Any new info re:DCA?
 

Have reservations between DCA and another city on USAir for 3 weeks from now. Any rumblings about a reopening? Or are the drums saying it may not reopen at all?

For the latest on National's future, see page A-1 on today's Washington Post. Reopening is perhaps a bit further in the future than most thought. Also, the Post today reports on facial imaging techniques which were used in Tampa for the most recent super bowl. This may be tried at National at some point. If you are scheduled to fly into National in 3-4 weeks, you should go ahead now and rearrange to come into Dulles (or BWI, if necessary). The odds are National will still be closed then. As the Post reports, reopening will be decided in the White House. It will of course reopen ... it's just a matter of how much security will be built in before people say enough, and demand reopening. Today's articles are helpful in understanding what must occur. Ciao

Boy, L, I read the article you mention, and I just don't get it. Facial imaging? I must be missing something. Facial imaging may be useful in the distant future, but what good would it do now without a reliable database of terrorists' images? Surely we don't think we're going to get the bad guys to still and say "cheese" so we can put together a database. <BR> <BR>Doesn't it make a whole lot more sense that every flight out of and into DCA would just have 2 air marshalls on it for the foreseeable future? That program could be off the ground in a week, using existing air marshalls and other D.C. security personnel (secret service, U.S. marshalls) quickly trained to be air markshalls.

Leone, if I lived in DC and could get the Post, I probably wouldn't have had to ask this question..... I've gone to their website, hard to know which article you are referring to, but nothing about the airport jumps out at me. <BR> <BR>

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...2001Sep23.html <BR> <BR>Lots of problems with that airport, for sure....

Access the Post over the internet, obviously. I gave you page A-1. You will see the aricle on the very front page of the paper. Cannot imagine you're having a problem finding it. You asked for the help ... I gave it. <BR> <BR>Facial imaging, Cindy, will be recommended to Mineta by his two task forces. The future you speak of is right now ... this technology is in use today in certain parts of the city of Tampa. It was used in the super bowl. The pictures for comparison, millions and millions of them, already exist. They are in numerous databases. They are accessed and compared very quickly. It is a very simple approach. It will not be necssary to photgraph people. <BR> <BR>Keep in mind that the problem is not planes taking off from National .... it's the planes arriving in DC, flying down river from the north. Key sites are 1-2 seconds off the flight path as the planes prepare to turn right at the 14th Street Bridge. Therefore, it's necessary to scan passengers at all airports serving DCA. There are articles in the paper today that explain how it works. The White House will make the decision when to reopen DCA. Ciao

Thanks, L, for clearing this up. But now I am more sure than ever that this facial imaging isn't the short-term answer to get DCA open. <BR> <BR>For this to work, every airport that has service to DCA has to have this fancy technology? That will take forever. Give me air marshalls who will subdue any terrorists on flights in-bound to or out-bound from DCA, coupled with decent screening on the ground to make sure only the air marshall has a gun, and I think that is enough security to insure no plane deviates off course on its way into Washington. <BR> <BR>We have limited resources, and I'm not convinced of the practicality of the facial imaging for getting National opened up next week.

Well, Cindy, it may not be cleared up just yet. You seem to be distorting what I've posted. I endorse the idea of marshalls. I also want pilots armed. I favor whatever will get National open soon. I have not suggested I favor facial imaging ... I described how it works, and that is is not futuristic in the least, and I said that Mineta's task forces will recommend it. And it has been suggested by safety experts it might be easily used at DCA. And that does not suggest it must be used at every airport providing service to DCA. Surely it could be assessed in a test at some airport before it is dismissed. It has been controversial in Tampa ... perhaps the travelling public is not ready for it at an airport. I really have nothing more to add to the discussion ... but a favor, please, make certain you do not suggest a position for me ... I can probably make my own mistakes unassisted. And I fail to see any differences at all in our two positions. If you do, life goes on just the same. My opinion is not that important anyway. Have a nice day. Ciao

Leone, you are really irritating sometimes -- since when does an on-line paper have a "page A-1"?

Okay, Leone, I went back for the fourth time to the website and notice that if you are at the "On Line" edition you can click on "print edition" and then click on front page and then mess around looking for articles -- and some of them even specify what page they were on in the paper edition. But a link to the page -- thanks Scorch -- would have been far more helpful.

L wrote: <BR> <BR>"You seem to be distorting what I've posted." <BR> <BR>"But a favor, please, make certain you do not suggest a position for me ... I can probably make my own mistakes unassisted." <BR> <BR>Must you bristle like this? Can't we just politely disagree (and I'm not sure we do) without these accusations?

Yes, Coming to DC, allow me to join you in thanking Scorch. Hopefully, his guidance will make it easier for you to access the Post next time ... speaking of which, ther are additional articles on DCA in today's edition. I'm assuming page numbers would not help. <BR> <BR>Cindy, Cindy ... of course we are in agreement. I could sense we were on the verge of it from the very start. If there was a slight bristle, I'm certain you're first instinct was that but for the grace of god, there go I. Forgiveness, I'm certain, was immediate. <BR> <BR>It must be the weather. I've started off the day by annoying two fellow posters ... when my only intention was to aid. Where did I go wrong ... a question I will surely ponder, at least until I mix a martini this fine evening. Ciao

An update: After Bush briefed Congress, Gephart said DCA would reopen once planes serving it had better cockpit doors. Also, military police may be riding all our planes in the future ... one idea under consideration. Ciao

Aw, no sweat, L. Perhaps I am the one who is being a bit touchy. Something about the idea of having my pilot packin' heat is making me a bit jumpy. :) <BR> <BR>What's your prediction? Do you think baggage screening jobs will become federalized? <BR> <BR>I'll go out on a limb and predict that we will continue with the same old flawed system, with just enough tweaks to get people flying again. Emotions are high now, but people will soon begin to forget the importance of air security, unfortunately. The lobbyists and special interests are very vested in the current system, and they can wait us out, I fear.