[goodnesswins]

Sounds reasonable to me, also, HOWEVER, I heard that these terrorists were able to yank out the piece of equipment that allowed the control towers to track them, and I'm wondering if the same could be done with this panic button apparatus, once it's been used?

[_Jim]

I heard that these terrorists were able to yank out the piece of equipment that allowed the control towers to track them,

Geesh! They TURNED OFF the transponder for Pete's sake!

You know, with an "ON/OFF button"?

WHY, you ask, have an ON/OFF button?

A transponder isn't needed on the ground (during taxi operations, moving to a hanger for maintenance, etc) - but *is* turned on just prior to take off ...

[Gladwin]

Probably not on modern airplanes with fly by wire technology. The flight stick is connected to the computer, and makes all these airplanes fly alike. By that, I mean that with fly by wire, a 747 and a 777 "feel" the same when you use the flight stick. Probably some pilots on here can better. Older airplanes like DC-9s would have trouble (hydraulics connections to the rudders, etc.).

This is a really good idea!!!

[AlaskaErik]

Sounds reasonable to me, also, HOWEVER, I heard that these terrorists were able to yank out the piece of equipment that allowed the control towers to track them, and I'm wondering if the same could be done with this panic button apparatus, once it's been used?

No need to tear it out. The transponder can simply be turned to standby or turned off. As for the black boxes associated with the panic system, they can be placed in a part of the aircraft not accessible during flight. Preventing hijackers from defeating a panic system would be incredibly easy as long as a self-diagnostic check is included in the system that insures the system is functional just prior to take off. This would prevent an accomplice in the maintenance department from disabling the system right before pushback. The whole system could be built from off the shelf equipment already in existence.

[AZPubbie]

Airliners cannot land on autopilot. I think that this Steve Kirsch is the same guy who took out full page ads criticizing the president's education record just prior to the election. He's a jackass and it sounds like he's an idiot too.