boost and stabilize the GPS signal reception to your iPad.

Note: Operators of large and turbine-powered multiengine and fractional ownership aircraft operating under part 91F and part 91K should reference AC 120-76, Guidelines for the Certification, Airworthiness, and Operational Use of Electronic Flight Bags (EFB) (currently under revision), for specific functionality and/or equipage guidelines.

Susan Parson is a Special Assistant in the FAA’s Flight Standards Service and editor of FAA Safety Briefing. She is an active general aviation pilot and flight instructor.

Learn More

AC 91-78 Use of Class 1 or Class 2 Electronic Flight Bag (EFB) – July 2007 http://rgl.faa.gov/REGULATORY_AND_ GUIDANCE_LIBRARY/RGADVISORYCIRCULAR. NSF/0/eb15b0c685650a0486257321006b3b8c/$F ILE/AC%2091_78.pdf

InFO 11011 – May 13, 2011 - The Apple
iPad and Other Suitable Tablet Computing Devices as Electronic Flight Bags (EFB)
http://www.faa.gov/other_visit/aviation_industry/ airline_operators/airline_safety/info/all_infos/ media/2011/InFO11011.pdf

“Flying Paperless Airplanes” – FAA Safety Briefing – May June 2010

page23image20836
page23image20976
page23image21116
page23image21256
page23image21396
page23image21536
page23image21676
page23image21816
page23image21956

September/October 2011 FAA Safety Briefing

 

Ipad's Give Pilots Cheap Synthetic Vision

E-mail Print

Ipad's Give Pilots Cheap Synthetic Vision

Ipad Gives Pilot Synthetic Vision

 

OSHKOSH, Wisconsin – The iPad has been a huge hit with pilots who use it for everything from flight planning to navigation. Now synthetic vision can be added to the list of capabilities available to pilots using the device in the cockpit.

Synthetic vision has been around for a few years, using glass panel cockpit displays costing tens of thousands of dollars. The technology renders a three-dimensional digital representation of what a pilot sees out the window. It looks similar to a flight simulator. Everything from mountains to buildings can be shown, providing pilots with a picture of their surroundings at night or when flying in the clouds.

Now the technology is available in a 99-cent app (with additional subscription fees).

 

WingX Pro7 from Hilton Software has been a best selling navigation app on the iPad, providing aeronautical charts, weather and terrain capabilities. Today the company announced it has added synthetic vision.

 

READ MORE:    Wired.com

 

Last Updated on Tuesday, 23 August 2011 13:50
 

Find Current Aviation Gas Prices - By Globalair.com

E-mail Print

 

Find Current Aviation Gas Prices - By Globalair.com

Global Air Gas Map

(Click on your region below)

Average 100LL

Last Updated on Monday, 08 August 2011 23:09
 


Page 15 of 19

w3c.org CSS/XHTML Validator

PilotHiring.com (RSS)

  • A330 First Officer
    https://www.pilotjobs.io/pilot-jobs/A330-First-Officer-49551.html Have an exciting opportunity for experienced A330/A350 First Officers based in sunny Fiji.
  • Corporate Jet Captain Global 5000
    https://www.pilotjobs.io/pilot-jobs/Corporate-Jet-Captain-Global-5000-49546.html We are always looking for talent Based in SingaporePosition: Permanent Full Time<br>Salary: Excellent Remuneration package
  • Embraer 135 First Officer
    https://www.pilotjobs.io/pilot-jobs/Embraer-135-First-Officer-49523.html Embraer 135 First Officer based in Chicago, IL for full time position.<br>Summary of Essential Duties:<br>Put safety above all.<br>Comply wi...
  • Metroliner First Officer
    https://www.pilotjobs.io/pilot-jobs/Metroliner-First-Officer-49522.html JOB DUTIES:<br>Must have professional communications skills for complex internal and external aircraft communications<br>Assist with loading...
  • Metroliner Captain
    https://www.pilotjobs.io/pilot-jobs/Metroliner-Captain-49521.html JOB DUTIES:<br>Must have professional communications skills for complex internal and external aircraft communications<br>Assist with loading...
  • Embraer 135 Captain
    https://www.pilotjobs.io/pilot-jobs/Embraer-135-Captain-49520.html Embraer 135 Captain based in Chicago, IL for full time position<br>Education Level: 2 Year Degree<br>Summary of Essential Duties:<br>Put saf...
  • C208 Captain
    https://www.pilotjobs.io/pilot-jobs/C208-Captain-49504.html 65 Block Hours per month guarantee.<br>Hotel accommodations during training. Training is approximately 25 days.12-Month Training Contract va...
  • SAAB 340 First Officer
    https://www.pilotjobs.io/pilot-jobs/SAAB-340-First-Officer-49502.html 75 Block Hours per month guarantee.<br>Compensation: $45 per hour<br>Single occupancy hotel room during training. Training is approximately ...

Login Form

Use this button to share Desert Falcon Rising

AddThis Social Bookmark Button