I won't fly anymore unless I absolutely cannot avoid it. Not because I'm afraid, but because I'm completely sickened by the police state tactics inflicted upon me every time I set foot in an airport. Why should I tolerate having my car searched, my orifices searched, my toenail clippers confiscated, etc. etc. when we allow our borders to remain unsecured, a ridiculous anti-profiling PC-run-amok mindset to rule over common sense, and visas to still be granted to foreigners from countries that sponsor terrorism? And, now if I decide to take a trip to and from Australia, I can't even pee?
I am curious what you think about putting armed sky marshalls on flights. And, what are your thoughts on arming pilots?
Well that's the question, isn't it? You've said it all. I guess the answer is that these regulations are more about CYA, PC, and make-work, than about commonsense. The single greatest defense we could have against hijackers would be if all passengers were prepared to use the Todd Beamer response. Of course, that means individual responsibility, rather than nanny state dependence. As to sky marshalls, I have no strong opinion either way. Armed pilots, ditto, with the slight reservation that a crew member might want to go out in a blaze of glory like the Fedex worker or the suicidal JAL pilot. It seems to me that armoured cabin doors are the best defensive option. The pilots keep the plane flying and the passengers take care of their own defense. All the best, Byron