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I was interested to read the anonymous letter that appeared in the EEN on 30th June 2008 regarding security at Norwich Airport. Whilst I would be the first to admit that having a plastic comb confiscated by security at an airport would be clearly over the top as far as aviation security goes I feel that the person concerned should have perhaps looked to seek an explanation to the confiscation at the time - an explanation should always be given in these circumstances as to the reasons why and one should not feel intimidated by these searches that are carried out at every airport in the UK - at least the ones I regularly travel through.
Last year I travelled by aircraft some 18 times in the course of business and holiday travel. Many of which were from Norwich due to the convenient route to Amsterdam, I can honestly say that I find security at Norwich to be some of the most human and friendly that I have come across in 20 odd years of flying. I know the bag searching is a nuisance BUT I would rather have my bag searched and have a brief hold up than I would find myself on board an aircraft with a major problem on board insofar as a weapon in the wrong hands or even worse a bomb. Security at airports is there for the protection of the passengers and crew, not because they enjoy going through peoples bags or searching people. Certainly in the UK we have a far superior and stringent regulations that control what can and can not go on board an aircraft - again its there for the protection of the travelling public and those regulations are laid down by government via the Department for Transport.
I will, as I have done for many years continue to use my local airport (Norwich), its not perfect but then we do not live in a perfect world. It does however provide me personally with a convenient route to Amsterdam and Paris and is undoubtedly feeling the pinch like just about every business I can think of.
I would hope and pray that everyone who fly’s understands the importance of security checks at airports and more recently sea ports i.e. Southampton. And that those who don’t, I hope you never have the misfortune to experience the consequences of a terrorist attack either from the air or the ground. Unfortunately I have seen the consequences of when things go wrong in the air both from a mechanical failure point of view and terrorist attack and take my word for it – thats the point when you relaise the importance of security more than anything else - but of course there will always be the arrogant few who live by the "it will never happen to me" rule.
Better safe than sorry in my book guys and gals!
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