back to article NASA seeks inflight comms for sky marshals

NASA is looking into a wireless system which would give undercover sky marshals aboard airliners the ability to communicate with colleagues on the ground, according to reports. An article filed last Friday by Flight International magazine says NASA's Glenn Research Centre is investigating comms tech which could be available …

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  1. Dillon Pyron

    Talking to nobody?

    I guess the sky marshal is the one talking in code to nobody. Or is that the hijacker?

    Female sky marshals are easy to spot, if you know what a Gloria purse looks like (https://www.caspianleather.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=64)

  2. Anonymous Coward
    Anonymous Coward

    Pistol Fanny Pack

    Well, it made me laugh anyway...

    https://www.caspianleather.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=71

  3. Marvin the Martian

    Air marshalls: how to sneak them on?

    I don't know how do the armed airmarshalls get on board? If it's the last-minute passenger who doesn't come from the terminal but walking across the tarmac then it's pretty obvious. If he has his pistol and he can suppress the scanner's alarm going of then you have a problem with these devices getting in public hands. If the gun gets smuggled on by the personnel to his prearranged seat then you also have a security hole big as a bombcrater.

    So how?

  4. Anonymous Coward
    Anonymous Coward

    They walk on with a pre-arranged agreement

    I've seen them - very obviously - board a plane in plain clothes before anyone else is allowed to board. Which makes them stick out like a sore thumb, especially for those real passengers who ARE the first to board, and see them sitting there trying to look inconspicuous.

    They get past the airport scanners by arrangement between the airlines, airport security, and the airport managers themselves - after all they are considered security officers there to protect the passengers and airlines (more the latter I feel).

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