On Thu, 20 May 2004 14:24:03 +0200, Thomas Peel wrote:

Blue schrieb:

I have a question that can only possibly be answered by real airline pilots
and pilots of the heavy oil-burners at that. Even they may not know - or
want to tell the answer.

I have heard that most if not all of the heavies now flying have special
equipment in them to thwart hijacking. The equipment that I am referring to
is not just an autopilot which is standard but additional mechanical devices
to completely remove control from the cockpit making it possible to take
control away from the flight officers and giving that control to an outside
pilot which could be in a following aircraft or at an airport or anywhere.

Hope a real airline pilot will comment on this question.

Would you want to fly in a plane equipped like that? I would not. The
chances of the system going wrong leaving the plane being controlled by
nobody are higher than the chances of being hijacked by a suicide
bomber.
You should read Bruce Schneier's book about real security.
http://www.schneier.com/book-beyondfear.html

T.

I am in total agreement with you. There would have to be a way to disable
the remote control from the cockpit and how would you keep the hijackers
from learning how to do this?

I will get Schneier's book. I have a couple of his booksand have met him,
but didn't know about that book.

He also has an email news letter that comes out monthly that usually has a
lot of info on various types of security. to subscribe go to
http://www.schneier.com/crypto-gram.html.

JakeInHartsel