Frightening sign of the times
A message for all those nervous air travellers, don’t look out the back of the plane.
A report today suggests El Al Israel Airlines has installed anti-missile systems on all its planes, becoming the first commercial carrier to field a protected fleet amid growing fears of aviation terrorism.
The report said aircraft were equipped with the Israeli-made “Flight Guard”, which automatically releases diversionary flares if a heat-seeking missile is detected by on-board sensors.
El Al is already regarded as the world’s most security-conscious airline due to its stringent anti-hijacking precautions — such as armed guards on all flights and very close pre-flight checks on passenger lists.
The likelihood of a shoulder-fired missile actually downing a passenger jet is considered to be remote, as such aircraft are built to withstand the loss of an engine.
An Airbus A300 cargo plane flown by DHL survived a missile strike over Baghdad in 2004.
So just put on the headphones, order a stiff drink and watch the movie, preferably anything without Bruce Willis.
Graham Muldoon
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