Just a quick scan of the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking: Homeland Security wants the airlines to submit, 72 hours prior to departure, the following information on every passenger they propose to carry.

These procedures are required to reduce the threat of terrorism.

Homeland Security estimates a cost for the first year of $123 billion but I think they misplaced a decimal point. I think they mean $123 million.

I don’t know that much about it but I believe the first year cost would be in the billions but not $123 billion.

Passenger information required to be submitted 72 hours in advance for each and every passenger for authorization for the airline to depart on schedule:

Full name
Date of birth
Gender
Redress number or known traveler number
Passport information:
Passport number
Country of issuance
Expiration date
Gender
Full name
Itinerary information
Departure airport code
Airport operator
Departure date
Departure time
Arrival date
Scheduled arrival time
Arrival airport code
Flight number
Operating carrier(if available) For non- traveling individuals the itinerary information is the airport code for the sterile area to which the non-traveling individual seeks access.
Reservation Control Number
Record Sequence Number
Record Type
Passenger Update Indicator
Traveler Reference Number

The alleged purpose of the secure flight program is to assume the watch list matching function from aircraft operators and to more effectively and consistently prevent certain known or suspected terrorists from boarding aircraft where they may jeopardize the lives and passengers and others. (Presumably this exempts those in our government who conceived, planned and executed the 911 attack itself). :



Department of Homeland Security: For a Free and Safe America

I think i'll drive, thanks.

Do you suppose there will be border patrols in each state?

I wouldnt doubt it.

Am I right in thinking fom the above article that you do not currently have to show any photo-ID when catching an internal flight in the US?

All this talk about how bad it is to "show government issued ID to Airline representives" seems like BS to me. I have never flown internally inside the states but I have caught domestic flights all over the world and shown photo-ID (often my passport, though drivers licence etc would do).

I would have thought that before passing a lot of other bunk legislation I would have put that one in.

As for the 'pre-approval' bit, that is just wrong in the same way that to have prejudicial action taken against you on the say of a potentially flawed computer database is wrong. This system will no doubt use complex 'profiling' algorithms such as "is this guy a muslim?' or "does he have dark skin and a beard?".

I remember Cat Stevens, AKA Yusef Islam the singer / song writer of such songs as 'Morning has broken' - an acclaimed protestor for peace being rejected from a flight because he had a muslim name

Originally posted by EJHoover
I remember Cat Stevens, AKA Yusef Islam the singer / song writer of such songs as 'Morning has broken' - an acclaimed protestor for peace being rejected from a flight because he had a muslim name

Actually thats not quite right.
Steven (Thats his real name) was refused entry to the US because
A) He is a high profile Muslim
B) He had visited Iraq, Iran, and Pakistan quite recently before he attempted to enter the US

He was a little amused about it, but a little annoyed too.

Its nice to see him back making music again though (he's a friend of mine)

Basically this just means you can't turn up at an airport and buy a stand-by ticket there and then - you have to book at least 3 days in advance. Which I guess most people do anyway?

Actually, looking at the information required, most of that, if not all has to be supplied when buying a ticket anyway.

Actually having just looked at it, ALL of that is required now when buying an International ticket, from the UK at least

I just wrote a long piece listing some serious problems with this daft idea ..... and then realised that the 3 day rule is to allow aircraft to depart on schedule.

In other words, if a plane has passengers who weren't registered 3 days in advance, there may be delays whilst checks are carried out. But if all were registered in time, no probs, away you go .....