Hidden cameras to monitor aircraft passengers

NewScientist ^ | 19:00 08 May 02 | Barry Fox, Prague

[tomball]

Airbus, the European jet manufacturer, is planning to build concealed cameras into the light fittings above the seats in its aircraft. The idea is to let the crew monitor passengers and spot hijackers before they strike. The cameras also work in the dark.

The move is part of an attempt to reassure people who have been frightened off flying since the 11 September attacks.

At an airline technology conference in Prague last week, a delegate from the VALK Foundation said that before 11 September, none of the 4000 people it has helped to overcome their fear of flying had ever cited hijacking as the root of their fear. But since then it has become the main fear for a third of its clients.

The industry hopes that well-publicised improvements in airline security will quell passengers' fears. Airbus, working with American aerospace technology company Goodrich, thinks the best strategy is to let passengers know that everyone is being watched by hidden cameras.

Infrared image

One plan Airbus is considering, says the firm's cabin security expert Rolf Gödecke, involves hiding a tiny camera inside the light fittings above each passenger seat, surrounded by a ring of infrared LEDs. The cameras will normally work with ambient light, but switch to infrared when the cabin is dark.

Black-and-white images captured by the cameras will be fed to screens in the cockpit via the cables used to distribute pictures to seat-back video screens. Although only some lights will have cameras, potential terrorists will not know which ones.

A less ambitious system, which Airbus is now fitting to all its new planes, will monitor the area behind the cockpit door. Under new rules, cockpit doors are being reinforced to protect the flight-deck crew from attackers. But they still need to open the door to get to the toilets and to let cabin crew members bring them meals and drinks. So Airbus is putting three overhead cameras with wide-angle lenses around the cockpit door to send pictures to an LCD screen in the cockpit.

"Two cameras leave a blind spot," says Stein. "If carefully sited, three give a hijacker no hiding place."

[tomball]

We have cameras in shopping centers, banks, government buildings, public areas, street lights, department stores, airports, gas stations, schools, internet, apartment complexes, etc. . . Somewhere along the line, our right to privacy was written out of the constitution. It is obvious that freedoms violated under the guise of "security" generally create an atmosphere of fear and paranoia. It is seen in the eyes of the innocent who fear terror, and those in power who endeavor to profit from it.

[AzJP]

Don't go.

[stylin19a]

Looks like I'll NEVER get to join the "Mile-High" club.

[EggsAckley]

Another exercize in futility. The pilots REALLY have time to now begin monitoring
footage of the passengers. NOT! More smoke and mirrors.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

Hope they get a good recording of my airplane snores.

[coloradan]

The move is part of an attempt to reassure people who have been frightened off flying since the 11 September attacks.

Next up: fingerprints, background checks, national ID cards and rectal probes for all travellers. Don't worry, it's just to make you feel safe.

[Ferris]

Do absolutely everything possible except the one thing that will actually work...

Allow the arming of pilots and passengers...

[Doctor Stochastic]

Although only some lights will have cameras, potential terrorists will not know which ones.

Would you bet your life on this?

[meowmeow]

Looks like I'll NEVER get to join the "Mile-High" club.

Heck, even snuggling with hubby under the blanket on long flights takes on a whole new meaning. Oh well - if you're going to be watched, might as well put on a good show ;-)

MEOW!