[quote]Whose to say they aren't still one step ahead and have some guys completing the training and applying for jobs? <hr></blockquote>
If they get jobs as airline pilots, the whole security issue is just as moot as it is now. Any type of screening will be completely ineffective if a terrorist is an airline pilot. . .They won't need to have smuggle a weapon past the "security" gauntlet to fly the aircraft into a building. Why try to commandeer someone elses aircraft when you have your own? As I have said countless times, you either trust us or you don't. Maybe this will make certain PC hiring policies a thing of the past. I doubt it. Some things (political correctness) are more important than security!
. .A REAL ID card, with some type of positive way of ID'ing REAL pilots is needed and would actually BE effective. It would also negate the perceived need to screen us. The eyewash value would be completely lost, so it will never happen.
As far as pilots making a stand. What,exactly do you suggest we do? Writing politicians is to no avail, the airlines just want the seats filled, regardless of anything else. The media won't listen. Arguing with or even pointing out simple facts to the brain surgeons manning the checkpoints is a losing proposition (ie: we get arrested). The only way that we, as pilots will ever be heard on this issue is a S.O.S., which will never happen.
We rolled over on the security issue when it was first forced down our throats in '88 (as a result of a ground ops person smuggling a .44 magnum on board an aircraft, shooting the pilots, with predictable results. It's funny, ground ops folks STILL don't go through security.).
We rolled on random drug and alcohol testing AFTER we fly.
We will roll over on this as well.
Nothing will change to make flying safer. Maybe our doors will help some.