We regularly check in with the Upgrade Travel Blog. In their post yesterday, entitled Come Fly the Safety Skies, they ponder the idea of an airline that puts safety first. With our recent posts on security measures and hijack-proof aircraft, we thought we would ponder this seriously, although perhaps to a bit of an extreme. The future seems to be going in this direction.
Imagine this…all passengers who self-checkin have their ID checked at the gate. This used to be done. With the current security measures, coupled with kiosk or web checkin, that means that no representitive of the airline ever ensures your identity. Currently, even the TSA doesn’t check your identity. The people who usually check your ID are not TSA agents. The TSA agents only look for the code on your boarding pass. By then you’ve already put your ID away.
Your flight attendants are not just trained in assisting in the event of an emergency, but are trained in subduing armed attackers through defense training. At various points in the aircraft there are plastic cuffs to tie up those suspicious passengers we fear.
The aircraft door is not just for the loading and unloading of passengers, but contains an explosive detection trace portal, which will blow several puffs of air onto you in order to analyze that air for explosive residue. These may later be upgraded with full body scanners, which can create a full anatomically correct image of your body including all items you might be carrying for a check.
Failing to comply with the fasten seatbelt sign is not only a criminal offense, but the airline may choose to put you on its internal no-fly list and bar you from travel for life or number of years. It is understood when you board what a normal time in an airport lavatory is and that any longer amount of time is suspicious. Your time will be carefully monitored by the flight crew and investigated should you go over.
We intend to give you extra time boarding the aircraft as we intend to submit your names to the TSA for security approval before departure. If you are flagged by them, we will remove you from the plane. You will either be screened then put on a later flight or escorted off the concourse with a full refund.
The front galley in front of the cockpit door will have a secondary door that can be closed and locked while the captain or first officer are answering the call of nature. Much more effective than a beverage cart. During this time, all passengers will have to remain in their seats.
The plane’s transponder and ground-to-air communications will not be able to be turned off from inside the aircraft. They will be transmitting and monitoring at all times. LiveTV, Jetblues in-flight entertainment and services subsidiary, already has a monitoring system that turns the aircraft into a node on LiveTV’s private network. Information is received and transmitted at all times while the plane is on the ground. Information during flight is held and transmitted upon landing. With LiveTV securing additional bandwidth, it and other companies could have this feature available soon.
The airline command center will be able to take over control of the aircraft automatically and will do so if the aircraft is not complying with the instruction of air traffic controllers.
All carry-on baggage is banned. You will be allowed a small clear bag with reading material and essential medications. Other items will be checked under the plane. The overhead bins themselves will be reduced to limit your carryon possessions more efficiently.
El Al makes money despite its intense security procedures. The question though is if passengers would pay more for that type of security measure. You would not find a fare under $100 on an airline such as that. Good security costs money, after all. And companies must make a profit.
We honestly continue to hope it doesn’t come to this. But we hope it continues to make you think.
