Topic: AIR SAFETY/GROUND SAFETY
I've been ruminating lately about the commercial airline security breakdowns, and the overall breakdown of intelligence that we see was an integral part of the terrorist's effectiveness in achieving their objectives Tuesday last.
I read a very disturbing account of the FBI chief, Mueller, who was quoted as saying he was 'surprised' by the fact that many of the identified hijackers had been trained at US airflight instruction schools.
Yet, it was also noted that in a trial of terrorists' 3 years ago, some of those convicted had gone through flight training at private-for-profit flight schools in this country.
So, I am thinking, what would motivate the FBI chief to disclaim knowledge of these facts, and justify the 'surprise' of the FBI about all of these Middle Eastern people who were trained here to fly, with controls/flight procedures similar to our commercial jets?
The flight schools were not obliged, AFTER the findings in terrorist trials here, to ascertain for what purpose all these Middle Eastern students were taking training; I read that the students simply informed the flight schools that they would be using their skills to fly for Saudi Arabia Airlines, in the case of one of the Florida schools.
No further investigation into the background of these students was required either by the schools or our "intelligence network". The FBI chief was surprised.
Today, I read that a meeting of airline carriers, the FAA and FBI, etc. was held to discuss increasing security for commercial aircraft, specifically with regard to the cockpit. It is obvious the weakest link is the flimsy cockpit doors, which are easily breached. The pilots have fought reinforcing the doors in the past, as they value easier escape, in the event of a crash, over the security of passengers and potential crash victims on the ground, so nothing has been done, in the past.
Now, we have the hue and cry of the commercial airline companys, who are cutting back on flights and personnel, and talking bankruptcy risks openly. The government just now pledges support to bankroll the airlines, as sane people question the safety of flying commercially after the easy hijackings Tuesday. The airlines want $5B in cash and loan guarantees of $25B, according to this mornings news.
Since we are now flying less, and since passenger traffic had planes taking off with only 1/3 to 1/4 capacity even before Tuesday last, why is it that there is not an effort to COMPEL the security-bankrupt commercial airlines industry to retrofit the cockpit access doors, install currently available failsafe/limited access to controls in the cockpit; control lockdowns whenever risk of hijack is even suspected by crew. Control of aircraft from ground/override as available with military now.
I have a questions for the FBI. How many people, of foreign origin,representing themselves as pilot candidates for foreign airlines, have recieved training in private US flight schools over recent years; how many have been screened for security purposes; how many were interested, based upon observation by certified flight instructors, to be focused primarily in steering the aircraft, and less interested in take off and landing skills.
Does the FBI know where these "pilots" are now? Are they concerned, or will they be 'surprised' the next time, should a flight school trainee show up on the hijacker list.
Air Traffic Control; is it true that, when a transponder is turned off(and btw, why is it that a transponder CAN be turned off, anyway) the ATC argues that it is too difficult for them to track aircraft with other instrumentation. Does this mean that if a switch is simply turned off in the cockpit, ATC has "lost" the aircraft. It appears from the time lag btw the World Trade Center attacks and the Pentagon/Pittsburg crashes, ATC was clueless for about ONE HOUR. No military jets were scrambled to protect our seat of power in Washington for ONE HOUR after the first WTC attack(8:45am WTC #1 to 9:45am Pentagon).
To my simple mind, we have a commercial airline industry that has no reasonable means of protecting the crew of aircraft from takeover in flight, no means of tracking/verifying status of aircraft seriously off course, and no plan of action to protect government installations on the ground from United Airlines/American Airlines, et al. hijacked jets.
And guess what, the planes are back in the air, and NOTHING HAS CHANGED.
I say we get the airlines to comply with cockpit retrofit, transponder always on or immediate alert/scramble or tell them to leave thier flying bombs on the tarmac and go ahead and file for bankruptcy. If the US Goverment gives them a $30B bailout, please extract these security measures for us, the American people, who are at a risk far greater than the corporate bottom line.
James |
