WEBBTIDE 2001-2002 @ SHORELINE COMMUNITY COLLEGE

Volume 37 No.14 Apr. 26 - May 09, 2002 [ ARCHIVE ] [ FEEDBACK ] [ HELP ]
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How safe is it to fly?

.
      Recently I boarded a flight to Denver, Colorado. I was advised by my airline to arrive at Seatac International Airport two hours early before my scheduled departure time due to new security measures implemented in the wake of the Sept. 11 attacks.
      After standing in line for an hour to check-in, I was instructed to take my checked luggage over to a machine to be X-rayed. I noticed that not all checked-in bags were being X-rayed, so the airlines must have been doing random X-rays, or the fact that I bought my round trip ticket a month in advance must have been suspicious to them. After my bag checked out fine, I was cleared to head toward the long security lines.
      These security lines were in place to guard against contraband getting on the airplanes. Ever since Sept. 11 everything from nail clippers to disposable razors have been banned from airplanes. Planning on traveling with just a carry-on? Better plan on buying your disposable razor blades when you get to your travel destination. Nail clippers? These dangerous weapons could easily be used to take over an airliner.
      So how well did these new security measures work? I managed to pass through the security gates at Seatac with little hassle and board my plane to Denver. Upon arriving at Denver International Airport a week later to return home I was pulled aside by security to have my shoes tested for bomb residue.
      While my shoes were being checked security decided to hand search my carry-on bag that had just passed through X-ray. I fix computers for a living, and the bag I was using was my work-bag. I had cleaned out the bag of all my tools before I left for my trip but apparently I forgot one little screwdriver I use for opening up laptop cases.
      Denver security found this and immediately was alarmed. I told them that I forgot about it and they could throw it away as it was no big loss to me. This all took place as a National Guardsman with his M-16 assault rifle stood close by.
      So in Seattle I unknowingly passed what is now viewed as a dangerous weapon through security but wasn't able to in Denver by luck of a random search. It makes me wonder what other weapons and contraband passes through security on a daily basis? If I was carrying this terrorist weapon, what did the guy next to me manage to get through security? I'm glad I didn't get to find out.
      The bottom line is that the government can prohibit anything it wants from airplanes but these items will inevitably get on planes. Until airline pilots are given the means to defend their airplanes I think I'll just put off flying for a while. When pilots are armed, I'll gladly board an airplane again.
      Something tells me that hijackers will think twice when they know that pilots are carrying firearms and will use them to defend the plane. Until then it's life on the open road for me.

.

by Stephan Kullberg

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wEbbtide Webmaster: Henry Lai

How safe is it to fly?
.	Recently I boarded a flight to Denver, Colorado. I was advised by my airline to arrive at Seatac International Airport two hours early before my scheduled departure time due to new security measures implemented in the wake of the Sept. 11 attacks. After standing in line for an hour to check-in, I was instructed to take my checked luggage over to a machine to be X-rayed. I noticed that not all checked-in bags were being X-rayed, so the airlines must have been doing random X-rays, or the fact that I bought my round trip ticket a month in advance must have been suspicious to them. After my bag checked out fine, I was cleared to head toward the long security lines. These security lines were in place to guard against contraband getting on the airplanes. Ever since Sept. 11 everything from nail clippers to disposable razors have been banned from airplanes. Planning on traveling with just a carry-on? Better plan on buying your disposable razor blades when you get to your travel destination. Nail clippers? These dangerous weapons could easily be used to take over an airliner. So how well did these new security measures work? I managed to pass through the security gates at Seatac with little hassle and board my plane to Denver. Upon arriving at Denver International Airport a week later to return home I was pulled aside by security to have my shoes tested for bomb residue. While my shoes were being checked security decided to hand search my carry-on bag that had just passed through X-ray. I fix computers for a living, and the bag I was using was my work-bag. I had cleaned out the bag of all my tools before I left for my trip but apparently I forgot one little screwdriver I use for opening up laptop cases. Denver security found this and immediately was alarmed. I told them that I forgot about it and they could throw it away as it was no big loss to me. This all took place as a National Guardsman with his M-16 assault rifle stood close by. So in Seattle I unknowingly passed what is now viewed as a dangerous weapon through security but wasn't able to in Denver by luck of a random search. It makes me wonder what other weapons and contraband passes through security on a daily basis? If I was carrying this terrorist weapon, what did the guy next to me manage to get through security? I'm glad I didn't get to find out. The bottom line is that the government can prohibit anything it wants from airplanes but these items will inevitably get on planes. Until airline pilots are given the means to defend their airplanes I think I'll just put off flying for a while. When pilots are armed, I'll gladly board an airplane again. Something tells me that hijackers will think twice when they know that pilots are carrying firearms and will use them to defend the plane. Until then it's life on the open road for me.	.
by Stephan Kullberg