Talks continue over controversial sky marshals plan

The British Airline Pilots’ Association (Balpa) has urged the adoption of a 'Gold Standard' for the armed sky marshals on UK flights, a move that would give the pilot responsibility as to how the marshal is deployed.

Following the meeting yesterday with Transport Minister Alistair Darling, Balpa General Secretary Jim McAuslan said that the association was seeking an agreement similar to the Gold Standard protocol which exists with Virgin Airlines.

Mr McAuslan confirmed that some progress had been made on the issue and talks would resume.

He said: "We have urged the minister to call a Security Summit of all those involved in security so that we can all sit round the same table, in the same room, discussing how we should go from here.

"We would like that summit to include, representatives of government, of the airlines, of Balpa and of cabin crew and ground staff, of Transec (the Department of Transport’s security department), the Civil Aviation Authority and NATS, the air traffic control organisation. We would also like to see representatives of the travelling public and of the travel industry."

He said that Balpa was looking forward to the minister’s decision on the request for a 'Security Summit’.

US aviation authorities have insisted that sky marshals be used on flights in US controlled air space.

The Transport Secretary told the Commons yesterday that the use of sky marshals was a "responsible and prudent" measure.

Yesterday, Mr Darling told MPs that the need for extra security measures on planes will be kept under review.

The confirmed that the measures available include:

• Deploying sky marshals;
• Different types of screening and searching at airports;
• Protecting aircraft on the ground; and
• Steps to prevent any take-over of the aircraft cockpit

Mr Darling said that for security reasons, he could not comment in detail on when and where these extra measures are being deployed.

He said: "Our objective is to ensure that we deploy all the security measures available to us, as and when appropriate, whilst at the same time enabling people to go about their day to day business."

The government announced on 28 December that more measures had been put in place for UK airlines operations in response to the heightened state of alert in the USA.

Home Secretary David Blunkett said that the UK's response was "proportionate and appropriate", and that people should not be afraid to fly.

(SP)