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Posted by: athomas

The most recent attempt by terrorists to use the assets of the aviation system to achieve their ends should serve to remind us of this fundamental proposition:

Unlike the movies (think Sum of All Fears) or television (think 24), terrorists are not real sophisticated folks.

They lack the resources and capabilities to develop their own platforms from which to deliver a weapon.

Even 9/11, their most spectacular attack to date, was, at the core, a simple reconfiguration of aviation assets.

Al qaeda took the existing infrastructure- which they did not create- and merely turned it on its head. In that case, the weapon (jet fuel) was also leveraged from the supply chain, along with the delivery system (the
airliners).

The case on Friday was just simply another attempt to extend their reach far beyond the home base- and the only way they could do so was by using our own system.

This should provide us a strong reassurance that the current 'enemy', while highly motivated, is not even close to being the existential threat to human civilization as the Cold War and the possibility of nuclear armageddon were.

Things are getting better!

Still, for aviation professionals, we would be wise to recognize that terrorists will continue to view the aviation system as the means to a greater end. And as such, there will continue to be an emphasis on aviation security and the even greater fear of governmental
overreaction.

Posted by: athomas
Finally, the truth begins to be told...

Clcik here to read more.
Posted by: athomas
After $276 million, it seems that Congress no longer has the stomach to move forward on the multi-BILLION dollar anti-missile system for commercial airliners. $276 million...

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Posted by: athomas
One of the nation's busiest airports unveiled the TSA's pride and joy: the new body screening machines designed to thwart the next underwear bomber...

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Posted by: athomas
The flight attendant who "lost it"; dropped f-bombs; and, chugged a beer on his way off a flight- via the emergency chute- plead guilty to one count.

This incident should remind us of the tough jobs that flight attendants are saddled with, including safety manager, security coordinator, babysitter, conflict resolver, customer service representative, bartender, and baggage handler...

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Posted by: athomas
October 10 marks the anniversary of the first bombing of a commercial airliner, which occurred in 1933.

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Posted by: athomas
In an all-too-common occurrence, a passenger tried again to open the emergency exit door in mid-flight while shouting "We're all going to do die!"

In my book, AIR RAGE, published in 2001, I documented three very similar incidents. The more things change...

Click here to read more about this "new" incident.
Posted by: athomas
Airport terminals and lobbies have been venues for international terrorist attacks going back to the '60's.

The latest EU plots reveal that the landscape has not really changed.

Click here to read more.