TSA authorized to inspect your license

[FDJ2]

On February 15 the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) issued a policy directive entitled "Enforcement Sanction Guidance Policy" which provided guidance for imposing civil penalties of up to $10,000 for certain specific security violations at screening checkpoints, on Air Operations Areas (AOA), within Secure Identification Display Areas (SIDA), or at any time while entering or within a secured area. A regulation issued in 2003 by the Transportation Security Administration, 49 C.F.R. § 1540.113, requires pilots to allow inspection of their pilot and medical licenses by TSA, but the regulation does not specify which TSA personnel are so authorized to inspect licenses, what the procedure for the inspection is, what kind of training TSA personnel have to accomplish in advance of performing this function, or any other specifics.

ALPA's Legal Department conferred with TSA HQ in an attempt to clarify which individuals within TSA had inspection authority, what training those individuals received and information about the agency's procedures for inspection of pilot licenses. As a result of those conferences, TSA studied the issue and in June 2004, advised ALPA that public release of detailed information about its internal authorizations and the procedures associated with inspection of pilot credentials is not in the national interest at this time.

Complicating this issue for pilots is the fact that one of the enumerated violations specified in the TSA's recently released Sanction Guidance Table is: "Failure to allow inspection of airman certificate, authorization, FAA license (49 C.F.R. § 1540.113)." Violation of this regulation exposes violators to a fine of $1,000 to $3,000.

Because pilots are issued one or more SIDA badges, we do not expect that TSA will ask to examine airline pilot credentials; however, such a request may be made.

RECOMMENDATION: In light of this development, ALPA encourages its membership to comply with the request of any duly authorized TSA representative, to include TSA checkpoint screening personnel, to provide any of the above listed forms of identification. Should you encounter any problems resulting from TSA inspection of your credentials, please inform your MEC Security Chairman/Coordinator.

Regrettably, aviation remains a primary target of terrorist organizations. Thank you for your continued efforts in ensuring the security of U.S. and Canadian airline operations.

 

[Tripower455]

And the "trusted" employees (which is everyone except flight crew) STILL go in the back door unchecked..............


The Greatest Security Show on Earth must go ON!

 

[dispatchguy]

And I wonder when I go on vacation next month, I am driving the 1100 miles to Florida....

 

[RideTheWind]

I can't stand flying anymore either, the ragheads come over here, highjack 4 planes and murder the passengers and thousands of people in the Twin Towers and now when I go to the airport the TSA screeners ARE ragheads and they search every white person and let every raghead go strait to the gate.

I will drive when I can until the TSA gets their head out of their ****

 

[stuart716]

i didnt know that tsa could read let alone know what a pilots license is. im sure it was a shock when they found out we had those sort of things. now im going to have cletus and concourse b checking all my stuff and giving me a hard time because i have an old license.

 

[turpentyine]

And the "trusted" employees (which is everyone except flight crew) STILL go in the back door unchecked..............


The Greatest Security Show on Earth must go ON!

what are you talking about go through the back door i work for the tsa and everytime i come to work i too have to take off my shoes at the check points

 

[BornAgainPagan]

I can't stand flying anymore either, the ragheads come over here, highjack 4 planes and murder the passengers and thousands of people in the Twin Towers and now when I go to the airport the TSA screeners ARE ragheads and they search every white person and let every raghead go strait to the gate.

I will drive when I can until the TSA gets their head out of their ****

Is there a point somewhere in your post?

 

[joe_pilot]

what are you talking about go through the back door i work for the tsa and everytime i come to work i too have to take off my shoes at the check points

Not to put words in Tripower's mouth but I don't thinks he's referring to you or TSA employees. I'll speak for what I know and have seen. First of all, I don't fly 121 yet, I fly 135 freight in and out of airports where I never, EVER have to deal with TSA (directly anyway!) My experience in this matter comes from flying as a paying customer, getting buddy passes from friends and the occasional Jumpseat trip (Thanks SWA).



It disgusts me that Flight crews comprised of experienced, trustworthy professionals are forced to stand in line, shoes off, belt unbuckled and treated like cattle, while other airline employees, from the cleaning crew to the mechanics, go in through a separate door that only requires a pass code or a badge. No Inspection! All of these people have access to the aircraft and the entire ramp for that matter. On a recent trip to visit a friend, I got a visitor's badge, didn’t go through any kind of security but was allowed on the ramp, as a matter of fact I spent the night hanging out. Got to do a couple of tows, APU starts and even an engine run-up. It was a blast; the 737-800 is awesome.



Ok, I digress. The point is that If I can have access to secure areas without having to go through security, why can't the guy who is gonna fly it? Is security "broken" because I got in? NO! I was escorted by an authorized employee. The flight crews however, have to go through a Dog and Pony Show to give the public a warm and fuzzy feeling. Employees - Screen all or screen none, I say. Otherwise, IT CAN SERVE NO OTHER PURPOSE.



BTW, I know this is the case at RDU, OKC and BOS. I can't speak for other airports.


-J

 

[jackotron]

what are you talking about go through the back door i work for the tsa and everytime i come to work i too have to take off my shoes at the check points

I watched the TSA give a Delta pilot the ol' full search (SSSS) at a checkpoint. Then they took his 2" pair of scissors away from him. He was flying the GD 767.



TSA took a small pair of scissors away from the Capitan in charge of a 300-seat missile. Give me a break

 

[Thedude]

I can definlty comment on the holes in security. After being groped in Term 4 at JFK, I finally get to the cockpit only to lookout and see ground personal comming through the ramp side turnstile. All the security that was in place was the magnetic card swiper.

The first time that TSA asks to see my license is when I 'll will be asking for the GSC for the checkpoint to handle the situiation.

 

[Tripower455]

what are you talking about go through the back door i work for the tsa and everytime i come to work i too have to take off my shoes at the check points

Well, if you were a caterer, baggage handler, gate agent, mechanic, cleaner, fueler etc. etc. etc., you'd be able to keep your shoes on as you entered the "secure" area through the back door, sans any type of security screening. The only airline employee group that is required by law (ironically, due to the actions of a "trusted" employee) to submit to passenger screening are pilots and flight attendants. Just about ALL the other employee groups are "trusted" (in the words of my CEO) and are not required to submit to passenger screening. Never mind the fact that pilots and FA's are the ONLY employee group that doesn't NEED to smuggle a weapon aboard to "take over" an aircraft, since we both have access to the cockpit and a weapon. So, in effect, by searching us, you've accomplished NOTHING, since, even after pilfering our small tools and toiletries, we are STILL able to (and do) "take over" the airplane.

I just reread your post, and noticed the lack of punctuation etc. You are kidding........right??????

 

[English]

There is no requirement to carry your certificates on your person when you go through security. The only FAA or company requirement is that you must carry your certificates when you are flying. So, leave the certificates in your kit bag, which I assume most of us leave in the crew room on the secured, AOA side. Then if asked, you don't have it on you, can't show it.

 

[~~~^~~~]

A Pilot's Certificate is not identification, it is certification. A Pilot's Certificate is not valid without having met the Medical examination, training and currency requirements. A Pilot's Certificate is not a photo ID.

In my case I had one of our highly trained local Cops ask me for my gun after he determined my Pilot's Certificate was in fact a license to carry heat.

ALPA is dropping the ball on this. How many Doctors are asked to show their Board Certification credentials when they go through security? Should we carry our logbooks and a little jelly for the prostrate exam every time we fly.

I suffer from priapism and this could be a problem

 

[Dizel8]

"what are you talking about go through the back door i work for the tsa and everytime i come to work i too have to take off my shoes at the check points"

While that may be true, I have seen plenty of times, when a TSA employee walks through the detector setting it off, yet, they are not wanded. I guess they are more trusted than the pilots and flight attendants.

Of course we need to have security, but we continue to harrass the wrong people and we both know, it is all for show.

The pilots, the same ones you are trying to prevent from taking "command" of the airplane, are the ones in command of the airplane. Here is my 1 inch swiss army knife, want the crash axe too? Does this not strike you as a bit silly?

The background check of the pilots, is probably more intense than the TSA
required one, yet the TSA are more trusted.

 

[inline]

i didnt know that tsa could read let alone know what a pilots license is. im sure it was a shock when they found out we had those sort of things. now im going to have cletus and concourse b checking all my stuff and giving me a hard time because i have an old license.

I'll bet that a TSA employee can at least write better than you! As for blaming TSA, it all goes to the top. The one primarily to blame is the Secretary of Transportation, Norm Mineta, a (surprise!) Democrat.

 

[Tripower455]

As for blaming TSA, it all goes to the top. The one primarily to blame is the Secretary of Transportation, Norm Mineta, a (surprise!) Democrat.

Actually, I blame US (pilots). We ALLOWED them to use us as actors in the security show, instead of being treated as part of the solution. It is absolutely criminal that in the wake of several cases (before 9/11) that this is what we get for "security".

We've been clamoring for universal SIDA since 1988, when this idiocy began, yet, while the cleaners waltz in the back door, we have to wonder if the genius at the checkpoint will allow us to take an allen wrench, nail clipper or flashlight "this time".......