This Time, From Non-Commercial Planes And Helos

More than three years and billions of dollars after 9/11, how safe is our air transportation system? Not very, according to a new report from the DHS and FBI. The report says al Qaeda and its affiliates may be looking to hijack charter aircraft -- including helicopters -- to stage more attacks against the American Homeland.

The report says business and general aviation targets may be more and more interesting to al Qaeda because they're not as well-guarded as commercial flights, yet admits "it is impossible to protect all of the infrastructure sectors equally across the entire United States." The report was revealed in the New York Times.

Since 9/11, Washington has spent some $12 billion to upgrade commercial air travel facilities in the US. Some members of Congress say that's enough -- that it's time to shift the focus of security to ports, power plants and rail facilities.

"This is a disaster waiting to happen," said Senator Joseph Biden (D-DE), focusing on the needs for increased rail security.

But the report says al Qaeda is still looking for chinks in the armor surrounding commercial aviation. Commercial flights, the report says, are "likely to remain a target and a platform for terrorists," and members of Al Qaeda appear determined to study and test new American security measures to "uncover weaknesses," according to the Times.

"Spectacular terrorist attacks can generate an outpouring of support for the perpetrators from sympathizers and terrorism sponsors with similar agendas," the report said. "The public fear resulting from a terrorist hijacking or aircraft bombing also serves as a powerful motivator for groups seeking to further their causes."

Perhaps as disturbing to general aviation is this statement in the report: "As security measures improve at large commercial airports, terrorists may choose to rent or steal general aviation aircraft housed at small airports with little or no security."

Al Qaeda, the report said, "has apparently considered the use of helicopters as an alternative to recruiting operatives for fixed-wing aircraft operations." The DHS and FBI suggested the maneuverability and "non-threatening appearance" of helicopters make them especially attractive in suicide or chemical weapons attacks.

The Times reports federal officials say they've tightened security at airports and heliports in the New York area, as well as the security surrounding certain charter operations.

"The report validates TSA's sense of urgency in our daily efforts to secure aviation," said TSA chief David Stone (Rear Admiral, USN, retired), "and that same sense of urgency can be found in our work securing every other mode of transportation."

FMI: www.dhs.gov, www.fbi.gov, www.tsa.gov