Security screening and pilots

[Mach 80]

I can not believe the airline unions, airline companies, and the TSA havn't yet figured out a way for pilots to bypass the full TSA search procedure. Airline pilots should be jumping up and down demanding their unions get something done.

I set off the "beep" twice after not having done for the last year wearing the same stuff I always wear. The TSA guy gives me the full search, shoes off, belt undone, etc while the passengers going through thought it was funny that the pilot of the airplane, who THEY KNEW could crash the thing if he wanted to to anyway, was being searched. This TSA guy who searched me was enjoying the power play. I asked him if he realized the absurdity since I was, as I told him, "taking over the airplane ANYWAY!" (sort of startled him when I said that) and did he realize I was going to have access to a crash axe when I got in the cockpit. He said, "I have to do this because we have found suspicious things on crewmembers sometimes". I quietly said, "Did you hear what I just said? I am taking control of the airplane and that makes finding something "suspicious" on me sort of a moot point doesn't it?" Of course he still didn't get it.

Then -- I look over and see some Barney Fife local podunk deputy flashing a badge and getting around the search.

I ask all of you professional pilots to start a movement with your union to initiate a way around this idiocy.

 

[WickedPissa]

Maybe your union reps like the courtesy reacharounds every morning from the fellas in maroon and want to keep things the same.

 

[rtmcfi]

get on that ffdo........

 

[da90drivr]

Mach
Getting into a pissing match with the guy groping you will not do much to help your cause. Just as you do when you fly your plane you follow SOP. They don't have the ability do deviate from theirs. You beeped you get felt up. I am all for change but I don't see it happening anytime soon.

 

[Ty Webb]

I agree . . . . . . . it'd be a lot easier if they just had a crew manifest at the podium, and you signed in. That way, there is no duplication of crew members' names. Show up, sign in, and to the plane.


.

 

[rnobson]

Get all pilots to refuse to go work and it would change in 24 hours

 

[FN FAL]

I can not believe the airline unions, airline companies, and the TSA havn't yet figured out a way for pilots to bypass the full TSA search procedure. Airline pilots should be jumping up and down demanding their unions get something done.

I set off the "beep" twice after not having done for the last year wearing the same stuff I always wear. The TSA guy gives me the full search, shoes off, belt undone, etc while the passengers going through thought it was funny that the pilot of the airplane, who THEY KNEW could crash the thing if he wanted to to anyway, was being searched. This TSA guy who searched me was enjoying the power play. I asked him if he realized the absurdity since I was, as I told him, "taking over the airplane ANYWAY!" (sort of startled him when I said that) and did he realize I was going to have access to a crash axe when I got in the cockpit. He said, "I have to do this because we have found suspicious things on crewmembers sometimes". I quietly said, "Did you hear what I just said? I am taking control of the airplane and that makes finding something "suspicious" on me sort of a moot point doesn't it?" Of course he still didn't get it.

Then -- I look over and see some Barney Fife local podunk deputy flashing a badge and getting around the search.

I ask all of you professional pilots to start a movement with your union to initiate a way around this idiocy.

Guess you should have thought of secure cockpit doors before someone else did.

 

[oldxfr8dog]

I can not believe the airline unions, airline companies, and the TSA havn't yet figured out a way for pilots to bypass the full TSA search procedure. Airline pilots should be jumping up and down demanding their unions get something done.

I set off the "beep" twice after not having done for the last year wearing the same stuff I always wear. The TSA guy gives me the full search, shoes off, belt undone, etc while the passengers going through thought it was funny that the pilot of the airplane, who THEY KNEW could crash the thing if he wanted to to anyway, was being searched. This TSA guy who searched me was enjoying the power play. I asked him if he realized the absurdity since I was, as I told him, "taking over the airplane ANYWAY!" (sort of startled him when I said that) and did he realize I was going to have access to a crash axe when I got in the cockpit. He said, "I have to do this because we have found suspicious things on crewmembers sometimes". I quietly said, "Did you hear what I just said? I am taking control of the airplane and that makes finding something "suspicious" on me sort of a moot point doesn't it?" Of course he still didn't get it.

Then -- I look over and see some Barney Fife local podunk deputy flashing a badge and getting around the search.

I ask all of you professional pilots to start a movement with your union to initiate a way around this idiocy.

You're misinterpreting the intent of the search.
They know you're not a threat, they just want the passengers to see you searched so that they'll feel "secure" and travel.
The TSA isn't trying to make it safer, that's impossible. If you can't keep weapons out of prisons, how can you keep them off airplanes?
It's all PR.

 

[TWA Dude]

I can not believe the airline unions, airline companies, and the TSA havn't yet figured out a way for pilots to bypass the full TSA search procedure.

It's been figured out. The problem is getting the government to pay for it.

 

[Flip Conroy]

Get all pilots to refuse to go work and it would change in 24 hours

It's amazing how many times I see this ridiculous proposal mentioned over and over as the "cure all" for any and all problems with the industry.

If it were this easy, or likely to succeed, don't you think it would have been tried by now, moron? For everything from TSA, to low pay, to pension reform, to airline mergers, to management bonuses, to PFT, to....whatever else you can think of that needs "changing".

 

[Wingsweep]

Just Part o' the Job

TSA effectiveness is beside the point. It's part of your job to go through the routine. Quit yer btch'n, or go find a job where you don't have to put up with them. (jmho,oc) ws

 

[Smacktard]

I can not believe the airline unions, airline companies, and the TSA havn't yet figured out a way for pilots to bypass the full TSA search procedure. Airline pilots should be jumping up and down demanding their unions get something done...

My favorite part of this is that if I did decide to blow the plane up with explosives or smuggle something in or around, I would just use my base airport SIDA badge where I bypass security anyway.

As for screening us to 'make people feel better', it doesn't, they just shake their heads too.

It's typical American politics....symbolism over substance. God forbid the terrorists use a cement truck for another attack, our response will be the CTSA...