let the profiling begin

[justashooter 430]

aircraft engines are tested by the introduction of live fowl. if they do not chew up any incoming birdies and spit them out in a fine red mist they are redesigned and retested until they do. when i was an allis, pratt whitney, and lycoming helicopter engine mechanic i saw such actual tests.

reminds me of a story from the way back: dad told me that the saudis he sold F16's to in the 70's didn't have much faith in the windshields. he assured them that the windshields were impact resistant to birds and such up to the actual flight speed. the saudis rigged up an air-catapault to throw some ducks and chickens at a new plane's windshield at 600 mph just to make sure. he was standing by when the let the first one go, and BAM, right thru the windshield and half of the pilot's seat. WTH??? they were using frozen chickens. there goes 40 thousand bux or so...

then there was the saudi prince who demanded that the canopy disconnector be defeated so that he could fly his own personal F16 with the canopy open, his scarf trailing in the wind. dad tried to explain to him that if he went over 80-100 mph like that the scarf would rip his head right off his neck, and that the plane would be very unstable at flight speed with the canopy open. negotiations stalled, and the sale of 16 aircraft was in jeopardy, until someone thought it might be enuf to just paint the scarf on the fuselage, so everybody would know when the boss flew by.

[Darnell 8,478]

For me, personally:

i fly a lot. usually lax/can or iah/heathrow. my only concern is the extra time it's taking getting through the international area , to the boarding gate area. i don't fit the profile for the new screening, so I'm bringing an extra book to read for the extra wait.

In a larger scope:

500K names to check is minimal - databases are fast nowadays, should have subsecond response if the person on the keyboard is accurate speller.

About profiling: GMAFB - advocates of privacy and human rights really should learn to take a back-seat to this, there are other things to complain about, yes?

[ValerieA 350]

imagine that a non-trivial number of geese have organized

imagine that they make a point of hitting airplanes on a regular basis

you're worried about the airline business?

i'm worried about changing how we operate to meet the new reality of our times.

Oh #######, we are SO screwed if the geese are organizing...

[Hilarious Clinton 452]

Tim McVeigh!! Tim McVeigh!!

[Ban Hammer 13,334]

Oh #######, we are SO screwed if the geese are organizing...

they already have - they've taken over the fort leavenworth golf course!

[ValerieA 350]

they already have - they've taken over the fort leavenworth golf course!

In that case, I am just going to wave a white hanky in the air. I KNOW Canada Geese. They are vicious. We don't stand a chance.

[justashooter 430]

Tim McVeigh!! Tim McVeigh!!

a statistical anomoly, and entirely irrelevant, unless you can take a rental truck thru carry on.

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

as long as we (non-muslims) don't know the difference between imams preaching hate versus those who don't, the possibility of some weak-minded suburban kid getting brainwashed by the wrong bearded wise man can not be discounted.

sure, we can go with the statistical sampling and i can understand wanting to do that. it both saves money and satisfies our inner urges to lash out at the people we hate.

but i'd rather see everyone patted down. heck, require people travel in hospital robes if need be. ban all carry on.

[natty bumppo 297]

but i'd rather see everyone patted down. heck, require people travel in hospital robes if need be. ban all carry on.

that's one way to keep the flights calm & quiet ... ban all lap-children

[Peikko 1,575]

For me, personally:

i fly a lot. usually lax/can or iah/heathrow. my only concern is the extra time it's taking getting through the international area , to the boarding gate area. i don't fit the profile for the new screening, so I'm bringing an extra book to read for the extra wait.

In a larger scope:

500K names to check is minimal - databases are fast nowadays, should have subsecond response if the person on the keyboard is accurate speller.

About profiling: GMAFB - advocates of privacy and human rights really should learn to take a back-seat to this, there are other things to complain about, yes?

If you want terrorism to win one of its goals, sure, why not? The point is though, that profiling based on behaviour is very effective and would pin point most would be terrorists if there were enough available without the need to inconvenience you or your muslim counterpart but it is expensive because training and trained personnel are expensive. Body scanners are relatively cheap, even though they are nigh on useless for this type of threat.

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

It is also true we can only do what we can afford.

Universal pat downs would be very expensive too. But they would work and they don't violate any rights at all. After all, there is no right to air travel.

[Peikko 1,575]

It is also true we can only do what we can afford.

Universal pat downs would be very expensive too. But they would work and they don't violate any rights at all. After all, there is no right to air travel.

No there isn't but it could equally well be seen as a victory for terrorism if the normal workings of the free market system are disrupted in this way. Air travel should be available for those who can afford to buy tickets and the business model for airlines should not be dictated by Al-Quaida.

Behavioural profiling is also less expensive than universal pat downs

Edited January 6, 2010 by Madame Cleo

[mawilson 2,133]

imagine that a non-trivial number of geese have organized

imagine that they make a point of hitting airplanes on a regular basis

you're worried about the airline business?

i'm worried about changing how we operate to meet the new reality of our times.

All I'm saying is that we need to find the right balance between passenger convenience

and safety.

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

Behavioural profiling is also less expensive than universal pat downs

bullcrap, you dont need extensive training to do pat downs. we have 10% unemployed and a non-unionized TSA... it can be done easily and on the cheap.

All I'm saying is that we need to find the right balance between passenger convenience

and safety.

we agree to disagree. convenient is of no import to me whatsoever.

[Peikko 1,575]

bullcrap, you dont need extensive training to do pat downs. we have 10% unemployed and a non-unionized TSA... it can be done easily and on the cheap.

You think cheap labour would do this effectively? Also, that's not taking into account the disruption to air travel that this would cause, and the scaling back on departures. There are only so many hours in any one day.