Given that many people here appear to be in shock and awe that.....
EVERY DAY HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE, WHO HAVE NOT BEEN SECURITY SCREENED, HAVE ACCESS TO AIRLINERS IN AUSTRALIA...in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide, Cairns, Darwin etc etc.
the obvious question becomes "What do you propose to do about it ?"
What would you agree is a fair time needed to adequately screen someone...Would you agree 30 seconds ?
So, 300 people starting work at 0500 at the airport means 150 minutes of screening time. Want to put them through the "passenger screening" point, say three operators....that'll take 50 minutes. Do you propose that all staff need to be at the airport (unpaid) for 50 minutes prior to work, or should their actual work-hours be 7 hrs 10 mins with the airlines wearing the cost ?
Of course, you could have a dedicated staff screening point, how many screening operators would you propose putting on those points ?
Then of course, there's the obvious question of what do you do when you find a "weapon" ? Aircraft engineers are legitimately allowed items such as Leatherman tools, box-cutters, screwdrivers, scissors and other "prohibited" items. Likewise the motor mechanics also have a tool-box full of otherwise prohibited items. Freight staff have large scissors, knives and once again, box-cutters.
Pilots, heck, no need to bring anything to the airport, axes supplied in each and every cockpit !!
And seriously.....
1) Do you think you could actually prevent an airside worker "smuggling" anything he wanted to airside ?
2) Do you seriously think that baggage loaders, pilots, engineers or a myriad of other workers NEED a bomb to cause catastrophic damage to an aircraft ?
So, To all those who are in shock and horror that a flight attendant might carry a pair of nail scissors in her overnight bag, pray tell.....
WHAT DO YOU PROPOSE AS AN EFFECTIVE METHOD OF 100% PREVENTING ANY PERSON FROM EVER CAUSING HARM TO AN AIRCRAFT EVER AGAIN ?
Post your responses here and us airport workers will propose an effective counter-argument to each and every one of them
!!!
SpannerTwister