Is there a security expert on-board the aircraft?

Here is an interesting strong AuthN application, inbound aircraft. Apparently Israel is going to roll out a strong AuthN system to verify the identity of the pilots for inbound aircraft. Details are sketchy, but apparently the pilots will carry some kind of OTP device. When challenged they must provide a OTP or be denied entry. Planes that approach after being denied entry will, apparently, be shot down.

This is intended to prevent a 9/11 style attack. There is speculation that there will be a may-day code that the pilots could use in a "gun to the head" scenario. Such a situation certainly presents some grim choices to the pilot. A hijacker who doesn’t want anyone to know about the hijacking is certainly not interested in negotiating a solution.

I assume that there would have to be some sort of pilot PIN number to unlock the OTP. That leads me to image a wild Airport-esque plot where the plucky passenger-hero has guess the PIN number of the pilot to land the aircraft.

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tags: Authentication |  OTP |  Security