September 12, 2001

  • Here’s a proposal I made years ago in response to the danger of bombs being carried aboard airplanes.  Woodnymph this morning posted a blog reminding me of it and she suggested her own security measures (go there, see them!) that could enhance security aboard commercial airlines.


    Stop the Bombings!


    Here's just a core of an idea, for the record, proposed as a solution to the problem of terrorist bombings of airline flights.


    1) Almost all bombs on airline flights are hidden in baggage loaded onto the plane.


    2) If baggage didn't accompany the passengers, the incidents of bombings killing passengers would approach zero probability.


    3) Transport the baggage separately—no carry-ons either. Costs are a consideration as is convenience. But a controlled programmed/programmable/destructible drone aircraft flying in parallel at protected altitudes and taking-off/landing on restricted runways, I believe, would solve the problem. If a drone explodes with a bomb and, otherwise, only luggage aboard, it is still a serious and heinous act but no life would be lost.


    Additionally, now, I’d propose having one additional trained airlines personnel aboard each and every commercial flight.  This individual would be a Security Observer.  He or she would carry no weapons, but be securely enclosed in a bullet and bombproof bubble booth that could observe all activity in the aisles and in critical areas (with the assistance of cams, if necessary).  This booth would be self-contained and self-ventilating, as would be the cockpit of the plane.  In the event of a terrorist or psychotic attempt to takeover the flight, the Security Observer would, 1) immediately notify the pilot and ground control, and 2) by way of forced mechanism, release a rapidly-acting otherwise-innocuous knock-out gas into the ventilation system.  The Security Observer and the cockpit would remain unaffected, but everyone else would enjoy a pleasant sleep.


    The only counter-measures I can envision a terrorist taking to defeat these defenses would be carrying a gas-mask or oxygen mask and tank aboard and this would be prevented by much more thorough (think: “half-strip, bare essentials” no-touch visibility search and hands-on checking of additional clothing carried or removed) boarding checks.


    Once again costs and convenience are a consideration.  But I believe, if we so desire, that an unhijackable commercial plane can be constructed and implemented.  Barring, of course, that the pilot and/or co-pilot and/or Security Observer do not turn out themselves to be terrorists.

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