“The problem with ‘soft walls’ concept, according to Koncelik, is that it does not protect all US airspace. Instead, it focuses on protecting ‘high value, static targets’. As a consequence, vast majority of nation’s population as well as on and off shore assets will remain at risk.”

Koncelik insists that there is also a far simpler solution to threat terrorism poses. Using GPS technologies, his patent provides for a pilot override that could easily interfaced with existing pilot control boxes that when activated allows tracking aircraft and/or ground controllers to assume control of aircraft. "Remotely piloted vehicles have been around for years," Koncelik says, "so it isn’t like my patent requires a great deal of endless research. All we need to do is integrate existing technologies with pilot override system I’ve patented."

Koncelik’s patent is one of five he currently holds. It can be viewed on United States Patent and Trademark Office’s web site (www.uspto.gov). Just type his first and last name into “Term 1" and “Term 2" fields and click on “Search”. To learn more about The Soft Walls Project visit http://softwalls.eecs.berkeley.edu/ .