<p>If any of the stores are open at the airport in the wee early hours, I’ll grab some.</p>
<p>Post #8:</p>
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<p>Yeah, anything you read on the internet is true unless you can disprove it.</p>
<p>For what it is worth, the alleged pilot who told the story was named Pat Gilmore. The FAA database of pilots has six people by that name. None are rated for more than one engine, let alone have an ATP (Airline Transport Pilot) license or type rated in a 767.</p>
<p>How do you know that, socaldad, do you work for the FAA? I can’t even find myself on the FAA database. I’ve been flying for 30 years…no records found. You have to enter the person’s address and birthdate to find someone, anyways, unless you’re looking at some other database than what is on the FAA site. Plus, is it likely that someone would put their real name, or airline? Who knows. The story seems very likely. Though if it didn’t happen to me, I obviously can’t verify it. Before 9/11, it really wouldn’t have been so difficult at all. Honestly, people who work for the airlines are so busy doing their jobs when jumpseaters come up, if they have the required paperwork, they aren’t going to spend 30 min grilling them. Very different nowadays, though.</p>
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<p>Nope, info is available to all on the FAA website.</p>
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<p>I know several pilots, and all are there.</p>
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<p>Nope, just needs a name. Though there is space for an address if you have it.</p>
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<p>Not a lot of credibility to posts written by people with made-up names.</p>
<p>Yes, you are right about pulling people up on the FAA website. I see you have to put in your own personal information to find someone as the requester, not the other way around. Of course, it is also likely that once someone is dead, they don’t keep them on the registry. If this gentleman did exist, and retired many years ago, it is likely he’s dead. Life span of airline pilots are not too long.</p>
<p>But, while I certainly cannot verify anyone’s story unless it happened to me or someone I know very well, I can’t discount something that sounds possible. And it is actually quite unlikely that someone would put their real name or even real airline on something like this. People are always afraid of repercussions. Had something like this happened to me and I wanted to make it public, I wouldn’t put my name on it. The airlines would never want things like this known openly.</p>
<p>Made it without blowing out my eardrums. Score. Thanks for the tip.</p>
<p>Very glad, jym. I can’t imagine how painful that would be.</p>
<p>I have a hard time believing the “dry run” stories. If it’s identified by the US as a dry run, everyone involved and all their families would be subject to such scrutiny they couldn’t send an email, make a phone call, or sneeze without being watched. </p>
<p>Any idiot who is part of a dry run to the extent that we’re talking about it on CC might as well put up a neon sign blinking “check me out - and all my contacts too!!” </p>
<p>If it’s not identified by the US as a dry run then as far as I’m concerned it’s just a guess.</p>
<p>Scary world we live in.</p>
<p>I know hearing about anything like this, whether it’s truth or just speculation, is alarming to people, especially for those who are uncomfortable flying anyways. But I truly think that even if some group was to try something in the air again, they aren’t getting away with it. It’s a different environment now, and if they think passengers are just going to sit there and wait to die…not happening. Every man, woman and child on that airplane are going to attack them. There are so many things you can use as weapons, whether it’s flashlights, laptops, fire extinguishers, coffee pots, your body, whatever it takes. </p>
<p>That includes sitting in an aisle seat, as close to the front as possible (yeah, that’s why I want to get upgraded—that and the free wine), keeping my eyes open, thinking about what I could use as a weapon (I don’t carry a gun), if I see someone running up to the front, I’m standing up blocking the way, or tripping them if I don’t have time. It’s not just in an airplane, it’s in any public place. The first thing I do is figure out where the exits are, and what I can use as a weapon. It’s just a state of mind that makes me feel better, being ready to react. I figure that based on what I look like, they’ll never see me coming.</p>
<p>That is awesome Busdriver. It is comforting to know that you are out there, somewhere, ready to act. Coincidentally, I just read a piece about Danny Lewin, one of those we lost in the 9/11 attacks, in Psychology Today. Remembering 9/11 . . .</p>
<p>There are so many people out there, mstee, just like me. We are everywhere, and we won’t let this happen again. If I was to put my money where my mouth was, I’d go through the FFDO program that allows me to carry a gun onboard…but I’m more concerned I’d accidentally leave it somewhere or shoot myself in the foot. I can’t even read about or watch shows about 9/11, it depresses me too much. Walked out of the 9/11 Memorial in NYC after about two minutes of reading the stories about people who were lost. So incredibly sad.</p>
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<p>and that attitude will lead to more attacks. EVERY person should be on the look out for suspicious people and be ready to act instead of cowering.</p>
<p>busdriver, I’m not a huge person, but you can count on me if (god forbid!) the need arises to stop a hijacker. Judging by the comments following the article in the OP’s link, many more will do the same.</p>
<p>Dry run or not, real or made up stories, articles like this remind us to remain vigilant.</p>
<p>Good to know, Bunsen. Seattle is safe again! Little do the bad guys know, we may look like harmless middle aged ladies, but in our mind, we’re super heroes. Even when we’re feeble old grannies, watch out.</p>
<p>I’m the reluctant flyer and I don’t know what possessed me to read this thread. Especially since that’s my home airport and I’m flying home tomorrow…sigh To further spook myself I just saw Robert Gates speak. People around the world mean to do us harm. Let’s not kid ourselves about that. </p>
<p>I tend to get put on the smaller planes - you know the kind they stick you on a bus to get out to? With my own two eyes I see those doors open all the time and pilots walking in and out. It would be much easier to take over a smaller plane which could still do significant damage.</p>
<p>Bus - you offered once to come hold my hand? Are you busy tomorrow? :)</p>
<p>I’m sorry, eyemamom, I’m working tomorrow, so I can’t hold your hand. I’ll do it long distance in spirit, though! If it’s any comfort, I suspect the smaller planes are far less of a target. Though it might seem easier to take over, these guys are looking for as much bang for their buck as possible. A small plane would have far too few casualties, and far less capability to destroy things.</p>
<p>Don’t worry, really, you’re a million+ times more likely to get hurt on the way to the airport than to have a terrorist try to take over your airplane…though that doesn’t really sound comforting, does it? Maybe we just shouldn’t leave our house. But then, you’re probably a million+ times more likely to slip in the shower, too. You know, I think we’d be safer if we just stayed on the couch all day. I’m up for it!</p>
<p>Good luck tomorrow. Don’t worry.</p>