It must be because vocal Americans, such as some politicians and Capt. Gentil, are daft enough to imagine that the hassle being created for foreigners wanting to fly in their country will not lead to a loss of business to other countries.
In advocating the targetting of foreign private pilots, they seem incapable of identifying that any potential terrorist could learn to drive or fly or shoot elsewhere and then enter the USA as a tourist prior to buying an aircraft or airline ticket or boat or car or gun there- all legal ! Also, that people intending to commit criminal acts tend not to bother about bureaucratic compliance, such as having a valid insurance, licence, permit, qualification, visa etc. Even if they do bother, compliance is no deterrent but simply cover, in case of challenge before the crime is committed.
P.S. Just checked the Atlas and, yes, Canada has a very long frontier with the USA so their persecution of pilots could only be effective in reducing business. Anyone know about the attitude to foreign pilots in Mexico, the Bahamas or Cuba ?
Last edited by notice; 3rd Oct 2002 at 01:45.