Posted on 01/22/2008 5:01:11 PM PST by naturalman1975
THE number of armed sky marshals is to be slashed on some international flights as part of an overhaul of the highly secretive anti-terror program.
Changes to the Air Security Officer program - created as a last-ditch defence against hijackers following the attacks of September 11, 2001 - will result in the number of marshals on some 747 flights being reduced by a third.
There will also be a reduction in the rest periods officers will be allowed at the end of long-haul flights and a system of rotation that will have staff seconded to other areas of the Australian Federal Police for periods of three months.
Speaking on condition of anonymity, several aviation industry experts told The Australian they had concerns about the ability of ASO teams to protect the flight deck - their primary mission - if their numbers were reduced.
There were 130 armed security officers available to patrol domestic and international flights operated by Australian-registered airlines, with the marshals travelling incognito, their presence known only to the captain. At a minimum, they travelled in teams of two, although on long-haul flights the number was often higher.
The ASO program was launched in 2001 by the Australian Protective Service, which was integrated into the AFP a year later.
In 2003, an ASO disarmed a 68-year-old homeless man brandishing a Stanley knife on board a flight from Sydney to Cairns - apparently the only occasion in Australia in which a sky marshal is known to have acted on a threat.
While the Australian and International Pilots Association promised to monitor the changes for signs they were undermining security, Flight Attendants Association International division secretary Michael Mijatov said his organisation had not been advised of the reforms.
(Excerpt) Read more at theaustralian.news.com.au ...
I can see the point of people who don’t like the idea of guns on airplanes. It’s kind of like prison guards carrying guns (which they don’t). Too easy for the wrong guys to get their hands on them.
Well, thnak God that Bush has not cut earmarks and has cut security costs - sounds like Bush and the Congress have their priorities well placed. The planes hit the wrong building on 9/11 - all the congress critters should be turned out until we have people there that understand where taxpayer dollars should be spent.
Well, Thank goodness we are all safe from terrorists now. Holy cow, I was worried that some freak muslim would drive my plane into a building. Guess not now.
Your forgot your sarcasm tag.
Yep. Disarm the police immediately. Consider how often they are in close proximity to dangerous people who might get hold of their gun.
Don't even get me started on how dangerous it is that we have taken so many weapons to Iraq, where they are so close to being taken by the terrorists.
I fly roughly 100 times (legs) a year on US flagged carriers predominantly. As you might imagine, I usually fly up front. If not I am exit row aisle.
There are lots of flyers like me. We know the drill, what’s usual and customary, what’s out of line. There’s conversations ‘we’ have with the flight crews to let them know our attitude and willingness, plus they know who we spoiled multi-million mile fliers are on their print outs/ manifest. They know we’d help them in any situation they asked us to, or if they were beyond help.
No one will ever successfully hi-jack a US flagged plane again. The flight may end in a crash, but the terrorists’ mission WILL fail. Enough passengers will forcefully resist and punish any jiahdi who tries it.
There’s a large number of passengers on every flight who WILL do what it takes to stop the bad guys. You can see it in their eyes. Next time you board a flight as a casual flier, see if you can spot us.
Air Marshals or ‘Sky Guards’ are nice. Love to have them. Just bear in mind they are NOT your only line of defense, resistance or deterrence.
We don’t need a plane full of air marshalls. We only need one on the ground in the security line yanking out all the obvious Muslim types and the soft white boy wannabee somebodies.
Same for the border...don’t need a fence. Just a line in the sand, cross it and you’re dead. Word gets out.
LOL - party pooper.
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