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Comment by fraserharris | Hacker News Reader

The logic is impeccable: why do we search pilots when they get (access to) a gun once they have been cleared.

Actually, I felt this line hurt Paul's case. It's one of those lines that sounds clever on the first hearing but falls apart on examination -- like "Why don't they build the plane out of the same stuff as the black box?".

The reason they search pilots is because the only obvious things distinguishing a pilot from a non-pilot are a fancy uniform and an ID. If pilots are exempt from screening, then your method of determining who is a pilot needs to be at least as effective as the screening itself. Otherwise, an adversary needs only to steal or forge the proper credentials to bypass screening.

Either Paul is aware of this and is being deliberately misleading to make his case, or he hasn't given the issue enough consideration.

Respectfully, I don't think you've given the issue enough consideration. You're saying that if they didn't search the pilots, someone would fake as a pilot to get through security? Then what would he do? Stand awkwardly with the rest of the crew thinking up a story to explain why there are two pilots (or three, or whatever) on this particular flight? I would hope that a fake pilot would be fairly easily and quickly detected by the other pilots (who do know each other personally, after all).

I assume he would change clothes in a restroom stall after getting through security but before getting to the boarding area. In fact, that might be overkill... All he needs to do is put away his jacket and hat, maybe put on a sweater -- actions innocuous enough that they could be done in the open.

I'm not taking issue with the logic. If you'll read my comment again my problem is with the delivery.

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