Get a life - security is for everyone including 86 year olds!

[munitalP]

Quoted from News.com.au

"BRISBANE Airport has been asked to explain why it made an 86-year-old woman stand while her wheelchair, walking stick and shoes were searched by security officers.

John Tscheppera said his 86-year-old mother-in-law was selected for a random scan as she went through security before a flight to Cairns with her two daughters last Thursday.

He said she was made to get out of her wheelchair and take her shoes off while her wheelchair, shoes and wooden walking stick were swept with a security wand.

"My mother-in-law is 86, she's most of the time wheelchair-bound," he said.

"She's frail, bent over and anyone with half a brain could look at her close up and see that she's old, frail and needs nurture, a lot of TLC.

"To subject an 86-year-old to something like that is a bit over the top."

Mr Tscheppera said the family wanted an explanation as to why such a thorough search was carried out.

He said he understood the need for airport safety but it should have been obvious his mother-in-law posed no threat.

Comment was being sought from Brisbane Airport."

A comment from Mr! - GET A LIFE MR TSCHEPPERA! Although I don't like the security naz_'S, they are keeping us safe from idiots who would happily stuff kg's of explosive into the hollow frame of a wheel chair and blow it up. Have a look at IRAQ for a recent example.

Keep up the good work security naz_S...


Mr!
:shock:

 

[Dave Noble]

So they think that there should be a policy that certain customers are exempt security checks?

That seems insane to me.

Dave

 

[Harpoon]

This kind of thing is always a bit difficult.

On one hand you're right munitalP, everyone should be searched and a wheelchair is as much a risk as my water bottle. You're right.

But on the other hand it should be plainly obious that a 'random' security search needs to be done with a little care for an individual restricted to a wheelchair - especially if you ask them to stand and remove shoes etc. Ask them questions, fine, swap their backpack for drugs, fine, run the sniffer dog over the chair. But making them stand which is obviously going to cause them grief and pain and possibly embarressment is not good.

Imagine for example if an amputee in a wheelchair is told to get out of the chair for a 'random' security search, which will be a real hassle and possibly embarress them etc. In the same way if a person is clearly intellectually disabled travelling with a carer, you're not going to submit them to a 'random' interogation or something along those lines either.

A little brain power and judgement is needed sometimes by those security folk.

I am a fan of them being strict and I appreciate there being long security queues as it makes me feel just that little bit safer. But there's a big difference between being strict with security and downright stupid about it.

And Dave I don't think it's a matter of making somebody exempt, it's more about using your head and perhaps modifying the search or something if you want to search the old lady who can barely walk.

 

[Dave Noble]

And Dave I don't think it's a matter of making somebody exempt, it's more about using your head and perhaps modifying the search or something if you want to search the old lady who can barely walk.

Yes it is...

"it should have been obvious his mother-in-law posed no threat."

"Mr Tscheppera said the family wanted an explanation as to why such a thorough search was carried out."


If they were saying that the search was being done in public with no option for any privacy and they had a complaint about the process for example, that would be one thing , however the quotes seem to clearly state that they thought that this passenger should have been exempt

Dave

 

[Nutcase]

The Media is all over the aviation industry like a cheap suit at the moment and this now includes airports and security.

Bottom line, Wheelchairs are an excellent way of concealing drugs, weapons (as they are metal) and other contraband items. Who would ever think that a frail, elderly person would want to smuggle stuff? - But her carers might.

Im sure that this security check was handled as delicately as possible.

 

[Travel Guru]

A comment from Mr! - GET A LIFE MR TSCHEPPERA! Although I don't like the security naz_'S, they are keeping us safe from idiots who would happily stuff kg's of explosive into the hollow frame of a wheel chair and blow it up. Have a look at IRAQ for a recent example.

Keep up the good work security naz_S...


Mr!
:shock:

I second that comment MP.

TG

 

[Flashback]

But on the other hand it should be plainly obious that a 'random' security search needs to be done with a little care for an individual restricted to a wheelchair - especially if you ask them to stand and remove shoes etc. Ask them questions, fine, swap their backpack for drugs, fine, run the sniffer dog over the chair. But making them stand which is obviously going to cause them grief and pain and possibly embarressment is not good.

ala Schapelle Corby style?

 

[vt]

+1 to security.

Just like I ALWAYS take my shoes off at CBR and ALWAYS take my belt off at BNE, people will always find a way to circumvent the system.

What if the story was Security failed in stopping anthrax / drug loaded wheelchair on flight xx_ ?

What sort of cruxifiction would they get then?

 

[bambbbam2]

+1 to security.

Just like I ALWAYS take my shoes off at CBR and ALWAYS take my belt off at BNE,

Ahh.. so you're the one slowing down the security line unnecessarily..
I've never had a belt cause any problem. My shoes beep however every time so I simply take them off *before joining* the line.

 

[vt]

nope....my point is that I know my shoes/belt will cause the thing to beep. So I take them off.

If terrorists/druggies learn that the aussies are scared to scan wheelchair, I believe airlines will see an increase is disability pasengers.

 

[straitman]

Ahh.. so you're the one slowing down the security line unnecessarily..
I've never had a belt cause any problem. My shoes beep however every time so I simply take them off *before joining* the line.

bambbbam2,

From experience I have to say I agree with vt here.

Different items seem to have different effects at different locations. It is to do with the sensitivity that is set on the Metal Detector and the model of the Metal Detector.

A typical PI-based metal detector sends about 100 pulses per second, but the number can vary greatly based on the manufacturer and model, ranging from about 25 pulses per second to over 1,000.

If you are wearing your watch and your arm is near your belt level then you are more likely to set off the detector than if you hold your arm up.

 

[UP4014]

So they think that there should be a policy that certain customers are exempt security checks?

That seems insane to me.

Dave

Dave, I don't think he was insisting on exemption, but having an airport wheel chair handly for the 86 year would have been wise (for a bit of dignity) as we all know they don't even give you chair to sit on to put your shoes back.

Security is a sham and a shame at Australian airports.

 

[straitman]

Dave, I don't think he was insisting on exemption, but having an airport wheel chair handly for the 86 year would have been wise (for a bit of dignity) as we all know they don't even give you chair to sit on to put your shoes back.

Security is a sham and a shame at Australian airports.

BAM1748,

The last time I went through (March) there were chairs available at BNE.

 

[vt]

Dave, I don't think he was insisting on exemption, but having an airport wheel chair handly for the 86 year would have been wise (for a bit of dignity) as we all know they don't even give you chair to sit on to put your shoes back.

Security is a sham and a shame at Australian airports.

Which airport security do you go through? They do have seats for you to put your shoes back on in BNE just after the detectors.

 

[straitman]

If you don't like the current system then try this :!:

Full body scanners coming to an aiport near you.

 

[Driver]

Is there not a protocol in the airline information you read before traveling? I would imagine a phone call to the airline to let them know you are traveling with a wheelchair, expect to go through security - help would be appreciated.

My quite elderly mother still occasionally flies - she (yes, herself) rings the airline, arranges to be met and helped through the process of bag check, security and assisted on board. She is on a walking stick. Never a problem.

What's the old proverb? Ask and ye shall receive? Now and then it works.

 

[simongr]

A lot of people don't think about flying or the rigmarole involved. Why else would we have liquids issues and nail scissors still being collected every day?

Even frequent fliers are not immune - at LHR T5 a couple of weeks ago a pax argued heatedly with the security about contact lens solution of 125ml that they had bought the previous week airside and they should be allowed to carry it. This person was BA Gold (evidenced by seeing them in the T5 First gallery - only accessible by being BA Gold/OWE as if flying in F you can access the Concorde room which is much easier to get to than the F lounge :evil and this person was still arguing - they must fly a lot but still don't understand the rules...

 

[serfty]

... - they must fly a lot but still don't understand the rules...

Or believe themselves to be above them ...

 

[medhead]

If you don't like the current system then try this :!:

Full body scanners coming to an aiport near you.

They've already asked to introduce these things in Oz. I understand they were told that to go away and read up on the first principle of the international radiation protection system - justification.

Unless they can show that the benefit in saved life justifies the extra risk from the radiation exposure (do not believe the article on this point, these devices involve radiation exposure), they will have a hard time getting these in use here.

however the quotes seem to clearly state that they thought that this passenger should have been exempt

A lot of people are pretty quick to dismiss anti-QF quotes from News Corp. Why accept the News Corp quote in this case?

 

[medhead]

Why else would we have liquids issues and nail scissors still being collected every day?

What besides the fact that these restrictions are a joke? No nail scissors, not nail clippers with 15 mm nail files attached. But they happily let me carry on a dozen, large, empty, glass beer bottles. When you see the english pub brawl in movies, they're not jamming nail scissors in peoples faces saying "stitch this jimmy"

And the liquid - They have worked out that it takes about 1 litre of the liquid explosive to bring down an aircraft. You do the maths on how big the little plastic bag is.