"Not Flying the Unfriendly Skies" - Clay, Take Note

[Guest]

From the Strategy Page:

Not Flying the Unfriendly Skies

September 24, 2006: Efforts to prevent any more Islamic terror attacks on American passenger aircraft have, on the face of it, been successful. Increased passenger screening, and heavy use of air marshals, appears to be the primary reason for the prevention of terrorist attacks in the air. Or has it? Aviation in the rest of the world has not been nearly as energetic as the United States, and they have also been free of terrorist attacks. In fact, the Islamic terrorists have been attacking other modes of transportation (as in Spanish trains and British buses and subways). In fact, interrogations, and captured terrorist documents and the like, have indicated this shift in target emphasis.

But the increase in air transportation security has had an impact. Fewer people are flying. The airlines don't like to discuss this, but customer satisfaction, and travel, surveys show that people, especially business flyers (the most lucrative kind of passengers) are flying less. The reason is the increased, and seemingly irrational, screening methods. These antics also have a negative effect on the security personnel. There are now 2,100 air marshals (versus 33 on September 11, 2001), and half of them are unavailable (all or part of the time) because of health issues caused by too much time in the air. The air marshals work a heavy schedule, averaging twenty flights a week. Not that it's doing much good. Until this Summer, air marshals had to fly wearing suits, despite the fact that most passengers go casual. Thus the air marshals stick out, giving any potential bad guys an easy way to identify, and take down, the law.

While the air marshals can now blend in, most flight personnel realize that it is more likely that a mob of enraged passengers is the best defense against any hijackers. Air marshals only fly a small (classified) number of flights, but there are many passengers on each flight who are willing to risk all to take down hijackers. The airlines don't like to encourage that sort of thing, but there it is. And the terrorists know it as well, which is why they stay away from air transportation.

"The mouse does not know life until it is in the mouth of the cat."

[sundevil777 102]

It is not that they stay away from air transportation, they just have to accept that it is much harder to take control of a plane.

Just blowing it up, however, is not more difficult because of the fact that passengers or air marshalls won't accomodate hijackers.

People are sick and tired of being told that ordinary and decent people are fed up in this country with being sick and tired. I’m certainly not, and I’m sick and tired of being told that I am

[freeflir29 0]

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The reason is the increased, and seemingly irrational, screening methods.

Yep. It is rather reduiculous in many cases. I read an article several years ago where the guy that originally designed El Al's security and the security for Ben Gurion(SP?) Airport said "The problem with airport security in America is that you are looking for items. IE Box cutters, lighters, knives, guns, etc. When you SHOULD be looking for terrorists." Of course........that brings up that dreaded "profiling" word. That being said.........Richard Reed AKA "The shoe bomber" WAS stopped by Israeli security. However, they released him after questioning. This was on a "training mission" prior to the flight where he tried to destroy the airliner. So.....it's never perfect but if people get stabbed to death every day inside prisons...........how in the hell does anyone think they can keep ALL weapons off a mode of public transportation?

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and half of them are unavailable (all or part of the time) because of health issues caused by too much time in the air.

Half? I think that is an exaggeration. However, why the TSA/FAM service thinks it's fine for you to work 10+ hours per day 5 days a week and the FAA MANDATES a 4 on 3 off schedule for flight crews with max hour per day cut offs AND REQUIRED crew rest hours is beyond me. I'm sure the FAA didn't just make that shit up. There are CERTAINLY health issues. Especially high blood pressure and memory loss. Those were the 2 I remember being most prevalent. Lord knows what they will find in the long run.

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it is more likely that a mob of enraged passengers is the best defense against any hijackers.

Uhhhh.............yes things have changed. That's one of your biggest fears as a FAM. Dealing with Billy Bob hero. Even worse.........100 Billy Bob Heros on one plane. Please just sit down STFU and let me do my job. If you don't......I WILL shoot you.
That being said.........terorrists are not stupid. They plan accordingly for the "mob." A mob of "heros" won't make shit difference to them. A mere minor operational annoyance.

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Until this Summer, air marshals had to fly wearing suits, despite the fact that most passengers go casual.

Not completely true. I never once wore a suit or tie in 2 years of doing that job. Some offices did require that but never where I was based. I think wearing a suit is dumb in SOME cases. Depends on the environment. I felt out of place NOT wearing a suit some days. If you are on a flight from NY to DC in the early morning or afternoon and DON'T have a suit on.......you stick out. However........on a weekend afternoon flight on Southwest going to Florida you are going to look like an idiot wearing a suit. I think there should be some operational lattitude given to FAMs. However..........the morons that show up wearing a baseball jersey and jeans with holes in them should be delt with swiftly as well. You are a federal agent..........look professional please. OK.........beyond that. Once again.....terrorist aren't stupid. I don't care what you wear or where you sit. These guys WILL pick you out. In the same token.........they aren't going to walk on the plane without you knowing them either. So......the odds are still stacked in my favor because I have superior skills and training.

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And the terrorists know it as well, which is why they stay away from air transportation.

I wish that were true. All I will say is............it's not. Also........whether an aircraft is the target or not........FAMs being out there every day observing the primary means of long range public transportation is EXTREMELY helpful. Terorrists have to travel too. FAMs are a VERY valuable intel collection tool and they have made HUNDREDS if not THOUSANDS of arrests of bad guys that were in transit.