Weasil
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- Jul 19, 2003
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Well i guess this answers the question
Saturday Deadline for CASS Approaches (from ALPA)
The Saturday deadline for transmission of digital photo identification for jumpseating is looming, and airlines will need to request extensions if they are not compliant.
Recent editions of FastRead have reported that the U.S. Transportation Security Administration set a deadline of September 23 (this coming Saturday) for all U.S. air carrier participants in the Cockpit Access Security System (CASS) to be able to display at the gatehouse terminal a digital photo of jumpseat riders for identification purposes.
ALPA and airline industry representatives met with the TSA on August 31 and urged the agency to extend the deadline to April 2007 for those carriers that are unable to comply by Saturday. TSA informed the industry this past Friday that it was unwilling to extend the September 23 deadline and would implement the new system that day as previously mandated.
However, for those carriers that cannot implement the new requirements by September 23, the TSA will consider, on a case-by-case basis, an application to extend the deadline, which would allow the noncompliant carriers to operate under the old system for a “reasonable period” of time. This “reasonable period” will be determined by each carrier's Principal Security Inspector (PSI).
ALPA’s First Vice President, Capt. Dennis Dolan, asked the TSA this week to remove some of the uncertainty in a subjective interpretation of “reasonable period” by establishing a new deadline of Jan. 31, 2007, for those airlines incapable of displaying digital photographs by September 23. An extension is essential for some airlines at specific airports because of equipment and software issues that haven’t been resolved with airport operators.
TSA has not yet committed to Dolan’s request, but the agency has indicated that it will work with the industry to minimize disruptions to the system.
“The airlines have known about this deadline for some time and that they had a responsibility to meet the new requirements,” said ALPA’s President, Capt. Duane Woerth. “While many carriers have made great strides toward achieving a fully digital CASS system, unfortunately not all have been successful in meeting the TSA's deadline.
“It is only fair for the TSA to recognize that adhering to the artificial deadline of September 23 should not be so rigid that it disrupts airline operations and that extensions should be granted for those carriers that are working in good faith to adapt to the new system. Removal of just one CASS airline from the equation this coming Saturday will have ripple effects throughout the entire industry,” Woerth said.
ALPA is actively involved in discussions with the airlines this week about their CASS status and is cautiously optimistic that implementation of the new system will go smoothly. However, given the sheer magnitude of the software and hardware changes that the carriers must make to adopt the new system, it is likely there will be a few problems on Saturday.
As a result, pilots should be advised that the flight deck jumpseat may not be as accessible at certain locations as it has been, and until all the bugs are worked out of the new system, they should make back-up arrangements for travel. ALPA will continue to work this issue until CASS is in full compliance with the TSA’s requirements. Stay tuned.
Saturday Deadline for CASS Approaches (from ALPA)
The Saturday deadline for transmission of digital photo identification for jumpseating is looming, and airlines will need to request extensions if they are not compliant.
Recent editions of FastRead have reported that the U.S. Transportation Security Administration set a deadline of September 23 (this coming Saturday) for all U.S. air carrier participants in the Cockpit Access Security System (CASS) to be able to display at the gatehouse terminal a digital photo of jumpseat riders for identification purposes.
ALPA and airline industry representatives met with the TSA on August 31 and urged the agency to extend the deadline to April 2007 for those carriers that are unable to comply by Saturday. TSA informed the industry this past Friday that it was unwilling to extend the September 23 deadline and would implement the new system that day as previously mandated.
However, for those carriers that cannot implement the new requirements by September 23, the TSA will consider, on a case-by-case basis, an application to extend the deadline, which would allow the noncompliant carriers to operate under the old system for a “reasonable period” of time. This “reasonable period” will be determined by each carrier's Principal Security Inspector (PSI).
ALPA’s First Vice President, Capt. Dennis Dolan, asked the TSA this week to remove some of the uncertainty in a subjective interpretation of “reasonable period” by establishing a new deadline of Jan. 31, 2007, for those airlines incapable of displaying digital photographs by September 23. An extension is essential for some airlines at specific airports because of equipment and software issues that haven’t been resolved with airport operators.
TSA has not yet committed to Dolan’s request, but the agency has indicated that it will work with the industry to minimize disruptions to the system.
“The airlines have known about this deadline for some time and that they had a responsibility to meet the new requirements,” said ALPA’s President, Capt. Duane Woerth. “While many carriers have made great strides toward achieving a fully digital CASS system, unfortunately not all have been successful in meeting the TSA's deadline.
“It is only fair for the TSA to recognize that adhering to the artificial deadline of September 23 should not be so rigid that it disrupts airline operations and that extensions should be granted for those carriers that are working in good faith to adapt to the new system. Removal of just one CASS airline from the equation this coming Saturday will have ripple effects throughout the entire industry,” Woerth said.
ALPA is actively involved in discussions with the airlines this week about their CASS status and is cautiously optimistic that implementation of the new system will go smoothly. However, given the sheer magnitude of the software and hardware changes that the carriers must make to adopt the new system, it is likely there will be a few problems on Saturday.
As a result, pilots should be advised that the flight deck jumpseat may not be as accessible at certain locations as it has been, and until all the bugs are worked out of the new system, they should make back-up arrangements for travel. ALPA will continue to work this issue until CASS is in full compliance with the TSA’s requirements. Stay tuned.
