Ask Captain Lim - Is there anything you can tell me about airport or airplane security?

Thanks for your response. (I am the one whose mother wants YOU to fly him to the UK, he he!).

Over the last couple of weeks my mother had become more comfortable with me flying to the UK. However, with the recent news, both my mother and my father (who is the voice of reason in the family) have become increasingly worried that the airlines are going to be targeted this summer. Now there’s news of modified cameras and laptops that could easily go past security unnoticed. As a pilot yourself, is there anything you can tell me about airport or airplane security? This is your living, what is your approach if I may ask? Have all cockpit doors been reinforced with steel? Has this been done on the Boeing 777? Do you know if all international flights have air marshals onboard? How wary are you? Where are they usually situated (you probably either don’t know or can’t expose this specific piece of information).

Both my parents and I feel caught between a rock and a hard place… We all recognize that the probability of something happening is slim, but it’s just a very scary situation. I already have plane tickets and hotels booked, if I decide to cancel, we will lose a lot of money, not to mention the person I am traveling with will be really angry at me. I have been looking forward to this trip for a long time. What a timing!

I need to gather as much information as possible that could alleviate my folks of a great deal of anxiety… if you have anything to share, we would all certainly appreciate it.

Thanks.

Jason

Hi Jason,

The answers to most of your queries are found in my article on Airport and Flight Security. Regarding the modified cameras and laptops that could go past security unnoticed, I know it raises new concern. Airport securities are mindful of these new threats and they are getting even more vigilant. There is no 100 per cent reliability in airport security checks. What can be done is to minimize the odds.

Cockpit doors have not only being reinforced with steel but they are bullet proof as well! All Boeing 777's have been installed with them since April 2003. As you are aware, the details of air marshals program are kept top secret. All I can say is that their numbers have been increased after Sep 11. They are deterrents but I do know that El Al Israeli Airlines put air marshals on every of their flights.