Airport security
April 28th, 2009 at 7:21 am by David FarrarVery pleased to read:
Expensive upgrades of airport security are unlikely to fly, with Prime Minister John Key taking a cautious approach.
An alleged hijacking attempt last year prompted a review of aviation security which found unscreened passengers and carry-on baggage were a high-risk area but that the threat of terrorism was “very low”.
The review said greater screening of crew and carry-on baggage would be the best way to increase security, at an estimated cost of $5 a passenger.
Other options included strengthening cockpit doors, security committees at airports and enhanced training and education for airport workers.
Mr Key was asked about the recommendations yesterday morning. He replied: “Whether you want to go to full screening at all of those 10 airports [reviewed], I think that’s something that you’d proceed with caution on.”
The Government is to decide on security measures next month.
Transport Minister Steven Joyce last week raised concerns about adding costs in tough economic times but said some measures, such as reinforcing cockpit doors, made sense.
The great thing about flying on the smaller regional flights is not having the ridicolous screening. Introducing it because of one mad woman would be a massive over-reaction. What next – x-ray machines on every bus stop in case someone hijacks a bus?
Also can Steven Joyce have a talk to Wellington Airport and tell them to move their security x-ray machines from the current locations, to before the Koru Club- as is the case in Auckland. It is incredibly inefficient as it doesn’t allow those who arrive early to get through screening early.
Related posts:
- No extra screening for small regional flights.
- US Airline Security
- Why Councils should not own airport companies
- The TSA
April 28th, 2009 at 7:31 am
All this screening for International Flights is largely a huge ‘Job Creation’ scheme.
Wife and I have huge airmiles with 2 airlines at the moment.
So we are actually poor at being Terrorists.
How many elderly, caucasian, professional, frequent flyers living in NZ have proven to be likely Air Terrorists.
FFS, what is wrong with positive discrimination.
On a 737, why would you screen all 150 travellers?
It simply makes no sense.
Anyway Al Queda are busy in Pakistan having a few cave painting sessions.
If I was a fundamentalist, and wanted to cause maximum havoc.
I would pick a concert, or sporting event.
If I wanted to spook the airline industry, it would take an RPG launch at the end of a runway against a new A380.
Could anyone actually miss?
Vote:April 28th, 2009 at 7:54 am
That man key continues to amaze me. I wonder if we can breed this ‘we gotta do something’ culture out of us during his reign. However, one of the things we can almost always rely on is that no matter what idiot laws get introduced, enforcement returns back to near-NIL after the publicity dies down. When’t the last time you heard of a parent being prosecuted for a corrective smack to a child?
Vote:April 28th, 2009 at 7:55 am
I’m pleased to see that Mr Key seems to be squashing Avsec’s job creation exercise. From a cost benefit perspective it was a turkey.
Vote:Good point on the RPG GS.
April 28th, 2009 at 7:57 am
The Australians have a more rational approach (at least in Melbourne,Sydney and Canberra). The screening is at the exit from the main foyer. If you want to go into one of the ‘fingers’, whether as a passenger, or simply to meet, or see someone off, you pass through the metal detectors, and your bags are x-rayed.
Vote:There is no ambiguity. One simple process for all. It has the advantage of discouraging an excessive number of meeters and greeters in the area of the various gates.
April 28th, 2009 at 8:03 am
I agree with DPF, I’d hate to go down the road of trying to remove every risk in life, there is a balance & regional flights are expensive enough already.
Vote:April 28th, 2009 at 8:05 am
X-ray positioning will likely come under the jurisdiction of AVSEC. There’s a different regional manager for Auckland than Wellington.
Vote:April 28th, 2009 at 8:57 am
Agreed re Wellington David, but it’s there for a reason
If they move it back to a combined check point then those (non screened people) arriving from regional flights would “mix” with jet passengers which is a big no no. I agree 100% the current set up is SOOO inefficient, needs a major revamp.
Oh, and agree with you and Key. 1 mad women once in 10 years should not cause us to spend millions.
Vote:April 28th, 2009 at 9:27 am
No metal detectors or X-ray machines have the capability to detect madness.
Vote:April 28th, 2009 at 9:40 am
In Brisbane airport (for all its shortcomings) when you arrive on a regional flight (ie unscreened) you have to go through the arrivals area regardless of whether you are catching another flight or not, so you have to be rescreened if you catch another flight. When you go to catch a regional flight you go through the screening and on the way to the departure lounge you pass a point where if you want to get back to the shopping area you have to pass through a metal detector again.
Vote:Makes sense really, shame about their customer service and the attitude of their security staff.
April 28th, 2009 at 11:32 am
I am just waiting for the day when a deranged passenger jumps up on a flight and demands “Take this flight to Cuba or I’ll turn on my cellphone!”
Vote:April 28th, 2009 at 12:42 pm
A few happy thoughts for the day:
The nice thing about life in NZ is that, as far as I know, no-one hates us so much that they want to go to NZ and blow a bunch of kiwis off the face of the Earth.
IMHO having a US president willing to engage MidEast leaders and talk TO them (instead of stirring up their ire by threatening them or talking ABOUT them in public forums) will do far more good than elaborate measures to guess which foreign-looking darkies are likely to be suicide shoe-bombers or carrying concealed box-cutters.
I remember being invited up to see the cockpit when I flew on an Air NZ 747-419 at age 13. I wonder if the world will ever again be a friendly enough place that the security rules will allow that?
3 out of 4 Iranian missiles can successfully leave the launch pad when they are fired. Does anyone know if Iran has ever successfully set off an atomic bomb? I don’t believe the articles on Wiki about making atomic bombs are accurate enough to be used for construction…
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