Airport Security (Merged) - Effects on Crew/Staff
Originally Posted by wallsend
Just been speaking with friends who work at an airport in the North East of England.
The response at the non-terminal security gate (i.e. the workers' entrance) has been interesting. A fireman was told he couldn't bring his electronic car key in and would have to leave it IN his car and leave the car unlocked in the car park.
The response at the non-terminal security gate (i.e. the workers' entrance) has been interesting. A fireman was told he couldn't bring his electronic car key in and would have to leave it IN his car and leave the car unlocked in the car park.
The present security situation is the major issue, but let's not make careless comments that could only add to the misery.
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Originally Posted by spekesoftly
I question the wisdom of broadcasting the suggestion that Airport Staff Car Parks may now be full of unlocked cars - keys at the ready!!
The present security situation is the major issue, but let's not make careless comments that could only add to the misery.
The present security situation is the major issue, but let's not make careless comments that could only add to the misery.
The implied point behind my post was that once again "the workers" who have all been exhaustively security checked suffer unnecessarliy under some security regimes.
Originally Posted by wallsend
What I failed to mention was that the said fireman was allowed to lock his car and keep his keys!
The implied point behind my post was that once again "the workers" who have all been exhaustively security checked suffer unnecessarliy under some security regimes.
The implied point behind my post was that once again "the workers" who have all been exhaustively security checked suffer unnecessarliy under some security regimes.
I have a friend and colleague who is a naturalised Brit, but born (and looks) Palestinian. He however has been here for years, and by virtue of probably knowing more about how jet engines work than virtually anybody else, has a UK Top-Secret clearance. There was a well known incident when he was transitting with a briefcase of classified documents, and ended up in a standoff with a policeman who wouldn't let him pass, because he wouldn't let said policeman see anything but the outside covers of the documents.
Sadly, we live in a nasty complicated world these days.
G
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Flash8,
I have mentioned before that I get "profiled" (especially when American airlines are involved),despite being a "White Anglo-Saxon Protestant", due to;
(Danny, Mods - this is a serious aspect of today's events. Could I suggest that it is a "matter that effects the working lives (and prospects!) of aircrew as well as airlines" and, as such is possibly better in here than in the ratehr "less respectful" halls of JB. Naturally any rants about security might be better "moved out
)
I have mentioned before that I get "profiled" (especially when American airlines are involved),despite being a "White Anglo-Saxon Protestant", due to;
- Passport only 2 years old and already almost full of Mid-East stamps
- Beard and dark skin (living in a sunny land and working outside a lot)
(Danny, Mods - this is a serious aspect of today's events. Could I suggest that it is a "matter that effects the working lives (and prospects!) of aircrew as well as airlines" and, as such is possibly better in here than in the ratehr "less respectful" halls of JB. Naturally any rants about security might be better "moved out
)
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News of Targeted Airlines
I'm watching the BBC coverage at home and while I have to advise a very big pinch of salt, they are quoting associated press who in turn are quoting two "top American counter terrorism experts", stating that the airlines targetted are American , United and Continental.
I suspect this is mere speculation but will post link soon as.
I suspect this is mere speculation but will post link soon as.
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flash8
Your racial profiling would have failed with the shoe bomber .. Ried was his name? Although he sure didn’t look too intelligent was "White" and had a non-Arabic name.
Your racial profiling would have failed with the shoe bomber .. Ried was his name? Although he sure didn’t look too intelligent was "White" and had a non-Arabic name.
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Originally Posted by N380UA
flash8
Your racial profiling would have failed with the shoe bomber .. Ried was his name? Although he sure didn’t look too intelligent was "White" and had a non-Arabic name.
Your racial profiling would have failed with the shoe bomber .. Ried was his name? Although he sure didn’t look too intelligent was "White" and had a non-Arabic name.
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I've just been reading through the talking point on the BBC website. Some of the comments there are just unreal. I think this takes 1st prize;
"So how am I supposed to take a 2 year old child on a 12 hour flight - with no activities and toys (not even a teddy bear because it isn't an essential medical requirement)?
Not being able to take passive items like coloring books is a total over-reaction.
BAA needs to make the investment in scanning technology that already exists. If they can scan checked baggage, they can scan hand luggage."
"So how am I supposed to take a 2 year old child on a 12 hour flight - with no activities and toys (not even a teddy bear because it isn't an essential medical requirement)?
Not being able to take passive items like coloring books is a total over-reaction.
BAA needs to make the investment in scanning technology that already exists. If they can scan checked baggage, they can scan hand luggage."
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Update: BBC News reports British Airways to cancel all shorthaul & domestic flights in and out of LHR today (including Tripoli). Some shorthaul & domestic flights to and from LGW will also be cancelled.
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For anyone who's stuck in London or Manchester and wanting to travel between the two, Virgin trains have siad they will accept any ticket for this journey on their trains services today.
Danny get you to Euston.
Danny get you to Euston.
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Interestingly there seems to be some precedent of terrorists converting seemingly innocent carry on items into bombs.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philipp...nes_Flight_434
“US prosecutors said the device was a "Mark II" "microbomb" constructed using Casio digital watches as described in Phase I of Operation Bojinka of which this was a test. On Flight 434, Yousef used one tenth of the explosive power he planned to use on eleven U.S. airliners in January of 1995. The bomb was designed to slip through airport security checks undetected. The explosive used was liquid nitroglycerin, which was disguised as a bottle of contact lens fluid. The wires he used were hidden in the heel of his shoe. At that time, metal detectors used in airports did not go down far enough to detect anything there.”
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philipp...nes_Flight_434
“US prosecutors said the device was a "Mark II" "microbomb" constructed using Casio digital watches as described in Phase I of Operation Bojinka of which this was a test. On Flight 434, Yousef used one tenth of the explosive power he planned to use on eleven U.S. airliners in January of 1995. The bomb was designed to slip through airport security checks undetected. The explosive used was liquid nitroglycerin, which was disguised as a bottle of contact lens fluid. The wires he used were hidden in the heel of his shoe. At that time, metal detectors used in airports did not go down far enough to detect anything there.”
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So how am I supposed to take a 2 year old child on a 12 hour flight - with no activities and toys (not even a teddy bear because it isn't an essential medical requirement)?
I'm not sure what your saying but I wouldn't get on a one hour flight without a bunch of things to entertain my children let alone a 12 hour one. No toys no fly.
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Notam:
a2027/06 - Heathrow Airport Is Closed To All Inbound Flights With Sectors Of 3 Hours Or Less Until 1400z. Flights From France, Holland, Belgium And Switzerland Are Excempt From This Restriction. 10 Aug 11:52 Until 10 Aug 15:00
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Updated from post #72: BBC News Online reports here an updated international flight situation - including reference to LH, Olympic, Air New Zealand and others.
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Originally Posted by easyprison
I've just been reading through the talking point on the BBC website. Some of the comments there are just unreal. I think this takes 1st prize;
"So how am I supposed to take a 2 year old child on a 12 hour flight - with no activities and toys (not even a teddy bear because it isn't an essential medical requirement)?
Not being able to take passive items like coloring books is a total over-reaction.
BAA needs to make the investment in scanning technology that already exists. If they can scan checked baggage, they can scan hand luggage."
"So how am I supposed to take a 2 year old child on a 12 hour flight - with no activities and toys (not even a teddy bear because it isn't an essential medical requirement)?
Not being able to take passive items like coloring books is a total over-reaction.
BAA needs to make the investment in scanning technology that already exists. If they can scan checked baggage, they can scan hand luggage."
Easyprison. People like the person quoted pay the wages of those of us in the airline business. We disregard their opinions at our peril.
I strongly believe that while today's actions require a careful review of security arrangements, today's actions are knee-jerk and unnecessary.
Firstly, those who might have set of bombs (an no-one is alledging that today was their target day) are in police cells. So for today at least the threat is, bizzarely, lower than it will perhaps be tomorrow (when they one they didn't catch tries to act).
If we keep the current arrangements air travel will be curtailed and people will lose their jobs, pilots, baggage handlers, the lot.
If we improve security (more powerful scanners, twice as many of them, rigorous limits on one item of carry on per person) we might remove this particlar threat without creating fear and chaos in it's wake. Because fear and chaos represent victory for terrorism.
"So how am I supposed to take a 2 year old child on a 12 hour flight - with no activities and toys (not even a teddy bear because it isn't an essential medical requirement)?"
"I'm not sure what your saying but I wouldn't get on a one hour flight without a bunch of things to entertain my children let alone a 12 hour one. No toys no fly."
Not just for children. No book, no iPod, no fly for me, too, when flying for pleasure. I'd rather drive to my weekend break (already an attractive option for Paris and Brussels, allowing me to take more kit, bring back more wine, chocolate, etc. and giving me mobility when I'm there). This kind of 'precaution' is going to hit airlines (and by implication aircrew too) very hard.
And when flying for business I will usually have cameras and/or a laptop, and it's simply not on to expect me to subject these to the treatment that hold luggage gets. Airlines will have to provide some separate means by which fragile, high value items can be carried with confidence, or they will see a reduction in passenger numbers among those who pay (or whose companies' pay) premium fares.
"I'm not sure what your saying but I wouldn't get on a one hour flight without a bunch of things to entertain my children let alone a 12 hour one. No toys no fly."
Not just for children. No book, no iPod, no fly for me, too, when flying for pleasure. I'd rather drive to my weekend break (already an attractive option for Paris and Brussels, allowing me to take more kit, bring back more wine, chocolate, etc. and giving me mobility when I'm there). This kind of 'precaution' is going to hit airlines (and by implication aircrew too) very hard.
And when flying for business I will usually have cameras and/or a laptop, and it's simply not on to expect me to subject these to the treatment that hold luggage gets. Airlines will have to provide some separate means by which fragile, high value items can be carried with confidence, or they will see a reduction in passenger numbers among those who pay (or whose companies' pay) premium fares.
I saw this on BBC news and I think it sums up how the media have been reporting:
"The old 'move on, there's nothing here to see' has been replaced with 'come here and look, this is what might happen to you'."
I would just like to add my support to the police and security services for stopping these people. Well done folks!!
"The old 'move on, there's nothing here to see' has been replaced with 'come here and look, this is what might happen to you'."
I would just like to add my support to the police and security services for stopping these people. Well done folks!!
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I completely understand the "no liquids" rule. I am actually surprised it wasn't like that before - liquid explosives have been around for a while. Buy your water after the security point, please. It's probably also good to be more safe than sorry today and in the next days - if they did not catch all of the bad guys, the one/two/three who are left over might just go ahead anyways.
I however question the wisdom of "no handluggage at all". Books, pencils, cell phones, newspaper, toys,
what do they have to do with the actual threat/plot?
As for flightcrew, I am all for special treatment. These airports really need to get extra security points for all of you, with personal trained to know the difference between a flight manual and a bomb manual.
Lastly, let's see the good thing here: Police was able to interupt a major murder plot. Congratulations to them
I however question the wisdom of "no handluggage at all". Books, pencils, cell phones, newspaper, toys,
what do they have to do with the actual threat/plot?As for flightcrew, I am all for special treatment. These airports really need to get extra security points for all of you, with personal trained to know the difference between a flight manual and a bomb manual.
Lastly, let's see the good thing here: Police was able to interupt a major murder plot. Congratulations to them
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News from the major airport here on the US west coast interviewing pax who state they were not allowed to carry on any make up items including lipstick..... does this not seem a bit extreme?