[P7_TOM]

The “S” word.

Security – big business, huge.

Scare factor – Politicians begin bed-wetting and cold sweats at the thought that ‘blood’ may be on their hands.

Sanity – Joe Blow pulls into to Gold Coast; wants a park, a pee, a coffee and a rapid exit.

Suspicion – Goons, gumint and show pony’s want to make something out of nothing – Joe has left his ‘ASIC’ in the aircraft.

So what – security distracted, radios chirping, managers summoned.

The way to spot the ‘abnormal’ is to watch for it. Two or three goons harassing old Joe is distracting. While the cats away the mice will play.

Anywhere off an airport, the ASIC is not considered even as part of the points score to open a dodgy bank account. Our ‘non-airline’ pilots could make a great fifth column, utilised properly; instead they are treated as potential ‘violators’ of air side security. Risible? No, it’s a bloody ridiculous, pointless placebo. A soubriquet to reassure the public who have no idea how many miles of fence you need to patrol at an average aerodrome; how many gates there are to watch and just how easy it is to ‘penetrate’ an airfields security ring. The ‘Terrs’ know this, I reckon they must sit back and laugh at the paranoia panic they have induced – oh, and enjoy counting the money their security companies make. Security? my left boot it is. Pantomime; at great cost is a close assessment. When a person can be beaten to death, within the confines of an airport you have to ask the question; did that ladies bra really have traces of ‘gunpowder’, treason and plot?

I know, a bad influence on a young mind.