These new TSA training rules, however improved, are an excellent case study
in security.

Let's look first at the background. Before 911 and all the hysteria, a
flight instructor noticed that an odd guy seemed to only want to learn how
to take off and aim the plane without landing. The CFI alerted the FBI who
acted like he was reporting an alien abduction. Someone in the FBI did try
to take it seriously and had her (I believe) career destroyed for going
around the organizational obstruction to the information being passed up the
chain of command. But, someone in aviation did notice that something funny
was going on, even in those innocent days.

So now, if someone wants to learn how to aim an airplane while holding a
Koran in one hand and chanting "Allah is great" while they do it, they won't
be able to learn in the normal aviation training environment. History has
shown that, in a typical flight school environment, someone is very likely
to notice that something is wrong with the picture and report it. This time
around the FBI might even pay attention to the report (although I wouldn't
bet my life on it).

Not being able to train in a normal flight school will not prevent the
determined terrorist from getting enough stick and rudder skills to carry
out an attack. There are plenty of drug runner pilots and similar types who
would teach him for a fee and out of anyone's view. The TSA rules will
simply move illicit training to where it is less likely to be noticed while
putting yet more burdens on the law abiding. The primary effect will to be
to prevent aspiring aero-terrorists from making the mistake of trying to
learn in the environment where they are most likely to be detected.

Do you feel safer yet?

--

Roger Long