The man believed to be Bermuda's only practising commercial pilot told of how last week's hijackings preyed on his mind every time he flies.

Former St. David's Islander Nicholas Rose, who now lives in the United States, said he was ready to tackle terrorists with the axe kept in the cockpit for emergency exits.

Mr. Rose, 27, said the approach to dealing with terrorists had changed since his training at the Embry Riddle Aeronautical University - the place where some of last week's hijackers had attended.

He said: "They used to say negotiate with terrorists, now it's turned 180 degrees and they are saying fight back, don't negotiate.

"We don't have guns or even disposable hand cuffs, believe it or not. But I am sure there will be changes."

He said he kept a close eye on passengers, an easier task now that fear of flying has reduced numbers travelling with him on his trips out of Atlanta.

He said: "I try to greet the passengers, I am a lot more aware of people getting on board and what kind of bags they have.

"It's a kind of personal thing but I have found out that other pilots are doing it too."

He said around 300 flight attendants were on leave because they were afraid to fly.

Pilots are now being searched before boarding - a measure which had proved unpopular with some, said Mr. Rose.

"One pilot refused to let himself be searched but I think it's good for people to see this, that it's not just the passengers."

But other security measures were quickly dropped.

"For three days they put all staff through a security check at the car park but then they stopped and went back to the old system. That's discouraging."

Cockpit security is a major headache. "You can very easily kick the door in. One of things they have to keep in mind if you are doing an emergency landing - that's the one way out."

He said designers would still have to make the door easy to open from the inside if they were trying to make it more difficult from people to open from the outside.

Last week's horror has not put the former Mount St. Agnes pupil off flying.

He said: "I will continue, absolutely but I am not sure how I will be affected by job losses.

"I am half way up the seniority scale so I am hoping I won't get the sack but anything can happen."