October 28, 2010 1:33PM 

# Local Knowledge and a Stake in the Outcome 

By [Jim Harper](https://www.cato.org/people/jim-harper) 

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European criticisms of U.S. airline security match those of many U.S. travelers, so the recent volley of complaints from the other side of the pond are unremarkable. The most interesting tidbit from [this news story](http://abcnews.go.com/Travel/wireStory?id=11979353) is that British pilots are part of the chorus.

There’s a chance that it was some organizational spokesperson whose interests diverge from the actual men and women who fly planes. But if you want to choose a group to trust on airline security, it’s the group with local knowledge and a genuine stake in the outcome. That’s not any security agency. That’s pilots.

##### Related Tags 

[Defense and Foreign Policy](https://www.cato.org/defense-foreign-policy) 

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