Something Stupid in the Air - Again!

You'd have thought American Airlines would have learned its corporate lesson after chief executive Donald Carty made ill-conceived and much-reviled remarks in May about security procedures and expenditures. But the arrogant brain trust at American seems incapable of learning lessons. Two weeks ago, for example, the airline began demanding that its staff receive special and expedited treatment at security checkpoints because running crews through standard security regimens causes "unnecessary delays for the pilots, flight attendants and other employees." But airline crews--or people who look like airline crews--may actually pose a greater security risk than average passengers. Why? As American and all other carriers know, suspected terrorists have stolen dozens of U.S. flight crew uniforms, flight bags and passports in an alarming rash of hotel break-ins since September 11. "Someone or some organization is targeting flight crews at hotels around the world," the security chief at one major carrier told me this week. "Rooms are being pilfered. Valuables like jewelry, cameras and credit cards are ignored, but uniforms and ID cards are being stolen. It's obvious that terrorists think they could infiltrate the system by masquerading as a pilot or a flight attendant."

-Joe B.

http://www.zyworld.com/brancatelli/tactical.htm


[This message has been edited by doc (edited 07-12-2002).]