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Another Pilot Rejects TSA's Abuse

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SpatialD

Fed up
Joined
Oct 29, 2005
Posts
91
I think I mentioned this on another thread, but thought it was worth starting a new one for anyone not following along there.

Article originally posted at FedUpFlyers.org:


FLL – 11/4/10 – Pilot Ann Poe

On Thursday November 4th TSA prevented me from taking my commuter flight to EWR to work my BOM (Mumbai) trip. I was detained by TSA for two hours. I have an artificial hip.


I had the choice of either going through the body scanner and subjecting myself to radiation and violation of HIPPA laws (medical privacy laws) or being sexually molested. I have adjusted as much as I could since my pelvic area was violated by TSA in April 2010. That event affected my job performance, personal life and health for months.


I don’t wear a bra, company or union pin, earrings, watch and wear pull up pants without a zipper. The pilots I’ve seen going through secondary screening and a fellow First Officer on my last trip had never had their chest, butt, and groin area inappropriately touched. I made a decision on November 4th as a professional pilot that safety of flight could be compromised as a result of being physically violated by TSA today and as a result I would be overstressed and fatigued for my flight to BOM. TSA is now affecting my livelihood.


I just found out from a friend today that even if there is just a metal scanner at the check point in FLL all passengers alarming are aggressively molested. TSA is no longer wanding and patting down only areas that alarm. Until November 1,2010 TSA was only molesting the women that had to go through secondary screening. Now anyone going through secondary is being groped.


The FAA is involved in a major fatigue study. I feel the largest impact on fatigue is stress. Pilots are subject to physical, mental and emotional stress everyday they get on an airplane caused by going through TSA security. We have all had background checks and have been fingerprinted and yet I cannot go to work now because of an artificial hip. I could carry a gun and not be molested but not just carry my artificial hip. I and any other pilot should not have to submit to physical molestation to do our job. Pilots are on the front line of security.


I greatly appreciate the support of everyone I have flown with and shared what I have been going through. I know none of you would want this happening to your wives, daughters, sisters and mothers. Now everyone, men, women, and children who have artificial joints, shrapnel, petal plates and screw will be groped everywhere, not just where they alarm.


Subjecting ourselves to additional radiation with the body scanner and its invasion of medical privacy (if anyone has a pace maker, IUD, radiation implant for prostate cancer etc. etc. ) or being sexually molested should not be part of our job. TSA is now actively groping the breasts, butt, pelvic and groin area, and running hands up thighs until they stop. It is a hugh stressor, contributes to fatigue and safety of flight. Now it is costing me my livelihood.


TSA approved the crew pass some time ago but it is up to the company or union to implement it. A short time fix would be to continue using the wands and only pat down the area that alarms. I was told by TSA that would not be happening as there is too much big money involved with the body scanner.


A friend of mine yesterday saw TSA run their hand all over an elderly women and then pull the front of her pants out and run their hand on her skin between the passenger’s stomach and pants.


Subjecting ourselves to additional radiation with the body scanner and its invasion of medical privacy (if anyone has a pace maker, IUD, radiation implant for prostate cancer etc. etc. ), or being sexually molested should not be part of our job. TSA is now actively groping the breasts, butt, pelvic and groin area, and running hands up thighs until they stop. It is a hugh stressor, contributes to fatigue and safety of flight. Now it is costing me my livelihood.


TSA’s response is they are just doing their job. Sound famliar?

Thanks for listening and your support and please send you complaints to the following address.


[email protected]


Thanks


Ann Poe

Ann Poe has been in the airline industry for 37 years. She is a 777 pilot at Continental Airlines and was one of the first 100 female commercial airline pilots in the United States.

 
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but but but they have a thurvey comin' out AthAP!
 
these are low class scum bags ( low paid beaurocrats). These are the same people that will be rationing your health care in the future
 
No we shouldn't have to do this, yes, I think she is a bit over the top!

Even the most "vivid" pictures I have seen does not shown internal organs or implantations.

Two hours for a patdown?
 
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God she is a terrible writer! Sexually molested? Come on. I agree with her we should not be subjected to this level of scrutiny as pilots, but we need to be smart and effective in our communication. Quit the melodramatics folks and state the facts. This makes no one safer as pilots we need to have Crew pass everywhere.
 
All pilots,

No to scanners,

Private pat down (or groping) every time!
 
God she is a terrible writer! Sexually molested? Come on. I agree with her we should not be subjected to this level of scrutiny as pilots, but we need to be smart and effective in our communication. Quit the melodramatics folks and state the facts. This makes no one safer as pilots we need to have Crew pass everywhere.


Try going up to a fellow co-worker and grab their genitals and ask them if he/she feels like they were sexually molested. In everyday life you can be arrested. Being sexually molested is any unwanted touching of your private areas no matter what the reason. A medical exam can be traumatizing for some folks and that is consensual. What TSA is doing is molesting folks. Call it what you will, but at the end of the day it's no different than someone holding a knife to your throat running their hands all over your body. Do it or else!
 
Try going up to a fellow co-worker and grab their genitals and ask them if he/she feels like they were sexually molested. In everyday life you can be arrested. Being sexually molested is any unwanted touching of your private areas no matter what the reason. A medical exam can be traumatizing for some folks and that is consensual. What TSA is doing is molesting folks. Call it what you will, but at the end of the day it's no different than someone holding a knife to your throat running their hands all over your body. Do it or else!


Exactly, how many Dads on this board would be ok with them running their hands all over your teenage daughter? This crap needs to stop.
 
If some TSA guy touches my joint...I'll be embarrasing him real fast!!
 
A friend of mine yesterday saw TSA run their hand all over an elderly women and then pull the front of her pants out and run their hand on her skin between the passenger’s stomach and pants.

If I were a woman I'd have a bloody old tampon in there just for 'em! :laugh:
 
Just curious, while you are either going through a body scan or a full pat down, where are your bags? Are they already through the x-ray so that someone can steal your stuff while you are in another area or what? I for one will not put my bags or stuff through the x-ray till I am done with the body scan, that should delay things a bit!!
 
join FFDO and bypass this whole issue altogether.

A trip Artesia is not the solution. Yes, you can bypass the problem but it does nothing to fix it. I am an avid supporter of the FFDO program but saying "stop complaining, if you don't want to be groped go be an FFDO" is the wrong angle.

Crewpass is here and is a real solution to the problem of alien-autopsy screenings of background checked, security clearance holding professional pilots.

ENOUGH ALREADY! ALL the unions need to step up equally and show a united front on this matter! (Are you listening SWAPA?) I don't need some dillweed TSA dude with his hand up my groin in front of pax because my wedding ring or pen sets off the metal detector.
ENOUGH ALREADY
 

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