Air Rage in the Skies will Probably Mean CCTV on Planes

I was reading an article in the Sunday Times Travel section about the increasing incidents of ‘air rage’ and bullying going on during flights.  I wonder if these are the same people who suffer from road rage, leave their cars in Pink Parking, and forget to check their rage in with the rest of their baggage?  I must admit I had assumed we were already being filmed but so far it’s just the cockpit crew who are able to look back into the cabin.

We’re accustomed to suffering the indignities of being scanned and frisked while being processed through security.  Why not install one of those ‘love meter’ machines they have at fairgrounds where you put your palm onto a magic panel and it lights up the appropriate colour for your mood.  I think they were designed as a fun way for young dating couples to measure their degree of passion but, hey, it ought to work just as well for those who get heated up for other reasons.  Security authorities could convert one of their interrogation rooms into an ice room to cool down and sober up the hotheads before allowing them onboard, or send them packing. 

Apparently the number of incidents of air rage has gone up by almost two thirds in a year. So, thanks to the drunks and bullies, we appear doomed to be filmed as we grimace while squashed into our economy seats.  No discrimination though, as the cameras will be installed throughout the cabin so business and first class passengers behaving badly will also have to be accountable for their actions.  Most of the incidents are said to be alcohol- or tobacco-related so terrorists have no part in this!  Seems we’re pretty good at terrorising ourselves.  The next step will probably have to be the banning of alcohol on planes.  It’s sad that we’ve come to this.

I wonder if the men (sorry, but it’s always men!) I see sitting in their cars at traffic lights picking their noses are aware they’re probably being filmed…  Anyway, I digress.  Much as we grumble about our lack of privacy as we go about our lives, we should be grateful when CCTV cameras help to catch criminals.  Personally, I will feel a little safer in the skies knowing that the drunks and bullies will think twice about starting anything or face prosecution! 

This entry was posted on Wednesday, December 19th, 2007 at 9:11 am and is filed under Airlines, Travel News .

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