The attempted attack on a civil aircraft on Christmas day reveals many important aspects of aviation security.

1. We must all play our part in promoting safety for each other.
2. That terrorists seek and need publicity for their cause.
3. That hindsight is a wonderful thing.
4. That blame and recriminations are the fuel of social discontent and fear, and play into the hands of these  terrorist organisations.

What are the facts as we know them today 30 December 2009.

1. The ingredients of an explosive device  were successfully carried on to a plane.
2. That the device failed to work in its intended manner.
3. That the person involved was ‘known’ to the security agencies.

From the perspective of the public we are surprised that someone with such a high profile can gain access to a plane.  Regardless of the point of embarkation we, the public are told that the same standards of security apply worldwide security.  Do we have reason to doubt that now?

From my professional point of view as a pilot I don’t think I’d be any more worried today than before this event…in fact I’d feel a whole lot better because regulations will be tightened

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I think that although the public are encouraged not to take action against terrorists on planes that there is a gathering feeling that they are a good line of final defence.  And who are we to argue with the actions of anyone whose life is at risk.  So that’s an unintended consequence  of these events.

I’m sure it’s something the would be bombers will now have to think about and it adds yet another small line of defence.

Remember though that in the past terrorists have acted as a team and they do not  all reveal themselves simultaneously.

I have confidence in the system, and that’s different from complacency about it. I have confidence in the training of crews to deal with these events. As a passenger I am prepared to accept any amount of inconvenience  in the name of safe and secure air transport.

It seems incredible that all the information about The Christmas Day  bomber  and his behaviour didn’t result in his exclusion from this form of travel to that particular destination. This is where hindsight makes we the public,  better than the agencies responsible for air safety. But who amongst the public  campaigned for the action that now seems blindingly obvious. And how many thousands of suspects are there upon whom agencies have important information? How would we allocate resources if it were our responsibility?

The problem from a UK perspective, in my opinion , is that political correctness hinders effective action.

In my mind it’s as simple as this;  if the Littlehampton Cricket Club  tells us regularly that they intend to destroy our way of life,  then anyone wearing a cricket outfit or carrying a cricket bat through an airport gets stopped and is thoroughly searched…especially members of the  Littlehampton Cricket Club. .. and their families and supporters and maybe  other cricket clubs. But members of  The Boy Scouts and Womens Institute?  They get  a lower level of screening until they declare war on the world.

It’s called profiling and it hurts only the people who want to be hurt and offended.  For the rest of us … well we can spend our time at the airport enjoying ourselves.

I listened to a v

ery good radio programme last week about airport security and many listeners were making wild suggestions about all the areas of vulnerability at an airport, check in queues and shopping areas…and while this is true it’s very easy to randomly nominate places open to attack which don’t advance the argument.  Why not guard Tower Bridge or Boots the Chemist in Alton.  Or the airport at Sedona?

The fact is  that security is a well developed area of aviation for almost every occasion they get it right. The terrorist has to get it right only once. That’s the battle,  constant and unwavering vigilance. And the point of this piece is to encourage you to be vigilant, to encourage you to be polite to the security people, to encourage you to stay with your bags, to encourage you to follow the security guide lines and not waste time and resources in things that can be dealt with by us.

If we play our part by doing those little things in advance…like  placing fluids in a clear bag removing our shoes and belts not carry sharp objects then I guess we could save the security people 20% of their time and perhaps 1% of their budget then events like the one on Christmas Day would be even less likely.

Captain Keith

Fear of Flying Security

Our social network for people who have a fear of flying has been on line for just about a year and this week we had our 500th member join us.

Spread the word that this is THE social network for people like you…people who have a fear of flying. You may think you’re the only person who suffers from this, but it’s more than likely that you know someone close to you, a friend or relative, who also worries about flying.

So  why not find out who they are and let them know about this network and the flyingwithoutfear.com website . That’ll help us to keep helping them.

Captain Keith

I have just landed at Gatwick airport in the snow…just before the airport was closed. I flew to Florida two weeks ago and we were diverted for an hour and three quarters on top of the flight…..to avoid bad weather….on my return today we couldn’t get off the plane for an hour as the aircraft ahead of us needed defrosting. Prior to having experienced this forum and Captain Keiths audios plus a call from Captain Keith the morning of my flight, none of the above would have been possible.. It would just not have happened. Today I was even seen comforting a nervous flyer.

I AM SOOO GRATEFUL TO EVERYONE FOR MAKING THIS POSSIBLE FOR ME BY SHARING ALL YOUR EXPERIENCES.
See you in Januarys course, I can’t wait.
Becky

User Comments:  The fear of flying

Thank you so much for this material. I was generally afraid before getting onto the flight this month. After I was airbourne, I was ready for what the plane would do, which was very comforting. I repeated the phrase “turbulance are uncomfortable but not dangerous” in my head, and I was able to feel at ease.

Your lessons helped me think logically about the flight, rather than let myself overexaggerate fears. I even slept to and from my overseas destination.

Thank you again, Captain Godfrey!

Flying is safe

On our recent fear of flying courses you have told us that the most effective part of what we do is that we give you a  personal service  that deals with your needs and gives you ongoing suppport after the course.  Something that no other UK course does.

Overcoming your fear of flying is a journey, not an event, not a one off experience that pretends to solve all your problems but a series of  ‘meetings’ that take you from where you are now, to being an air traveller who can deal with everything that you might feel and experience when you fly.

We’re going to try to devise and develop ‘The Anxious Flyers Journey from Fear to Flight’ or something along those lines embracing all the experiences of people who visit the social network LOGBOOK24/7

So if you have some ideas about how your experiences could help someone else like you please let me know by email to  flyingwithoutfear@yahoo.co.uk  or using the contact page here.

Captain Keith

I have been a terrified flyer for the last 15 years, with the last 10 years needing sedatives in order to fly. I liked to be completely asleep before takeoff, otherwise I would feel absolute fear.

All that has changed though thanks to the reassuring voice in my headphones – Captain Keith! I have been using the audio helpcasts with better and better results for the last few years. I’m now able to fly while awake, and all my anticipatory anxiety is gone.

My last few flights I actually looked forward to – absolutely never thought I’d enjoy flying again and just can’t say thanks enough to Captain Keith and all on this site for sharing your knowledge and experiences!!!!!

LOGBOOK24/7