Sweden: No to US on armed guards

The Swedes said "no" and apparently of adopted "other procedures".
It sounds like a challenge and the US backed off.


"We have reached an agreement with the US authorities for other procedures
in the event of a threat,"

Earl

****








Sweden: No to US on armed guards



Sweden has decided*against putting*armed police on its commercial flights to
and from the United States, following an alternative agreement reached with
US transportation authorities.

"We have reached an agreement with the US authorities for other procedures
in the event of a threat," Swedish Civil Aviation Administration spokesman
Per Froeberg said.

He explained that the Swedish agency had agreed with the Transportation
Security Administration if a threat were issued against a Swedish flight,
they would then discuss necessary security measures.

Cancelling the flight would be the most likely option, Froeberg said.

On Monday, US Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge issued an emergency
directive that foreign carriers put armed police on flights where US
officials deemed there was a terrorist risk.

The announcement came eight days after US officials heightened a nationwide
attack alert, citing intelligence that al-Qaida network wanted to stage an
even bigger strike than the 11*September 2001 attacks.

Pilots working for Scandinavian carrier SAS had opposed Washington's
request, saying they did not want firearms in the cabin and that they
preferred tight security on the ground. SAS management said it was in
principle also opposed to armed guards on flights, but deferred the issue to
police and civil aviation authorities in the three Scandinavian countries.

Britain compromises

Britain's aircraft pilots' body also said on Wednesday it had reached an
agreement with one airline on rules governing armed air marshals, but added
it was still against taking guns onto planes.
*

Few Air France flights were*halted
on Christmas Eve due to threat
"We remain opposed to the whole concept of bringing sky marshal guns on
board an aircraft. This will not make flights more safe," said Jim McAuslan,
general secretary of the British Airline Pilots' Association (BALPA) in a
statement.

BALPA said it would cooperate with stepped-up security measures announced
after six Air France flights between Paris and Los Angeles were cancelled
last week amid "terror" fears.

"We have always said that if the government persists with its decision that
sky marshals be used and if our very serious concerns are met, we shall
cooperate as best we can," McAuslan said.

Under the agreement, with an unnamed airline, the captain of a plane will be
told who the air marshals are and where they sit. The pilot, who will remain
in command during the duration of the flight, will also be in regular
contact with the guards.

The pact also covers issues such as the weapons that can be used, insurance
cover and the crew's legal liability, BALPA said.

The organisation, which represents the vast majority of Britain's 9200
airline pilots, said it hoped to roll out the pact across the airline
industry.

Portugal opposes plan

Also on Wednesday, Portugal's pilots came out against the US proposal,
arguing the measure would greatly jeopardize airline safety.

"Planes have many people inside a small space and it is easy for things to
get out of control," the head of their SPAC union, Angelo Felgueiras, told
private radio TSF.
*

"Planes have many people inside a small space and it is easy for things to
get out of control"

Angelo Felgueiras
Head of SPAC union
"I have been on flights where there have been fist fights and I was grateful
no one had a weapon," he added.

Felgueiras said he believed the plan was well-intentioned, but he argued it
would be better to tighten security on the ground.

He warned armed "sky marshals" could lose control of their guns to
terrorists, or a bullet they fire could miss its target and damage key
airplane equipment.

"The consequences could be dramatic," Felgueiras said.
***
Mixed reaction

The announcement by the United States on Monday that it was ordering foreign
airlines to place armed marshals on selected flights drew a mixed reaction
from international carriers and airline bodies.

The US Department of Homeland Security said the measure went into effect on
Sunday under emergency amendments to federal aviation regulations.

The International Air Transport Association, which represents around 95% of
airlines operating international flights, has opposed the decision outrigh

"Earl Evleth" wrote in message
...
The Swedes said "no" and apparently of adopted "other procedures".
It sounds like a challenge and the US backed off.


"We have reached an agreement with the US authorities for other
procedures
in the event of a threat,"

Earl

****

Just switch to 'instant intense sauna' mode ?
Or play Abba at high volume ?

--
John Owens


Fax 44 1509 89 08 22
www.GoodViews.co.uk

wrote:

"We have reached an agreement with the US authorities for other procedures
in the event of a threat,"

LMAO. Right, in the event of a hijacking the USAF F-16 will just shoot the
sonofabitch out of the air.

Good luck, I hope this helps.

~~~~~
"When a true genius appears in the world,
you may know him by this sign, that the dunces
are all in confederacy against him."

- Jonathan Swift

....while the unarmed sky-Marshall onboard blows his whistle loudly...

Tim K

"H. David Pembrook" wrote in message
...
wrote:

"We have reached an agreement with the US authorities for other
procedures
in the event of a threat,"

LMAO. Right, in the event of a hijacking the USAF F-16 will just
shoot the
sonofabitch out of the air.

Good luck, I hope this helps.

~~~~~
"When a true genius appears in the world,
you may know him by this sign, that the dunces
are all in confederacy against him."

- Jonathan Swift