More EU countries "voice concern" re: (a.k.a. refuse) armed guards on US-bound flights

BBC On-Line ^ | Tuesday, 6 January, 2004

[yankeedame]

Last Updated: Tuesday, 6 January, 2004, 11:35 GMT

Protests widen over sky marshals

More countries have joined the protests against American proposals to place armed guards on US-bound flights.

Portugal is the latest nation to voice concern, as its civil aviation authority said that putting loaded guns aboard an aircraft could endanger it.

In Britain, the pilots' union said that if the security risk to a flight is great enough to warrant an armed guard, the plane should not fly at all.

Denmark and Sweden have also rejected demands for armed guards on aircraft.

While the US has introduced new checks at home, its efforts to tighten security on incoming flights have met with strong opposition.

The director of Portugal's National Civil Aviation Institute, Joaquim Carvalho, told the AFP news agency: "We will not authorise loaded guns on Portuguese planes, therefore we will not allow armed guards."

He added: "If there is specific information about a particular flight which justifies having armed guards on board, what we would consider is cancelling the flight."

Pilots hostile

Elsewhere, the UK Government's announcement that it would put armed marshals on some flights "where appropriate" has drawn a hostile response from airlines and pilots.

British Airways has expressed concerns about having armed guards on board aircraft, while the holiday airline Thomas Cook has said it will ground any flights on which armed guards, known as sky marshals, are placed.

The British pilots' union, Balpa, said it disapproved of armed guards on flights and called for an emergency world summit of airline pilots to consider the demand for sky marshals.

In the meantime, the union is to have talks with the UK Government on Tuesday to discuss the issue.

Brazil has begun fingerprinting and photographing US citizens flying into its airports, apparently in retaliation for new security measures at US airports.

The Brazilian move came as the stringent new US regulations, affecting most tourists, were introduced.

Everyone entering the United States with a visa will now have fingerprints and photographs taken and scrutinised.

People on the visa waiver scheme - such as tourists from much of Europe, Japan and Australia - are not yet affected, but those on work visas are.

[theDentist]

Fine. Ban their airliners from entering US airspace.

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[Dog]

Exactly....they don't land here.

[dead]

In Britain, the pilots' union said that if the security risk to a flight is great enough to warrant an armed guard, the plane should not fly at all.

OK, then don’t fly at all, you pansies.

[Skywarner]

Our rules. Our airspace.

Don't like it? Don't fly here.

[ohioman]

Good lord. There sure is no shortage of Euro-wussies.

[Redbob]

"The director of Portugal's National Civil Aviation Institute, Joaquim Carvalho, told the AFP news agency: "We will not authorise loaded guns on Portuguese planes, therefore we will not allow armed guards."

I guess that will mean both Portuguese airliners will be banned from U.S. airspace.
Should really put a crimp in our economy.

[BlessedBeGod]

These pilots need to stop whining and grow up. Probably the only thing that would change their minds is for one of their aircraft to be taken down by terrorists. Then we'll see what they think about it.

[claudwitz]

ah shucks!!! it looks like the jihadi's will just have to stay in Euroland, such a pity....NOT!

I do think we're making a grave error in blindly accepting the Euro's passports without requiring fingerprinting, they issue passports like fliers on a streetcorner.

[Ciexyz]

Give the Euroweenie leftists another reason not to love us. Tell them to play it our way or STAY HOME.

[Lazarus Starr]

Can't say I'd be sad if Euros stayed home. Just what makes them think they can dictate what Americans should be able to do to protect our citizens? They have the freedom to stay away.

-Laz

[Ciexyz]

Note to the terrorists: Portuguese airliners will NOT stand up to you. (They just posted a sign on their planes: Fair game.)

[steve-b]

Portugal is the latest nation to voice concern, as its civil aviation authority said that putting loaded guns aboard an aircraft could endanger it.

Aviation policy should not be made by people who think that Goldfinger is a documentary.

[Professional Engineer]

Aww shucks

[EQAndyBuzz]

There should not be armed guards on a plane. There should be no way that someone can get on a plane with a weapon in the first place.

Put a special forces person or someone fluent in hand to hand combat on the plane instead. Tighten security measures before check in. Make sure that no one can get into the cockpit. Screw it if someone is being inconvenienced by delays.

Finally, hold the country that the flight originated in fully responsible for the protection of the passengers.

[Professional Engineer]

The brain is the most common weapon on any plane. Beyond that the possibilities are endless.

[Salgak]

Which is why, when I fly, I have a large ring of keys.

They make a wonderful antipersonnel weapon in hand-to-hand, can never be banned, and with a pulled-up seat cushion and the straps underneath for using it as a flotation device, I have the other arm sufficiently shielded to take on any jihadi with knives, etc. . . .

[Salgak]

Which is why, when I fly, I have a large ring of keys.

They make a wonderful antipersonnel weapon in hand-to-hand, can never be banned, and with a pulled-up seat cushion and the straps underneath for using it as a flotation device, I have the other arm sufficiently shielded to take on any jihadi with knives, etc. . . .

[Professional Engineer]

GMTA

A large ring of keys on the end of a leather belt will make a nifty flail.