CF18s

*/By Rick Nason, PhD, CFA
Partner, RSD Solutions Inc./*

*/Follow Rick Nason on Twitter/* [1]

*/Follow RSD Solutions on Twitter/* [2]

You likely heard the story about the Sunwing charter that was on its way from
Toronto to Cuba had to divert back to Toronto more than half-way through its
flight and "needed" a CF18 escort to do so.  The issue was two young
ladies who got into their holiday junket liquor a little too hard and a
little too early.

I understand getting the plane to the ground and offloading the offending
passengers.  I also believe that most rational people would also consider
the CF18 fighter jets to be a bit of a safety overkill.  My issue / question
is what would the CF 18 jets do?

There was no indication that the stupid drunken vacationers were either
wanting to, or able to take down the plane.  Also there was no indication
that they wanted to crash the plane into a crowded area.  Nor were they
trying to hijack it.  They were simply drunken ninnies.  SO what was the
point of the CF18 escort, and what was the expected CF18 escort expected to
do if a worst case did occur.  "Roger, we got that – they're trying to
open up another bottle of Jack Daniels – we will fire at once!"

There are only two plausible explanations.  (1) Risk management at NORAD has
also been into the Jack Daniels too hard and too heavy, or (2) risk
management at NORAD is desperate for something to do in order to justify its
budget. 


[1] https://twitter.com/rnason_dal
[2] https://twitter.com/rsdsolutions