My
Toshiba laptop is two years old. The internal battery somehow has
gone bad and I can not start the laptop unless I power it with AC
mains supply first. I inquired about getting a replacement battery from
Toshiba, but was told that laptop batteries are out of stock and they
shall intimate to me, when the stock arrives. There is nothing that
can be done so I have placed an order for a new battery with them and
wait for the replacement battery to arrive. This however did not
create any problems for me so far, while travelling by air, because
no one cared, whether my laptop batteries are in working order or
not while travelling and I have been able to carry my laptop along
with me on number of flights with ease.
This
is however not going to happen hence fourth. US authorities have
announced recently that air travellers with smartphones or other
electronic devices must be able to turn them on batteries to take
them aboard an aircraft under new security measures. Security
officers now may ask that owners power up some electronic devices
including cellphones and laptops during the security examination.
Department
of transport in UK has been more explicit. They say that they have
issued new guidelines according to which any electronic device that
has a flat battery will not be allowed on America-bound flights. The
advisory says:
"Make
sure electronic devices are charged before travel." and warn "If
your device doesn't switch on, you won't be allowed to bring it onto
the aircraft. All electronic devices are screened by security
officers. During the security examination, officers may also ask
owners to power up some devices, including phones. Powerless devices
will not be permitted on board the aircraft. The traveller may also
undergo additional screening."
The
new guidelines make it mandatory for airport security staff to
routinely test smart phones and computers for traces of explosives.
This is certainly an additional hassle for air passengers, who face
so many constraint as it is. At present, one can not carry any
liquids including water while going through security checks. No
jells, creams, pastes are allowed. Even the safety razor has to go
inside the checked in baggage. These additional restrain adds to the
difficulties, passengers are facing already.
Image source : Strait times
Why
this sudden change? There appears to be a important and serious
reason for that. As expected the reason is nothing but a new terror
threat perception. Western intelligence services say that, based on
real-time intelligence, Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), the
Yemen-based branch of the terror network founded by the late Osama
bin Laden, is passing on sophisticated bomb-making expertise to
militants fighting in Syria for use against Western targets - most
prominently, passenger aircraft. Experts say that a 32-year-old Saudi
citizen, Ibrahim al-Asiri, hiding out with AQAP in Yemen's restive
southern provinces is believed to be behind the threat of a new
generation of bombs. As a result hundreds of militants travelling
from Europe to fight in the Middle East, could pose a security risk
on their return. Most European passport-holders do not need a visa to
travel to the US.
The
security threat might be real but what this new generation of bomb
making expertise has to do with the smartphones and the laptops-
would be natural question that comes to the mind. US officials say
that smartphones - especially iPhones and Samsung Galaxy handsets
could be used as "stealth" bombs by Qaida terrorists, who
have found a way to turn them into explosive devices and intend to
use them on commercial flights. The batteries inside these devices
take a large volume of space and perhaps this is where the explosives
are hidden. So obviously if there is no battery in such devices they
can never be powered up. This is perhaps the rationale behind this
new security measure. If you can power your smartphone, obviously
there is only a battery inside, isn't it?
I am
quite sure that the new security measure would soon be followed up by
all major airports around the world including India, creating more
trouble for the travellers. Airlines may soon start advising
passengers bound for US to report earlier so that they can undergo
more stringent security measures. On personal level, I must follow
up with Toshiba and try to get replacement battery for my laptop or
give up any hopes of carrying it with me during next air travel. It
is a tough life to be an air traveler.
9th
July 2014
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