Businesses with executives on tight international schedules hit by terrorist disruption will be looking again this month at the benefits of chartering or buying private aircraft.

The massive security alert at U.K. airports, and the constant threat of disruption at inconvenient times, highlights, once again, the advantages of businesses being in control of their travel arrangements. It is a conclusion that has firmly taken root in the United States against the background of the war on terror and now looks like becoming much more prevalent and prominent in Europe.

It is not that there are less added security precautions in the business aircraft sector - it is just that the numbers using charter flights are so much less than those flying scheduled airlines. If there is any delay in boarding aircraft in the "private sector', it is a few minutes.

For some passengers at U.K. airports it was more like a few days' of disruption with queues stretching hundreds of yards. Growing numbers of Americans have decided already that they prefer to avoid the inconvenience and the perceived greater safety and security of private aircraft are big selling points.

Reaction in the U.S. demonstrated that aircraft security in one country has widespread international implications. The security alert came as British authorities announced the arrest of a significant number of alleged extremists suspected of a plot to destroy passenger aircraft flying from the U.K. to the U.S.

There was disruption at departure and destination. The U.S. Trans-portation Security Adminis-tration raised the aviation sector threat condition to high (orange) for all U.S. domestic airline flights and those bound to the U.S. from any foreign country except the U.K.

And flights to the U.S. originating from Great Britain were coded severe (red). While the alert lasted all aircraft operations conducted under Part 91, 91K and 135 travelling from the U.S. to the U.K. or vice versa required an international waiver from the TSA.

The FAA has also issued a change to FDC Notam 5860 that removes the U.K. from the list of approved "portal countries."

It said there was no indication of plotting within the U.S. "We believe that these arrests have significantly disrupted the threat, but we cannot be sure that the threat has been entirely eliminated or the plot completely thwarted."

There are related perceptions - particularly in the United States which is a prime target country - that private aircraft travel is dependable and safer than scheduled flights. It is also becoming more affordable.

The European private aircraft industry must, however, like the U.S. be vigilant constantly and keep security at high levels all the time because hard-earned confidence can be eroded by one terrorist act.

The threat to private aircraft, if only one of perception, is still there although the U.K. alert has pushed it into the background. Last April, an Arabic web forum called for American private business jets, particularly Gulfstream and Learjets, to be identified and destroyed.

While I believe the threat to harm is real, I'm not convinced that anything of significance will come of the threat to target private aircraft in flight. It is a fear tactic.

Some companies fear that if they fly into "sensitive zones," their aircraft will be downed by surface-to-air missiles. But today, SAM used by most terrorists are of old technology; targeting is poor and so is the propulsion. Using newer missile technology would require significant training and maintenance, which

is why I believe we're not seeing this type of weaponry in the hands of terrorists.

As a U.S. Air Force senior pilot during the Afghanistan war, and as a survivor of a few SAM attacks, my observation is that the risk of an actual hit is low. Larger aircraft, especially with wing-mounted engines, stand a high probability of survival. Odds of survival increase when the crew is efficient and decisive in their reaction and execution of emergency procedures.

Private aircraft operators, however, need to employ a robust human-factors training programme. Aircraft may be more at risk in certain regions such as the Middle East.

Leaving aircraft unattended while sitting on the ground is an invitation for a terrorist/opportunist to damage or destroy. Access to baggage, various panels and tampering with the aircraft's avionics, etc., could pose a problem. So secure aircraft in a locked hangar, and before boarding aircraft, check all panels, doors and other points of entry.

Terrorists look for areas of vulnerability. While the aircraft is taxiing, moving at a slow speed, the pilots inside of the cockpit are focusing on performing checklists. The aircraft may be in a taxi-hold position stopped - so who is going to notice the van parked on the side of road with a grenade launcher targeted at the plane?

Proper planning is paramount. You need a strong human-factors training programme, which is part of crew resource management training. The difference between life or death could be having, and maintaining, high levels of awareness. These include employing sets of eyes outside the aircraft.

Complacency once terror alerts recede could be one of the biggest threats to the expansion of the business aircraft sector. It's something that Europe, like the U.S. may have to learn to live with.

But, in the greater scheme of things, governments, taxes and user fees might become a greater threat to private aviation than terrorists.

David Perdue, president/ceo, iviation