Aviation Security

Counter Terrorism

Counter-terrorism is the practices, tactics, techniques, and strategies that governments, militaries, police departments and corporations adopt to prevent or in response to terrorist threats and/or acts, both real and imputed. The tactic of terrorism (used by terrorists) is available to insurgents and governments. Not all insurgents use terror as a tactic, and some choose not to use it because other tactics work better for them in a particular context.

Foreign Internal Defence(FID) : Foreign Internal Defence is a participation by civilian and military agencies of a government in any of the action programs taken by another government or other designated organization to free and protect its society from subversion, lawlessness, and insurgency. FID is used by a number of western militaries, including the United States, France and the United Kingdom. It is used to describe an approach to combating actual or threatened insurgency in a Foreign State.

Foreign Internal Defence(FID) Models : There are multiple models of the strength and stability of nation-states, especially in the context of insurgency where they are detailed. Not all states need assistance to suppress insurgency, while in other cases, no external assistance is available. The latter was often the case when the insurgency was directed, by the native population, at a colonial power.

A key part of a foreign internal defense (FID) mission is that its goal is to enable the nation and its institutions to move into the realm of those states that both provide for their citizens and interact constructively with the rest of the world. Two broad categories of country need at least some aspects of FID assistance. The obvious category is of weak and failed states, but there are also needs in generally strong states that face specific problems such as terrorism, piracy and illegal drugs.

This section includes a number of models that help recognize when either the preconditions for insurgency exist, or how insurgents are operating against the HN. Through the various models, the need for security of the population is mentioned most often; without security, it is difficult to impossible to deal with other problems causing instability, such as public health or economi

The FID paradigm is inherently cooperative, with at least one nation helping strengthen the state. FID is a different approach than defense against external invasion or settling a major civil war. FID is never a quick process. The major power(s) uses nonmilitary and military means to increase the capability of the host nation (HN) to resist insurgency. FID includes the economic stabilization of host countries.

Piracy : Piracy is very real in the international waters of weak and failed states, such as Somalia. FID personnel may gather intelligence on pirate locations, and transmit this to warships able to intercept the pirate vessels. When pirates are active, providing FID supplies by water is impractical unless the transport vessels are armed, or travel in convoy.

Piracy also may feed into security violations at ports, and as a means by which terrorists transport personnel and materials. An Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) study on the ownership and control of ships reports that anonymous ownership is more the rule than the exception.

FID Operations : In cooperation with the HN, the FID organization needs to define its initial set of operations, accepting that needs will change over time. No single operational plan will fit all HN environments, and it is wise to consider the various counterinsurgency models and see if the proposed plan will work to fill the identified gaps, weaknesses, and disconnection.

A representative set of steps for the FID force is :

• Security Operations - "The first priority for any government facing an insurgency is to establish a secure environment." The FID force role will vary here. The HN government has the greatest credibility when it can conduct these operations, respecting human rights, on its own.
• Popular Support - "Gaining and maintaining the support of the population is the overall goal and path to victory since the population is the center of gravity, therefore it is imperative for long-term success that the population views the government as legitimate. It is equally important for the US effort to be viewed as legitimate versus being viewed as an occupier or supporting a puppet government."
• International Support - "It is also important for the government’s internal defense efforts to be legitimized, accepted and supported by the international community." The more the military and nonmilitary FID organization is multinational, the easier it may be to gain this support.
• Defeat Insurgents - "If done correctly, the first three lines should de-legitimize the insurgents and lead to their lasting defeat. This line will attack the hard-core insurgents. Some may succumb to offers of amnesty, but most will need to be killed or captured through offensive operations." Again, it is most desirable HN personnel do this.
• Develop Host Nation Internal Security - Internal security forces, such as local and national police forces, key facility protection corps, diplomat security personnel, coast guard, criminal investigation, paramilitary forces for counterinsurgency, local and national level special weapons and tactics capabilities will be necessary to defeat the internal threat as a law enforcement matter." If coalition combat forces have been used, "as the internal security forces are trained, the coalition will transition to only protecting the nation from external threats until such a time as the actual national military force is trained, equipped, and can conduct unilateral operations."

"The end state is a legitimate government that the population trusts and is able to detect and defeat internal and external threats."

Cordesman points out that military force, used to excess, may be worse for the long-term situation than not engaging the insurgents at all. When a shell leaves the barrel of a cannon, its effects may be more than physical; it may explode into "real time political and media dimension, “Effects based warfare” depends on political effect, not just military ones. Tactical victories can be meaningless without political, ideological, information, and media dominance.

Especially in areas of high population density, civilian casualties, collateral property damage, and injuries from "friendly fire" can have enormous political effects. Operations in civilian areas are steadily more political and sensitive. Their planning must include politically and culturally appropriate solutions for interrogations, detainees, and prisoners.

In both the city and country, HN troops will be closer allies if they have the same protection and undergo the same risks as the FID troops. This can present difficulties when FID personnel are forbidden from combat operations, but there is a very delicate line between live-fire training and combat. Another important morale issue is that the HN feels that the FID personnel share the risk with them, with both having equivalent force protection and risk in assignments.

Detentions in the US after 9/11 attacks :After the attacks made by Al-Qaeda’s in U.S. detention process was started. This detention was a very harsh punishment made to a suspect terrorist. The government could do whatever possibilities way to open the mouth of the suspected to know all the informations related to terrorism. This detention process was in such a way that an accused could be detained without being produced at the court for a fair trial.

Airport Security

Airport security refers to the techniques and methods used in protecting airports and aircraft from terror attacks. Large numbers of people pass through airports. This presents potential targets for terrorism and other forms of attack due to the number of people located in a small area. Airport security attempts to prevent would-be attackers from bringing weapons or bombs into the airport. If they can succeed in this, then the chances of these devices getting on to aircraft are greatly reduced. As such, airport security serves several purposes: To protect the airport from attacks and to protect the aircraft from attack, and to reassure the traveling public that they are safe.

There are two sides to an airport: the airside and the city-side. The airside is directly involved in the arrival and departure of aircraft and includes the runway, aprons, control towers, hangars, aircraft maintenance and refueling facilities, whereas the city-side constitutes commercial facilities around the airport for the benefit of passengers like development of property on the airports' land, building and maintaining car parking and cargo operations.

"The goal of aviation security is to prevent harm to aircraft, passengers, and crew, as well as support national security and counter-terrorism policy."

EXISTING SECURITY MEASURES

Some countries may have an agency that protects all of their airports (such as Australia, where the Australian Federal Police is responsible for security at major airports), in other countries like the United States, the protection is controlled at the state or local level. The primary personnel will vary and can include:

• A police force hired and dedicated to the airport
• A branch of the local police department stationed at the airport
• Members of the local police department assigned to the airport as their normal patrol area
• Members of a country's military
• Members of a country's airport protection service
• Police dog services for explosive detection, drug detection and other purposes

Other resources may include:

• Security guards
• Paramilitary forces
• Military forces

In India, the Central Industrial Security Force, a paramilitary organization is in charge of airport security under the regulatory frame work of the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (Ministry of Civil Aviation Security). CISF formed an Airport Security Group to protect Indian airports. Every airport has now been given an APSU (Airport Security Unit), a trained unit to counter unlawful interference with civil aviation. Apart from the CISF, every airline has an aviation security force which is a separate department.

PROCESS AND EQUIPTMENT FOR SECURITY

Travelers are required to carry their own Identity card and a printed itinerary and requested to arrive early. Curbside parking is prohibited. Advanced CCTV surveillance system to monitor both inside the terminal and the outer perimeters. Some airport provides Protective Clothing for staff and ballistic and Blast Protection for Buildings. Armored vehicles and RF Jamming for protection of transport.

A technology released in Israel in early 2008 allows Sensitive areas in airports, including airport ramps and operational spaces, are restricted from the general public. Called a SIDA (Security Identification Display Area), these spaces require special qualifications to enter.

SOME OF THE EQUIPTMENTS FOR SCREENING TRAVELERS:-

	Metal Detectors
	Explosive Detection Machines, Explosive Trace-Detection Portal Machines includes x-ray machines: Explosive detection machines can also be used for both carry on and checked baggage. These detect volatile compounds given off from explosives using gas chromatography.
	Backscatter X-Rays to detect hidden weapons and explosives on passengers. These devices, which use Compton scattering, require that the passenger stand close to a flat panel and produce a high resolution image.
	Automatic Facial Recognition Technology: This method is used at British airports. Travelers are to be screened by facial technology at British airports. Citizens of Britain and all European economic area countries will pass through unmanned clearance gates which will scan passengers’ faces and compare them to data held on their biometric passports.
	Low-Dose X-Ray Machines: This machine is designed to spot smuggled drugs. It is a machine that looks for the “swallowers and stuffers”. In other words it will spot the wrap of heroin sitting in the stomach. This has been used on suspected drug mules arriving at the airport.
	Milimetric-Wave Camera: This type of machine bounces a radio wave off the body and penetrates clothing and provides an image of the skin and surrounding tissue. This results that the image can expose items hidden in clothing. For instance, drugs or explosives carefully hidden in the lining of clothing could be identifiable.
	Bottled Liquids Scanner (BLS): This screening system is used by Transportation Security Officers to detect potential liquid or gel threats which may be contained in passenger's property. Next generation bottled liquids scanner systems have the ability to detect a wider range of explosive materials and use light waves to screen sealed containers for explosive liquids. TSA recently deployed 500 next generation BLS units to airports nationwide. This new liquid screening systems is enhanced with detection capabilities and use light waves to screen sealed containers for explosive liquids.

Baggage Check

The list of items banned or limited by the TSA (Transportation SecurityAdministration) from being carried on airlines includes things you might not think twice about carrying on board but upon which airport security screeners will hone in; sharp weapons are obvious no-no's, but things you may not consider dangerous weapons may be on the list, like spare lithium batteries do note that the lithium ion batteries in your cell phone and laptop are fine).

For instance, pepper spray is a baddie; formerly banned fingernail clippers are now permitted (get a set without an attached metal file). If it can be used as a weapon, it's likely a no go. Some items, like ice picks, are a no-brainer no-no, but know that you must also check the hockey stick and corkscrew. I remembered the hard way in summer 2006 that lighters were banned, although lighters are once again okay as of August 4, 2007 (now that the TSA has deduced that the agency was spending millions of dollars and manhours confiscating up to 39,000 lighters a day).

The TSA-banned items in your carry on can get you fined and even prosecuted, even if you brought 'em accidentally. In scenarios less common now than just after 9/11 airport security crackdowns, you may wind up on a no-fly list or be unable to board if you are carrying a banned item in your carry-on.

See what's up with TSA's airport security information and list of permitted and prohibited items -- save yourself some potential difficulties while you pad through security in your socks (you must have your shoes X-rayed at airport security...and what's up with that, anyway? Learn more about shoe bombing stuff and why you have to take your shoes off and your laptop out at airport security: "Laptops and Airport Screening").

The prohibited items list is not intended to be all-inclusive and is updated as necessary. To ensure travelers' security, Transportation Security Officers (TSOs) may determine that an item not on the Prohibited Items List is prohibited. Also, please note that some dangerous items below are illegal in certain states and passengers will be subject to state law. It is a passenger’s responsibility to be aware that origination and destination cities may have local laws prohibiting the possession of these items.

Item	Carry-on	Checked
Box Cutters	No	Yes
Ice Axes/Ice Picks	No	Yes
Knives - except for plastic or round bladed butter knives	No	Yes
Meat Cleavers	No	Yes
Razor-Type Blades - such as box cutters, utility knives, and safety razor blades (disposable razors and their cartridges are permitted)	No	Yes
Sabers	No	Yes
Scissors - metal with pointed tips and blades shorter than four inches	Yes	Yes
Swords - cutting or thrusting weapons, including fencing foils	No	Yes
NOTE: Any sharp objects in checked baggage should be sheathed or securely wrapped to prevent injury to baggage handlers and inspectors.

Sporting Goods

Item	Carry-on	Checked
Baseball Bats	No	Yes
Bows and Arrows	No	Yes
Cricket Bats	No	Yes
Dumbbells/Hand Weights	No	Yes
Golf Clubs	No	Yes
Hockey Sticks	No	Yes
Lacrosse Sticks	No	Yes
Pool Cues	No	Yes
Ski Poles	No	Yes
Spear Guns	No	Yes

Guns & Firearms

Item	Carry-on	Checked
Ammunition - Check with your airline or travel agent to see if ammunition is permitted in checked baggage on the airline you are flying. If ammunition is permitted, it must be declared to the airline at check-in. Small arms ammunitions for personal use must be securely packed in fiber, wood or metal boxes or other packaging specifically designed to carry small amounts of ammunition. Ask about limitations or fees, if any, that apply. Read our Firearms & Ammunition section.	No	Yes
BB guns	No	Yes
Compressed Air Guns (to include paintball markers) - Carried in checked luggage without compressed air cylinder attached.	No	Yes
Firearms - firearms carried as checked baggage MUST be unloaded, packed in a locked hard-sided container, and declared to the airline at check-in. Read our Firearms & Ammunition section.	No	Yes
Flare Guns - May be carried as checked baggage MUST be unloaded, packed in a locked hard-sided container, and declared to the airline at check-in. Read our section on Camping and Firearms & Ammunition section.	No	Yes
Flares	No	No
Gun Lighters*	No	Yes
Gun Powder including black powder and percussion caps	No	No
Parts of Guns and Firearms	No	Yes
Pellet Guns	No	Yes
Realistic Replicas of Firearms	No	Yes
Starter Pistols - can only be carried as checked baggage and MUST be unloaded, packed in a locked hard-sided container, and declared to the airline at check-in. Read our Firearms & Ammunition section.	No	Yes
NOTE: Check with your airline or travel agent to see if firearms are permitted in checked baggage on the airline you are flying. Ask about limitations or fees, if any, that apply.
*Permitted in checked baggage only if it does not contain lighter fluid.

Tools

Item	Carry-on	Checked
Axes and Hatchets	No	Yes
Cattle Prods	No	Yes
Crowbars	No	Yes
Hammers	No	Yes
Drills and drill bits (including cordless portable power drills)	No	Yes
Saws (including cordless portable power saws)	No	Yes
Tools (greater than seven inches in length)	No	Yes
Tools (seven inches or less in length)	Yes	Yes
Screwdrivers (seven inches or less in length)	Yes	Yes
Wrenches and Pliers (seven inches or less in length)	Yes	Yes
NOTE: Any sharp objects in checked baggage should be sheathed or securely wrapped to prevent injury to baggage handlers and Security Officers.

Martial Arts & Self Defense Items

Item	Carry-on	Checked
Billy Clubs	No	Yes
Black Jacks	No	Yes
Brass Knuckles	No	Yes
Kubatons	No	Yes
Self Defense Sprays - One 4 ounce (118ml) container of mace or pepper spray is permitted in checked baggage provided it is equipped with a safety mechanism to prevent accidental discharge. Self Defense Sprays containing more than 2% by mass of Tear Gas (CS or CN) are prohibited in Checked Baggage	No	Yes
Martial Arts Weapons	No	Yes
Night Sticks	No	Yes
Nunchakus	No	Yes
Stun Guns/Shocking Devices	No	Yes
Throwing Stars	No	Yes
NOTE: Any sharp objects in checked baggage should be sheathed or securely wrapped to prevent injury to baggage handlers and Security Officers.

Explosive & Flammable Materials, Disabling Chemicals & Other Dangerous Items

Explosive Materials	Carry-on	Checked
Blasting Caps	No	No
Dynamite	No	No
Fireworks	No	No
Flares (in any form)	No	No
Hand Grenades	No	No
Plastic Explosives	No	No
Realistic Replicas of Explosives	No	No
Flammable Items	Carry-on	Checked
Aerosol (any except for personal care or toiletries in limited quantities)	No	No
Fuels (including cooking fuels and any flammable liquid fuel)	No	No
Gasoline	No	No
Gas Torches	No	No
Lighter Fluid	No	No
Common Lighters - Lighters without fuel are permitted in checked baggage. Lighters with fuel are prohibited in checked baggage, unless they adhere to the Department of Transportation (DOT) exemption, which allows up to two fueled lighters if properly enclosed in a DOT approved case. If you are uncertain as to whether your lighter is prohibited, please leave it at home.	Yes	No
Torch Lighters - Torch lighters create a thin, needle-like flame that is hotter (reaching 2,500 degrees Fahrenheit) and more intense than those from common lighters. Torch lighters are often used for pipes and cigars, and maintain a consistent stream of air-propelled fire regardless of the angle at which it is held. Torch lighters continue to be banned.	No	No
Strike-anywhere Matches - One book of safety (non-strike anywhere) matches are permitted as carry-on items, but all matches are prohibited in checked baggage.	No	No
Flammable Paints (See Other Items below for non-flammable paints)	No	No
Turpentine and Paint Thinner	No	No
Realistic Replicas of Incendiaries	No	No
Disabling Chemicals & Other Dangerous Items	Carry-on	Checked
Chlorine for Pools and Spas	No	No
Small compressed gas cartridges (Up to 2 in life vests and 2 spares. The spares must accompany the life vests and presented as one unit)	Yes	Yes
Fire extinguishers and other compressed gas cylinders	No	No
Liquid Bleach	No	No
Spillable Batteries - except those in wheelchairs	No	No
Spray Paint	No	No
Tear Gas - Self Defense Sprays containing more than 2% by mass of Tear Gas (CS or CN).	No	No
Vehicle Airbags	No	No

Other Items

Item	Carry-on	Checked
Gel-type candles	No	Yes
Gel shoe inserts - Gel shoe inserts are not permitted, but shoes constructed with gel heels are allowed and must be removed and screened.	No	Yes
Non-flammable liquid, gel, or aerosol paint	Yes - 3.4 ounces (100ml) or smaller container	Yes
Flammable liquid, gel, or aerosol paint	No	No
Snow globes and like decorations regardless of size or amount of liquid inside, even with documentation.	No	Yes

Customer Security Guidelines

Travel Insurance

You may want to consider investing in airline travel insurance. Airline travel insurance is important both to save your money when you are traveling and your flight gets cancelled, and also to cover your expenses in case something unexpected happens. Airline travel insurance covers air trip insurance which will reimburse you any prepaid expenses that you would lose otherwise, if your flight gets cancelled or you could not take the flight. Other eventualities covered by airline travel insurance are trip delay due to common problems, natural disasters or weather, terrorism, or other factors; giving you the option of either returning home, or finishing your trip by catching a new flight in return for the one you missed.

Travel insurance is insurance that is intended to cover medical expenses, financial default of travel suppliers, and other losses incurred while traveling, either within one's own country, or internationally. Temporary travel insurance can usually be arranged at the time of the booking of a trip to cover exactly the duration of that trip, or a "multi-trip" policy can cover an unlimited number of trips within a set time frame.

Package travel insurance plans generally include coverage for trip cancellation & interruption, emergency medical expense and transportation, lost or damaged baggage and a wide array of 24/7 travel assistance services.

Airline Travel Insurance : Airline travel insurance is an insurance policy you purchase before taking a flight. It pays your family and dependents a lump sum should something happen to you while you are flying on your trip. A good air travel insurance plan will cover you on any flight you take during your trip, even if it is between your coming and going flight. The sums are large, usually 300,000 or more per person, and you can insure several travelers under the same policy.

An insurance air travel policy covers you if your plane is involved in an accident, no matter what the financial state of the airline is. Even if your airline goes belly up, your family would still be paid the benefit on your life, because the air travel life insurance policy is not through the airline industry, it is through your insurance company.

Airline travel insurance is quite affordable. You can usually purchase a $300,000 policy for less than $20. The reason the policies are so affordable is because they are seldom cashed in. Flying is a very safe way to travel! But in spite of this fact, accidents do still occur, and having airline travel flight insurance will help you rest easy, knowing your family will be fine if something does happen to you.

The most common risks that are covered by travel insurance are :

• Medical/Dental expense : It provides medical coverage if you are injured or ill on your trip, including transportation, tests, treatments, medicines and more.
• Emergency Evacuation/Medical Air Evacuation : Coordinates and pays for emergency evacuations if you cannot reach a medical facility on your own. This coverage also gets you back home.
• Trip cancellation : Reimburses your trip costs if you cancel for a covered reason, such as a job loss, when you get sick or your family member is sick, and you must cancel your non-refundable flight.
• Trip interruption : When your flight is cancelled and you are stranded at the airport. Reimburses your unused trip costs and unplanned expenses (new airfare, transportation, etc.) if you have to end your trip and return home for a covered reason, such as a family member being injured or weather damage to your home.
• Accidental death, injury or disablement benefit : Pays an indemnity (up to the policy limit) for the loss of life or functioning limbs to you or your beneficiary (ies) in the event of an accident while traveling.
• Overseas funeral expenses.
• Repatriation of remains : Coordinates and pays for repatriation in the event you or a traveling companion dies on your trip.
• Delayed departure, Flight Connection missed due to airline schedule : Reimburses you for unexpected costs (alternative transportation or flight changes) due to missed connections, such as those caused by mechanical problems, inclement weather, or involuntary bumping.
• Lost, stolen or damaged baggage, personal effects or travel documents : Reimburses you replacement value up to plan limits for your personal items and your bags, Passport or wallets even if they are lost, stolen, or destroyed after your flight.
• Delayed baggage (and emergency replacement of essential items) : Reimburses you for unexpected costs (such as a change in clothing or personal essentials) due to baggage delays. Luggage lost with insulin or emergency medical prescription inside.
• Flight Accident : Provides a lump sum benefit (up to the policy limit) if loss of life or limb occurs while boarding, traveling in, or disembarking from an airplane during a covered trip.
• Travel Delays due to weather : Reimburses you for unexpected costs (lodging, meals, etc.) when your trip is delayed for a covered reason, such as a traffic accident, a union strike, or severe weather.
• Assistance Services : Multi-lingual operators stand by to help insured travelers locate nearby medical care, arrange emergency transportation, handle payments, arrange alternative flights, and more. Concierge services, business assistance services, and roadside assistance services are included in some plans as well.

Airline rules and travel insurance in pregnancy : Most airlines will be happy to carry you up to 27 weeks pregnant without asking questions. After that, when the risk of going into labor increases, you may require a letter from your doctor or midwife confirming your due date. It should also state that you are unlikely to go into labor on the flight and that you are safe to fly. By the time you are 27 weeks pregnant, travelling can feel a lot more complicated with many insurers reluctant to give cover. Other insurers have an even lower threshold and won't insure you beyond 26 or 27 weeks pregnancy. That means that you won't be covered if you cancelled your flight or incurred costs because you're pregnant. If you are used to travelling frequently and already have an annual policy, it is important to tell your insurer you are pregnant. Ask if you are still covered now your circumstances have changed. Make sure your policy covers you for any eventuality, such as early birth, medical care during labor, and expenses incurred if you go into labor abroad and need to change your return trip date.

Coverage for flight Insurance : When you purchase an airline flight insurance policy, all of the people you travel with are covered. Any regularly scheduled commercial airline flight will be covered under the policy, even if it is not your departure and return flight. For example, if you tour Europe on your vacation, and take several small flights while in Europe, each one of these flights, as well as your trans-Atlantic flight, will be covered.

You can purchase this coverage all the way up until the day before you leave. If you should be killed, your beneficiaries receive the benefit paid by your policy completely income tax free. This means they will not have to worry about claiming it as an income. They would receive the policy amount if you are killed on an airplane crash or as a result of an airplane accident. And, there is no health clause on most policies, which means even if you are in poor health, you will be approved.

Coverage includes not only your life, but also coverage for dismemberment or blindness as a result of the plane being in an accident. Also, if you are in some other vehicle belonging to your airline, such as a shuttle taking you to your plane that is involved in an accident you would be covered. Even if your plane lands in the water and your body is never found, your beneficiaries will be paid. It will be assumed that you were killed in the accident after a set number of weeks without a sign of your body.

Pros and Cons for flight Insurance : While most people do not want to think about the fact that they could be killed in an airline accident, it is true. And in today's terror ridden society, you never know what could happen when you are on a plane. That is why so many are choosing to purchase air travel insurance, to keep their families safe should they be on a flight that crashes.

There are many pros to purchasing flight insurance. The most obvious reason to consider this insurance purchase is the peace of mind and protection that it offers. When you fly, you know your family will be secure if something happens to you if you have an insurance policy. You can rest easier while traveling knowing this.

Another pro towards purchasing air travel life insurance is that it is extremely affordable. You can have a one million dollar policy for just over fifty dollars, or a more reasonable amount, such as $300,000, for less than twenty dollars. This is hardly even a noticeable fee when you consider the high cost of today's airline tickets. This is a small price to pay for peace of mind.

However, if you have a life insurance policy in place already for every person you are traveling with, there may not be a need for airline travel flight insurance. Your personal life insurance policy could be enough to take care of those you leave behind. The likelihood of dying in an airline related accident is slim, and many feel that even though the policies are affordable, they are still a waste of money. It is up to you to decide whether or not airline travel insurance is for you and your family.

Flight insurance is relatively inexpensive because few people end up making claims against the policies. The cost of flight insurance varies, depending on the value, originating cities and destinations of the flights. Flight insurance may not be a good investment for short, domestic flights. The cost for flight insurance for short, domestic flights can be between 10 and 15 percent of the cost of the flight. If you fly into areas that have frequent weather delays, however, flight insurance may provide a hotel if your flight is delayed. For longer international flights, travel insurance is cheaper as a percentage of the total flight cost. If your travel is delayed by various factors, your flight insurance would often cover the cost of hotel rooms and flights.

If you fly in areas that are at risk for flight delays or cancellations, travel insurance can be an advantage. If you are flying into a location, for example, that has bad weather forecast for your departure date, flight insurance may help defray some of the costs of potential delays. However, cancellations because of war, nervous or psychological disorders or, in some cases, terrorist acts are not covered by many policies. If flying into a location with a possibility of flight delays because of these reasons, flight insurance may not be a good investment.

What to watch out for when buying Air Travel Insurance :

• Don’t get more coverage than you need.
• Purchase directly from the company. Purchasing your travel insurance plan from a reputable company that is independent of your travel operators (such as cruise lines) will give you the most coverage for the best price. The best option is to purchase directly from the insurance company website.
• Read your entire policy carefully so you know exactly what your Air Travel Insurance covers.
• Overseas travel is especially challenging and having Air Travel Insurance when traveling overseas will give you peace of mind and prepare for any unfortunate event.

Things to do after purchasing a travel insurance plan :

• Print and carry your policy details when you travel. Make at least two copies of your confirmation e-mail and travel plan documents. Keep one copy with you in your carry-on luggage or on your mobile device, and leave one behind with a friend or family member. Keep the contact information and policy number in your wallet or purse, so you have that information handy when you need it.
• Contact your insurance company with assistance needs or claim questions. Your trip insurance provides an assistance services number to call when you have claim questions or need help. If you run into a snag during your trip, the operators can help you locate medical offices, track your lost luggage; recover non refundable costs, book alternative transportation, and much more. Always call these folks before you cancel your trip or abandon it to return home. Call them when you check into a hospital (or as soon after as possible).

www.wikipedia.org
www.travelinsurancereview.net
www.travelinsuranz.com
www.airtravelinsurance.org

Customer Empowerment

Security Related Incidents

Aircraft Hijacking

Aircraft hijacking (also known as skyjacking and sky controlling) is the unlawful seizure of an aircraft by an individual or a group. In most cases, the pilot is forced to fly according to the orders of the hijackers. Occasionally, however, the hijackers have flown the aircraft themselves. In at least one case, a plane was hijacked by the official pilot.

Causes of Hijacking : Most aircraft hijackers intend to use the passengers as hostages, either for monetary ransom or for some political or administrative concession by authorities. Motives vary from demanding the release of certain inmates to highlighting the grievances of a particular community Hijackers also have used aircraft as a weapon to target particular locations.

Prevention of Hijacking : The first and most important thing to remember is that ‘Prevention is better than cure’. Therefore, the airport authority plays a very important role in it. Sometimes due to lack of attention and laziness terrorist can easily slip through security check in, and as a result hijacking takes place. This was very common in most airports but after the terrible incident of 11th September 2001, security is very tight and more flexible. Nowadays cockpit doors on most commercial airlines have been strengthened and are now bullet resistant. Airport security plays a major role in preventing hijackers. Screening passengers with metal detectors and luggage with x-ray machines helps prevent weapons from being taken on to an aircraft. Any person who is a threat to civil aviation is banned from flying. Also only India has the full body checking with detectors to check passengers before they are boarded in an airplane.

Air Traffic Control for Hijacking : First thing to do when hijacked is to inform air traffic control. Pilots can communicate with the air traffic control in such a way that the hijackers will no be able to understand. A pliot will squawk(Transponder code) 7500(seven five zero zero) to the air traffic control. This should be done when possible and safe. An air traffic controller who suspects an aircraft may have been hijacked may ask the pilot to confirm "squawking assigned code." If the aircraft is not being hijacked, the pilot should not squawk 7500 and should inform the controller accordingly. A pilot under duress may also elect to respond that the aircraft is not being hijacked, but then neglect to change to a different squawk code. In this case the controller would make no further requests and immediately inform the appropriate authorities. A complete lack of a response would also be taken to indicate a possible hijacking. Of course, a loss of radio communications may also be the cause for a lack of response, in which case a pilot would usually squawk 7600 anyway.

Handling Hijackers : Before the September 11, 2001 attacks, pilots and flight attendants were trained to adopt the "Common Strategy" tactic, which was approved by the FAA. It taught crew members to comply with the hijackers' demands, get the plane to land safely and then let the security forces handle the situation. Crew members advised passengers to sit quietly in order to increase their chances of survival. They were also trained not to make any 'heroic' moves that could endanger themselves or other people. The FAA realized that the longer a hijacking persisted, the more likely it would end peacefully with the hijackers reaching their goal.

September 11 presented an unprecedented threat because it involved suicide hijackers who could fly an aircraft. The "Common Strategy" approach was not designed to handle suicide hijackings, and the hijackers were able to exploit a weakness in the civil aviation security system. Since then the "Common Strategy" policy has no longer been used.

Since the September 11th attacks, the situation for crew members, passengers and hijackers has changed. As in the case of United Airlines Flight 93, where an airliner crashed into a field during a fight between flight attendants, passengers and hijackers while likely heading to the White House or the United States Capitol, crew members and passengers now have to calculate the risks of passive cooperation, not only for themselves but also for those on the ground. Future hijackers most likely will encounter greater resistance from passengers and flight crews, making a successful hijacking more unlikely. An example of active passenger and crew member resistance occurred when passengers and flight attendants of American Airlines Flight 63 from Paris to Miami on December 22, 2001, helped prevent Richard Reid from igniting explosives hidden in his shoe. Flight attendants and pilots now receive extensive anti-hijacking and self-defense training designed to thwart a hijacking.

Aviation Security in India

Aviation Security - International