Flight marshal numbers disputed

The Washington Times ^ | 3-3-05 | Audrey Hudson

[JZelle]

Flight reports by the Federal Air Marshal Service show that federal agents were on less than 10 percent of the nation's flights in December, a number several air marshals say was inflated to make it appear to Congress that commercial air travel is better protected than it is. "The numbers reported to headquarters come back higher than originally reported and are sometimes upwards of double the number of what is actually flown," an air marshal said. "Everyone knows they are padding the numbers."

[JZelle]

The clock is ticking.....

[theDentist]

I expected they padded the numbers, partially to restore confidence in the airline industry, and to make potential terrorists think twice about which flights to try to hijack. Ultimately, though, it's more of the first than the latter. If they don't care they'll be killed if successful, then they won't care if they die in an attempt. And we know there were incidents of MiddleEastern men doing a "field exercise" aboard a couple flights.

The Pilot, CoPilot, Navigator, and stewardesses should be armed as well.

[taxcontrol]

Mandatory armed pilots and co-pilots as federal flight deck officers (LEOs under DHS) is the only way to go.

[Drango]

stewardesses

Chicks with guns? Kewl!