Michael Roberts

[BR715]

If your going to go on CNN and and make a stand representing the pilot profession and the traveling public do not act like a complete tool.

 

[islandhoper]

Yup, that was weird wasn't it? Not cool at all. Don't think he'll be getting a job at CNN anytime soon.

 

[Kharma Police]

Why is he so afraid of a TSA screener seeing his twig and berries?!?! Perhaps he is worried the screener might be Austin Powers and would say, "that ain't no man! It's a woman, baby!"

The TSA screeners have a tough job, they can only be wrong once and our airline career can come to a screeching halt when our passengers are too afraid to fly after an attack. If seeing my johnson helps save innocent life and protects my career then I don't have any problem with it.

 

[Baze]

He'sh afraid they'll paint hish "yoohoo" gooooooooooooooooooold...

 

[AirMorgan]

He'sh afraid they'll paint hish "yoohoo" gooooooooooooooooooold...

LOL. Perhaps he is toyt like a toyger. Yessshhhh. Isn't that veerd!

Personally, I don't want to be exposed to those x-rays on a daily/weekly basis. I will be opting for the secondary pat down.

 

[Baze]

AirMorgan,

I'm totally with you on the pat-down issue. I'm going to opt for this option rather than going through that giant X-Ray machine every time. I hope most people do the same thing.

 

[Fly4$]

http://amfix.blogs.cnn.com/2010/10/20/pilot-refuses-full-body-security-scan-walks-out-of-airport/

Here's a link

 

[SansPlane]

Don't confuse the message with the messenger - not that his message was bad. He has valid points that a free society should discuss. Allow me to have a national ID card, an iris scan or whatever to bypass the BS. "and to the republic for which it stands" - so what does it stand for? increasing expensive govt. regulation to make us safer... TSA does not make me feel any safer... Prior to 911 and as of this date, I have a better chance getting killed driving to the airport than anything else happening... YMMV

 

[Baze]

Sans,

I agree. The TSA could and should be doing a much better job.

If they want to give us the rubber glove treatment, then I think it's high time they started screening rampers, airplane cleaners, and caterers.

High time to have dedicated screening lines for ALL airport employees. Unfortunately, it's more about the almighty dollar and not real security.

 

[thunderworm]

how did he even get hired with those outsatanding interview skills. UH, um, uh. I wish he would have made some better points rather than just complaining about people seeing and touching him. Kinda comes across as a wus. I am all for not having to go through those machines but not becuase I don't want people to see my wang, but becuase I think it is unnesecary for pilots.

 

[filejw]

Don't confuse the message with the messenger - not that his message was bad. He has valid points that a free society should discuss. Allow me to have a national ID card, an iris scan or whatever to bypass the BS. "and to the republic for which it stands" - so what does it stand for? increasing expensive govt. regulation to make us safer... TSA does not make me feel any safer... Prior to 911 and as of this date, I have a better chance getting killed driving to the airport than anything else happening... YMMV

Tell that to the guys in DTW last Xmas.....body scanner most likely would have prevented the underwear bomber..

 

[SplitBar]

I'm a robot when I go thru security. 99.8% of the time it a very simple process. We bud to the front of the line where I take nothing off because I have security friendly shoes and watch and belt. I couldn't be easier. On the very very rare occasion some TSA agent asks me to go thru the body scan I will grin and bear it and do as they say. It isn't worth it and I'm not going to let anyone, especially the TSA get me riled up over such a simple and routine process. I think he made a huge mistake and he really should gather his thoughts before he makes his next new appearance. I liked how he tried to take charge of the interview from the get go and the CNN gal was quick to chime in and put him in his place as to who was running the interview. Its sad that he priortizied his agenda ahead of putting food on the table at home for his wife and many kids he claimed he had.

 

[dillfer]

I'm a robot when I go thru security. 99.8% of the time it a very simple process. We bud to the front of the line where I take nothing off because I have security friendly shoes and watch and belt. I couldn't be easier. On the very very rare occasion some TSA agent asks me to go thru the body scan I will grin and bear it and do as they say. It isn't worth it and I'm not going to let anyone, especially the TSA get me riled up over such a simple and routine process. I think he made a huge mistake and he really should gather his thoughts before he makes his next new appearance. I liked how he tried to take charge of the interview from the get go and the CNN gal was quick to chime in and put him in his place as to who was running the interview. Its sad that he priortizied his agenda ahead of putting food on the table at home for his wife and many kids he claimed he had.

I think the whole point is, why do pilots have to go thru security. Doesn't anybody realize that a pilot can kill everybody on that plain without TSA seeing his junk? I can understand why the general public has to go thru security, and it's up to them what they put up with. But as pilots, where we have to go thru this everyday, it's getting ridiculous. And really makes no since.

And are you saying he doesn't have many kids?

 

[filejw]

I think the whole point is, why do pilots have to go thru security. Doesn't anybody realize that a pilot can kill everybody on that plain without TSA seeing his junk? I can understand why the general public has to go thru security, and it's up to them what they put up with. But as pilots, where we have to go thru this everyday, it's getting ridiculous. And really makes no since.

And are you saying he doesn't have many kids?

Because its easy to get a fake airline Id an uniform, think outside the box because the bad guys do....

 

[WolfManPack]

Think outside the box!

Because its easy to get a fake airline Id an uniform, think outside the box because the bad guys do....

Gee I wonder how employees get in and out of the pentagon?

Good thing TSA is in charge of body scanning those individuals or else national security would surely be at risk.

Point being, there are ways to allow pilots, who are ultimately able to do with the aircraft as they darn well please and don't need a knife, or underwear bomb to do it with, can clear security efficiently without being harassed by TSA as if they were a normal, average Joe showing up for work that day.

There is a reason it's extremely difficult to get a job as an airline pilot and when we make comments like this we diminish our profession.

Think outside the box!

 

[SLOTH]

Two words: Crew Pass.

Also, the security measure that we employ in this country are more about invasion of privacy then security! If we could only hire the type of personnel that El Al employs, we would be that much better off. It's all about behavior recognition and solid interviewing of each passenger that will make us safer, not machinery that is operated by a bunch of uneducated ill-fits.

 

[EWR_FO]

Because its easy to get a fake airline Id an uniform, think outside the box because the bad guys do....

With a TSA uniform and anything that remotely resembles a badge, you can waltz right through the exit- they don't even look up when the TSA guys walk through, much less examine whatever ID they're supposed to have.

 

[Hamburger]

Him - "I've got less money and more kids than most people I know."
Reporter - "Do you think you're going to lose your job over this?"
Him - "I don't know, that's not my priority right now."

Too bad demonstrating his ignorance of the Fourth Amendment protections to the nation is more important to him than feeding his family.

 

[Kharma Police]

With a TSA uniform and anything that remotely resembles a badge, you can waltz right through the exit- they don't even look up when the TSA guys walk through, much less examine whatever ID they're supposed to have.

Do you check your buddies ID, license, medical and passport when he sits on the jumpseat? Do you really think they just show up at some random metal detector and get to work without knowing who they are working with? They have briefings and specific assignments that might not be obvious to us, "smart pilots".

 

[Amish RakeFight]

Where's the video?


EDIT:

Here it is -

http://www.cnn.com/2010/TRAVEL/10/20/pilot.refuses.body.scan/index.html?iref=allsearch

 

[Amish RakeFight]

..............

 

[HA25]

If your going to go on CNN and and make a stand representing the pilot profession and the traveling public do not act like a complete tool.

He needed to be more eloquent and better prepared... we certainly could have been better served by better presentation... the underlying point is valid however.. being fully searched as a pilot is a complete waste of time.

 

[EWR_FO]

Do you check your buddies ID, license, medical and passport when he sits on the jumpseat? Do you really think they just show up at some random metal detector and get to work without knowing who they are working with? They have briefings and specific assignments that might not be obvious to us, "smart pilots".

So you are implying that every single screener knows ALL the screeners at his/her particular airport? That's laughable. Screeners routinely walk through the security exit without the person at the podium even looking at them. Stand there and watch sometime, it's so ridiculous it's sad.

 

[The Prussian]

I don't disagree with his viewpoints toward how we are screened daily. Many of our fellow colleagues have gotten crossways with TSA and security, as we all have experienced less than enjoyable encounters with TSA. Most of us can agree that his viewpoints are valid.
But...I wouldn't doubt that he had possibly thought long and hard about this particular incident finally presenting itself long in advance. He made the point that his pay is less than ideal,...and he also made the point that he had a lot of mouths to feed. He is also an F/O in a beat down industry, where hiring, growth, and upgrade prospects have been slim to none the past several years. Thus,...and I'm only guessing, but I think he was probably considering giving up in this industry, and therefore felt he didn't have a lot to lose anyway. He made his statement,...now we'll see where this goes...

 

[Kharma Police]

So you are implying that every single screener knows ALL the screeners at his/her particular airport? That's laughable. Screeners routinely walk through the security exit without the person at the podium even looking at them. Stand there and watch sometime, it's so ridiculous it's sad.

If you have a security or SIDA issue then you should report it.

I haven't been to Newark for awhile, do they still have a flag flying over gate A17 for flight 93?

 

[EWR_FO]

If you have a security or SIDA issue then you should report it.

I haven't been to Newark for awhile, do they still have a flag flying over gate A17 for flight 93?

I have reported it, no one cares.
I believe it's still there.

 

[Voice Of Reason]

I Agree with Him & Applaud his GUTS (a rarity in pilots these days)

http://jalopnik.com/5667976/pilot-w...ailed-against-tsa-for-months?skyline=true&s=i


Pilot Who Refused Full-Body Scan Railed Against TSA For Months

"ExpressJet pilot Michael Roberts' refusal of an airport full-body scan has drawn an outpouring of support among pilots. But it's a step Roberts has considered since July, when he railed against the Department of Homeland Security's "tyranny."
ExpressJet pilot Michael Roberts got into a standoff with security at Memphis airport on Friday when he refused to be screened using either the full-body scanners being rolled out at U.S. airports by the Transportation Security Administration or a frisking by TSA agents.
Roberts' stance has touched a nerve among other pilots - people used to being trusted with the safety of ferrying thousands of people. One Southwest Airlines captain urged his colleagues to take action as well:

Everybody else...don't let Michael stand alone on this. This affects all of us. On the one hand, it's ridiculous. What would I even DO with a weapon if I managed to get one on the plane? I already HAVE the plane?...And on the other hand, it's not only a violation of our rights, it's a big potential health risk. Seriously, do you want to go through an X-Ray machine three or four days a week for the next twenty odd years? Yeah, THAT's perfectly safe....
Until last Tuesday, I had never heard of a pilot being asked to go through the full body scanner. Then I was. I refused, and they were grumpy about it, but I just went through the metal detector, and that was it. Next day, Michael has this happen. How many days before the rules change, and we no longer have an option? How many months before they demand something more onerous...and all the abused hookers just go along with it? Where do you draw the line. I say here.
​

But Roberts' decision wasn't a spur of the moment call. Back in July, Roberts was already exercised over the prospect of not just scanning, but patdowns for pilots, telling members of a pilot's forum that "not only will I not hesitate to delay a flight, I may end up walking away from the job and air travel altogether if necessary." He also said "you'd have to have your head buried completely in the sand to believe that the Dept. of Homeland Security really gives two shiits (sic) about preventing terrorism."

I cannot consent to nor accept unwelcome physical contact any more than having images of my naked body being viewed by government personnel as a routine part of my daily commute to work. If I'm not under arrest or a suspect in some known threat to air transportation security, the feds have no grounds to invade my privacy and personal space in this way. It is an outrage beyond any measure of reason, an assault on liberty, a gross overreaching of the state, and a very significant step on the road back to the sort of tyranny many of our forbears and the founders of this society fought and often died to escape and abolish.
​

In August, after the Transportation Security Administration announced expanded security for pilots, Roberts wrote a letter to his bosses, which he attempted to get other pilots to sign as well. He also wrote to the Memphis Commercial Appeal last month, raising the "virtual strip search" term and questioning the qualifications of TSA agents:

Federal airport security guards are often unskilled, entry-level responders to help-wanted ads affixed to pizza boxes. Perhaps novice agents lack the perspective to grasp the full implications of their work. Forgive them, for they know not what they do. But please don't show them your naked body. Don't let these strangers put their hands on you or your children. Their abuse protects no one.
​

So far, there's no update on Roberts' status with ExpressJet.
Send an email to Justin Hyde, the author of this post, at [email protected]. "

 

[sunlitpath]

Shut up and get in the damn machine you little sissies. Nobody wants to see your small wieners. They are looking for weapons and explosives that blow up babies and mommies. Everybody is subject to the screening; you are not special. Did they frisk you a little briskly? You poor little bitches...

 

[HA25]

Shut up and get in the damn machine you little sissies. Nobody wants to see your small wieners. They are looking for weapons and explosives that blow up babies and mommies. Everybody is subject to the screening; you are not special. Did they frisk you a little briskly? You poor little bitches...

I don't usually get down and dirty these days.. but I just want to be the first to tell you

GTFO.

You're not worthy to shine the bottom of a pilot's shoe you TSA flunky.

 

[EWR_FO]

Shut up and get in the damn machine you little sissies. Nobody wants to see your small wieners. They are looking for weapons and explosives that blow up babies and mommies. Everybody is subject to the screening; you are not special. Did they frisk you a little briskly? You poor little bitches...

According to the news today, they are looking for money.