Air Marshals Pulled From Key Flights

MSNBC News ^ | July 29, 2003 | Brock N. Meeks

[XHogPilot]

WASHINGTON, July 29 — Despite renewed warnings about possible airline hijackings, the Transportation Security Administration has alerted federal air marshals that as of Friday they will no longer be covering cross-country or international flights, MSNBC.com has learned. The decision to drop coverage on flights that many experts consider to be at the highest risk of attack...

[Fighting Irish]

Now I'm glad my appplication was rejected (Sky Marshal). Was informed I was too old (44 at time of application).

I then applied for a supervising screener for the TSA. The cattle call reject pool for that met in the lobby of the conference center trying to figure out what we did wrong. In the group were former pilots, law enforcement, retired military,..etc.

As the group grew from 2, 3, 10 to close to 20 it became all too clear that us white/anglo-looking men need not apply.

Stupidity in the TSA's Leadership knows no bounds...indeed!

[the gillman@blacklagoon.com]

You haven't met many pols or beauracrats then.

[theDentist]

"Nobody could be this stupid, not even a bureaucrat..."

Craig Livingstone could.

[Kozak]

I would love to see the Islamonazi's try this one again. No Air Marshall would be needed, it would be 200 wild beasts tearing the a## holes into tiny bits with their teeth nails and plastic knives. Even on The Day (911) it only took Americans hours to get it right. This trick will not work again.

[New Horizon]

But, but...that would be politically incorrect racial profiling.

[gitmogrunt]

Al Qaeda thanks the TSA for cooperating with their future projects division. Representatives will be contacting an airline near you shortly.

[Movemout]

The whole TSA approach is screwed up. I spent three out of the last four weeks traveling on airplanes to Cleveland, Las Vegas, LA, Seattle, and DC. The process cannot be described as uniform in any way.

I almost missed my LA to Seattle flight because I had to wait in a stunningly long line at Alaska Air to check my bag and get my boarding pass at an e-ticket console. I was then directed to exit the building and stand in another stunningly long line to go through the take off your shoes so we can smell your feet line. Three whole TSA agents to zap your carry-ons and check your belt buckle. It only took me two hours of waiting to be reasonably sure that anyone who wanted to circumvent this asinine approach to security could do so.

Flying has turned into a tale that not even Kafka would write because it can't be true.

[FreePaul]

In keeping with our open borders policy we wouldn't want to interfere with terrorists taking over aircraft. Just wouldn't be fair to let these people enter the country then restrict their activities.

[BlackbirdSST]

This trick will not work again.

I would tend to agree, but that won't get me flying again. These arabs have a tendancy to detonate themselves which certainly put's a dent in anyone's bravado! Until the TSA is shut down and the PC crowd accept's the profiling, my feet are firmly and permanently planted on the ground. Blackbird.

[The Magical Mischief Tour]

As a professional pilot, one who flies daily, I know many other pro pilots some of which fly for major airlines, it's no secret that the number of Federal Air Marshals is still painfully low.

It's still less than 5,000 total, we have just a tad over 65,000 commercial flights each day here in the US of A, you do the math...

[small_l_libertarian]

I can't tell y'all how terrified I am. My job requires me to fly a LOT between March and October. I just got back from SF on Monday and have to fly to Montreal tomorrow. Fly back Monday and then to Toronto in 2 weeks. When I get back from there, it's back to California (then Wisconsin, then Atlanta).

This purely sucks! I sincerely hope it's disinformation. I agree with the poster above who said that the security procedures from airport to airport are not very consistent.

I am seriously considering quitting a very cool job because it's just too dang dangerous!

[Buckwheats]

That's true, I avoid them like the plague. I even pretend not to notice when they try to shake my hand (I suddenly 'see' someone I know way behind them).

[ravingnutter]

Train and ARM the pilots - NOW

Try to keep up, will ya?...

May 02, 2003 - The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has completed training the first class of commercial airline pilots who volunteered to carry handguns in the cockpit.

The first group of federal flight deck officer candidates received 48 hours of training that included firearms instruction, defensive tactics, instruction in the use of force, legal liability and information on how to safely transport their weapons. Those who graduated on April 19 were to be issued a .40 caliber semi-automatic pistol.

Pilots for the inaugural class were nominated by the Air Line Pilots Association and the Coalition of Airline Pilots Associations and selected by TSA based on the plan to have a diversified test group.

The TSA projected that it would spend about $2,100 to train each pilot volunteer, and an additional $4,100 to select and equip each trainee. Pilots who successfully complete the training will be sworn in as federal law enforcement officers, with jurisdiction limited to the flight deck, or cockpit. To maintain proficiency, pilots will complete re-certification training each year.

Security Solutions Release - May 2003

[Buckwheats]

OK, you're right.

[twigs]

Ann Coulter says in her book, Treason, that the Bush Administration's one weakness is Norman Mineta, transportation secretary left over from the Clinton years. He exhibits all the anti-Americanism inherit in the Dem party worldview. He wants to leave America defenseless. Pretty sobering stuff.

[the gillman@blacklagoon.com]

Once I was standing along a parade route, talking to some friends I just ran into, and a guy steps up to me and grabs my hand to shake.

I turn and see that I'm shaking hands with Joe Kennedy. Thinking fast, I yank my hand away and immediately proceed to wash it off in a mud puddle.

The crowd roars it's approval. The Kennedy slinks away, mortified.

Bwahahahahaha!

[Squantos]

And deer have been instructed to never look up for hunters in tree stands...........disinformatinal use of presstitutional resources IMHO. But if true, I will agree it's pretty stooooopid. But then I don't use commercial air anymore.

Stay Safe !

[the gillman@blacklagoon.com]

Yeah, what are they up to now, four, or five graduates?

[Buckwheats]

I agree that the same trick probably won't work again but, how about a new trick; say...a few females with very small pistols hidden where the sun don't shine...if you get my drift.