What most seem to forget is that it was the 'security' at airports, or rather the lack of it, that allowed the transgressions that started all this in the first place...!!
Now, legislation has been passed to ensure that the aircraft is a safer place. Cockpit doors are impassable, steps are in place to prevent a violent take over, the passengers themselves, nowadays, will act in unison to prevent a repeat of events...
BUT, the Brainless police college rejects have been given nothing less than abusive authority in the name of "security". These guys couldn't secure a place at a urinal without a written policy and hand-holding along the way, yet
they decide now on who does what and how fast to walk through a metal detector. Ask them if they know what magnetic induction means and they will probably arrest you...!
wotsyors had an interesting comment, not picked up yet..
what on earth is going on ? nobody has asked the obvious question, namely who checks the checkers ?
Many years back, I worked in the casino industry, in the department known as Surveillance - one day one of the croupiers asked me the question; "Who watches the watchers?"
I never forgot that, and I still ask the question today in any number of applications...
The point here - if anything was going to get on an aircraft with a view to taking it over, I have no doubt that it would be with the collusion of the relevant security detail at the initial point.
I am
NOT saying that all security details are corrupt - what I am saying is that this is the weakest link. Hamburger wages, no thought required, just instructions to follow monkey style and a bit of power... this is a dangerous mix...
Not many of these abusive lot would ever pass any psychometric testing, not that they are required to do so, and yet they dictate to not only airline crew, who have spent years aquiring their qualifications, but to any other group of proffessionals you care to describe (passengers), as to what they must do..
abuse of power will come naturally to a certain mentality if allowed to progress unchecked.
Again - this will only apply to a percentile of the group - but - it is easy to see how it will easily spread to a persons peers in a group when it is seen to enhance stature and standing
within that group. This, sadly is the mentality in a great many cases and a reasoning voice in the group will soon be ostracized by the greater voice.
I think it is high time that there is a review of duties and methodology and that the system defines the function and responsibility of the security detail.
The "them and us" mentality does and will not work - as can be seen, and to let this continue unchecked is going to make this a whole lot worse than it is now.
Without a concerted and united "Enough" nothing will change..
R