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From: Delta Willis
Date: 20 Sep 2001
Time: 21:15:42
Because airports and airlines are on high alert, I think it is probably safer to fly now than it has been in years. Having seen the second plane crash into the second World Trade Tower I think it is important for me to get back on the horse that threw me (so to speak) and am continuing with plans to travel to the Jackson Hole Wildlife Film Festival September 25-30. No one has yet said �The only thing we have to fear is fear itself,� but I think this is true of commercial air travel, always statistically safer than driving our own car. One fear factor has to with not being in control on a commercial flight, yet feeling more control at the wheel, which can be deceptive. For example, private planes do not enjoy a much better safety record than private cars. Of course whether you choose to fly is entirely up to you, but if anyone wants to contribute knowledge and facts by describing their flying experiences since September 15, your comments are welcome here, along with constructive solutions. My literary agent John Brockman has issued a challenge to his stable of clients, which include physicists, scientists and others who think out side the box, to ponder What Now? One of the early replies came from Paul Davies, �Regarding technological solutions to aircraft hijackings, there is a simple solution. Aircraft are perfectly capable of being landed safely entirely by computer, a provision that is occasionally used in poor weather conditions. It would be an easy matter to pre-program airliners with default instructions to fly to a designated airport in event of an on-board emergency. These instructions could be made irreversible from within the aircraft, and deactivated only by a coded instruction from Air Traffic Control. If these measures were taken, and widely known, it is almost certain that they would never be invoked.� In other words, if hijackers know their plane will be diverted by air traffic controllers, it�s like foiling a robbery with the sign, �No key to the safe here.� The results of Brockman�s challenge can be read at www.edge.org It is a wonderful example of how ingenious human talent and innovation can be put to good use, and I think this trend will make air travel even safer within the next six months.