As for the US and the rest of the world concerning security issues it must be understood that it is the US government which may or may not impose parameters to be complied with at the departing airport before a flight will be allowed through the US ADIZ following 09.11.01.
As any discerning individual would realize, the security measures in place in Europe have been on the highest standard for years and certainly much higher than they were on US airports. The irony in this is that(in most cases) security is still by far higher in Europe than it is elsewhere and yet European airport operators are being dictated exactly how security must be performed on US reg. A/C.
To the best of my knowledge, no flight departing Europe has ever been used as a guided projectile there have been of course hijackings in the past which has taught us how to deal with such situations.
I don’t mean to be cynical of recent history nor is any offence intended, but IMHO a flight must be secure and safe at the moment the A/C door closes. There should be no reasons for arming the pilot – his job is to drive his ship and not play Air America -- or having a sky marshal on board taking down pax which were peeing tow seconds too long.
If all the homework is done, the pax screened, the A/C checked and secured then we all can enjoy a great flight and get back to discussing the real troubling matters – the catering and the perpetual dry chicken which is always served.