OT: WTC Photo Essay

ACStudios

ACStudios

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Apr 9, 2001
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In case any of you are interested... here are some of the best photographs I've seen to date from the WTC disaster. I wish I was up there documenting the relief efforts....

http://www.time.com/time/photoessays/shattered/


And here is another link to some more essays. I think this is important to see how the rest of the world is reacting to this... we are not alone! The rest of the world is with us...

http://www.time.com/time/daily/photoessays




Alan
 
I have a feeling this is going to be a very long effort that has just barely started. Hang tough.
 
Bill,

I just saw an interview with Gen. Thomas McInerny (ret.) on Fox News yesterday (Sat). I provided security for him every now and then when he was the Vice CINUSAFE in Germany back in the eighties... very smart guy with a big background in Intel...

His viewpoint was that we were going to be hit again, much harder than this one, before we got the first lick in. He also figured it would be an 8-10 effort to finally get Bin Laden... but we would eventually succeed. The general's outspoken viewpoint was refreshing. He called for armed pilots... Air Marshalls and if an airliner was taken hostage, for the passengers to rise up and take it back. :).

I wonder if they will be hiring new Air Marshalls... Blues, have you heard anything along those lines? I need a job :).

Alan
 
The General is correct, I think.

I believe all cockpit crews should be armed -- immediately. That's an easy fix and doesn't cost a lot. Most pilots are vets and have some weapon training but even if they are not trained how long does it take to learn to get a few rounds out the end of a .45?

Second, I think the cockpit needs to be secure. This will take more money and cost some weight which no aircraft engineer likes to face but the trade off is worth it. This isolates the crew but leaves the passengers at the mercy of the highjackers. Consider this. 150 years ago we had a guy riding shotgun on stage coaches that carried maybe four or six people. I wouldn't object to increased ticket cost to pay for 2 or 3 air marshalls riding shotgun on a flight I was flying on.

Send an email to your reps in Washington to get these ideas implemented -- Soon!!!!

This is the first step of a long journey.
 
Agreed!

How about this simple idea: able-bodied men should sit on the aisle, specificially so they can do something when necessary.
 
Thanks for great images Alan!

With all the TV coverage, I think that still photos are much more able to convey a feeling or mood of a scene. They allow us to stop and think about what we see. Sometimes its hard to stop and just understand the gravity of an event when it us unfolding in real time, interupted every 5 min with updates from 10 different sources. IMHO.
 
I saw an interview of a commercial airlines pilot today that I imagine everyone else saw as well, and.......

The pilot said to always wear your seat belt when not up from your seat.
He and his co-pilot were in the air when the deed was done or being done and they discussed what their reaction would be under similar circumstances.
The co-pilot had a large flashlight that he would try to beat any would be hijacker off with and the pilot said he would concentrate on getting the airplane on the ground.
He also said there were several ways of combating any hijackers.
One was depressurizing the cabin and that the airplane could be jerked around the sky and that anyone not in their seatbelt wouldn't be able to get up.

I heard several years ago; when the 727 1st came out that one of the test pilots had done a full roll during one of the test flights.
I guess he was sorta reprimanded about it when he got it back on the ground, but that the aircraft flew so well it was almost like a small very acrobetic airplane.:)
And like everything else built today that has a top limit of service recommended for use, that in reality it will handle at least twice as much to prevent product liability.
There's no telling what a pilot would be able to do with an airplane going some 500-600 mph.
Perhaps they could even do as the Vomit Comet and have a couple of minutes of free fall.:D

I haven't always agreed with our president, but I do have to say he has the cojones to do what it takes; after hearing that he had issued the order to the pilots of the combat aircraft that was scrambled to intercept and deal with the airliners headed to Washinton DC with any means neccesary to stop them.
I can't say I'm surprised at that since sacrificing the few in order to save the lives of many is the right decision, but it still took a great deal guts in order to do that, all IMO of course.
 
I'm sure glad that order did not have to be carried out, Bro. Shooting down a commercial airliner like that would have to be the toughest job in the world. I pity the pilot who might have had to do it.

As anybody who has been through severe turbulence knows the standard airliner can take a hell of a beating. Any would be highjacker who is not strapped in if the pilot decides to put the plane through it's paces is in for a hell of a beating.
 
Armed marshalls are a great idea. These guys should be undercover and located to cover the critical areas. They should operate in pairs as well so that over powering the marshall will be more difficult.

I am not sure about arming the copit crew. Most will not have the training and time required to keep them proficient with their weapons. In some case training and practice time is even difficult for law enforcement. If a copit crew member fails to shoot in sitation it will give the terrorist an extra gun. Having a gun is better than beating the hijacker with a flashlight though.

Will
 
Don't forget that a large majority of pilots are retired or former military... at least they'll have some familiarity with firearms usage.

I agree that the Air Marshal program should be pumped up considerably. I feel that all domestic and international flights should have two Marshals onboard. They are undercover and only the crew knows who and where they are.

If they do pump up the force... I want to apply. However, I have gone past the 37 year age limit for federal hires... too bad.

Alan
 
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