US: Report offers 50 ways to avoid the chaos that crippled Kennedy airport

A former federal transportation secretary said Thursday that he has “100% confidence” that the chaos that brought John F. Kennedy International to a standstill during a January blizzard would not recur. Ray LaHood said he believed that the changes in how the airport’s managers prepare for winter storms would prevent a repeat of the debacle. The most important change, he said, would be the creation of a centre for command and control of the airport during storms and other emergencies. During a 4-month review of what went wrong at the airport after a nor’easter swept up the East Coast Jan 4, LaHood said he and a team of investigators found there had been “deficiencies in communication” and “inadequate overarching leadership by J.F.K. management,” two issues that have been previously cited as contributing to the mess. <br/>