Now that Osama bin Laden has finally been killed, we can start to analyze his impact on aviation safety.

Sadly, though bin Laden can no longer hurt anyone else, there is fear that his followers will and security has been tightened at airports worldwide.

While Osama bin Laden's death will have a short term impact on airport security, his use of airliners to attack innocent people has forever changed the face of aviation.

So the next time you go through a full-body scan or invasive hand search at airport security, don't blame TSA. They're only doing their jobs.

The real culprit is dead. But his legacy lives on.

Delta Air Lines is sending 11,000 front line employees to charm school in an effort to reduce passenger complaints.

That may fix some of the symptoms, but I don't think charm school will transform Delta into the happiest place on earth for either staff or complaining customers.

Delta used to be one of the world's mot respected airlines. What has changed? And how can the airline change course?

Charm school may teach people how to behave, but it's unlikely to change how employees feel about themselves and their jobs.

Today I flew on from Detroit to Oakland on a pristine Boeing 727, complete with a hot breakfast and a friendly, professional flight crew.

Check-in was a breeze, security personnel were polite and the screening quick and the passengers were well-dressed, relaxed and happy. Even the parking was free.

No, I didn't travel back in time - I flew as a member of Nomads - the last remaining travel club with its own aircraft in the U.S.

Nomads conducts about two dozen trips a year for its members and the experience for this seasoned traveler was transformative.

All of airline travel used to be this way. There's no reason we can't return to it if airline executives have the will to change.

Imagine air travel with the hostility removed. Imagine that civility has returned to your conversations with passengers.

If airlines would offer incentives to employees for random acts of politeness and great service we can break the self-destructive cycle we're currently in.

Last Christmas, tragedy was averted when explosives misfired on a Detroit-bound airliner.

In December 1988, Pan Am flight 103 was blown from the skies over Locherbie, Scotland.

And back in December 1985 a chartered Arrow Air DC-8 carrying U.S. troops home for the holidays crashed in Newfoundland, killing everyone aboard.

There is a degree of risk in what we do, made more uncertain by people who want to do us harm.

Here's hoping that this holiday season will be uneventful for us all and that the year ahead will be safe and prosperous for everyone in our industry, and the peple who entrust their safety to us.