Safe Air Travel Companion

This paperback provides a guide to the actions that individuals can take to prepare and protect personal safety in air travel. The calm, factual approach aims to equip air travellers to deal with the adverse circumstances of aerial hijacking and terrorism should they occur. The book features a rational perspective of statistics and geographical hot spots. Easy, positive, basic information is provided. The book includes step-by-step guidance to follow in the event of an aerial hijacking and terrorism event. It features a pre-travel checklist, airport security measures and compliance and a rundown of cultural "dos and don'ts" for high-risk locations. Key features include: smart travel strategies for business and personal travel: solo, family, group; explanation of mental and physical behaviour sets in response to crisis situations; description of current anti-terrorism programmes and efforts; identification of politically sensitive countries and regions, with advice on their cultural customs; and a realistic perspective on the probability of a person falling victim to aerial terrorism events.

Table of Contents:
IntroductionWhy TerrorismPutting Hijacking in PerspectiveWhat the Government is Doing to Protect YouWhat the Airlines Are Doing to Protect YouWhat You Can Do to Protect YourselfGuns in the CockpitAirport SecurityPreparing for Your International TripOverseas TravelingHow to Behave in a “traditional” HijackingWhat to Do in a Rescue AttemptIf You Are Released Ahead of Other HostagesAfter It’s OverTravel Agent Efforts and ConcernsLiving in a Foreign Land

About the Author :
Dan McKinnon (Jamaica, NY) is an expert in commercial aviation travel and survival whose background includes special projects for the CIA and extensive military and civilian study in survival, captive, and POW situations. A former Navy pilot, Mr. McKinnon specialized in rescue efforts and techniques and holds the Navy peacetime helicopter rescue record in air-sea saves. From 1981-1984 he served as Chairman of the Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) under appointment by former President Reagan, overseeing the implementation of airline deregulation and the shutdown of the CAB—the only regulatory agency ever closed. Mr. McKinnon is President of North American Airlines.

Review :
Here's what to do if you're hijacked -- and what to do even before you board The federal government recently took over security at airports, promising to make the system safer. But Dan McKinnon, the 68-year-old president of charter service North American Airlines and former chairman of the Civil Aeronautics Board, says that's no reason for Americans to let down their guard. While security at airports has improved significantly in recent months, terrorism in the skies is still a possibility and everybody who flies should be prepared to respond to an attack. McKinnon, who has written a pocket-sized guide to staying safe when flying, the Safe Air Travel Companion (McGraw-Hill, $12.95), tells USA TODAY'S Gene Sloan how fliers can avoid becoming a hijacking victim. Q: What's the smartest thing to do if you're on a plane that gets hijacked? A: Take action immediately. Do not let things settle down so the hijackers have time to get control. You want to wait a moment to make sure there is not an air marshal on the aircraft, but a very short time -- tenths of seconds. Then you want to pop up, and hopefully everybody pops up. You want to subdue the hijackers immediately, and you do that through physical force. If the hijacker is a legitimate threat, I don't think passengers should have any reservations about hurting him. It's like the Wild West -- you're deputized to defend yourself and others. Q: What's the best plan? A: Remember that the chances are there'll be more than one or two hijackers, so (first) yell for help. You can use shoes, full sodas or beer cans, pillows and blankets to attack the hijackers. Smother the person with as body bodies as possible. Put blankets over his head so he can't see. Belts and shoelaces make good handcuffs. Make sure the flight attendants keep the cockpit aware of what is going on. Q: What about trying to sweet-talk the captors into surrending? A: It doesn't work. These guys have a mission. The hijacking may be the biggest thing in your life, but it's also the biggest thing in their life. These people are willing to give their lives for their cause. You're not going to make friends with them. Your best chance is to subdue them quickly. Take the case of the shoe bomber. The passengers were right on top of him and it saved the day. Q: In the book, you talk about things to do for safety before one even steps on the plane. What's the most important? A: You want to take a good look at who's getting on board. Do your own screening and profiling. Q: And you're looking for? A: These guys are smart; they're not necessarily going to be with whiskers all over their face and a bandanna on their head. They may be dressed to blend in. You want to look into their eyes. You can tell a lot about people by looking into their eyes. Are they shifty? Are they nervous? It's a subjective judgment, really. Q: OK, so what do you do if someone does look shifty? A: If you have a real suspicion, you should notify a flight attendant or gate agent. If they remain on the aircraft, and you still feel uncomfortable, don't be afraid to ask the airline to reschedule you on another flight. Q: What else can fliers do to avoid becoming a victim? A: Sit near the front of the plane. You control the airplane by controlling the cockpit. Men should sit on the aisles. Women and children should sit in center and window seats. Men generally have more strength than females, so you want men to be able to get to the action fast. Q: In your book, you talk about the difference between a "suicide" hijacking, a la Sept. 11, and a "traditional" hijacking. How does one know the difference? A: At first, it's hard to tell. But if they bring the plane back down to the ground, to an airport, then it's probably a traditional hijacking. Traditional hijackings generally are done for money or to make a political statement or to cross a border, but (the hijackers) don't necessarily intend to kill everyone (on board). If you can survive the first 15 minutes, you'll probably survive the entire ordeal. Q: In a case like this, what's the safest way to act? A: The trick is to not call attention to yourself. They may kill a few passengers, but their purpose is not to kill the whole planeload. Passengers are more valuable to them alive than dead. Don't try to be a hero. Don't confront, antagonize, or argue with your captors. Avoid eye contact. Don't ask for special permission or favors, such as being able to smoke, to change seats, or to have something to eat. Q: What if I need to go to the bathroom? A: After a long time, it's going to be a necessity. But only go when you are in extreme duress -- not just uncomfortable but downright miserable. Q: What's the smartest thing to do if there's a rescue attempt? A: Do not get involved. The people who are making the rescue attempt do not know who are the good guys and who are the bad guys. If you stand up and start motioning to the bad guys they may think you are a bad guy and you could get (unintentionally) hurt. Q: Put this all in perspective. How much should we really worry about a hijacking? A: Your chances of getting hijacked are one in 11 million; at least that's what it was before Sept. 11. Statistically it's insignificant. You've got to remember that 40,000 people were killed in automobile accidents last year. About 3,000 people were killed in the terrorist attacks. Terrorism and hijacking are forms of warfare, but we can't allow them to paralyze our lives. The book is offered as a guide to prepare us as best we can and (then) get on with our lives. USA Today 20020329