<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by Warrenlm:
What headline/story line do you want these folks to carry to their editors?
"Security not improved!"
"Measures taken are a waste of time!
"Government not telling the truth!"
"Airport security is a sham!"
"Not safe to fly yet!"
I agree with you in the main...the only real improvement for security will come from the measures that won't be implemented. The major improvement we've all talked about already is the new found aggressiveness in the crew and pax. Maybe one of the reporters will undertake an indepth story about what real and possible measures can be taken.</font>
Wow - good points. As many managers have always told me, don't complain unless you have a suggestion or response, which is what you are getting at.
"Not safe to fly" headline. Please,please do not use this one. Life has its dangers, from walking to bike riding to driving to breathing. Heck, smoking takes kills 1,000 per day and, well... Add in starvation, car accidents, accidental shootings, disease, etc. etc. Just the way it is.
"Measures taken are a waste of time" might be closer to reality. Most of the measures mean very little. Just window dressing and a hassle.
"Security Not Improved" - actually I think it is a bit improved. I believe some people are profiling (official or not). Random checks help. Cockpit doors REALLY help. But most important, the best line of defense is the crew and passengers.
"Airport Security A Sham" - maybe, but I sure would not the powers to be to then react to that and make it worse to the point we shut down the airline business, and the rest of the economy at the same time.
I think we are as safe as we are going to be. If we took all that money we are spending on double and triple staffing of checkpoints, manning them with National Guard, etc. and put it into less people, but trained like in Customs to spot potential problems and do random checks, we could be a bit safer. I counted 12 people working a checkpoint the other day, and this is a single line, single machine station. That does not count the people roaming the terminal, or those doing the gate bag checks.