[Peetwo]

Chester might fold to other experts -

Chester doing what he does best i.e. ignoring the 'other' experts

Quote from this week's SBG...   : Chester and Mickey Bliss.

'That man', via the Oz today...

Security review ordered for regional airports

Transport Minister Darren Chester.

• The Australian
  
  
• 12:00AM August 4, 2017
  
• [size=undefined]EAN HIGGINS
  
  Reporter
  Sydney
  @EanHiggins
  [img=0x0]https://i1.wp.com/pixel.tcog.cp1.news.com.au/track/component/author/0573acb566bb47c45e64e4c55a998aba/?esi=true&t_product=the-australian&t_template=s3/austemp-article_common/vertical/author/widget&td_bio=false[/img][/size]
  

Transport Minister Darren Chester has ordered a review of security at regional airports, following warnings from terrorism experts, airline pilots and unions that they are the spots most vulnerable to jihadist attack.

The action follows reports in The Australian this week that quirks in federal regulations mean passengers flying on regular commercial services from the same regional city to Sydney have to be security screened if they fly Qantas, but not if they fly Regional Express.

The situation at Wagga airport in southern NSW means a would-be terrorist could choose to not fly QantasLink where any guns, knives, or bombs on his person or in his carry-on luggage would be found by security staff operating metal detectors and X-ray ­machines, and instead book a ticket on Rex, where he could walk on board unchallenged.

The Transport Workers Union this week said QantasLink passengers are not security screened at Armidale, Lord Howe Island and Moree in NSW, Port Lincoln and Whyalla in South Australia, and Charleville, Blackall, Miles and Longreach in Queensland.

The inconsistencies are a product of regulations issued by the Office of Transport Security requiring passengers on planes weighing more than 20 tonnes to have full security screening, but exempting those aircraft under 20 tonnes.

QantasLink, which flies Q400 propeller-driven aircraft on the Wagga route that can carry up to 76 passengers and weigh more than 20 tonnes, is required to screen passengers and their carry-on luggage under the rules.

But Rex, which flies Saab 340 propeller planes that can carry 34 passengers but weigh less than 20 tonnes, is exempt.

“These are examples of where there are inconsistencies in the system as they apply to aviation security in Australia,” Australian Federation of Air Pilots president David Booth said.

After earlier this week deflecting the calls for an upgrade of ­security at regional airports following the arrests of alleged ­Islamic terrorists in Sydney who, police claim, were planning to bring down a plane, Mr Chester has now decided to act.

Asked how he would deal with issues such as those at Wagga, Mr Chester told The Australian: “While the government constantly reviews aviation security measures, I have formally asked the secretary of my department to review the security settings at regional airports, as a precautionary measure.

“I will not second-guess our ­security experts and I will always listen to their advice.

“Should our security experts judge that further or different measures are required to enhance safety at regional airports, the government will take action.”

International terrorism and security expert Carl Ungerer told The Australian that as security at major airports is now well-established, “regional airports have ­always been a weak link.”

While the government focus has been to thwart attacks at big airports or on big aircraft, a Saab 340 with nearly 40 people on board could become a weapon of mass murder if blown up midair by an unscreened terrorist.

With a maximum 2.6 tonnes of highly flammable aviation fuel it could produce several times more destruction if hijacked and used in a 9/11-style attack to crash into a major sporting or entertainment venue or shopping centre in a major city, or a regional military barracks.

The regulations also produce disparities in competitiveness ­between airlines.

The cheapest flights between Wagga and Sydney this week ­according to Webjet were $222 on Qantas, which has to pay for ­security screening, and $153 on Rex, which does not.

A Qantas spokesman said: “Security charges, landing fees, fuel, manpower and other operating costs all form part of the fare. We believe the larger Q400 is the right aircraft for the Sydney to Wagga route and as a result, we need to screen passengers in line with OTS regulations.”

“..While the government constantly reviews aviation security measures, I have formally asked the secretary of my department to review the security settings at regional airports, as a precautionary measure..."

While the Muppet 6D_NFI_Chester consults with his Muppet Master (M&M), maybe he could also find out how progress on M&M's department is coming along on proactively addressing other airport safety issues ...  

Mr Carmody: I will certainly look at that.



Carmody's look at that??

Somewhat gobsmacked I noted that Senator Fawcett's probing QON was answered today by CC...

QON 122 at 02:28 here:

   
MTF...P2