TSA and the Fractionals?

[shroomwell]

How do they treat Fractional pilots when you are airlined to or from your plane? Do you have to check your bags because of the liquid ban, can you bring food through? Do they treat you the same as 121 pilots? Basically is it a giant pain in the a$$?

 

[ProFracPilot]

It depends on the airport. I believe the NJ guys will tell you that CMH is a PITA. However, my domicile aiport (that shall remain nameless - don't want them changing their program!) has continued to afford me "airline crew" courtesies. So, like most TSA-related subjects, it's all over the map.

 

[Dep676]

I have not had any problems with the liquid thing as long as I have been in uniform. I have even been searched and still let go.

The problem is the boneheads at TSA do not know the difference at most airports.

Check your bag and you will be buying more than new liquids. You will most likely be waiting for your bag to show up if it does at all. We had guys check their bag because of this and they got lost all the time. One guy even got his lost on a 1 leg flight.

 

[milehigh6080]

There are two types of luggage.

1- Carry-on
2- Lost

www.onebag.com

 

[rettofly]

TSA and Frax

On the rare occasions when I've been unable to check in on line and print a bording pass, I have received the dreaded "SSSS" boarding pass now and then.

Wearing the uniform and the IBAC badge has made the security screen a non-event with carry-on baggage.

 

[captain dad]

I traveled for the first time, in a long time, in plane clothes on my own time. The TSA (a guy that I have seen 100 times and is usually cool) knew who I was, but tore into my bag anyway. I seperated my liquids into the little, magical, anti-terrorist zip lock and took off my shoes, but they went after me anyway. I even showed them my badge and told them "I am off duty crew". Didn't phase him. This A-Hole took all my stuff. My toothepaste (4 Ozs.) too big. Hair jell no label on the container (worn off from having it so long) to bad. Shampoo (too big) bye bye. They even took my zip lock bag. They said it wasn't transparent. It had been used and wrinkled so much that it was starting to turn white because I had it soo long.

Of course they missed the two lighters, bottle of liquid shoe polish, and small can of spray startch. (AKA fire starter and flame thrower.)

I feel so much safer. Thank you for protecting us from the terrible hair stylist terrorist. Can you say "window dressing"? I get that warm, lying in bed, safe feeling...NOT! Irritating joke! Not to mention a double standard but that's fine by me. I think they should let crew through with almost anything short of a bazooka.

I have had the same stuff in my bag for the last two years. I never even get a second glance when in uniform. You would think when you ID yourself as crew they should back the F off.

DEN also sucks donkey balls when out of Uniform. I think the guy would have put that wand up my A$$ is he could have.

In uniform - no problem
Out of uniform - bite your lip

 

[blueridge71]

I traveled for the first time, in a long time, in plane clothes on my own time.

Is your uniform your "plane clothes?"

I havn't had much trouble. Once, when in uniform, TSA hassled me because he didn't recognize the company, but that was the exception.

When in civvies, I don't even try to deal with TSA. I just check my bag with my toiletries. I only do this going home. My bag was lost once (by ASA of course), but showed up the next day.

 

[Iam3rd]

So when you walk through security with your uniform on, do you still put all of your fluids in the zip lock bags?

 

[172driver]

My toothepaste (4 Ozs.) too big. Hair jell no label on the container (worn off from having it so long) to bad.

Funny you should mention that. I went looking the other day for toothpaste in a small container. Smallest commonly sold is 4 oz. Couldn't find it at Walgreens, Kroger, etc. I know they sell at it some stores with those bins full of samples, but it's asking a lot for me to have to trek all across town to find a 1 oz. smaller container. TSA must have figured out that 3 oz sizes aren't sold, so that's where they set their limit. Idiots.

As far as the hair gel, I've not seen anything saying the container must be labelled.

 

[Guitar Guy]

As far as the hair gel, I've not seen anything saying the container must be labelled.

And therein lies part of the problem: some TSA agents simply make up their own rules.

 

[gunfyter]

And therein lies part of the problem: some TSA agents simply make up their own rules.

Guy probably use to work at Miami GAC Customs.

 

[CherryBomb]

I had a small set of fingernail clippers taken.

Come on...

"let me in the cockpit or the b!tch looses a cuticle!!!!"


Another time they tried to take a 9 volt battery from my bag and the TSA guy told me that "only terrorists use 9v batteries".

 

[Guitar Guy]

Another time they tried to take a 9 volt battery from my bag and the TSA guy told me that "only terrorists use 9v batteries".

I hate to say it, but the TSA guy has a point. I mean, how often do you find 9v batteries for sale in grocery stores, gas stations, airports, etc.?

 

[acaTerry]

I hate to say it, but the TSA guy has a point. I mean, how often do you find 9v batteries for sale in grocery stores, gas stations, airports, etc.?

Every day, all the time. Even in bulk packs.

 

[rettofly]

Terror battery

Another time they tried to take a 9 volt battery from my bag and the TSA guy told me that "only terrorists use 9v batteries".

Um...My ANR headset uses a 9V battery. Does that make me a bad person?

 

[pilotpat]

9v battery = Terrorist?? My God...we live in a constant State of Fear! Problem is, the American Sheeple listen to whatever the "news" tells them. I don't care if you watch Fox or CNN. Its all the same in the end.

I recall a few years back at BOS Signature, I walked through their "checkpoint" and dropped my stuff in the bin. Wallet, change, watch, and pocket knife. The guy looks at me and asks what I think I'm doing. Umm, getting ready to take my pax back home, why? He goes on to tell me that I'm not allowed to carry any kind of knife on board. WHAT??!! Mind you, I'm in uniform and I'm the frigging pilot you misprogrammed robot! In the end, I told him get his supervisor if he has to, but I'm taking my f'ng pocket knife with me on MY airplane. Super comes along and I simply ask him what the heck they're doing. Anyway, got my knife back, but told not to carry it inside again. Okay. Whatever.

I can't wait til my next trip. Going out of the country and leaving the airplane for a week. Airlining out of foreign country and back. God, I can't WAIT to see how much fun that's gonna be.

Truly Stupid A-holes.

 

[walshsfly]

Next time say something like "Thank God I left the bomb on the airplane" Then sit back and watch them go nuts. Just remember fuel + confined space + fire = big ass bomb.

 

[blueridge71]

So when you walk through security with your uniform on, do you still put all of your fluids in the zip lock bags?

No, I keep in them in my toiletry bag, same as always.

 

[blueridge71]

Next time say something like "Thank God I left the bomb on the airplane" Then sit back and watch them go nuts. Just remember fuel + confined space + fire = big ass bomb.

I knew a guy who made a joke like that before 9-11. Even then they didn't think it was funny. He did make bail.

 

[Thedude]

Um...My ANR headset uses a 9V battery. Does that make me a bad person?

No, but all the self touching you do, makes you a bad person.

 

[skyaddict]

Personally I find most TSA checkpoints let me take all the liquids (water, gels, hotel shampoos or mouthwashes I have thrown into my bag to go, etc.) that I want whenever I am in uniform. The same goes for all my assorted junk in my carryon/FOM bag- ANR headset, flashlight, phones and charger, a little digital camera, MP3 player, yada yada. Ironically, CMH is the exception where they are like Nazis towards uniformed NJA pilots when it comes to water and going through all the stuff with a fine tooth comb.

Out of uniform on personal travel, at DCA, a TSA mental midget told me that I had to remove my tiny number of toiletries (a mini shampoo and a toothpaste) from my gallon ziploc bag because that bag was too big, and to transfer it into their smaller bag.

However, in uniform by and large they are very polite to me most of the time, I gotta hand that to them. The analness and inconsistency is truly a product of the redundant, reactive TSA bureacuracy rather than the rank and file bag checkers, who have to follow the playbook that is basically like that SNL TSA-training skit.

 

[DLF8108]

RE: TSA and Fractionals

To answer the question directly:

Even though traveling in uniform you are a ticketed passenger: pack accordingly or be ready for TSA to enforce the regulations. (As conveyed by NJA's own security staff.)

Any deviation/laxness from this policy by TSA, is strictly either a personal courtesy (your HBA and they know you), a professional courtesy, or a lack of knowledge.

 

[bailey3083]

In uniform I have not had problems at most the larger airports but the small ones OMG watch out. In SYR I had a TSA agent call his Sup over because he did not recognize the uniform. This lead me to be pulled to the side and be interrogated for 15 mins as to who I was and how I got a crew badge. UGH! Then in ICT I ended up in an argument because the TSA tried to tell me only 121 guys could carry liquids on the A/C but after debating the Station manager for 20 mins I won but missed my flight so can you say overtime day! YEA! But the worse was in Monterey, CA where I had a a book called " The Greatest Story Ever Sold: Bush administration failures from 9/11 to Katrina". The TSA agent actually took the book from me saying that it was "leftist terrorist" type propaganda that was inappropriate to have on a plane! I am still waiting for a response from TSA in DC to see if I am getting my book back.

 

[Dep676]

But the worse was in Monterey, CA where I had a a book called " The Greatest Story Ever Sold: Bush administration failures from 9/11 to Katrina". The TSA agent actually took the book from me saying that it was "leftist terrorist" type propaganda that was inappropriate to have on a plane! I am still waiting for a response from TSA in DC to see if I am getting my book back.

That is beause you were in CA, you got that book taken away. If you have had a Hillary or Nancy book they would have let you right through. You know out there in la-la land they do not like Bush.

 

[clueless]

Then in ICT I ended up in an argument because the TSA tried to tell me only 121 guys could carry liquids on the A/C but after debating the Station manager for 20 mins I won

I'm not flaming, but the fact of the matter is that when you frac guys ride in the cabin of a 121 airplane on a paid ticket, you are passengers, plain and simple...just the same as the person you're sitting next to. You are subject to the same security regulations as everyone else.

Yes, you are professional pilots. But you are private employees flying privately owned airplanes. You are not airline pilots (as you so happily admit to ad nauseum on this forum). You can't ride in the cockpit of a 121 airplane, you can't jumpseat (with a few exceptions), and you gotta put your gels in a plastic bag.

Any place you don't have to do the TSA dance is either a professional courtesy or due to the fact that the screener can't tell the difference between an airline employee and a frac pilot. DLF8108 had it right in his post.

 

[Dep676]

I'm not flaming, but the fact of the matter is that when you frac guys ride in the cabin of a 121 airplane on a paid ticket, you are passengers, plain and simple...just the same as the person you're sitting next to. You are subject to the same security regulations as everyone else.

Yes, you are professional pilots. But you are private employees flying privately owned airplanes. You are not airline pilots (as you so happily admit to ad nauseum on this forum). You can't ride in the cockpit of a 121 airplane, you can't jumpseat (with a few exceptions), and you gotta put your gels in a plastic bag.

Any place you don't have to do the TSA dance is either a professional courtesy or due to the fact that the screener can't tell the difference between an airline employee and a frac pilot. DLF8108 had it right in his post.

We are not wanting to "ride" in the cockpit or anything. We just want to go to and from work and not have to worry about some worth TSA agent taking our liquids. We have gone through the same background check as you 121 guys. I would bet that most of us have had more of a background check than the pinhead TSA people looking in my bag for contraband. My finger prints have gone to the FBI more than once for my frac job and for being a sheriff's department.

So just because we are not 121 does not mean we criminals. Why do you think you are better than us just because you are 121? I am here to tell you are not any better than anyone of us or any of the passengers. You just happen to drive the cattle cart, big frickin deal.

Explain that thinking of yours, you choose to post here, now defend your stupid post. Again we all went through the same background checks, probably more intense ones.

 

[bailey3083]

I'm not flaming, but the fact of the matter is that when you frac guys ride in the cabin of a 121 airplane on a paid ticket, you are passengers, plain and simple...just the same as the person you're sitting next to. You are subject to the same security regulations as everyone else.

Yes, you are professional pilots. But you are private employees flying privately owned airplanes. You are not airline pilots (as you so happily admit to ad nauseum on this forum). You can't ride in the cockpit of a 121 airplane, you can't jumpseat (with a few exceptions), and you gotta put your gels in a plastic bag.

Any place you don't have to do the TSA dance is either a professional courtesy or due to the fact that the screener can't tell the difference between an airline employee and a frac pilot. DLF8108 had it right in his post.

In reality when I get on a Commercial A/C I am the same as a 121 guy commuting to work. The TSA and FAA have both said that we at the FRACS are allowed to be consider crew members and so allowed the same exemptions as the 121 crews enjoy.

 

[honeycomb]

Dep676 ... buddy don't pop a vessel. It ain't worth it.

Now, as for the (so called) security.

I've worked for the DOD (Nuclear Power Officer onboard U.S. Navy Submarines) with a Top Secret and higher clearance.

I have worked 121 (for more than 10 years) and corporate (for more than 10 years as well).

I know for a fact that the Frac Pilots go through as invasive an investigation as the 121 guys/gals. And, more intrusive than the TSA background check.

So, TSA su^ks donkey b@lls. Go figure they couldn't catch our own government agents smuggling simulated guns/knives/bomb's/etc. any better than the previous group. But, they have to justify there more than 5 times the cost behavior.

They make up for their inadequacies by hassling the crews. Go figure.

If you don't like the TSA I recommend you change jobs or have your government representative have them removed and replaced by REAL security. I don't think you'll like the last one more than the first one.

Fly safe and just ignore the TSA security folks. The couldn't hit water if they fell out of a boat.

 

[Dep676]

I am just sick of the 121 guys thinking they are better than everyone else because they fly the cattle cart.

The TSA just needs to get some common sense. They will take the liquids and tweezers from grandma but they do not think twice about all the pens I have my bag. There are hundreds of ways to kill a person with a pen alone but hey you can not drink water on a plane.

 

[bailey3083]

I am just sick of the 121 guys thinking they are better than everyone else because they fly the cattle cart.

The TSA just needs to get some common sense. They will take the liquids and tweezers from grandma but they do not think twice about all the pens I have my bag. There are hundreds of ways to kill a person with a pen alone but hey you can not drink water on a plane.

Heck what about the magazines on the A/C. I can take some rubber bands and make one hell of a club with a rolled up magazine. Oopps better keep my mouth shut or rubber bands will be banned next!