StbdD (and other Ppruners): Jackonicko made some generalizations above. But some of the FAA's reactions or local airports' reactions don't really make sense. It seems ironic to me to prohibit foreign airlines here if local airlines were beginning some ferry or revenue flights.
Two nights ago, I took both my airline ID card and the parking lot ID card into the nearly empty airport terminal, in order to make slight changes to my computer bidding uploaded for the October flying month. The local airport security and ticket counter agents then required a special ground agent (she was a paramedic, now also on the "GO team")to escort me to the pilot lounge, some of which is not surprising. We will very soon have to all sit in on a one-hour class in order to get the third ID card, valid for all of the terminal ramp areas: this class has been offered already for at least two years, and was supposed to teach airline pilots just basic ground security as they were brand-new food/drink catering truck employees! This makes no sense at all if you think about it: and it is NOT a local FAA requirement. This implies that many of us have flown around the US without understanding ground security, despite our annual recurrent training. The class material was nothing new to pilots who have attended. Now, UNLESS there are several significant new procedures or changes, then some of this IS only a bureaucratic knee-jerk reaction. Try to convince me otherwise.
During Desert Storm, due to threats made, US airport security was tighter. Assuming that the looser security after that was adequate, then I would bet that the FAA or local Airport Authorities will initiate new procedures as mostly a knee-jerk reaction, because these help pacify the media and the public until some complacency takes place.
Pardon the callous comments here, but the overall FAA only reacts (at least for a while) to numerous dead bodies or very intense Congressional pressure, i.e. after the Valuejet tragedy, and historically has been totally unresponsive to many, many NTSB recommendations which were the results of many past accident investigations over the years-that is why it is known as the "Tombstone Agency". This was well-known even before Mary Schiavo's (the former DOT Inspector General) book.
[ 15 September 2001: Message edited by: Ignition Override ]
[ 15 September 2001: Message edited by: Ignition Override ]