The Ministry of Transport announced that they will re-examine the implications of the "Code Positive" trial that has been running for the last few months.
The new system which is installed on aircraft is activated as the plane approaches Israeli airspace. It generates a secret identification code which the pilot then has to transmit before he is authorized to enter Israeli airspace prior to landing. According to Shaul Mofaz, the former Minister of Transport, Israel is the first country in the world to create a workable solution to counter the terrorist threat of the type experienced on 9/11. Mofaz said that the "Code Positive" system ensures pilot identification in all situations.
According to the regulations, every pilot flying a civilian aircraft to Israel, whether on a scheduled or charter flight, will be required to carry a personal smart card. This step is intended to increase Israel's security status.
However, during the recent Passover holiday there was an incident in which a Delta Airlines pilot mistakenly sent out a wrong signal, arousing suspicion that the plane had been hijacked. Israeli air force jets were scrambled and escorted the Delta Airlines flight safely to Ben Gurion Airport.
Since the start of the "Code Positive" trial almost all airlines have been against the system, with only 3 agreeing to participate, among them Delta Airlines. In a document sent by the Ministry of Transport to the management of the airlines it was stated that the trial was being suspended until further notice so that conclusions could be drawn and the results examined. The letter was also sent to Giora Rom, the head of the Civil Aviation Authority and to Dani Shenar, head of security for the Ministry of Transport. Pilots taking part in the trial have also been asked to provide feedback by completing a questionnaire.