All because in 110 years of aviation a total of four aircraft were kidnapped and used as weapon.
Well, there were quite a few more that were kidnapped. As for the ‘use as weapon’, a friend of mine died (from secondary effects) in what was probably the first such attempt, Air France Algiers-Paris in the 1990s.
We are getting pretty far away from aviation here…
Not really because two colleagues (that I never met, but they earned their living in the same part of the world the same way I do) just lost their lives because of this. Aviation as bad as it can get. Two days ago I was required to take a six hour course on aviation security. One day of my life thrown away. All because in 110 years of aviation a total of four aircraft were kidnapped and used as weapon.
The task of the airforce has never been fighting civilians.
We are getting pretty far away from aviation here, but in the past decades these lines – combatants vs. civilians/non-combatants – have blurred substantially. Trying to uphold them is like putting your head in the sand (not saying you do, what next, general comment). The world doesn’t work that way anymore.
…it makes the Air Force a little useless,
No. The Air Force has enough to do fighting other airforces. And navies, ground troops, aliens from space, asteroids, whatever. The task of the airforce has never been fighting civilians.
It means there is no carte blanche, the commander in chief (Secretary of Defense in peacetime, the chancellor in wartime) would be subject to prosecution
Is this just a restriction in Germany or do other nations have this restriction. I see what Peter says, it makes the Air Force a little useless, though of course just being there has deterred some Russians toying around the edges of UK and other airspace recently.
Of course it is possible. Vectors followed by tracking with airborne multi-mode radars. No hand signals but you can certainly follow and shoot down if needed.
I dont know anything at all about airborne multi-mode radars. Does that mean a fast jet could somehow communicate with the unknown aircraft in the IMC and give the equivelant of interception gestures or commands?
I am convinced there will never be a law bill in Germany allowing the government to shoot down civilian aircraft.
I really hope you are right, but I’m not so sure. Anyway, it’s totally useless. Germany is simply too small. By the time they stop trying to call the aircraft by radio and scramble the fighters instead, get the shooting permission and everything, the aircraft will long have hit it’s target or left the airspace on the opposite side.
That is very surprising, because it means prohibited areas around major events (e.g. the Olympics) are meaningless. It also makes the German air force a complete waste of money, doesn’t it?
It means there is no carte blanche, the commander in chief (Secretary of Defense in peacetime, the chancellor in wartime) would be subject to prosecution. If he/she makes that call, the airplane will be shot down but it might be deemed illegal lateron. Like the case where a police commander ordered to threaten a child murderer who claimed the child was hidden and alive with physical torture to make him tell where the child was. A heroic action, the man sacrificed his professional career in hope to save the life of a child. He got convicted and lost his job even though 99% of the population thinks he did the right thing.
Personally I think the current situation is OK. You can’t define rules for every possible situation. I am convinced there will never be a law bill in Germany allowing the government to shoot down civilian aircraft. Our constitution does not allow for killing an innocent in order to protect (potentially) more innocent people.
Of course it is possible. Vectors followed by tracking with airborne multi-mode radars. No hand signals but you can certainly follow and shoot down if needed.
…. which is what I said.
Luckily, until now, nobody can (legally) authorise it in Germany. But they are currently discussing in parliament whether they don’t want to change the law and allow the precautionary shooting down of civilian aeroplanes who don’t answer radio calls…
That is very surprising, because it means prohibited areas around major events (e.g. the Olympics) are meaningless. It also makes the German air force a complete waste of money, doesn’t it?
