ID cards 'needed' for local air travel

[Hvr]

And now it starts in Australia.

Fingerprint or iris scan-linked domestic flight passenger cards are needed to ensure people feel safer and security scares such as last month's evacuation of Brisbane's domestic airport are not repeated, a security organisation says.

What a load of rubbish!

This is the real reason why this hysteria is being whipped up.

The Australian general manager of Unisys, Andrew Barkla, told AAP that registered traveller cards were already in use in the US to speed up security checks and provide better safety.
And, they should be used in Australia, he said.

It is a money making venture, nothing more.

"... I think it's certainly something that has shown great benefit overseas that could equally be applied to Australia."

Some elaboration on this quote with strong metrics would be appreciated. I bet there aren't any where regular pax support these otiose measures that are truly an impediment to safe travel rather than assisting in providing true security rather than a false sense of security because "something is being done".

A survey by the company late last year found around 98 per cent of respondents believed more needed to be done to make domestic air travel safer.

I'll bet not one regular traveller was surveyed. And to double my money I'll bet that the questions were framed in such a way that that "yes"was the only possible answer.

 

[vitaminp]

Yes, lining the pockets of Unisys makes me feel a whole lot safer. Be careful everyone, watch out for those general men and women on the street.

 

[moa999]

And why did the Brisbane scare happen

Because 9 people waltzed through security without being checked.

No not because of no ID cards,
because someone (human) stuffed up, left a door/ gate open, stopped looking at their monitor etc etc...

 

[dajop]

Why stop at flights? If London and Madrid are anything to go by, this sort of ID card should be required for all travel on public transport. Same for attending any sort of major event. Not to mention if accessing hotels, nightclubs or restaurants.

 

[Commuter]

Why stop at flights? If London and Madrid are anything to go by, this sort of ID card should be required for all travel on public transport. Same for attending any sort of major event. Not to mention if accessing hotels, nightclubs or restaurants.

Or for just being out in a public space, perhaps.

I just love how they make aviation a target of such paranoia. I guess it's an easy target.

 

[simongr]

It is the old story that you can be seen to be doing something to make things "safer" thus getting a pat on the back from voters whilst not actually inconveniencing many people.

 

[Flying Fox]

Stolen ID Cards will get around these suggested security measures.

 

[JohnK]

Who thinks up this rubbish? I carry a drivers licence with me at all times and this should be enough for ID. There is no way someone is going to be scanning my iris for any form of ID.

We are not going to be safer because of special ID cards. Any person can still be a respected member of society with authentic ID and an ordinary life and at the same time conspire to cause harm. We will never be safe unless you find out a way to predict the future but then life would be boring....

 

[ANstar]

I dont think we need new ID cards - I do believe though that we should show our passport or drivers license for domestic travel.

 

[thadocta]

I dont think we need new ID cards - I do believe though that we should show our passport or drivers license for domestic travel.

Why? As long as EVERYBODY is properly screened prior to entering the sterile area, then what does it matter who is through there and who is travelling?

Dave

 

[ANstar]

Why?

I'd like to know that the people flying are who they say they are.

I've known work colleages to fly under another persons name to get the benefits of status etc etc which I think is not right.

 

[dajop]

Why? As long as EVERYBODY is properly screened prior to entering the sterile area, then what does it matter who is through there and who is travelling?

Dave

Exactly. If someone is motivated and sophisticated enough to plot an attack on aircraft, I'd imagine it would be a fairly trivial matter to generate a fake drivers licence. And as JohnK correctly points out above:

Any person can still be a respected member of society with authentic ID and an ordinary life and at the same time conspire to cause harm

 

[simongr]

Deleted - rambling shabby comment ill conceived and communicated

 

[oz_mark]

Who thinks up this rubbish? I carry a drivers licence with me at all times and this should be enough for ID. There is no way someone is going to be scanning my iris for any form of ID.

We are not going to be safer because of special ID cards. Any person can still be a respected member of society with authentic ID and an ordinary life and at the same time conspire to cause harm. We will never be safe unless you find out a way to predict the future but then life would be boring....

Agree. At the end of the day it is what is on the plane rather than who is on the plane that is a problem.

I read an interesting report once about different forms of ID by measuring things liek fingerprints, palm veins and iris scanning. People in different countries had marked differences in what they would accept and what they would not. Australians were generally against iris scanning,

 

[Flying Fox]

Why? As long as EVERYBODY is properly screened prior to entering the sterile area, then what does it matter who is through there and who is travelling?

Dave

Totally agree.

I would hate for us to get to a situation like in the USA where if you don't have a boarding pass you can't get into the sterile area. This means, no-one can wave goodbye to you from the gate and kids can't watch planes take-off.

 

[Dave Noble]

Totally agree.

I would hate for us to get to a situation like in the USA where if you don't have a boarding pass you can't get into the sterile area. This means, no-one can wave goodbye to you from the gate and kids can't watch planes take-off.

Conversely of course, it means that there are less people airside and at busy times, queues at security would be reduced since there would be less people to process

Dave

 

[Platy]

I would hate for us to get to a situation like in the USA where if you don't have a boarding pass you can't get into the sterile area

I must beg to differ on this. IMHO it is extremely inefficient to security screen countless members of the non flying public. Those costs are passed onto us, the travellers. People can make their fond farewells at the screening point. There are still plenty of places to watch planes.

Furthermore, there are times when there are considerable queues at screening points, no doubt exacerbated by non travellers unnecessarily entering the sterile area.

Of course, the real reason this will NOT change is that retail/catering outlets are typically within the domestic airport sterile areas in Australia, so if non travellers were denied access retail sales would be affected.

Of course I do rather like being able to get my boarding pass at the QP if OLCI is unavailable!

Sure, the screening should be done properly in the first place I have seen security staff at one airport fail an audit test with an insector successfully smuggling a replica pistol through the screening process!

 

[JohnK]

I read an interesting report once about different forms of ID by measuring things liek fingerprints, palm veins and iris scanning. People in different countries had marked differences in what they would accept and what they would not. Australians were generally against iris scanning,

Is there anyone that would tolerate an implementation of iris scanning? I am definitely against iris scanning. I am also totally against any form of implanted computer chips, barcoding and to a certain extent fingerprinting as well.

I feel that with time any form of identification can be duplicated.

 

[thadocta]

I'd like to know that the people flying are who they say they are.

I've known work colleages to fly under another persons name to get the benefits of status etc etc which I think is not right.

So it has absolutely NOTHING to do with security then? Glad we have that sorted.

Dave

 

[Commuter]

ID requirements are nothing more than a darn window dressing.
Sigh...

I don't mind showing my ID but I don't like the way it's presented as being for improved security.