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Airline security
Crime, Guns, and Videotape has some thoughts. It's become what gun control used to be -- something happens, pass another law to show "we did something," whether or not that has any relationship to present or future. Here -- without advanced screening sensors, it's going to be hard to stop a primitive with explosive under his clothing. But security kabuki requires that something be done, so they ban getting out of your seat during the last hour of a flight.
Comments
Dumb question ..... why is the last hour so important? Don't Jihadi's own watches?
Posted by: mikeSilver at December 27, 2009 02:46 PM
What? Increased security measures, reminds me of a movie from the 70s...
“But Delta’s already on probation.”
“They are? Well, as of this moment, they’re on DOUBLE SECRET PROBATION!”
Posted by: Dann at December 27, 2009 03:56 PM
This rule violates the ADA. Anyone with BPH, or any of the several conditions of aging resulting in "tiny bladder syndrome", cannot be held to such a standard.
I have BPH, and refuse to take the usual dry-you-out medications because of their many side effects, so I just use the bathroom a lot. I now will have to get some sort of note from my doctor stating I cannot be held to this standard.
The airlines will likely oppose this rule also, when they begin to add up the lost revenue from the unusable seats that have been pissed in by old farts who can't hold it for a whole hour. BTW, under standard medical procedure, such a seat MUST be removed from service. If it is left in the aircraft at all, it must be marked as a biohazard.
Posted by: Rivrdog at December 27, 2009 07:00 PM
Mike - not so much the last hour, but during landing is a REALLY bad time for the pilot to deal with something unusual, they're already low, they're going through the landing checklist, the airspace is typically congested, power is usually throttled back, etc...
Posted by: James at December 28, 2009 12:08 AM
The obvious solution would be to ban Muslims from boarding aircraft but that would never go over. So far they seem to be the only group inclined to want to blow themselves up.
Posted by: Jim K at December 28, 2009 07:42 AM
We do not need to re-invent the wheel! The Israelis have airport and airline security down to a fine science. (They do profile) Dogs can alert on semtex and C-4 (as a metter of fact virtually all of the effective explosives) no batteries needed. Our Homeland security folks are for the most part a joke (Shame it is not a funny joke) Our politicans seem to place more importance on "feeling safe" then they do on actually being safe. It seems to be the theater of looking like they are doing something. Brings to mind the Keystone Cops. Until we the people get rid of these incompetents nothing will change.
Paul in Texas
Posted by: Paul Kanesky at December 28, 2009 07:32 PM
I also noticed the parallel. Feel good regulations to make the public think they are safe rather than policies that may really help reduce risk.
Again the private man came to the rescue and subdued the evil bomber.
Getting to be a theme.
Posted by: RAH at December 29, 2009 08:43 AM