Airlining to and from work

[C425Driver]

Just wondering how frac pilot's experiences have been airlining to or from your duty assignments after the terrorist bust in Great Britain. Any problems keeping your toothpaste and shaving cream from the TSA? I go back to work in a few days and was trying to get an idea of what to expect.

Thanks,

C425Driver

 

[YankeeEcho]

I've airlined 3 legs since the UK issue - and we must check our bag if it has any liquid or gel - so DOP kits certainly qualify. I do see the airline crews with their normal bags past the security point however. I'm trying to figure out how to equip my DOP kit with non-liquid, non-gell stuff! Let's see - powdered tooth powder, stick deoderant, no after shave, foamy shaving cream, and use hotel shampoo?

 

[Flyingdutchman]

I have the same question... Are "we" 91K corp. guys and charter boys not allowed to bring our water etc with us anymore ??? what about if we deadhead in uniform from a to b?

 

[Dilligaff]

No word from our company on this yet. Has anyone else heard anything from their management on this?

Dilligaff

 

[EJApilot]

I airlined today in uniform from MCO to IAH. No problems at all, did not have to remove anything. 10 minutes from the time I walked in the door to the time I was at the gate.

 

[YankeeEcho]

I airlined today in uniform from MCO to IAH. No problems at all, did not have to remove anything. 10 minutes from the time I walked in the door to the time I was at the gate.

No question as to whether you had any liquids or gels in your bag???

 

[batsky2000]

Well if you guys did a little research like some of us you would have found the same answer as I did, the TSA will exemt you from having to check your bags if you are in UNIFORM, this is straight from a TSA supervisor at my domicile airport, for those that think going to or from work in uniform is stupid or what ever then fine, I have always worn my uniform to and from work and it has made a world of difference through security, I have never been asked to take off my shoes, and now I don't have to worry about what gels or pastes I can't take, if you want to avoid the hassle factor of having to check your bags, put on the uniform, so far I have had no problems with my carry on's and I have not taken any thing out of them either.

Also, you are allowed to bring drinks on board as well if you are in uniform

 

[EJApilot]

No question as to whether you had any liquids or gels in your bag???

It was never asked once.

 

[FLYLOW22]

Apparently there has been random issues with NJA crew members at airports like CMH where we frequent more often than, let's say, Wala Wala, WA.

I guess the TSA took it upon themselves to say, "Those aren't REAL pilots" and "The exemption is for pilots who fly big airplanes."

Well... maube someday I'll get my training wheels taken off.

The expemption clearly states "Uniformed Crew is exempt."


Siiiigh. Thousands Standing Around strikes again.

 

[YankeeEcho]

The expemption clearly states "Uniformed Crew is exempt."

Can you point to that exemption on the TSA website or somewhere else?

 

[HSDriver]

Exemption is only for 121 crewmembers in uniform. Otherwise it will just be up to the TSA wherever you happen to be. Some will let you thru in uniform and some will not. Just depends whether they notice you are not 121 or whether they care.

HS

 

[C425Driver]

Hey Batsky,

Lighten up Francis! If you read my post, you'll see that I'm not asking what the policy is (I know what it says). I'm asking how it is being applied to frac pilots because we all know that there is absolutely NO standardization at the TSA.

For the rest of you, thanks for your input. Good to hear that most of you don't have to leave your toothpaste behind.

C425Driver

 

[AZaviator]

Exemption is only for 121 crewmembers in uniform. Otherwise it will just be up to the TSA wherever you happen to be. Some will let you thru in uniform and some will not. Just depends whether they notice you are not 121 or whether they care.HS

Any 135 jumpseaters out there who have jumpseated recently? If so, were you treated any differently from 121 guys or did you find it really didn't make a difference?

 

[wolfpackpilot]

I dont think it matters if your 121 or 135. "BOTH" require FAA approved training, checkrides, background checks.... oh yeah and FAA approved ID badges. If your NJA/NJI, you work under an Air Carrier certificate, end of story. The 'sticky' is when you present a valid boarding pass and they say, your paying to ride today? Lots of grey area here. My advice (having been a "real" airline pilot once or five times, haha) is to look professional..... and bullsh*t your way to the front. If that doesnt work, check your bags!I go home tuesday.... will post what happens when I try it!

 

[batsky2000]

I dont think it matters if your 121 or 135. "BOTH" require FAA approved training, checkrides, background checks.... oh yeah and FAA approved ID badges. If your NJA/NJI, you work under an Air Carrier certificate, end of story. The 'sticky' is when you present a valid boarding pass and they say, your paying to ride today? Lots of grey area here. My advice (having been a "real" airline pilot once or five times, haha) is to look professional..... and bullsh*t your way to the front. If that doesnt work, check your bags!I go home tuesday.... will post what happens when I try it!

well said, When I traveled on day 1 and spoke with the TSA supervisor, he gave me a copy of the TSA directive which clearly states that any crew member in uniform is exempt, no wording of 121,135,or 91 for that matter, and yes I was allowed to carry my ice cold soft drink and lunch on board

 

[Flyingdutchman]

well said, When I traveled on day 1 and spoke with the TSA supervisor, he gave me a copy of the TSA directive which clearly states that any crew member in uniform is exempt, no wording of 121,135,or 91 for that matter, and yes I was allowed to carry my ice cold soft drink and lunch on board

Could you send me a copy?

 

[falcon20driver]

I'll have a copy too please

 

[EdAtTheAirport]

We don't have a chance. This was posted on the "Majors" board:

So I was commercialing home today in uniform and the agent didn't want to let me through security with my water bottle because apparently "you're a UPS pilot, you are not flight crew".......um, ok?!?!?!?! She then informed me that UPS is not "commercial"........allrighty then. Maybe next time, we won't be able to get through at all if we don't have our hat on......WTFO???

 

[Kelly]

I had no problems airlining in uniform today. Unless someone in the TSA produces a document that specifically states that I'm not allowed through the employee lines in uniform as a frac pilot, I'll continue to do it.

 

[AZaviator]

I had no problems airlining in uniform today. Unless someone in the TSA produces a document that specifically states that I'm not allowed through the employee lines in uniform as a frac pilot, I'll continue to do it.

Hey Kelly and Edattheairport...just curious as to which airports you were at when you went through security. It might be able to help out some of us who plan on jumpseating/airlining in the near future. Thanks in advance.

 

[Kelly]

AZ,
I airlined out of MCO yesterday with no problems.

 

[HSDriver]

121/135 does matter...

well said, When I traveled on day 1 and spoke with the TSA supervisor, he gave me a copy of the TSA directive which clearly states that any crew member in uniform is exempt, no wording of 121,135,or 91 for that matter, and yes I was allowed to carry my ice cold soft drink and lunch on board

Do whatever you want. As for me. My badge says NBAA on the back, nothing about the FAA, TSA, any specific airport, etc. I don't work for the airlines and have nothing to do with any airline terminal I fly from and so I don't understand how I could consider myself a crew member.

A recent email from my director of safety regarding travel...

"All,

We have received clarification from the TSA regarding the exemption to the latest security measures (no liquids) for flightcrew members. This exemption applies ONLY to flightcrew of Part 121 air carriers (those with a Full Security Program, not Twelve-five Program flightcrew). Even if you are allowed the courtesy to access the crew line for security screening when traveling through a commercial airport, you should NOT attempt to carry any of the recently-banned items in your carry-on bag. If you are stopped, either at the initial screening point or at a secondary gate screening point, and admit to knowingly violating the new security procedures, you could be liable to enforcement action.

With this new information, we reiterate our original recommendation to check your bag containing these items when airlining to/from duty. An alternative might be to place these items in a separate, small bag and check only that bag, to avoid the possibility of lost clothes or other personal items. If you choose to carry your bags, you should remove all banned items before passing through security screening."


HS

 

[greygoose]

If you are stopped, either at the initial screening point or at a secondary gate screening point, and admit to knowingly violating the new security procedures, you could be liable to enforcement action.

All I hear is "i'm a pilot" this and "i'm a pilot" that, you are also a paying customer just like everyone else. I would rather check my bags, then to have them allow any crewmember through security with checked bags. First why risk being violated, it would be quite hard to argue in court against the TSA. Second, in time you will see terrorist buying pilot uniforms, making fake id's,making it through security and taking down more airplanes. I thank God that hasnt happend.

 

[EdAtTheAirport]

Hey AZ: Sorry if I didn't make it clearer that that UPS pilot story was on the "majors" board, which I copy/pasted. It wasn't me. I was just pointing out that some TSA personnel are so ignorant that even UPS isn't considered a commercial airline. Imagine.

As for carry-ons, one of the biggest problems, especially if you pack electronic gear is theft. I worked as a baggage thrower many years ago. I'll never forget the brazenness of those who just opened people's bags and took out whatever items they wanted.

I lost a radar detector on an airline years back (the only thing missing from my bag). Despite submitting all the paperwork, they just denied responsibility. Now that we have TSA inspections, you'll never pin down responsibility for your stolen items. Don't be ignorant; the baggage handlers steal!

 

[batsky2000]

Do whatever you want. As for me. My badge says NBAA on the back, nothing about the FAA, TSA, any specific airport, etc. I don't work for the airlines and have nothing to do with any airline terminal I fly from and so I don't understand how I could consider myself a crew member.

A recent email from my director of safety regarding travel...

"All,

We have received clarification from the TSA regarding the exemption to the latest security measures (no liquids) for flightcrew members. This exemption applies ONLY to flightcrew of Part 121 air carriers (those with a Full Security Program, not Twelve-five Program flightcrew). Even if you are allowed the courtesy to access the crew line for security screening when traveling through a commercial airport, you should NOT attempt to carry any of the recently-banned items in your carry-on bag. If you are stopped, either at the initial screening point or at a secondary gate screening point, and admit to knowingly violating the new security procedures, you could be liable to enforcement action.

With this new information, we reiterate our original recommendation to check your bag containing these items when airlining to/from duty. An alternative might be to place these items in a separate, small bag and check only that bag, to avoid the possibility of lost clothes or other personal items. If you choose to carry your bags, you should remove all banned items before passing through security screening."


HS

Well you can do what ever you want!!All my badge says is AIRCREW in big letters on the front and nothing on the back, in fact the last airline that I worked for, that badge did not say FAA or the airport name either, so your point is mute. I refuse to have to check my bag, since I have never had to in the past except right after 9/11, and when I did that 1 time, it was rolled over by a baggage cart, it took a year and lots of phone calls to get Delta to pay for the damage, so if the TSA tells me that I can take what I take now on board as long as I am in Uniform, and the Directive that I have in my hands states nothing about 121 air carriers then I will continue to travel through the crew lines and carry what I have been before this mumbo jumbo, I have no idea where you work or where your company got its info from but I have a copy of the directive in front of me and like some others, I have had no problem airlining as usual, my company,NJ has stated just the opposite of yours, if wearing a uniform gets you through security better then wear it, that is what they told us to do. But if you want to be a goody good boy, then follow what you have been told, your company management are not the ones that have to commute and deal with all of the crap that we do, so I will do what ever makes my life and week easier.

 

[NJA bound]

batsky2000, any chance you could forward a copy of that TSA directive my way?



Thanks

 

[Flyingdutchman]

batsky -

Thanks for your pm brother. Please do me and NJA bound a big favor and try to send us a copy.

FD

 

[HSDriver]

Well you can do what ever you want!!All my badge says is AIRCREW in big letters on the front and nothing on the back, in fact the last airline that I worked for, that badge did not say FAA or the airport name either, so your point is mute. I refuse to have to check my bag, since I have never had to in the past except right after 9/11, and when I did that 1 time, it was rolled over by a baggage cart, it took a year and lots of phone calls to get Delta to pay for the damage, so if the TSA tells me that I can take what I take now on board as long as I am in Uniform, and the Directive that I have in my hands states nothing about 121 air carriers then I will continue to travel through the crew lines and carry what I have been before this mumbo jumbo, I have no idea where you work or where your company got its info from but I have a copy of the directive in front of me and like some others, I have had no problem airlining as usual, my company,NJ has stated just the opposite of yours, if wearing a uniform gets you through security better then wear it, that is what they told us to do. But if you want to be a goody good boy, then follow what you have been told, your company management are not the ones that have to commute and deal with all of the crap that we do, so I will do what ever makes my life and week easier.

My point is mute? I would bet that your badge said the name of the airline that you worked for on it didn't it?

You refuse to have to check your bag? LOL

Since I never had to until right after 9/11? HA ha... News flash!

So, let me get this straight. Anybody with a badge that says aircrew and a uniform can carry on the prohibited items? Boy are we in trouble.

I hope, and I think it is a possibility, that in the not too distant future there will be NO carry on's allowed at all and it would just be fine with me. Think how fast the boarding process and getting thru security would be would be:0)

Regards,

HS

 

[popgoesbubble]

I was told by TSA that ONLY 121 Pilots can Carry there stuff On thats It! Why Not make TSA job alot easier and put the ego aside and check your bags so they can look for the real bad people. They get fatiged just like use looking at x-ray video all day. I have no problem checking my bag cuz if it gets lost or left behind we all get a day off!

 

[Dep676]

Because some of us have to carry a laptop. Like I want some 2 dollar help looking through my bag when I am not around then stealing whatever they want.

Have you seen the way they handle the checked baggage?