WebsiteAlways.com


Airline Security; Stewardesses The Last Line Of Defense!


Introduction:

It might come as a chock to many people, including the Stewardesses, but the fact remains that in today's Airline Industry, the Stewardess is the last line of defense!

In the 11th of September terrorist attacks, on the WTC and Pentagon, the first victims were the Stewardesses. Savagely attacked by the terrorist on their way to the cockpit's and tortured to pressure pilots, to comply with the terrorists demands.

More mundane, but daily occurrences in the International Airline Industry, is unruly passengers. Who endangers the safety of co-passengers and the aircraft due to mental disturbances, alcohol consumption, stress or disregard for airline regulations, such as remaining seated during takeoff and landing etc. or smoking in prohibited areas on smokeless flights. Stewardesses are expected to deal with these travails, as first responders and can if necessary call on the Pilots for help, if the situation is beyond their control. However, first the Stewardesses have to intervene and are often the victim, of verbal and physical abuse from the unruly passengers.

After the 9-11 attacks pilots; should show precaution before leaving the cockpit, to assist in calming or restraining unruly passengers. The incident could well be a diversion to get the pilots to open, the now locked cockpits, whereupon conspirators of the unruly passenger/s will attack to get access to the cockpit.

Onboard Security:

On the majority of flights, there are no Air Marshals, so problems have to be faced by the Stewardesses. Who either have deal with the matter on their own, or wait for the pilot or co-pilot to assist, or occasionally call upon the assistance from other passengers. As these problems, have been around for decades and will be in the future, it is simply necessary for the Stewardesses to receive training in Self-Defense and Arrest techniques. These skills should simply be part of the standard Stewardess training program, with regular retraining.

Stewardesses have not always just been service minded, multi language, pretty women; when the Icelandic Airline was originally established, all Stewardesses where former Nurses, as that was thought to be necessary, in order to deal with any medical emergencies. My opinion is that today, a similar concern is valid and that is that the Stewardesses, should be able to deal with current security threats as well. It would also be wise, to continue the current trend of adding more Stewards to the crews and preferable to the level of half of the crew.

To give the Stewardesses an extra advantage, a non-lethal weapon such as a mini stun-gun or expandable baton, could be issued and used together with handcuffs etc. CCTV should be installed, with cameras placed in strategic positions, could be supplemented with RF frequency pen-type cameras carried on the Stewardesses uniforms. Monitors should be place in all crew areas; this would give added security, not only to the Stewardesses but also to the pilots, who would be able to respond earlier, to a potential security threat from unruly passengers or terrorists.

Now, some will argue that training Stewardesses, to deal with terrorist incidents are wrong and the focus should be on passenger and baggage security screening. To those I will say yes, I fully agree, to the necessity of pre-screening of passengers and baggage and an increase in Airport security procedures is necessary. However, the current efforts are focused primarily, on simply throwing in more security personnel and making them federal employees, which in reality has done little to actually increase security. This is a fact that is evident by the many cases of persons carrying weapons onboard aircrafts anyway.

This fact has repeatedly been proven by security inspections, where security agents, have boarded aircrafts with weapons and explosives etc. There is also the fact, that the Airlines often have little control over the actual Airport security and close to no-control at foreign Airports. In many foreign airports the airlines simply have to rely on the local security and the occasional inspections, by official institutions such as the FAA etc.

There is also the real threat, of terrorist co-operators working within the Airline service industry, which has access to the Aircrafts and could place weapons or bombs onboard the Aircraft, to be used by the terrorists. And finally, the violent unruly passenger, will always be part of the environment the Stewardesses faces. Perhaps these incidents can be reduced, by enforcing higher penalties and prison terms on those who violate Airline regulations in any manner. But these procedures are going to take time and meanwhile the problem remains, in the hands of the Stewardesses; Our last line of defense!

Dan Sommer is the author of the SD Agent, a Surveillance Detection Manual, he has been part of the process of designing, implementing and training a SD team for a European Embassy. His 17 years security career started in 1986 and he has active experience from military, security, close protection, counter assault team and surveillance detection operations. Since 1994 the author has been writing training material's for security companies and police departments. He has been instructing courses world-wide for security officers, bodyguards, police officers, counter assault teams and surveillance detection units. Dan currently acts as the International Director of the World Federation of Bodyguards and has a private business as a Security & Protection Consultant. His work can be viewed at his website http://www.DanSommer.Biz


MORE RESOURCES:

Sify

Patel calls for measures to help aviation industry tide over crisis
Livemint, India - 9 hours ago
Hyderabad: Civil aviation minister Praful Patel sought a breather from banks and oil companies for the country’s beleaguered airlines, which aren’t able to ...
Civil aviation expo opens Economic Times
FM, Deora differ with Praful on aviation bailout plan Times of India
Tough times for aviation industry: Patel NDTV.com
Hindustan Times - Hindu
all 614 news articles


domain-B

Indian aviation is here to stay: Praful Patel
Press Trust of India, India - 16 hours ago
Hyderabad, Oct 15 (PTI) India is poised to steer out of the current crisis in the aviation sector and the government was doing "everything possible" to ...
Indian Civil Aviation Industry Economic Times
Aviation meet to start in Hyderabad today NDTV.com
Air show begins in style Hindu
Khabrein.info - Financial Express
all 75 news articles


Atlantic Aviation lands defense contract
Bizjournals.com, NC - 9 hours ago
Macquarie Aviation North America 2 Inc., DBA Atlantic Aviation, has received a $5.2 million contract to provide fuel to jets owned by the US military, ...


Dunedin company signs deal for aviation tracking service
National Business Review, New Zealand - 10 hours ago
Its wholly-owned Atlanta-based subsidiary sells telemetry services to aviation customers in 18 countries around the world. Tracplus recently won this year's ...


India Infoline.com

AP govt lays foundation stone for aviation SEZ
Business Standard, India - 15 hours ago
The Andhra Pradesh government laid the foundation stone for an aerospace and aviation special economic zone (SEZ) on the inaugural day of the India Aviation ...
Aero SEZ in AP: Tatas to set up unit Times of India
India’s first aerospace special economic zone in Andhra Pradesh Thaindian.com
Tatas to set up first defence aerospace hub near Hyderabad Indian Express
Financial Express - Daily News & Analysis
all 18 news articles


Myiris.com

US to have permanent aviation official in India
Economic Times, India - 14 hours ago
HYDERABAD: The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), which regulates all aspects of civil aviation in the US, will have a permanent representative in India ...
India's first-ever aviation show to begin on Wednesday Press Trust of India
all 16 news articles


Aviation High School needs Seattle's OK for new home
Seattle Post Intelligencer - 23 hours ago
By JESSICA BLANCHARD The Highline School District is ready to move forward with plans to build a new home for its innovative Aviation High School at the ...
Aviation High School moving to Seattle The Olympian
Seattle Public Schools To Host Community Meetings To Discuss A New ... Seattle Medium
New ideas to ease N. End school overcrowding Seattle Post Intelligencer
all 8 news articles


The great Indian aviation dream crashing
NDTV.com, India - 9 hours ago
What has brought the great Indian aviation dream crashing down? For an industry which till very recently was flying high, the last few months have been a ...
Nacil to set up Airbus MRO in Delhi Livemint
all 2 news articles


Daily Mail

Air Traffic Control Training Method Investigated After Planes Rerouted
News4Jax.com, FL - 5 hours ago
Although officials with the Federal Aviation Administration said no one was ever put in danger when four planes were rerouted last weekend, a worker at the ...
Local Air Traffic Controller On Leave Pending FAA Probe of ... First Coast News
FAA probes whether planes rerouted to test trainee The Associated Press
Virgin passenger plane sent 70 miles off course into ... Daily Mail
New York Post - The Herald
all 318 news articles


Sun Country to walk own path during bankruptcy
Minneapolis Star Tribune, MN - 12 hours ago
Petters Aviation, majority owner of the airline, may sell other assets, including a recently acquired charter carrier. By LIZ FEDOR, Star Tribune Thanks Jay ...
Sun Country to pay employees 70 percent of wages West Central Tribune
Sun Country to pay workers 70 percent of wages Minneapolis Star Tribune
all 4 news articles

Aviation - Google News

Interesting articles | Home | site map | Link
© 2006
Thailand Tourism Breast enlargement Jobs Mahoubi.net Free Online Dating | Free personals | Married personals | Totally free personals | Dating online lakeland fl | Free dating sites | Travel Vacations | Multiple listing service real estate