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Posted by: athomas
In a remarkable case of poltical correctness overshadowing national security strategy, the TSA is giving 45,000 personnel Muslim sensitivity training. Frankly, what else can be said...

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Posted by: athomas
A drunk, Russian air rager was restrained by passengers and crew after failing in his attempt to hijack an Aeroflot flight. Click to read more.
Posted by: athomas
The scourge of air rage continues to be a major problem, as this incident from Christmas Eve reveals.

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Posted by: athomas
It is important to remember that the plastic bins at airport checkpoints are not human transporters...

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Posted by: athomas
Posted by: athomas
A recent news report out of Florida points to the ever-present problem of airport perimeter security. Like much of post 9-11 aviation security, this measure has been treated more an as ugly step-child rather than part of a systematic, rick reducing approach.

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Posted by: athomas
The story of the 6 Imams at Minneapolis International Airport who were detained for what many described as highly suspicious behavior continues to raise eyebrows. Paul Sperry, one of America's finest investigate journalists, provides some great background on this story.

Click here to read Paul's most recent article:
Posted by: athomas
Reports regarding new ways that have been devised to reduce the threat to commecial aviation have brought to light a couple of interesting countermeasures:

(ATS) or Automated Targeting System

This data-mining operation is designed to go beyond already-exisiting terror watch lists (which we know are incomplete and poorly updated) and create risk models for travelers both inside and outside the U.S.

Privacy-right advocates are correct when they say this is likely one of the most invasive government programs to date.

As with everything else surrounding avsec, we should look at the details to determine if it is really effective: What data is being collected? What format is it being entered? How are databases being reconciled? What statistical tools are being used to predict future behaviors? How is the information disseminated? Among other things...

Full Body X-Ray Scan


Phoenix International Airport is in the process of testing full body X-rays for travelers. A question: Are the workers who have access to planes, baggage, and cargo also subject to this level of scutiny?