Most pilots are not going to be able to (or want to) take the time needed to train in any martial art to be able to handle a terrorist who is out of his mind, and doesn't care about his own life, or the life of the other passangers.
You can do Kenpo w/ these pilots all you want, and it won't do S**T.
I say that we close off and lock the cockpit with an impenetratable door, one that resembles a door on a metal safe, perhaps, seperating the cockpit and pilots from any possible danger, period. If anything occurs, the pilots must do what they do best and land the plane safely to let the authorities take care of the problem, regardless of what the terrorist might be doing to the passangers. As much danger as the passangers might be in, as long as the cockpits are locked we greatly decrease our chances of having another sept. 11th.
A secondary precaution is to arm each flight attendent with a non-projectile weapon that has minimal risk of hurting other passangers, and needs minimal training. I would suggest a Tazer, in which the attendents would be required and paid to take an all day class on some basic close quarter combat principles, and safety and operation of the tazer. These tazers (or whatever weapon) should not be kept on the attendents person, however, but should be locked and possibly hidden in various locations on the plane. Although this lengthens the reaction time for the flight attendends to be able to try to defend the plane, it severely reduces the risk of someone taking the weapon away from the possibly weaker flight attendent when she/he is off guard.
Yes, I know, this sounds ingenius. Guess what though, I'm sure it has been thought of. Why hasn't this perfect solution been implimented, though? Because airline companies don't want to spend the dough on building and designing special doors to the cockpit, or on that level of training and developement for their flight attendents. They have no money for this. Especially in todays economy. If you don't believe me, and the bankrupcies (and almost bankruptcies) that have occured since sept. 11 haven't convinced you of the airline funding problem, then just take a look at the starting pay for most pilots. It'll make you sick to find out that some managers and night closers at McDonalds make more then the people who are flying your planes.
So, how would we get an idea like this to work? Well, write your congressman, because government subsidies and requirements are the only thing that'll do the trick. These are some of the homeland security measures that our defense budget should be spending $$ on, as oppossed to some of the BullS*** that we spend things on now. If you only knew.....
It is my opinion also that homeland security measures that are practical (unlike our color-coding system), such as this idea and many others, are more important then any measure we take overseas.
Go tell that to our current administration, and see if they'll listen.
The scary thing is....I am flying to NYC in a couple of weeks. How much would any of you want to bet that I, or any other psycho out there could still smuggle a carbon fiber, or fiberglass knife on board (that people sell, or that you can make) that will not be detected by a metal detector, and take over a plane with little problems from security. Hopefully that will never happend. By God, if that ever does happend, I hope the passangers will be smart enough now, knowing the possible consequences of their plane going into a building, to pact together and fight back.
:soapbox:
Sorry....I don't mean to be such a downer. I just get fusterated because I see a multitude of problems that could and should be addressed with practical solutions, but haven't at all. It all has to do with certian individuals in Washington either with their thumbs up their own ***, or with their thumbs up someone elses. Anyways, not trying to get into a political discussion, so I'm not naming names of those with smelly thumbs. Just take notes, and be aware. We can't all save the world, but if you can do anything to help, such as simply voting intelligently, or writing letters to your state/reps, then I think we should excersise these powers.
I know I have.
Sincerely,
PAUL
] is being able to fight inside of a phone booth. This would apply in this senerio. I would advocate quickly incapacitating an enemy in this environment. Far to dangerous to let things continue for an extended length of time, plus in most areas of the plane takedowns would be akward and dangerous to other passengers.
