IP: RE: Two notes on The tragedy in NYC

[David Farber <dave@farber.net>]

>From: "Meeks, Brock (MSNBCi)" <Brock.Meeks@MSNBC.COM>
>To: "'farber@cis.upenn.edu'" <farber@cis.upenn.edu>
>
>
>Yes, we'll have to guard against the immediate, knee-jerk backlash.  Because
>this has nothing to do with crypto or the failings of the spook community;
>this comes down to a failing of the airline industry.
>
>And it comes down to an age old trade-off of convenience vs. security.  The
>airlines have, for a long time now, known that for extra security of the
>cockpit crew, they should all install what are called "sallie doors."  These
>are, in effect, a double set of doors in which one can't be opened until the
>other is locked and secure.  A person enters one door and is basically
>"sandwiched" in the gap between the two and when the one door is secured the
>person then opens the second secured door.
>
>But this is costly to refit on all planes and it's inconvenient; it doesn't
>allow flyers to "peek into" the cockpit as they get on board.  And yet, it
>likely would have helped stave off today's tragedy.
>
>Most likely teams of terrorists stormed the cockpit.  Experts in martial
>arts, it would take nothing to snap the necks of the air crews strapped into
>their flight harnesses.  Then a trained pilot takes over and flies the plane
>on its death mission.
>
>No weapons needed.
>
>Once again it comes down to economics and saving a few bucks.



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