Suitably Flip

Atlas Sucked

Something stinks in Boston.  And we can't blame this one on the beans.

According to the results of a terrorism preparedness drill codenamed "Operation Atlas", which included a mock hijacking at Logan Airport, the city has a long way to go toward integrating and streamlining its protocol, technology, and overall response efforts.

The drill's "After Action Report" (prepared by Department of Homeland Security consultants) revealed that, according to The Boston Globe:

[L]ocal and State Police did not work together effectively because of confusion over who was in charge, and ambulances were delayed from reaching the mock scene at Logan International Airport. Mismatched computer programs also hindered the "Operation Atlas" response efforts.

The dispiriting results come just three weeks after three female ticket agents at Logan Airport were arrested on charges of smuggling and money laundering in connection with ongoing narcotics transactions to and from the Dominican Republic, using passenger flights out of Logan.

Further, less than three months ago, the FAA upgraded an investigation of a significantly increased frequency of "runway incursions" at Logan.  The airport saw 16 such incidents (logged when two planes come dangerously close to each other on the runways) in the 12 months leading up to October's scrutiny hike, more than twice the amount seen in the prior three years combined.

[FAA spokeswoman Laura] Brown said [a] group would analyze pilot and control tower procedures, as well as ''cultural issues" within Logan, including how well controllers work with one another.

Perhaps Boston is more of an aviation security focal point than it might be otherwise, due to the fact that the two planes that struck the World Trade Center on 9/11 originated from Logan.  But between the ballooning runway incursions, the alleged drug-related money laundering by airline employees using commercial airliners, and the glaring gaps in preparedness exposed by Operation Atlas, one can't be blamed for being somewhat perplexed as to how a major city's primary airport, owed such heightened attention over the last 4 years, can remain so distinctively deficient in so many areas.

Elsewhere:

Michelle Malkin notes the ACLU is doing its part to keep Logan unsafe.

Comments

Atlas Sucked

Something stinks in Boston.  And we can't blame this one on the beans.

According to the results of a terrorism preparedness drill codenamed "Operation Atlas", which included a mock hijacking at Logan Airport, the city has a long way to go toward integrating and streamlining its protocol, technology, and overall response efforts.

The drill's "After Action Report" (prepared by Department of Homeland Security consultants) revealed that, according to The Boston Globe:

[L]ocal and State Police did not work together effectively because of confusion over who was in charge, and ambulances were delayed from reaching the mock scene at Logan International Airport. Mismatched computer programs also hindered the "Operation Atlas" response efforts.

The dispiriting results come just three weeks after three female ticket agents at Logan Airport were arrested on charges of smuggling and money laundering in connection with ongoing narcotics transactions to and from the Dominican Republic, using passenger flights out of Logan.

Further, less than three months ago, the FAA upgraded an investigation of a significantly increased frequency of "runway incursions" at Logan.  The airport saw 16 such incidents (logged when two planes come dangerously close to each other on the runways) in the 12 months leading up to October's scrutiny hike, more than twice the amount seen in the prior three years combined.

[FAA spokeswoman Laura] Brown said [a] group would analyze pilot and control tower procedures, as well as ''cultural issues" within Logan, including how well controllers work with one another.

Perhaps Boston is more of an aviation security focal point than it might be otherwise, due to the fact that the two planes that struck the World Trade Center on 9/11 originated from Logan.  But between the ballooning runway incursions, the alleged drug-related money laundering by airline employees using commercial airliners, and the glaring gaps in preparedness exposed by Operation Atlas, one can't be blamed for being somewhat perplexed as to how a major city's primary airport, owed such heightened attention over the last 4 years, can remain so distinctively deficient in so many areas.

Elsewhere:

Michelle Malkin notes the ACLU is doing its part to keep Logan unsafe.