This is not a political subject. I would like to know what others think. First I will say I am from a three generation aviation family. My grandfather soloed behind an OX5 engine in a Jenny, My Dad flew for TWA and retired in the late 1980's he is now passed. I remember growing up during the Hi Jackings in the 70's and worrying about him every time he went on a trip. After 911 he was dismayed at all the security at the airports as I am now. My dad and I believed then as I do now that there should be almost zero security measures at the airport that inconvenience passengers. In other words we Americans are acting like scared sheep. What should we do? Well for starters every seat on every airliner should have a Colt 45 holstered in the seat back. Would you cause any trouble? I think not. Every airliner should have nose art that gives Al Queda the flying fickle finger of fate. Instead we stand in lines going Baa Baa Baa taking our shoes off opening our bags, Grandmothers giving up their hand lotions and finger nail clippers. We should be ashamed of ourselves by submitting to these absurd measures (Al Queda wins).

Our youth no longer have access to our airports like I did when I was growing up, spending my afternoons watching and drooling over the aircraft. I washed airplanes just for a ride or a lesson. Our youth can only look through a chain link fence. If we are not careful we will have no pilots, mechanics or designers in ten years. We should be ashamed for we have lost our self respect. I will not fly on an airliner anymore and put myself through this demeaning BS.

 

Racially profile.... It works

 

I would not be opposed to it only for one reason, We cannot continue to be the world's policeman the Muslum nations have to police their own bad apples. The sooner they do the better off the world will be.

 

vortilon, this is a great thread. Unfortunately it is politicaly loaded. Let's hope we can keep it here in GNAC. Thank you for sharing your family's aviation history with us. I am the only aviator in the family except for a grand-uncle who served in the RCAF and was MIA on a mission over France.

I agree with your sentiment but will not add to it because I don't want this thread to become politicaly heated. I have to say, if we continue to mention race and religion... this topic will disqualify itself for GNAC and be Club material.

This latest security breech, I dont' know if they will call him the pants bomber or what...I'm afraid will take us to a new level of intrusive security.

 

can always take the bus, Madden has for years and his wife is a pilot,go fiqure

 

There's really no way to answer this without throwing out GNAC taboo words and phrases, so I'll defer for now. I'll not be the one to get the thread shuffled into the Club.

 

I agree this is not the place for a political debate. We can always take our Fords when we travel. I usually take my bus.

 

Subscribing.......this is probably destined for the club so I'll defer for now.

 

I'm subscribing too.
I cannot think of anything to say in this thread that won't dump it straight to the club.

 

I can think of plenty to say and it should be sent to the club. If everyone wants to play, then pay and join.

I totally disagree with the OP. I'm terrified to fly without the threat of terrorism but I did it throughout my career. I've flown all the world and HATED every mile of every trip. Now we have issues with screening for people who wish to do us harm.

I don't trust that the airlines have my best interest at heart. I don't believe that the equipment is properly maintained.

I don't think we are thorough enough at airport screening. I don't give a darned how indignant it may be, I want to be safe.

For those drooling over aircraft, become a military pilot.

Tim

 

FYI: There was an interview with Michael Chertoff on NPR today, he was opposed to profiling - said it wasn't any moral issues, but that it would be counterproductive - as soon as we started only looking for those who fit a certain profile, the terrorists were smart enough to start using people who didn't fit that profile. FWIW...

 

I understand what you're saying here however, the Muslim faith is growing no matter what any of us may want to believe. It is in almost all, if not all, nations in the world. Those nations that you speak of can barely put together elections that aren't rigged, can largely not provide for their own welfare, and have largely corrupt governments. If we leave it up to them to police their own and we drop our security measures here, do you not think it is very likely we'll have something similar to a repeat of 911? Relying on these nations to police their own bad apples is akin to relying on a junkie to just "say no".

Good point Jim. They are smarter than they've been given credit for being. It's not rocket science to know that if someone or some entity is tracking certain patterns about you or your group, you change them to throw them off.

Sorry Scott....I know this will probably get it booted into the Club.

 

IMMHO, that's a cop-out (on Chertoff's part), and an excuse to avoid the sensible decision to do something that actually works---profiling. FWIW, the former folks were just as bad at this as the present folks.......(man, i hate having to tapdance around words.....!.....)

And that's all I can say on that right now, lest Horsepuller the Dragon blasts his hot breath on this thread and blows it into 'The Club'......

 

Well, throw the blame on me because I believe I have just set the breath in motion......5.....4.....3....2......

 

Great thread. Your perspective about kids fascination with airplanes being restricted is one I had not thought of. But at the same time, kids used to spend much more time outdoors being fascinated with all sorts of stuff.

As for airport security, the game has changed and we're not equipped to deal with it effectively. I think a lot of the security restrictions are because they know something has to be done, but don't have the capability or money to do everything needed.

Some rules are for peace of mind also. Outlawing fingernail clippers and pocket knives falls into this category. Now that we understand the rules are different, you will never again see someone hijack an airplacne with a box cutter or pocket knife.

The Colt under every seat is a novel idea, but how would you like to be a stewardess on one of those flights when it gets stranded on the runway for 8 hours with overflowing toilets like we hear about in the news every so often.

Unfortunately the threat we must deal with is suicide bombers. How do you deter someone who is intent on taking his own life and those of others around him?