Airline security rejected prior to 9/11

[VPStoltz]

http://www.citizen.org/congress/article_redirect.cfm?ID=6215

"Through an extensive investigation of the FAA rulemaking process and a careful examination of the docket for proposed rules Public Citizens report exposes the following about the industry s and FAA s roles in delaying, diluting and discarding security improvements."

This has been bugging me for - well - a long time. I recall measures taken by European and Middle Eastern airlines in the wake of the wave of 1970-80-90's terrorism. Had the U.S. heeded the recommendations prompted by their example, things could have been significantly different here.

[MineralMan]

1. Airline passenger screening procedures have been in place

since the 1970s. I remember them well, including walking through metal detectors, carry-on inspections, and even requirements to demonstrate that portable computers were functional. They steadily became more inclusive over those decades. Maybe you weren't flying back then. I was, and even smaller commuter airports had those screenings.

It was all increased after 9/11, but screenings already existed, prompted by the airline hijackings of the 1960s.

How soon we forget...

[VPStoltz]

2. I reported what the article stated...

The article doesn't say screening was not in place. It acknowledges that but the airlines didn't much care of the quality or effectiveness of it. The major point was baggage matching and other procedures. I was flying then and I do remember. It seems it wasn't as diligent as it could have been - obviously.