Fri, Oct 29, 2010
BA Chairman Calls Some Checks "Redundant"
The European Union, and at least one UK airline, are questioning
security measures that have been put in place for flights bound for
the United States. Some of the measures being challenged are the
requirement for passengers to remove their shoes, and the separate
x-ray examination of laptop computers.
The EU has issued a formal challenge to a U.S. mandate that
European travelers be subjected to online security checks before
they are able to board a flight to the U.S., according to the
New York Times. Europeans are allowed to enter the U.S.
without visas, which U.S. officials say is the reason for the
online checks. But EU officials say the process is overly
burdensome, and have expressed concerns about where and for how
long the data is stored.
British Airways chairman Martin Broughton, however, went further
in his criticism of U.S. security policies in a speech at the
recent U.K. Airport Operators Association conference. Broughton
said that the process of having passengers remove their shoes so
that they can be x-rayed, along with the practice of separately
scanning laptop computers, is "redundant." He said that Europe
should not concede, his word was "kowtow" to every U.S. demand when
it comes to security measures. The British pilots' union, the
operators of Heathrow Airport, and security consultants in both
countries have agreed with Broughton.
One London analyst, Chris Yates, told the New York
Times that, while safety should still be the number one
concern, that there are a "whole bunch" of rules that could be
phased out. He specifically mentioned the shoes, which he called a
"knee jerk" reaction to the actions of Richard Ried, who tried to
take down an airplane using explosives hidden in one of his shoes.
Yates said newer metal detectors would easily find bomb components
hidden in such a way.
In a statement, The U.S. Government responded to the EU
challenge by saying that it would continue its ongoing review of
security measures "based on the latest intelligence."
More News
From 2023 (YouTube Version): Legacy of a Titan Robert (Bob) Anderson Hoover was a fighter pilot, test pilot, flight instructor, and air show superstar. More so, Bob Hoover was an i>[...]
Get The Latest in Aviation News NOW on Instagram Are you on Instagram yet? It's been around for a few years, quietly picking up traction mostly thanks to everybody's new obsession >[...]
Aero Linx: B-52H Stratofortress The B-52H Stratofortress is a long-range, heavy bomber that can perform a variety of missions. The bomber is capable of flying at high subsonic spee>[...]
Altimeter Setting The barometric pressure reading used to adjust a pressure altimeter for variations in existing atmospheric pressure or to the standard altimeter setting (29.92).>[...]
"Knowing that we play an active part in bettering people's lives is extremely rewarding. My team and I are very thankful for the opportunity to be here and to help in any way we ca>[...]