CASS system?

[MikeSF340]

Just jumpseated from MSP to IAD (in a CRJ?) today and was almost denied boarding because of the CASS system. I wasn't sure of my companys 2 letter identifier so the gate agent said I was out of luck. I called my company, got the code and was able to make the flight. I have NEVER been asked for a 2 letter code before. She said something about the new cass system and how my airline might not be part of it. What the hell is CASS (if that's how you spell it)?! Thanks!

Mike

 

[Dangerkitty]

What the hell is CASS (if that's how you spell it)?! Thanks!

Mike

You are a jumpseater and you dont know what CASS is?

 

[MikeSF340]

If I Knew I Wouldn't Ask!

NO, not sure exactly what it is. I know it has something to do with letting off line jumpseaters into the cockpit. I was more interested in how the system works and who uses it. Your smart a#s remark really doesn't answere my question. Thanks!

Mike

 

[lamppost]

give em hell mike!

I dont know either

 

[NRHPilot]

CASS

Cockpit Access Security System


Several airlines have this system that allows off line jump seaters in the cockpit of their aircraft. You need the proper documentation for this to occur. If your company was part of the CASS they should of told you by now. If not, you will just be able to jumpseat if there is a cabin seat available.

 

[Dangerkitty]

NO, not sure exactly what it is. I know it has something to do with letting off line jumpseaters into the cockpit. I was more interested in how the system works and who uses it. Your smart a#s remark really doesn't answere my question. Thanks!

Mike

Ok, sorry couldn't resist.

CASS is a program between reciprical carriers allowing offline jumpseaters access to the flightdeck. The gate agents are able to look you and your employee number up for your resepective carrier to see if you are who you say you are and if you are actually employed by the airline you claim. As of right now there are only a handful of airlines that are in the CASS system and approved.

They are:

American
UPS
USAirways
United
Alaska
and a few others.

If your company is not in CASS you can still jumpseat you just can't ride in the cockpit (ie there has to be a seat in the back)

 

[KingAirer]

Just wondering if the CASS counts at the Regionals of the ones listed above. For example if you have a AA mainliner trying to get on an Eagle flight, or a UAL mainliner trying to get on a UAL EXpress flight.

 

[amcnd]

Ealge is part of the CASS system. I dont think any of the United regionals are? Eagle lucked out, because the AMR pilot data base had Eagle and AA in it.

 

[Southbound]

The list is
AA and Eagle
Alaska
Horizon
United
UPS

We at QX (our 2 letter code) have not seen anything about USAirways but I haven't worked for a few weeks so they may be the new addition.

 

[LaTechPilot2003]

Add Continental to the CASS list....I used them to get from DFW to IAH the other day and was approved to ride in the cockpit (although the captain wanted me in the back since there were a ton of empty seats). However, ExpressJet is not part of the program yet, but an Express captain I talked to in IAH says they are working on it and should be a part of it soon. I hope so! I'm gonna need to use them to get from DFW-AEX after DL leaves in a couple of months.

 

[Pukindog]

Just wondering if the CASS counts at the Regionals of the ones listed above. For example if you have a AA mainliner trying to get on an Eagle flight, or a UAL mainliner trying to get on a UAL EXpress flight.

Mainliners have always been able to sit up-front on their express carriers, and vice-versa, no? As long as (the regional) plane is operated under 'their name'.

 

[KingAirer]

I mistyped my question...What i meant was could UAL mainliners take an AmericanConnection flight, or could AA mainliner take a UAL EX flight.

 

[tk855]

Your airline has to "specifically" be on the list in order for you to sit in the cockpit. So, a UAL guy cannot sit in the cockpit of American Connection because it is either Chautauqua or TSA and they are not on the list. An AA or AE guy cannot sit in the cockpit of UAL EX carrier (Air Wiskey, Skywest, and so on) because they are not on the list. As far as I know and according to Sabre the compiled CASS participants list is:

American
American Eagle
Alaska
Horizon
UPS
United
Continental

tk

 

[OhDannyBoy]

If your company is not in CASS you can still jumpseat you just can't ride in the cockpit (ie there has to be a seat in the back)

Does the captain have authority/option of allowing a non-CASS affiliated pilot to ride on the flight-deck? If so, do they?

 

[Dangerkitty]

Does the captain have authority/option of allowing a non-CASS affiliated pilot to ride on the flight-deck? If so, do they?

No. That could potentially get the Captain in lots of hot water.

 

[WDYCITY701]

It is my understanding that all ATA (American Transport Association) member airlines (read majors) and their wholly-owned subsidiaries are to be included on the CASS list. For example American Eagle, ASA, Comair, Piedmont, Allegheny, Chicago Express, and MidAtlantic would be able to jumpseat in the cockpit of any CASS member.

Regionals that aren't wholly-owned such as Mesaba, Air Wisconsin, Mesa, Chatauqua etc. aren't able to get the cockpit jumpseat of a CASS member unless they are a subsidiary. For example-->a Mesaba pilot couldn't sit in the cockpit jumpseat on a United flight, but a Comair pilot could.

Kinda weird that all airlines wouldn't included. Hope I helped to clear the air.

 

[Southbound]

The current CASS carriers and those with future access are not 'selected' based on who owns the airline. Each carrier with a 121 operating certificate needs to allow other CASS carriers access to their crew database via a software product (can't recall the name). Only those airlines who are capable of this access are to be a part of CASS, regardless of which holding company owns the airline.
For example, Horizon and Frontier pilots used to enjoy reciprocal use of the cockpit jumpseat as Horizon operates as Frontier JetExpress. This was ended upon the rollout of CASS and until Frontier can fulfill the CASS requirement of crew verification via computer no more F9 cockpit jumpseats for QX pilots and no Horizon cockpit jumpseats for F9 pilots. CASS is not an ATA thing, it is a FAA/TSA type thang....

 

[Reebo]

The current CASS carriers and those with future access are not 'selected' based on who owns the airline. Each carrier with a 121 operating certificate needs to allow other CASS carriers access to their crew database via a software product (can't recall the name). Only those airlines who are capable of this access are to be a part of CASS, regardless of which holding company owns the airline.
For example, Horizon and Frontier pilots used to enjoy reciprocal use of the cockpit jumpseat as Horizon operates as Frontier JetExpress. This was ended upon the rollout of CASS and until Frontier can fulfill the CASS requirement of crew verification via computer no more F9 cockpit jumpseats for QX pilots and no Horizon cockpit jumpseats for F9 pilots. CASS is not an ATA thing, it is a FAA/TSA type thang....

I dont think you are correct. the cass system does not eliminate the current jump seat rules. wholly owned and affiliated carriers can still ride in each others cockpit jump seat if the cabin is full i.e uax in ual jumpseat or us in a usexpress jumpseat. cass allows offline cockpit access i.e ual in aa jumpseat

 

[Southbound]

You are correct, CASS does not eliminate current mainline/express cockpit jumpseat rules. To ride in the cockpit jumpseat of another carrier there needs to be a way of verifying employment and most express/mainline operations have some way of satisfying this. The QX/F9 reciprocal jumpseat agreement was terminated for the moment because there is no way to electronically verify employment at the gate for non-Frontier employees.

I was trying to clarify this statement made by wndycity701

"It is my understanding that all ATA (American Transport Association) member airlines (read majors) and their wholly-owned subsidiaries are to be included on the CASS list. For example American Eagle, ASA, Comair, Piedmont, Allegheny, Chicago Express, and MidAtlantic would be able to jumpseat in the cockpit of any CASS member. "

This is not true. Just because AA and Eagle are part of CASS does not allow for MidAtlantic or Piedmont or any other American Connection pilots access to other CASS airlines cockpits. Each carrier needs to become part of CASS.

Now try to explain this to the next grumpy gate agent between you and a ride home!

 

[Reebo]

i hear ya, u are 100 percent correct