Foreign Pilots = Al Queda??

[jdru25]

Here's the link.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/ID/3775771/

 

[MYFpilot]

Al Queda = PFT

I wonder how an Al Queda operative got a job as an airline pilot? Oh yeah, PFT. Right about now I'm having nightmares about a rogue kamikaze squadron of Continental Connection B-1900's. Thank you PFT!!

 

[General Lee]

And people still think that we are going to allow a mass entry of foreign airlines into the states to compete? Wrong. Everytime we have a code orange or code change upwards---it will reinforce this bad practice. There is NO WAY we will see Eygpt Air 737s flying 9 times per day between LAS and LAX---nope.


Bye Bye--General Lee

 

[freightrash]

man.....

here goes again...
don't blame on those non-citizen pilots for your unemployment

 

[flyn96]

Way to go gulfstream!!!! Just stay away from the red tail CRJ's they prolly got some al-quada duds over there, in case you couldn't tell on the radio.

 

[BollaBolla]

Okay, Im not for racial profiling, and I dont think PFT will cause an influx of Al-Queda pilots, but I do wonder what is being done about Al-Queda operatives being the pilot of the aircraft. Granted they will have to be flying for a while before they can attack with a large aircraft, but didnt September 11th teach us that they are willing to work on something for years before they will attack?? Whos to say that that quiet foreign F/O you saw at the aiport isnt from Al-Queda?? Oh quiet, I dont mean every F/O we have a fair share of foreigners at our airline, but where does the line between hiring a person of non-american citizenship get drawn?? Do we not hire people from the list of "known-terrorist sponsoring countries?" And if we dont hire a person because they are from one of these countries?? Just because the country you were born in sponsors terrorism doesnt mean you yourself do. We shouldnt punish everyone. Not everyone from Italy is in the Mafia. Not everyone from Afghanistan is a member of Al-Queda.

Anyway, sorry I went off on a tengent there. Its just something we in the aviation industry to have to deal with and im not sure that the subject of an Al-Queda operative getting into the cockpit because hes the pilot has been really taken into account.

Lets face it, you know the TSA doesnt look as hard at a pilots bag as they do everyone else's bag. (I know the TSA gets a bad rap, but they really do try to cut crews a brake... But if a passanger sees a pilot not getting screened throughly that makes the passanger a little nervous!) Pilots arent supposed to be selectees, or subject to random searches (unless a TSA agent sees something in your bag, they shouldnt search it. In other words, a TSA agent just cant decide they want to search your flight bag for the heck of it) We talk about Terrorists' storming the cockpit, and assembling bombs in the forward lavs. And we lock and re-inforce the cockpit door. But if the terrorist is sitting in your right seat he or she (who the heck are we to say its going to be a man!?) isnt going to need to storm the cockpit door. A metal pole on the door they're already behind wont help any.

Sorry... I need to shut-up now. Dont be giving your F/O or Capt. the evil eye the next few days on account of me. Im just thinking "out-loud"

 

[Hugh Jorgan]

And people still think that we are going to allow a mass entry of foreign airlines into the states to compete? Wrong.

Perhaps you missed the passage of legislation a few weeks ago allowing foreign cargo carriers to originate in Anchorage and operate within the United States. It appears our lawmakers do not share your opinion.

 

[jetexas]

Perhaps you missed the passage of legislation a few weeks ago allowing foreign cargo carriers to originate in Anchorage and operate within the United States. It appears our lawmakers do not share your opinion.

There was an article in the DFW airport paper (yes there is a weekly airport paper) about China Air Cargo increasing its flying into DFW. I was thinking..ok, so most toys, electronics, ..just about anything now is made in China. It may as well be pilots too.
UPS has a big operation in DFW. I wonder what they think about the deal?

Granted China is no hotbed for int'l terrorism, but how many loose ends are we gonna allow? How do we police who pilots these jumbo jets into the US?

 

[pipejockey]

I would like to know how the flights from these muslim countries are monitored. I would imagine they are piloted by full-fledged koran thumping muslims. I feel every one of these aircraft should be escorted from the time they enter our airspace to the time of touchdown, and from departure to the point they thankfully leave our airspace.

With so much at stake these days, the damage, death and destruction of not only billions worth of property but the airline industry as a whole, I feel no carrier from a muslim country should be allowed in the US. One more attack like we saw on the 11th, even with only one aircraft, and most of us can kiss this profession goodbye. It will take a generation to recover.

 

[Stifler's Mom]

Egypt Air.

 

[Hugh Jorgan]

Re: Blame everyone but yourself!

If the United States did not have such poor airport security we never would have had the terrible day.

I am pretty sure there were no prohibited items carried onboard those flights on 9/11. Box-cutters were okay back then. They may as well have taken control of the planes using guns carved out of soap bars. I don't dispute that our security lacks, but to go so far as to blame the security for the results of that day I believe is misguided. Where am I going wrong here?

 

[CitationLover]

all this al qaeda aviation bs is just that.....bs.

when no one was looking, pre 9/11, they couldn't get their jackoffs to complete flight training, what makes you think they can now?

even suicide bombers do not like the thought of being lynched by 120 people. the airplane "bomb" is out in there eyes.

typical govt overreaction. its so bad now that its like lawyers covering their ass in case they get sued. if an attack were to occur during a non-elevated risk level it would be politcal fodder.

 

[dash8driver]

Re: Blame everyone but yourself!

Stop trying to blame the Foreign Carriers.
We all know that it was the INS the FBI and the Airport Securtity to blame for 9/11.

If the United States did not have such poor airport security we never would have had the terrible day.
Go all over the world and in the airports you have armed police officers not "Security Guards". Sometimes the military.

What we need is that "in your face" kind of security.

and i'm pretty sure that all the armed police and military we could have stuffed into the airports before 9/11 wouldnt have stopped them from storming the cockpits and flying the planes into the buildings.

 

[pipejockey]

U.S. bans five Saudi airline pilots
From Jeanne Meserve
CNN Washington Bureau
Thursday, September 11, 2003 Posted: 0417 GMT (12:17 PM HKT)



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Story Tools



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Interactive: Timeline -- Terror threat level adjustments


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• Advisory: Al Qaeda planning new U.S. attacks
• U.S. discusses releasing Saudi names in 9/11 report
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• Gallery: Major al Qaeda attacks

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The United States has banned five Saudi Arabian pilots from flying into or otherwise entering the country, a Bush administration official said Wednesday.

The pilots, who work for Saudi Arabian Airlines and regularly flew into the United States, were told in late August that they could no longer enter the United States. The administration official said he was not aware of any appeals.

The official said a check of multiple databases over the summer turned up information that indicated an association between the pilots and known al Qaeda terrorists.

The official said there is no information to indicate the five had been involved in plotting terrorist activity involving aircraft or any other mode of attack, the official said.

Since September 11, 2001, the names of pilots, co-pilots and engineers from some foreign carriers have been checked against watch lists.

Over the summer more intensive reviews involving more databases were performed and these five names "appeared, or appeared several times," the official said.

The United States remains concerned that terrorists could find new ways to repeat the September 11 attacks with commercial airplanes.

Airport security has been tightened in the United States since the attacks but officials fear terrorists could exploit weaknesses elsewhere.

Earlier this month, the Department of Homeland Security issued an advisory to warn that al Qaeda is working on plans to hijack airliners flying between international points that pass near or over the continental United States. (Full story)

A department official said most of the flights fitting this description originate in Canada and that U.S. officials have been working with Canada over the past month to ensure it is improving screening and other security measures.

 

[Hugh Jorgan]

Re: Oh boy!

I do think that airport security was the problem in 9/11.

Okay, so let me get this straight. When none of the highjackers had anything illegal on them when they went through security, and used completely legal carryon items as weapons, then security failed allowing them to carry on legal carryon items. I believe your point about security being lax prior to 9/11 is true. But just tell me what security could have done differently to avoid those attacks. I'm glad to see that security has improved a little. It's too bad it hasn't improved proportionally with the amount of the spending increases we've seen.

 

[Ailerongirl]

I would imagine they are piloted by full-fledged koran thumping muslims.

Oooh I'll bet you're right! I'll bet those muslim people also carry their Korans with them everywhere they go! And I heard that it has funny writing in it!! Just to be safe, maybe you should cross the street everytime you see one coming.....you just never know

I feel no carrier from a muslim country should be allowed in the US.

Oh yeah...that'll stop 'those' people

 

[Singlecoil]

That Virgin captain that recently got busted for drinking was an American, so we've got that goin' for us.

 

[Flyairjason]

ARRRRRGH!!!

Guys, forgive me, but I feel the need to open a can of "get a freak'n clue!!!" on this "SEAFEYE" person...

First of all my friend, I could tell you story after story of TSA abuse of aircrew members... And they DO scrutinize flight bags as well as shake down pilots. I once had a TSA genius tell me that my "D" cell flashlight (you know, the one dictated by the FARs) was a weapon, and could not be taken aboard the aircraft I was working. On another occasion, they told me the same thing. By the way, one of these occasions was at BOS, you know, where some of the 9/11 terrorists boarded... I had to get a supervisor to come over and talk to the screener to convince him that my flashlight was okay.
The point is, I don't think you're fully briefed on what you claim to know so much about. 9/11 had nothing to do with illegal weapons, burdoned screeners, or whatever the H-E double hockeystix you believe you know. Oh, and here is a little news flash for you... The only difference in today's level of security, and that of pre-9/11 is that today's screeners can now own a house while you and I pump up our inflatable mattress at our crashpad... Because of our current level orange, and the number of recent threats, I wont go into the glaring flaws that can be found at each and every station out there (and TSA knows what I'm talking about!).
One more thing, my oh so in the know friend... Not only has the point been made that none of the 9/11 clowns used a restricted item, your stats are pure nonsense... Your contention of only 33% of a screeners resources going to good use is frighteningly narrowminded. Regardless of passenger to nonpassenger ratio, anyone could tote contraband, and then hand the item off to a passenger on the sterile side of security. Besides, aren't you a 135 guy? Do you even interact with the 121 world?
Jason

 

[Flyingdutchman]

"OK.. some of you red blooded americans go try and get a job at a EU carrier. They will laugh you out of the country.

They only hire locals. No one seems to have a problem with nationalism in Europe. Here in america though.."
---------------

BS !!!!

"
As for Europeans not hiring foreigners.......Get you head out of your ass. You obiously do not know what it is like and you probaby have not been outside the US. Every country i have been to i have been working with Americans. They live and work in each and every country in the world. USA is not the only country to have immigration. Americans are everywhere. The door has to swing both ways pal!"
-----------

true!


"Ya Fact is you come from a foreign country and the FAA will give you a FAA Private.
Go find a job with that.

If you want to convert your ratings to the USA you will have to:
1) Take the instrument test
2) Take the Commercial test
3) Take the instrument flight test
4) Take the Commercial Flight test
5) Depending on your coversion you may need to do a single engine or multi engine add-on in addition.


If you don't know what you are talking about, it is best that you
keep quiet! All the european countries that i know about will give you credit for the hours you have flown (with the exception of shared PIC time) but you will have to prove yourself with both a written exams and the practicals. "
------------

true true!!

By the way, there are lots of Americans working at;

KLM
Lufthansa
Birtish Airways
SAS

 

[BollaBolla]

Yes i am 135 but at least i did not buy my 121 1900 job!

I am so sick of hearing that!!! Not everyone who flies a 1900 paid for their job you know!! Get a clue before you open your mouth!

Just for the record according to TSA's not so secret book of secrets any airline employee is not supposed to be subject to "selectee status." Gate/Ramp/Ops/Dispatchers can be "randomly" searched at the checkpoint, or gate. In other words if Bob the rampy goes through security and he has a piece of luggage with him, and the TSA agent decides he hasnt yelled out bag search enough today he can yell it out and some other TSA person will wander up and go through all of Bobs dirty underwear. Now bob goes and gets all of his ratings and decides to fly commercial. He goes through security with his new improved company ID. He sends his bag through the X-Ray and he walks through the metal detector. Nothing wrong. Nothing strange in his bag, he didnt beep. The TSA agent is itching to scream bag search, but he has to wait to randomly select a passanger because Bob is now exempt from random screenings. Now, if Bob goes through and TSA man sees something that looks a little strange in Bob's overnight he can search it, and find that Bob likes to wear womens underwear when he is on overnights, and that pointy thing was really just the heel of Bob's new stilettos.

I'd say about 25% of the issues with the TSA comes from ignorance. On theirs and on the part of the airline employees. I certainly dont know all the TSA regulations, nor do I have time to read them all. The fact that the TSA agents dont know them all scares the crap out of me, seeing as how thats their job.

Another 25% of the problem comes from the fact that every day there is a new rule issues by the TSA. One morning going through screening in MCO i didnt have to take my digital camera out of my bag. Later that day going through screenining in MCO I did because in the 3 hours that had passed since my last visit through security a rule had changed. That creates confusion on everyone's parts and confusion generaly leads to people being very very upset.

Im done now... I need to go play with my new toys. Have a wonderful christmas.