Flying GA allows travel at convenient times to airports we choose. Plus, of course, we avoid the at-best unpleasant security procedures of airline travel. But, my recent planned trip couldn’t be undertaken in our plane due to maintenance issues and we resorted to airline travel.
Since I’m a retired airline pilot, we travel free on a space-available basis, adding more stress to make sure we find flights with available seats. To be fair, though, this recent trip was as painless as possible. There were plenty of available seats and navigating the terminals and security at both ends was about as smooth as it gets. Nonetheless, it was less pleasant than driving to our hangar and just launching.
This led me to think about airline security today. Regrettably, I can’t identify much that would be an improvement. Sure, any frequent traveler has a favorite TSA horror story. Mine came from when I was flying the line. I had a, um, “discussion” with a TSA supervisor about a new restriction. I asked how that practice improved safety. The supervisor’s response, stated loudly for others to hear, was, “It’s not about safety! It’s about the rules.”
But, aside from those outlying situations, the system generally works. Sure, we can question the need to remove our shoes, belts, etc., but those requirements do come from experience. And let’s face it—while airline security was begun to prevent hijacking for financial then political gains, it ultimately grew from many thousands of deaths on 9/11. Yes, something must be done to keep the bad actors from the cabins.
One might argue we no longer need these airport security measures because we’ve not seen a hijacking in so very long. But, as much as we love to criticize the procedures, the lack of a recent hijacking probably witnesses the success of these procedures more than it justifies ending them.
But, flying general aviation includes its own special brand of security measures. Take a look at the image above showing countless TFRs surrounding my planned destination when we still planned to fly our own plane. We’re told that VIP TFRs are necessary to protect our leaders. I’d ask, “From what proven risk?”
Back to 9/11. Was the danger from GA? No, it was from the airliners hijacked by terrorists. These folks aren’t stupid. They want to achieve the most impact possible from their efforts. Does that mean a Cessna 172 loaded with explosives … or even my 340? No, it meant using an airliner as a guided bomb. Yet, restrictions on GA began mere days after 9/11.
Look at any of those VIP TFRs. Exceptions include scheduled airliners. I haven’t bothered digging up dry statistics, but common sense and a general awareness tell me that misused airliners have been at the hands of terrorists while general aviation hasn’t. So, why are airliners permitted into this airspace where I am prohibited?
Some might say it’s because of the security imposed on airline travel. Perhaps, but where’s the evidence that GA poses a threat? I guess it just makes the politicians and probably the public feel safer without being safer. And that’s probably GA’s biggest threat.