Diagrams: Boeing patents anti-terrorism auto-land system for hijacked airliners

Flightglobal.com ^ | 01/12/2006 | John Croft

[goldstategop]

If Al Qaeda terrorists tried to commandeer several airplanes like they did on 9/11, their utility as homocide bombs would be void. Because if the airplane's computer detected someone at the controls other the authorized pilots, any one else would be locked out of the system. Also, Boeing's invention would make terrorists' attempts to fly with hostages aboard to an extradition-free country a thing of the past. Of course a system like this could be circumvented but the idea of a multi-layered security protocol is still a sound one. It would defeat all but the most hardened professional terrorists from even thinking of taking over an airplane. And that would save lives. Congrats to Boeing for pulling it off!

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." -Manuel II Paleologus

[Paleo Conservative]

If Al Qaeda terrorists tried to commandeer several airplanes like they did on 9/11, their utility as homocide bombs would be void.

Well I sure hope no terrorists figure out how to hack into the the remote autoland feature and program the autopilots to strike multiple targets simultaneously. Imagine a 9/11 attack with no need for suicide bombers and the ability to remotely pilot dozens of planes into targets all over the US and other countries.

[Brian Allen]

<< .... pilots may decide to open the lockable, bullet-proof cockpit doors and federal air marshals may be overpowered and de-armed .... >>

But was the Second Amendment to the united States Constitution be given its untrammeled sway and dominion there would, insofar as airline safety is concerned, be no need for any other consideration.

I wanna see every air-crew member, every passenger, every stewardess and even every cabin poofter packing.

[Lx]

First time I've seen a crescent moon in a decision tree...

[JayNorth]

would be a good idea since Payne Stewart and his companions asphyxiated in flight

If he had been flying in a Cessna Citation the auto-pilot would have automatically returned the plane to 10,000 feet where presumably they would have all woken up and lived happily thereafter.

[NicknamedBob]

Unfortunately the rapid onset of their asphyxiation was presumed to be fatal. But much remains a mystery.

And if they did not resume consciousness, the Cessna Citation would inevitably crash also, right?

One hopes that the advantages of a large market would make the price of the necessary electronics and automatic controls affordable enough to become universally applied without undue government coercion.

If the government mandated it, there would be no reason for a price reduction.