FOX SPECIAL REPORT WITH BRIT HUME May 22, 2003
Wartime Grapevine
HUME: Disneyland likes to call itself "The Happiest Place On Earth" and now it's looking to become the safest as well. Fearing a potential terrorist attack, Disney officials have secured a No-Fly Zone over the company's theme parks in both Florida and California. But as Fox News correspondent William la Jeunesse reports, not everyone is happy about these safety measures.
WILLIAM LA JEUNESSE, FOX NEWS CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Pilot Bob Dobry's aerial advertising business has taken a dive. That's because Congress, citing security concerns passed a bill this year forcing the FAA to restrict small airplanes from flying over Dobry's breads and butter, Disney World in Florida, Disneyland in California
BOB DOBRY, AIRCRAFT OWNERS/PILOT ASSOC. For Disneyland to use 9-11 as a tool to get their way is a despicable way act.
LA JEUNESSE: Dobry accuses Disney of lobbying for the bill, which he says applies only to Disney World, not competitors like Sea World or Universal Studios. And some experts even say the ban is a ruse because the area it covers is too small to provide real safety from a terrorist attack.
JOHN PIKE, GLOBALSECURITY.ORG. The exclusions are simply too small to get an air defense fighter in time to do any good.
RICHARD BLOOM, EMBRY-RIDDLE AERONAUT. UNIV.: There are people who believe that the government might take action purely for the benefit of general public reassuring, but not really adding to security. But contributing to the reassurance of the general public, I think, is a legitimate mode of action on the part of the government.
LA JEUNESSE: The law also restricts planes from flying over pro and major college sporting events, putting those and Disney on par with sensitive sites, like submarine bases, weapons depots and nuclear power plants. And while some pilots don't want any air space restrictions, security experts say the ban does provide a deterrent value.
LA JEUNESSE (on camera): The word Disney never actually appeared in the bill, but came up in a letter from Congress to the FAA. Which explained that Disney was actually singled out because, No.1, it has the highest average attendance of any theme park. No. 2, it represents a symbolic target. And finally, it was actually singled out, identified by one of the 9-11 terrorist bombers as a potential attack site. Nevertheless, the aerial advertising industry wants to rescind those restrictions sometime next year. In Los Angeles, William la Jeunesse, Fox News.
Copyright © 2003, Fox News Network
