Last night CNN reported that three days after the attack a local Sheriff sent test teams with box cutters and other potential cutting weapons through FLL security 6 times without once being caught. When the Sheriff notified FAA, FAA threatened the Sheriff with a technical violation of FAA rules for having conducted the test. The Sheriff notified Senator Bill Nelson of Florida who obtained the weapons and displayed them to FAA Commissioner Garvey at a Senate hearing on airline safety. Senator Nelson said on the program that the federal government will move to take over airport security as a federal law enforcement function. As a postscript--since the FAA was notified of the local Sheriff's actions--FLL airport security has caught his test teams every time. While I will continue to fly, this shows once again that airport security is an absolute joke. My recent trip since the attack was proof of this as well. What do you experienced FFs think? Federalize security? Are current standards sufficient? What are you observing?

Yes, Federalize airport security. Like national defense, it should be considered a public good, i.e. better handled by the public sector than by profit-maximizing firms in the private sector. What happened two weeks ago shows that the costs associated with "underproduction" of this good (liabilities for subsequent crashes) are so high as to require a government bailout of the airline industry (including absolving UA and AA for responsiblity for the damage in NYC). I'd rather have better security and less chances of a need for such a bailout.
The current system of paying minimum wage to employees who can't get a job anywhere else is outragous.

Yonatan

You know, these days, almost everything is available on the Internet. I would like to see a link to the original story on CNN, so that I can judge the credibility of it for myself. Of course, a search of CNN.com yields no such link, so I am discarding the story until someone can show me it is true.

Once the massive weight of lawsuits starts to be filed, I doubt any of the private airport security companies involved will still be in business. I have felt for many years that airport security should be run by a federal government agency.

In its current state, airport security continues to be a joke even after this terrible tragedy. Confiscating fingernail clippers...oh jeez, give me a break!

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Addicted to airline miles? Check out: Mileage Workshop

oooops!

[This message has been edited by Neal (edited 09-23-2001).]

Most of you are probably aware of those personal smoke hoods that cost about $70.00.
It comes in a compact cylinder type container. In the event of a fire on the plane or in a hotel room, you open the vacuum sealed can and slip on the hood. You get approximately 20 minutes of breathable air, enough hopefully to get you to safety. I've been travelling with it for years and have never had a problem going through security until recently.

I was flying from Vancouver to Seattle. (This was prior to September 11th.)
When my bag went through the X-ray, the girl could not tell what the thing was. She
examined it very closely. When I told her what it was she said, "Oh, these are not allowed at all!" I showed her my passport and told her I've travelled around the world with this device and have never had a problem. She was determined not to let me take it on the plane. I asked to see a supervisor and she said, "I AM a supervisor." I explained that it cost me almost $100.00 and that I refuse to let her take it from me. Furthermore, I said I refuse to board the plance without it!

She showed it to all the other security personel at the check point, all of whom looked at it suspiciously. I demanded that she call a higher authority. Finally, a security person from Air Canada came by, looked at it and said I could take it on the plane.

But I know all too well, that if I travel with it again, I'll have problems. It cannot be opened without being ruined. (The vacuum seal keeps it fresh.) Just think of how many nail clippers I could hide inside of it!!




[This message has been edited by Neal (edited 09-23-2001).]

For doubting Brian: From the 9/21 Miami Herald--
"Magnetic scanners at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport did not detect utility knives and other potential weapons smuggled through checkpoints by undercover sheriff deputies in the days after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks."
The full article can be located at--
http://www.miami.com/herald/content/...ocs/032946.htm
If that url doesn't work go to www.miami.com/herald/ and search "Broward and scanners"

[This message has been edited by RDouglas (edited 09-23-2001).]

More articles documenting the FLL situation:
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/loc...t21sep21.story
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/loc...rport922.story
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/loc...t22sep22.story
Read 'em and weep

Everyone, lets give each other a break.. and some faith... If someone posts the story, they are doing it to share information.

I find the story actually troubling. Just as reading about they hired ex-criminals at PHL before they realized no background checks were made (prior to the bombings.) But airport security will not stop the professional... very troubling actually.

Oh come on. When was the last time you guys were at FLL. For crying out loud the security people are all 89 years old. I could get by with a missle launcher for pete's sake.

Jeff

I stand corrected. But I have seem so much conjecture and urban myth passed off as fact the last two weeks that I am a tad bit skeptical.

I agree. The federal government has more incentive to keep air travel safe than any individual airline and thus should do a better job.

Agreed, but keep in mind that none of the security measures mandated by the FAA except Sky Marshals would have prevented the terrorist attacks from happening.

Funny, this morning driving to work I heard the same announcement about FLL on two different radio stations. Something about "please arrive at least 2 hrs. early...".

No similar announcement about PBI. Guess maybe it passed its "test"?

mspman - at FLL, missile luachers have, due to the adverse press coverage been now added to the prohibited list along with nail and nose hair clippers, and fine point Bic pens, and tie bars longer than 2" wide.