You can buy pre-scanned charts now, in GeoTIFF format. Not sure about WAC's, but definetely sectionals. If you don't need up to date, you can even find free ones. Here's one place to get them:

mypilotstore.com

However, I don't have any need for a laptop on this trip, and that's a heck of a lot more bulk that a couple of charts. And why should they allow laptops? After all, they are now powerful enough to design nuclear weapons. Nuke-u-lar weapons on an airplane? OMG!

Why should no one without a ticket be refused past the checkpoint? If you do not trigger any alarms or detectors why are you more of a threat? Should parents assume that airline employees will be attentive to their children without interuption? Who's responsible for my daughter if some pedophile skips his flight and makes off with her while the counter rep is answering your questions? Whether I was allowed to wait by the gate with them or not, if my kids had been on one of the fated 9/11 flights they'd still be dead. (A, G)

If you (and others) think that El Al is so blazin hot, move to Isreal. (C)

There was no TSA on 9/12 so to which chronic whiners do you refer? (F)

You admit that security is a joke and butt covering but you don't think that it goes far enough? What are you, 12? (I, J)

There will be another 9/11? Probably, but then why bother with the jokes and butt covering? (D)

We don't have to just "get used to it". That's the sort of passive attitude that has allowed every totalitarian regime in history to take root. The government is here as our servant, not vice versa. If you can't get used to that perhaps you'd be more at home in China, or North Korea, or Sudan, or........ (B)

Most of these same inane "security" procedures are already starting to be implemented for both rail and bus tranportation, so your conclusion doesn't hold

Ed

This irish king invited the english king over to help against some other irish kings. The major subclan of this king were the Kavanaugh's who embraced english customs more than any other irish family. Then the clan got pushed off their lands by the english plantation known as THE PALE. They petitioned the king without redress. So the Kavanaughs became Gallowglass and the worst of the worst BEYOND THE PALE. They eventually annihilated the english family that took their lands. There was a Kavanaugh with Jeremiah O'Donafin-Rossa and one in the GPO on easter 1916. The first PROVO casualty was a Kavanaugh. I suppose I should have some deep bred, almost genetic aversion to things english. But I don't. That survivor of the GPO told me it wasn't the enlisted tommie he feared in the long run of events, but the potential traitor bicycling next to him in their flying column. When somebody holds up 1000 bloody corpses as reason to surrender my freedom without question I ask if they are descended from any irish kings. <img src="/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

I know people who fly internationally on business who will go to almost any lengths to avoid having to fly through the United States these days, because the offensive attitude of the US airport security is so much worse than almost any other country they fly through.

The fact that they have a job to do should not be interpreted as a license to act capriciously and rudely.

I will concede this point - the fact that they are poorly trained, badly supervised, and have little or no intelligent direction from above is not their fault.

Are things really that bad in Halifax? We haven't annexed Canada yet... or did we? I don't watch the
news much any more.

Flipper;

Why are you opposed to citizens advocating that the government implement real security measures, rather than the stupid eye-candy that is currently being jammed down our throats?

>>A) NOBODY! should be allowed past security without a ticket for any reason period.

Why not? As I pointed out, a terrorist who intends to commit suicide isn't going to quibble about buying a ticket. The September 11th hijackers went first class - not because they wanted to enjoy their last few moments on earth, but because they wanted to be closer to the flight deck.

>>B) This is the way its gonna be so get used to it.

Why should you have to get used to it? America was a democracy, last time I checked. That means the people tell the government what to do, not the other way around.

>>C) If you think this is bad try flying with El AL

The reason El Al is so safe is that their security measures are designed to actually work, not just impress the sheep.

>>D) There will be another 911 so belly up to the slots and hope you don't hit the jackpot.

No, there won't. There will never be another 9/11 - not if you mean that someday a hijacker will take over an airliner and ram it into a highrise building or national monument. If you mean there will be a terrorist attack somewhere in the United States, then you may well be right - but that doesn't justify the stupid and unnecessary (and ineffective) airport screening. In fact, the airport screening may be presenting them with their next target of opportunity.

>>E) Memories are real short

Not sure what you mean by that.

>>F) Most of the same anti TSA this and thats cried foul on Sept 12 so grains of salt must be taken with these chronic whiners

Again, not sure what you mean by that.

>>G) If your kids were on the planes on Sept 11 youd be singing a different tune.

No I wouldn't. I would be demanding security measures that actually work, and that don't kill more people than they save.

>>H) flying is a privilage and is not guaranteed by anyones constitution.

Flying is a necessity. Bankrupting the airline industry by alienating passengers is not in the nation's best interests.

>>I) I think security and the ignorance of the TSA doesn't go far enough this is no game and pleasantness doesn't count. I anin't shopping a Macy's.

Once again, I have no idea what your point is. If you're suggesting that the security screeners should be even more rude and obnoxious than they already are, then I am suggesting that you are confusing officiousness with efficiency.

>>J) Security maybe a joke and butt covering but its all we got

The problem is, it's NOT security. In the thread on Butane lighters, I listed eight security measures which I believe are all far superior to anything the TSA has done. Most of these are implemented by El Al, which is why there has never (I believe) been a successful hijacking of an El Al airliner. I've posted them before, and I'm not going to post them again.

For what it's worth, I hold the following security designations:

Certified Protection Professional, American Society of Industrial Security;
Certified Information Systems Security Professional, International Informations Systems Security Certification Consortium;
GIAC Certified Intrusion Analyst, SANS Institute.

I am also planning to write the exam for the Information Systems Security Engineering Professional designation in February. I have over a quarter of a century experience working in security, including 8 of the last 10 years designing security for military command and control communications systems; and it is my professional opinion that people like Doug Ritter and security consultant/author Bruce Schneier are right, and you are wrong.

I am not opposed to security, as you seem to think. I am opposed to ineffective security that kills more people than it saves. I am opposed to some elected representative with no security training or expertise thinking he can do my job, and botching it. I am opposed to people using "security" as an excuse to settle personal scores or carry out personal agendas.

Trust me, if I believed for one minute that confiscating butane lighters or SAKs, or being rude to a divorced dad who wants to make sure his kid gets on the plane safely, improved the safety of the flying public, the flight and cabin crew, or anyone else, I would be 100% in favour of it. But the sad fact is, I have never yet met a single security professional who thinks it's anything but a waste of people's time.

Have to agree with your observation. Too much government is a bad thing. This is a new organization that is learning and has a very long up hill climb. So far up hill, they may need to go to TIbet and hire some Sherpas. I too hate to fly, and get frustrated when asked to step aside and get to step into the plexiglass zoo container for all to see while you wait your turn for the screener to check you over and swipe your shoes and go through your bag. I hate to fly because of these and other reasons, but work requires it at least 4 times a year, and I have family spread around the country. Driving just isn't an option. I honestly don't blame people for not wanting to enter the U.S. an dhave to deal with the new process. For me personally, I wish the security arrangements were much more strict. The Israelis have it right. Check everyone and everything. Period. No discrimination, no worrying about what the ACLU might think. We now live in a different world like it or not. Accepting change and all that comes with it is not easy nor pleasant. But as they say, change is inevitable.

I will agree that they get little respect. However, they should not be allowed to keep you from carrying items which are on the published list of permited items.

No arguments from me on that. They shouldn't be allowed to do a lot of the things they do, and should be allowed to do a lot of things they aren't. Isn't government beaurocracy great.

No, we don't. We live in the same one we've always lived in. No dangers here that weren't possible
before. We're just a little more aware of a vulnerability we've always had. What is new is our
reaction to it.

The numbers just don't support the kind of response we're giving. Almost 50,000 people
die in the US every year because of traffic accidents. Ho hum. Less than 4000 die in a single, highly
visible event and we invade another country, implement no-fly lists, randomly search
little old ladies and look cross eyed at anyone that would dare try to see family off at the gate.

How 'bout a no-drive list? Now that would save some lives....