Thoughts about the Stolen Canadian Cessna Lands In Missouri

Lots of noise about this recent incident. It looks to me like the system worked. No one was hurt physically and the problem seems to be adequately assessed by our military. Sure it is expensive. What is the alternative? We have freedoms in this country we need to protect. Canada has similar freedoms to protect. In the USA, TSA is already requiring more documentation and more controls for smaller airports and the planes stationed there. The new procedures are a preventive strike against an incident which has yet to occur since 9/11--someone using a small plane as a destructive weapon. The line on how much security and infrastructure is needed is subjective at this point: cost vs. freedom vs. tangible threat is hard to balance here.

Can security from small aircraft threats be trusted on the vigilant GA pilots? In many cases, yes. A watchful eye is maintained by many pilots. Pilots are trained to be observant. They are protecting themselves, their planes, their passengers and their freedom. We do not hear about all the incidents adverted by GA pilots in the news. Boring stuff. Instead, news jumps on incidents such as the this latest one that required military involvement. I can tell you that FBO personnel at airports are watchful and observant. Many times it is out of pure curiosity. Either way, they see things. That's what we want. That is what TSA is asking FBOs and pilots to do. It is being done. It is working.

Now, let me address a few crazy comments found in the news with no factual basis.

Why are some people even suggesting this a government sponsored test? It serves no purpose to speculate in this direction without sufficient evidence. It's pure paranoia.

Based on scientific evidence, the FAA has established that oxygen is required by pilots at altitudes greater than 12000 feet for over 30 minutes. This guy was way above that for longer. Seems like oxygen deficiency is plausible. Why do some people doubt? This guy obviously had a deficiency of some kind, regardless of oxygen. In a stressful situation, the pilot practically shutdown mentally.

Why are some people complaining about the key left in the plane? If someone really wanted to take a plane of this size, a key is not required. The key is a simple deterrent. That's all. It is fairly simple to 'hot wire' a Cessna 172.

Could an explosive be placed on plane like this? Yes. Nothing of great size. Hopping a fence with a 100 pound bag is hardly easy; it's a bit risky if the intent is too complete an act of violence. Heavily loaded, chances are the plane of this size would not have made it to any critical destination with a heavy load. I would think that a terrorist organization would take an approach that has better chances of success than a guy hoping a fence to steal a little plane. Maybe I am wrong.

In the end, I can understand not leaving things to chance. I understand the show of concern. But we should look at the problem objectively. The best thing to improve is educate pilots and FBO personnel on what looks suspicious. I would not mind having a training like that. I do feel empowered to stop any threat to property or persons. As a pilot, safety in all aspects of aviaition is tantamount.