More concerning the pilots' viewpoint
http://boston.com/dailyglobe2/283/living/New_flight_plan+.shtml
We've seen some of this before. Clearly, fears of massive litigation are slowing down the airlines' and the FAA's final recommendations. Perhaps congress needs to defy their trial lawyer lobbyists and limit litigation to sane levels, should a pilot use these defense measures and thereby injure innocent passengers, which WILL happen should a hijacking be attempted.
-philw (always fly with your seat belt buckled)