If you don't think anything is effective, then we have only one choice, and it must be done now. Ground everyone. Period.
Still don't think there is anything else that is effective? There has to be.
When the ban was in place, control was a simple matter. Anything not authorized would be shot down. Period.
I don't want to see that happen again, but we'll see it again right quick if something isn't done. Think about it.
It's not a matter of TFR's and transponders alone. However, if airplanes are cleared into the air on an individual basis, and one deviates, then it's downed. Extreme, but look at the alternative. Who would have thought about four airliners striking the WTC? (I did, and I stated for a long time that I thought it would happen, and it did. I'm stating publically now that I think we're going to see a threat from GA airplanes sooner or later; the threat is there now, what we do about it will determine the outcome. We will see it, if nothing is done). Today if we're flying IFR and deviate, we face the real possibility of being downed.
In the very least, VFR traffic will need to come up to speed with the same controls and restrictions that are placed on IFR traffic. Nobody's freedoms will be eroded, but right now it's just too darn permissive.
Again, a few posts above I read comments belittling the damage that a learjet or a light airplane could do. I beg to differ on that point, but it's not really relevant. The colateral damage isn't important. How many people get killed or how much property damage is done isn't what is important. What is important is the potential for one or two acts to shut down and cripple the industry.
The United States leads the world in flight training; it's more available, there are more places to fly without restriction, and it's far cheaper than anywhere else. The world comes here to learn to fly. General Aviation accounts for a great deal of the commerce done in the United States. One out of every three intercity passengers travels on GA. This is not a minor deal.
Shut down GA by introducing one or two more incidents such as this, and it IS coming, and we'll see serious damage done to the industry. Restrictions in flight training, 135 charter, freight, crop dusting, firefighting, and air ambulance. I depended on traffic watch for a time, getting to work. Having that removed was problematic for many. Locally the night of the attacks, I knew some folks who were called to get a heart for a gentleman who was critical, and waiting. Matches aren't easy, and one came up. The flight was not cleared to go get the heart. It's a time critical issue, four hours from cut to stuff, and the evening news had the victim and the victim's family tearfully telling their story. Want to see that again? I don't.
The little big of damage done by crashing an airplane is not significant. However, the ramifications are. That's what terrorism is all about; it's guerilla warfare; it's about taking down a giant with nibbles and nicks, rather than one fell swoop. A handfull of boys, less than a classroom of high school kids in number, took down the country a few months ago; the amount of damage was great, but the effects were far more reaching. Companies went out of business. Training stopped. Travel stopped. Commerce stopped. Don't think for a second that it can't happen again, unless measures are implemented to prevent it. They can be implemented.
Segmenting airspace and allowing an airplane into that airspace by clearance is a start. Increasing combat air patrols and stationing aircraft at more forward operating locations around the country (the country being the front) is a start. If an aircraft is required to file a flight plan for every action, and to activate that plan, and to adhere to that plan, then any deviations should be dealt with switftly. Even minor excursions outside that clearance should be dealt with directly. I'm not calling for wholesale shooting down of light airplanes, but there are ways to interdict and prevent. It's done quietly around our borders every day, and it can be done throught the nation.
Assuming that we aren't a society of people all wanting to bust airspace, we can safely assume that those performing violations or willful acts in the system are slim, and these tend to stand out. Certainly during the airspace shutdown, ANY takeoff illicitly grabbed immediate attention and was dealt with swiftly. I followed reports for several days of light aircraft being forced down all over the country. It worked. The system worked because of tight control. Only those authorized to fly were allowed; everyone else was the agressor, and was dealt with on a case by case basis. It worked, no question about it.
Without resorting to a complete shutdown, tighter control will mean far easier observation of aircraft operating with illicit purposes.
The restrictions in SLC are a good example, for the olympics. I don't agree with the scope of the restrictions, but suffice it to say that a sparrow doesn't fly for a 45 mile radius of the games. Anything outside of that area will be closely monitored. Anything that attempts to fly in that airspace willl see serious reprocussions. Airports will be monitored. Airspace will be monitored. Security is being taken seriously.
If control cannot be had in general aviation, we're going to lose it. One can debate all day the tightness with which one should hold onto the system, and cry freedom around the clock. So long as we risk a repeat of tampa or NY, and so long as we risk losing our system, then we have no freedom. One might as well argue that a kite has no freedom because of the string, when indeed we understand the kite stays aloft in large part because of the resistence offered by the string. Cut the string, the kite falls. We do not yet have a strong enough, or tight enough string. We have ample evidence of this.
I dont' advocate shutting down the airspace, but if we don't apply more stringent controls, it's going to come to that again. I sincerely hope we don't wait until then to wake up.
This is NOT a government issue in entirety. We can all help. Airplane owners can start with prop locks, disconnecting batteries, and other simple measures. Airport managers can increase security, visibility. As much as I detest it, prepare to see tougher enforcement standards for violations of the FAR. Instructors bear a greater responsibility than ever to be mindful of their students needs, and their student's potential.
This is not over yet. Don't compare it to anthrax. This isn't a craze. This is an issue. We're not in the anthrax industry, but we are pilots. This affects us personally; it's our livlihood; it's our responsibility. It's our very lives. How important is that??
