How Safe Are Our Skies: Assessing the Airlines' Response to Terrorism

(Hardback)

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The September 11, 2001, attacks on the World Trade Centre and the Pentagon raised numerous questions about American and international aviation security. Former Director of Security of the International Air Transport Association, Rodney Wallis, suggests that the failure to maximize US domestic air security, which left air travellers vulnerable to attack, lay largely with the carriers themselves. He contends that future policies should parallel the standards of the International Civil Aviation Organization. Wallis considers the Aviation and Transportation Security Act adopted by the US Congress in the wake of September 11 and offers a modus operandi to the FAA that would enable them to maximize the benefits this legislation provides to air travellers. This important work reviews past government reactions to the threat posed by air terrorism and questions whether these were effective responses or merely window dressing. It also includes practical advice for air travellers on how to maximize their own security when flying on international routes by monitoring airport and airline security for themselves.

Reviews

"This book is a treasure trove of good air security advice to travelers and includes wake-up calls for security practitioners and governments. It's a must read for all three constituencies. Wallis takes the US airline industry to task for putting profit ahead of public safety, while whining over the lack of level playing field over price competition with its European rivals. Unlike the U.S., the Europeans have already invested in the requisite security technology. He gives solid advice to travelers about how to travel, where not to travel, and how to evaluate security systems at a glance. . . . Don't leave home without reading it."-Peter St. John Professor of International Relations, University of Manitoba, and author, Air Piracy, Airport Security and International Terrorism
"With more than 40 years experience in the management of civil aviation, Rodney Wallis is well placed to analyze the safety of today's aviation scene. His new book assesses civil air transport's vulnerability to airborne terrorism in general and that of the U.S. in particular post September 11. It will prove a valuable read to anyone connected with air transportation whether they are industry administrators or simply occasional airline passengers."-Paul Sheppard Director of Civil Aviation Security, Canada, 1979-1986
.,."exposes the US's ridiculous security efforts and fluently discusses aviation safety standards set by international aviation organizations (ICAO, IATA) and frequent US safety measures that fall short of those standards. A timely and valuable resource for anyone interested in aviation, political science, international relations, criminal justice, safety, security, transportation, or current affairs. Essential--collections supporting aviation programs. Highly recommended--high school and public libraries through professional collections."-Choice
...exposes the US's ridiculous security efforts and fluently discusses aviation safety standards set by international aviation organizations (ICAO, IATA) and frequent US safety measures that fall short of those standards. A timely and valuable resource for anyone interested in aviation, political science, international relations, criminal justice, safety, security, transportation, or current affairs. Essential--collections supporting aviation programs. Highly recommended--high school and public libraries through professional collections.-Choice
[P]rovides a thoughtful review of airline security post-9/11....How Safe Are Our Skies asks pertinent questions in an intelligent way. It produces coherent (and sometimes disturbing) answers. I commend it to airlines, airport managements, regulators, the media and students of aviation safety and security.-Risk Management: An International Journal
[T]akes a hard and informative look at how safe it really is to fly in this modern day and age...How Safe Are Our Skies is especially and particularly recommended reading for anyone concerned with the impact of contemporary air travel conditions, and especially for those frequent flyers genuinely concerned about the present and forseeable risks of domestic and international air travel.-The Bookwatch
"Provides a thoughtful review of airline security post-9/11....How Safe Are Our Skies asks pertinent questions in an intelligent way. It produces coherent (and sometimes disturbing) answers. I commend it to airlines, airport managements, regulators, the media and students of aviation safety and security."-Risk Management: An International Journal
"Takes a hard and informative look at how safe it really is to fly in this modern day and age...How Safe Are Our Skies is especially and particularly recommended reading for anyone concerned with the impact of contemporary air travel conditions, and especially for those frequent flyers genuinely concerned about the present and forseeable risks of domestic and international air travel."-The Bookwatch
"[P]rovides a thoughtful review of airline security post-9/11....How Safe Are Our Skies asks pertinent questions in an intelligent way. It produces coherent (and sometimes disturbing) answers. I commend it to airlines, airport managements, regulators, the media and students of aviation safety and security."-Risk Management: An International Journal
"[T]akes a hard and informative look at how safe it really is to fly in this modern day and age...How Safe Are Our Skies is especially and particularly recommended reading for anyone concerned with the impact of contemporary air travel conditions, and especially for those frequent flyers genuinely concerned about the present and forseeable risks of domestic and international air travel."-The Bookwatch
..."exposes the US's ridiculous security efforts and fluently discusses aviation safety standards set by international aviation organizations (ICAO, IATA) and frequent US safety measures that fall short of those standards. A timely and valuable resource for anyone interested in aviation, political science, international relations, criminal justice, safety, security, transportation, or current affairs. Essential--collections supporting aviation programs. Highly recommended--high school and public libraries through professional collections."-Choice

Author Bio

Rodney Wallis was Director of Security of the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and he served on ICAO's Panel of Aviation Security Experts.