The air industry's worst nightmare

Sierra Times Sagebrush Saloon ^ | Nov. 22, 2002 | Paul J. Caffera

[Hatteras]

"The prospect of a shoulder-launched missile attack was a major concern of the FAA during the 1996 Olympic games in Atlanta."

It happened. Just not in Atlanta.

[InterceptPoint]

I won't fly because I don't feel like being treated like a KGB political prisoner

I'm with you on that. I am very tired of all the searching that you have to go through at airports these days. It has certainly discouraged me from flying.

If the airline industry wants to return to profitability they are going to have to abandon their "search and destroy our once valuable customer base" approach to security. That is going to be very hard now that you have the vested interest of a large and growing work force of "searchers".

Sell your American Airlines stock and put a small down payment on a motor home.

[John O]

This is like watching one of those old reece's commercials or may be one of the old certs commercials. You're both right.

However, the whole program needs to be implemented simultaneously. Mecca, Medina, and every city with a population over 50K in the mohammedan world needs to be vaporized simultaneously after the first terrorist attack of this nature. This course of action needs to be highly publicized so that every mohammedan knows that they can attack us but that their entire world, their families, their friends, their homes, will be vaporized.

As an additional measure we need to start breeding pigs that are radiation hardened. Turn the entire mid east (with the exception of Israel) into pig farms.

God Save America (Please)
The war will only end when mohammedanism is eradicated. Culturocide in this case is a good thing.

God Save America (Please)

[Wright is right!]

"I won't fly because I don't feel like being treated like a KGB political prisoner I'm with you on that. I am very tired of all the searching that you have to go through at airports these days. It has certainly discouraged me from flying."

Other than intercontinental, I don't fly anymore, and I'm a big aviation nut. But I like freedom from stupidity, so I bought a 35-foot motorhome and we take it wherever we're going. I can have a smoke, there's a full kitchen available even on the road, we can take our dogs, and it costs lots less than a plane ticket for two. We also NEVER have to go thru security.

I wholeheartedly recommend it - and it doesn't cost as much as you might think. Our 2001 model (two model years old) cost about the same as a new Jeep Grand Cherokee - and the interest on its "mortgage" is tax-deductible as a second home.

As for the SAM scenario - I pointed out a couple of days ago on another thread about this that all a terrorist needs is a building with a door facing in the direction of the runways. A garage would do. Just something to prevent any nearby eyewitnesses that might impede an escape. The only reason this hasn't already happened...uh, I'd better not SAY why it hasn't.

Michael

[archy]

"The prospect of a shoulder-launched missile attack was a major concern of the FAA during the 1996 Olympic games in Atlanta."

It happened. Just not in Atlanta

Indeed it did. At least twice, to my certain knowledge. One incident report *here*, and another *here*.

There were no survivors aboard the crash resulting from the attack described in the first link. The crash reported at the second link resulted in 18 survivors, of whom 10 were then murdered on the ground by the terrorists who launched the missile at the aircraft. Additional details *here*.

Further reports, including passenger names, can be found *here*. Oh, and *here*.

-archy-/-

[boris]

Glad to see some freepers who agree with me.

A few additional steps: we need to revoke the visas of all Islamic non-citizens and DEPORT them pronto.

We need to do background checks on "naturalized" citizens who come from Islamic countries.

We need to put troops on the border (National Guard) to prevent entry of more illegal aliens--including terrorists.

We need to round up and deport all illegal aliens--regardless of nationality--yesterday.

--Boris

[PhilipFreneau]

If this happens, you can bet the neighbors of the terrorist will be shocked, claiming the terrorist was a good, quiet, and peaceful neighbor. You can also bet that many, including me, will blaim Bush and Powell for their dangerous immigration policies.

[Aquinasfan]

Our 2001 model (two model years old) cost about the same as a new Jeep Grand Cherokee - and the interest on its "mortgage" is tax-deductible as a second home.

I want one!

[Aquinasfan]

And airliners don't have IFF.

What's that? Assuming that it's something that defeats Stinger-type missiles, can commercial aircraft be fitted with it?

[Willie Green]

as long as that mob seemed sufficiently energized and self directed to be capable of delivering an immediate and horrific death to the terrorist.

I'd prefer to see a mob with the self-discipline to extract it's horrific revenge over a longer, more agonizing time period. Perhaps a week or so.

[SCalGal]

The only real trick for the bad guys is smuggling the missiles in, and keeping Aschcroft from detaining their key people -- so pray for the FBI to succeed in these roles.

They can pretty much just walk in over our Southern border.

[NorCoGOP]

al-Qaida may be planning to fire shoulder-launched missiles at commercial jets in the U.S. There's virtually no defense.

Straight out of Larry Bond's "The Enemy Within" where the terrorists did just that to an aircraft on final to Washington DC...

Though I read it YEARS ago, it is too frightentingly parallel to today's actual and potential threats. Great read, cover to cover...

[Squantos]

In 1989 I assisted in the render safe of a "stockpile" of munitions found in a WOD target that JTF 6 helped take down. It included SA7b , SA 18's and 4 old Redeye's. The capability and MANPAD's are here in the CONUS . IMHO it's not when or if, .... it's just where.

Hope ya have a Happy and Safe Thanksgiving Archy. Stay Safe , Stay Armed and Stay Ready !!

[Toirdhealbheach Beucail]

In my scenario, you would need less overall setup time. In my first company, we were less than one mile from the flight line. Access to the 3rd story roof was through an unlocked, open doorway. Anyone posing as a delivery man in the area could scope out smaller buildings which would not be so crowded as to attract attention. As the snipers unfortunately demonstrated, hitting and fading into the woodwork can generate far more uncertainty than a known physicial presence - who knows when the nomad terrorist will strike again?

[Mitchell]

From 11/22/2002: Just days ago, national security executives met secretly with airline CEOs to warn them that al-Qaida may be planning to fire shoulder-launched missiles at commercial jets in the U.S.

I missed this when it came out about a week ago, but it's of special interest in light of the missile attack on the Israeli plane in Kenya.

By the way, here's a link to the original article, in Salon.com.

[Nogbad]

I heard tonight
the missiles used in the Kenya attack were old Russian missiles
that were not heat-seeking missiles
(that is why they missed).

Can anyone confirm?

[Mitchell]

I heard tonight the missiles used in the Kenya attack were old Russian missiles that were not heat-seeking missiles (that is why they missed).
Can anyone confirm?

I don't know, but I did read that El Al is the only commercial air carrier whose planes are outfitted with anti-missile defense systems (basically, flares that generate heat away from the plane, and therefore attract heat-seeking missiles away from their intended target). I don't know whether this particular Israeli plane had such a defense system installed; it was a charter plane, not an El Al regularly-scheduled commercial flight.

[VOA]

Hopefully this isn't true. Otherwise this means the death of the aviation industry.

Not to worry.
It would mean temporary cessation of civil aviation in the civilized part of the world.
Which would soon resume after the ensuing flood of blood from the mountains to the sea
in many Islamic countries.

Then we would go back to business as usual.

Personally I hope none of this comes to pass...but it seems to grow more likely
with each of these "little" events.