TSA begins testing pilots-only security lines

[Whale Rider]

By Thomas Frank, USA TODAY
WASHINGTON — Air travelers may soon be spared the annoyance of airline pilots cutting in front of them at security checkpoints.
The Transportation Security Administration today begins testing a new program that lets pilots go to a separate checkpoint where a screener checks ID cards but does no physical search.

"It will definitely be a benefit to passengers not having to see someone cut in line," said Capt. John Prater, president of the Air Line Pilots Association.

The TSA is starting 60-day tests of the pilots-only checkpoints at Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport, Pittsburgh International Airport and Columbia Metropolitan Airport in South Carolina. The program could expand to other airports if the test shows that pilots can get through checkpoints quickly, TSA assistant administrator John Sammon said.

The concept of letting the nation's 75,000 pilots avoid being screened for weapons has drawn criticism from the Association of Flight Attendants, which says it is safer to screen everyone boarding an airplane.

http://www.usatoday.com/travel/flights/2008-07-16-pilots_N.htm

 

[glasspilot]

I'll never understand the AFA! Who let them unionize?

 

[RJ Bum]

Too bad CMH and others will never look at us Frac guys as "real" pilots.

 

[RJ Bum]

The concept of letting the nation's 75,000 pilots avoid being screened for weapons has drawn criticism from the Association of Flight Attendants, which says it is safer to screen everyone boarding an airplane.

I bet they would feel safer if the FFDO guys were still patted down.

 

[atpcliff]

HI!

Or if the FFDOs weren't allowed on the plane with their weapons.

Recently, a number of FFDOs were denied boarding on AA and other airlines' flights, because they were ON THE NO FLY LIST!

Gov't bureaucracy at it's finest!!!

cliff
GRB

 

[atpcliff]

Hi!

NJA and other "non-airline" pilots.

If Crew Pass works, it won't matter what TSA in CMH thinks.

Crew Pass currently is operating using CASS. If NJA gets into CASS, they can use Crew Pass.

They look at your airline ID, and look U up in CASS. If there is a match, you are on your way to the gate without further ado.

There are a number of -135-type operators in CASS now.

cliff
GRB

 

[Princedietrich]

That's assuming that the TSA troll who is guarding the gate has enough sense to actually USE the Crew Pass process.

I think this is a splendid idea, although I can already see it getting muddled within the first 24 hours by some bonehead passenger trying to cut through the crew line.

 

[RJ Bum]

Hi!

NJA and other "non-airline" pilots.

If Crew Pass works, it won't matter what TSA in CMH thinks.

Crew Pass currently is operating using CASS. If NJA gets into CASS, they can use Crew Pass.

They look at your airline ID, and look U up in CASS. If there is a match, you are on your way to the gate without further ado.

There are a number of -135-type operators in CASS now.

cliff
GRB

Yeah it was just a joke. I don't see NJA going CASS anytime soon. We don't have any jumpseat agreements out there because we can't reciprocate.

 

[av8tor4239]

How is it that CS has jumpseat on airlines..??? Do they reciprocate?

 

[RJ Bum]

How is it that CS has jumpseat on airlines..??? Do they reciprocate?

Good question... Maybe they were able to figure out something on ferry flights.

 

[rotello]

Good question... Maybe they were able to figure out something on ferry flights.

Not really. We only have one or two now, and they're relatively insignificant IMHO. One is Commutair and another is Sun Country. Anyhow, we recently lost what I thought of as our only 'decent' jumpseat privelege, which was with AirTran. It was revoked because we are essentially unable to reciprocate.

Rotello

 

[gutshotdraw]

Who cares if we don't have jumpseat agreements with anybody. The company can still apply to have their pilot database entered into CASS to take advantage of the new crew security checkpoints. NJA and NJI both hold commercial operating certificates. I see no reason why we couldn't participate. The hard part will be convincing the company to devote the IT resources to getting the information into the CASS system.

 

[glasspilot]

gutshot is correct.

I believe it costs around 30K to get into they system. Buying hardware, software, fees and the like.

But 30K to get an ENTIRE pilot group through security, head of the line style is worth every cent plus a few more. Every frac would lose 10 times that if they had absorb their crews getting "stuck" in security and missing flights. The alternative is to back up the duty on time to allow for 3 or 4 hours to get through security in some instances and that too would justify the 30K expenditure.

Fractionals may need to pony up on this one. We'll see.

 

[RJ Bum]

I should have made it more clear. There is no reason for NJA to pay for CASS since we don't have any current jumpseat agreements. What do they care if we are prodded in security? It disrupts normal ops very little.

 

[EdAtTheAirport]

CASS will obviously be the ticket to other security-related things, aside from jumpseating. I'll use my AAdv card to get where I need to go.

 

[BORAT]

Anybody know the approximate cost for a company to get into CASS? I've heard a number of 135 carriers have tried to join but have found it to costly.

 

[acaTerry]

That's assuming that the TSA troll who is guarding the gate has enough sense to actually USE the Crew Pass process.
Or if our security dept. puts us in it. It's my understanding that our sec. dept. is why CMH has the hots for us.

I think this is a splendid idea, although I can already see it getting muddled within the first 24 hours by some bonehead passenger trying to cut through the crew line.
...and the USA Today article making the pilot look like the bad guy for it...

(above)

 

[old*art]

The passengers I chat with in the lines don't seem to mind the aircrews. It is the "burger flippers" shoving them out of the way on their way to their jobs that irritates them.

 

[T-1GUY]

I love the perspective "so the passengers don't have to put up with people cutting in line" What about so pilots don't have to put up with this ******************** going to work on a daily basis...

 

[atpcliff]

Hi!

I was thinking that NJA could get into CASS so they can use the Crew Pass system (if it goes national).

Here are some airlines now in CASS:
ABX
Airnet
AirCargoCarriers
Ameristar
ArcticTransportationServices
BeringAir
BemidjiAir
EvertsAir
FLWestInterationalAirways
GrantAviation
HagelandAviation
IslandAir
KalittaChartersII (non-747)
KalitaChartersLLC (non-747)
KeyLimeAir
LyndenAirCargo
MurrayAir
NorthernAirCargo
PenAir
SwiftAir
TransNorthAviation
USA Jet
XtraAirways
ZoomAirlines

As you can see, there are a number of -135 carriers.

cliff
YIP

 

[EatSleepFly]

Ameriflight was/is also in CASS, so it can't cost that much!

 

[ScubaGirl]

I went through crew pass line at BWI this morning. It was the most fun I've had at an airport in a very long time. I have a feeling someone/something will screw this up eventually. But enjoy it now if you can.

 

[rnobson]

You are way off base with that list Cliffy

 

[flyguppy]

True story of Netjets chance to reciprocate

Yeah it was just a joke. I don't see NJA going CASS anytime soon. We don't have any jumpseat agreements out there because we can't reciprocate.

So I'm in DEN, on my way to LGA, getting in around 9pm. Too late to get home to CMH. My choices are, buy a hotel room at the Pan American for $75, or maybe I could try this Exec Jet thing I've been hearing about??? (This was 1999)

I give Exec Jet dispatch a call. Ask if there is anything in the NYC area heading to CMH empty that night? The nice gal looks types for awhile and says, "Why yes, we've got an Ultra (I think) leaving TEB at 2230, would you like to get on that?" OUTSTANDING, I say!

Arrive on time into LGA, go up to the arrivals level, make some cabbies day that just dropped off a fare, and ask him to take me to TEB. I arrive there at 2205. Hop out, pay the cabbie his double fare for leaving NY state, and walk up to the gate. Ring the button, "yes, I'm here to catch a ride on 123QS", they buzz me in, life is good. I arrive at the FBO desk at 1007.

"Who did you say you were going to catch a ride on?", the lady asks.

"123QS", I say.

She glances thru her fuel chits and says............"THEY JUST LEFT".

My mouth about hit the floor. I called the nice gal in dispatch......"THEY DID WHAT!!!???", she asks. "Hang on"......"Sir, I am so sorry!! They knew you were coming and that you were told it was a 2230 departure.

Back to the FBO desk. Lady says, "yeah, they came in here and asked if there was an airline pilot looking for a ride, then they left."

I slept on the FBO couch for 6hrs and took another $75 limo back to LGA the next morning.

Boy, I love commuting!!!!

 

[Fozzy]

What year did this event take place???

 

[glasspilot]

he said 1999.

 

[flyguppy]

What year did this event take place???

As glasspilot pointed out, 1999 I believe. (I was JFK based from 1997-2000)

It was right at the height of Exec Jet's push to get some reciprocal jumpseat agreements.

Unfortunately, it seems the opportunity vanished post 9/11.

One other great story about JFK commuting was the time I slept on the floor outside USAir security....in uniform. Woke up at 5am to some businessman looking down at me as he stood in line to get thru security.

Too funny! :laugh:

 

[Rez O. Lewshun]

I am confused... I thought many NJA pilots loathed airline flying and acutally hinted at snubbing the whole airline pilot career and everything that comes with it.... They travel on regular passenger tickets and thus are regular passengers....

but now they want CASS access thru security at major airports?

There must be several different factions of pilots at NJA!! Its hard to keep up with you guys!!

 

[glasspilot]

Why shouldn't any pilot employed by a carrier with a certificate to operate under part 121 or 135 of the CFR title 14 be allowed into the CASS system?

They all undergo the same 10 year background check and are subject to the same PIRA.

Or were you just being sarcastic?

 

[NJAPLT]

They travel on regular passenger tickets and thus are regular passengers....

Actually that's the problem, we are treated as well as regular passengers, in other words like S***t. Middle seats, checked bag fees, $1 onboard colas, can't get an exit row without an "upgrade" etc, etc. The last 3 airliners I was on were blazing hot, sweated the entire taxi time, because the airline doesn't want to burn fuel using an apu, no matter how uncomfortable it is for the passengers.

Most of us take a minimum of 52 flights a year (not counting mid-tour airlines), so like any frequent traveler we are looking for any break we can get.

We hold an operating certificate, and that is all that is needed to get into the CASS system. I really don't think it's a big deal if we get access to the CASS system or not, all I do at airports now is go into the crew or first class line and show them my id and ticket, they can decide if I can skip to the front of the line or not.

A great portion of our pilot group came from the airlines (major and commuter) so I don't think we have any bias toward the pilots of 121 carriers, we understand that you are doing the best job you can with what you have to work with.