News:
According to the Associated Press, the United States Department of Homeland Security will soon begin increasing requirements for checking passenger lists against the US ‘No Fly’ list. Current policy requires that international flights destined for the United States submit passenger lists to the Department of Homeland Security within 15 minutes of takeoff. The changes, which may be in place as soon as early 2007, will require passenger lists to be submitted (and checked by the DHS) before the flight can even take off.

Such measures were proposed by Congress in early 2005, although the airlines have shown clear objections. Main concerns revolve around delays caused by technological problems and passengers arriving late or last minute for their flights. For flights from Europe, extra issues are raised due to European Union laws and regulations regarding privacy.

Although the recent terror plot thwarted by the British and American governments brought similar measures for flights from the United Kingdom to the US, Homeland Security officials were already working on implementing the plan.

Views:
What can I say? This seems like a great idea. I understand the concerns of the airlines, in that they strive to maintain records of good service and on time flights, but it seems better to get the checking done before the plane is in the sky and becomes a potential object of terror. I see it as a very real possibility that, had the recent terror plot actually been carried out and the planes turned around mid-flight, terrorists could easily carry out there dirty work in the fifteen or twenty minutes it would take to get the plane turned around and back to the airport. True, they wouldn’t be able to directly attack the United States, but blowing up a plane with 100s on board is still a terrible act of terror, regardless of where it occurs.

It also seems to me that airlines could easily decrease the boarding window and simply deny boarding to any late arriving passengers. People are told over and over to arrive early - if they don’t listen, they really only have themselves to blame. It is clear that this will upset many people who are on tight schedules, or are making connecting flights, but safety and security should be paramount. If these new measures prevent even one terrorist attack, save even one life, then it will all be worth it.

As for privacy concerns, it is my opinion that the European Union can tend to go overboard on some things. Heck, they even require notices on websites when your personal information is to be stored in a nonmember nation (including places like the United States and Canada which have strong privacy laws of there own). The fact of the matter is that, as a sovereign nation, the United States has full and total control of its airspace and anything coming into the country. If anyone objects to these rules, then don’t come into the United States in the first place. Harsh, yes, but safety and security is worth it.

Common Sense:
My best advice for the flying public would be to heed suggestions to arrive at the airport early, especially for international flights, and make sure you are ready to board when it is time. If your flight gets delayed while the passenger list is screened remember the simple fact that it may very well save your life or that of a loved one. True, security can be a real pain, but we all have to remember that ours is just not the seemingly safe world it once was. Terrorism is a fact of life: we have to learn to live with a little extra security in the hopes that we will never become victims ourselves.

Source: http://apnews.myway.com/article/20060817/D8JHU9F00.html