Airport security and you

[Jetboy]

Any other flight crew members out there sick of the harassment we as professional airline pilots are recieving form these so-called "security" agents?

Anyone have any good stories to tell/advice to share?

 

[I'm Q]

I've sanitized myself so I do not beep going through the metal detector. Everything, including belt, goes in my coat or hat and is sent through the x-ray machine. I've found if you beep, you're going to be harassed and I don't have time for that.

 

[328dude]

Well in CVG, they always make me take my shoes off, so I went through one day without any socks on. Should have seen there faces.
Another is Evansville. They made me drink about half of my water bottle. Guess they wanted to make sure I wouldn't die in front of them. and to top it all off, they had a fit about a US pin I was wearing cause they said the backing was to long and could be used as a weapon. I'm like " What the *&$%." I said, "Lady, I can choke you with my tie, and leave you for dead under your fancy screening table you have here." Leave me alone you scaly dragon.

Owell, another day, another dime.

 

[mattjenna]

328dude, I think you meant Orwell not Owell. ;-)

 

[T-handle]

Once some old lady in Roanoke took my nail clippers saying they weren't approved, that these could hurt someone. WTF is an "approved" nail clipper???

I just about said "Well yea and I could also just nose dive the airplane myself."

 

[starchkr]

As far as approved nail clippers go, I have an extra set of safety clippers we use on our one year old... maybe those will do the trick for ya.

 

[Bluestreak]

How nice to see the security goons are keeping the skies safe from flight crews.After surrendering my tweezers in LGA,I felt like yelling "I STILL HAVE A CRASH AXE AND A FLARE GUN ! I DRIVE THE FREAKIN' BUS,MORON ! I DON'T NEED NO STEENKIN' TWEEZERS !",but thought better of it.The day I hafta remove my shoes will be the day I show up wearing flip-flops.I saw it in "Impressions Of Excellence",honest.

 

[Ravengirl]

this was a fun one...

Well, I'm far from a career pilot. But at 5 Wednesday morning I was stopped going through security at LAX because my belt buckle set off the metal detector. Bad scene, man...

I was frisked not once but twice. I got the magic metal detecting wand, and then I was asked to take off my belt. They inspected my pager and phone, searched my books for something (razor blades?), and then went through my wallet (do they have the right? I'm not sure). When they saw my pilot certificate I got this look from all three of them. (Yes, three security personnel were on me). Then they wanted to see my tickets and itinerary. Then they asked about my eyedrops and water bottle. I had to put my eyedrops in and drink some of the water. Meanwhile, my sister was on the other side of the checkpoint laughing, and there were 500 pissed off travelers behind me.

Don't feel bad, it happens to us little people too. *chuckles*

Ravengirl

 

[siedkick]

There is a movement to train and deputize us as federal law enforcement officers so that we may legally be armed at all times.

There are arguments on both sides of this issue, but one compelling reason that I can see for doing this is that it would finally put an end to the ongoing humiliation of being frisked everyday.

Another benefit is that it may lead to a speedier return of our jump seat privileges since we would no longer be mere pilots who should not be trusted with fingernail clippers or to sit in a cockpit jumpseat.

Of course, there are also some who think that being armed may actually serve as an additional defense of the cockpit in the event of another 9/11. Just a thought.

 

[TurboS7]

Bend over and watch the bad guys go by

You sure hit on a sore spot. I will try to keep this civil so I will keep the board out of trouble and the FBI from my door. Since we are all suspect I am sure that this board is reviewed for secret messages. So much for freedom of speech and all that good stuff.
Number one-the FAA needs to get out of the security business. While I am knocking them I will say best decesion that was historically made by the FAA was 9/11. Getting all the aircraft out of our airspace and on the ground saved a lot of lives and I must commend the FAA on the decesion, my hat goes off to them. The FAA is around to promote aviation, so how are they suppose to get aircraft in the air yet make sure they are secure-they can't. All this security stuff is simply to make the public feel more secure. If waiting in line for 2.0 hours to go through security makes a passenger feel secure, the passengers need a lesson on terrorism. You will not stop a professional terrorist. They think diffrent than all of us. They have an objective and to achieve that objective they have no time limit. Profiling is useless, in no time a terrorist will figure out what the profile is then change his mo. Who needs weapons???Now I am going to shut up at this point. I just came back from flying 3 months in Europe, in Europe the passengers are searched-all of them at the gate-the captain has the option of negating that search if things are running behind. All bags are checked via machine for explosives and they are matched to the passengers. I have no problem with that, I hope our system gets to that point.
The weakness is that ramp security is non-exsistant, and that is the weak link.
As for problems as a pilot, bang you hit the profile, male,31-45, any type of mideastern name, air carrier background etc.etc. So all I can say is bend over enjoy the frisking why you watch the bad guys walk by. It is just disgusting that as professionals you have to put up with all this. I was on USair the other day and stood up, the guys two rows back about had a heart attack. I went to the rear to use the restroom as I didn't want a riot on the airplane if I used the front lav. People are scared and that is ridiculous, I blame the media for terroistic coverage for that.(they have been a tool of the terrorist, and they don't even know it) The only nice thing about that if someone stands up in an aircraft and says,"I am a terrorist, I hope that even the "grandma's" will jump on him and start hitting him with their in- flight magazine. Reguardless we are going to have to put up with it for a time. At least until the next airplane, then they will be chasing businessman with brief cases that bought thier tickets 2 months in advance. The bad part is that as a paying customer I wouldn't go anywhere near an airport for business or vacation-and that should concern all of us.Please forgive any misspelled words I miss my spell check.....

 

[HAL]

In addition, there is the "profiling" system they use to pull people over for the "extra special" search. There are number of things that set off the bells, and that includes buying a ticket at the last minute. Gee, guess what happens when scheduling calls and deadheads you somewhere in a hurry - a last minute ticket. So there you are, rushing to get to another base - in uniform sometimes - and Whoop Whoop, your bag gets the bomb sniffer, and you get nearly strip searched at the gate. (That promotes a lot of confidence in the passengers, when a uniformed pilot is getting completely searched at the gate).

Someone needs to really pull their heads out of the dark holes.

HAL

 

[TurboS7]

Trust the government

I guess that we just have to consider that the FBI has an indication that one of "us" might be suspect for future terroristic endevors. Guess we are all in this together. Those e-tickets do ring the bells....

 

[dispatchguy]

DFW

My favorite indication of the sheer stupidity of it all was one day when commuting thru the B concourse, and some of the security goons was WANDING one of the Army dudes.

His arms are all stretched out, HES HOLDING HIS M16 IN HIS HAND, but he was nail clipper free!

I had to stop, and stare, along with an AA captain. The look in the AA guys eyes said it all; the complete, sheer, and utter stupidity. I didnt stick around to see if they wanted to xray his steel-toed jump boots.

 

[bssthound]

YGBSM!!!!

 

[ifly4food]

[qB]In addition, there is the "profiling" system they use to pull people over for the "extra special" search. There are number of things that set off the bells, and that includes buying a ticket at the last minute. Gee, guess what happens when scheduling calls and deadheads you somewhere in a hurry - a last minute ticket. So there you are, rushing to get to another base - in uniform sometimes - and Whoop Whoop, your bag gets the bomb sniffer, and you get nearly strip searched at the gate. (That promotes a lot of confidence in the passengers, when a uniformed pilot is getting completely searched at the gate).

Someone needs to really pull their heads out of the dark holes.
HAL [/qB]

That's ridiculous.
Did you know that the FAA specifically exempted uniformed crewmwmbers on duty from gate searches? The gate agents won't tell you that. They like the power trip.
Don't let them harass you in uniform in front of the pax. ALPA is advising us to demand a private screening area out of plain sight from the passengers. How can we hold authority over these people after having them see our dirty underwear?
If they won't screen you privately, especially those not-so-random gate checks, then refuse. Call your MEC and advise them of the situation. Don't let your own company treat you this way.

 

[TurboS7]

What are you smoking

Your little MEC is useless and so is ALPA when it comes to that little security person at the gate.I sent a complaint to our union and they just sent me back a bid smiley face. My flight was delayed 15 minutes out of BWI going to KEF the other day as the captain(yours truly)was held up at the gate while I was being strip searched. They sent my flight bag through three times, all my flight attendants and my female first officer went through like a breeze. Even the guardsman with an M-16 standing next to me was trying to keep from laughing. There I am with no belt, no shoes and a flight bag unpacked, all my charts, ETOPS charts and everything else spread all over the place. I did get a great look at ground zero on the flight up, though I might get a sexual harasement charge from my FO as I tried to see it through her window. Great fun, but this month I bid all turns. Now they are telling us that we can't taxi our aircraft to the gates, we have to go through all this. I guess the 10 year background checks etc., etc. just don't cut it. I hate to admit it but I think the FBI is on the right track-he who is guilty just step forward. I am glad I only have 14 more years to go, I never thought I would say that.

 

[XJAVRO]

It was signed into law, We are getting guns, if your airline approves it. I can't wait to get gate searched, and tell them to wait while I set my 9mm in the table. OK now you can pat me down. I am so sick of these highschool dropouts that do the searchs.

 

[TurboS7]

I want a .45 automatic, like in the WWII movies.

 

[PilotV]

Eye on the Ball people!

Just as you have been "violated", so have I through the security gates. There is one thing to remember folks, those people are trying their hardest to keep the skies safe, they just don't know any other way to do it! They are trying to do their job the best they can and finally taking it serious! I think we need to do the same.

Is it really THAT bad?!?

If you want to complain so much about such a petty thing, (being 10 minutes late, being checked personally with the wand, having your bags checked, etc...) why don't you change your profession to something like .... say .....

A NY Firefighter, or a NY police officer!

We need to be willing to do our part while things get sorted out here. Granted the FAA was behind the times and security checks were anything but secure, but they're trying. We need to be supportive!

Let's keep our eye on the big picture here...... Thousands of people died, can't we respect the memory of those that have given their lives by doing what we can to help prevent this from happening ever again?

Someone mentioned that checking a uniformed flight officer was seemingly ludicrous.... I STRONGLY disagree!! I think NOT checking uniformed flight personnel would be ludicrous! Don't you think that those that intend to do harm would figure that out and try to get through security in that fashion?!?

I don't like getting 'strip searched' any more than the next guy, but I do think it's part of my civil duty.


Sorry if this seems somewhat confrontational, I just get tired of people forgetting the reason for all of this and getting so upset over such petty things when you consider the big picture.


God Bless and Safe Skies!

 

[I'm Q]

I'd like to start carrying a camera. The photo of the army dude being wanded with his M-16 would make front page news.