TSA Breaks 10 AE Aircraft in ORD

[Amish RakeFight]

TSA = The Special-Ed Adult

 

[Nevets]

[FONT=arial,helvetica,geneva]Pilots Furious Over TSA-Damaged Airplanes[/FONT]

Fourteen American Eagle aircraft were damaged overnight on Monday at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport when a TSA inspector used instrument probes as handholds to test the security of the aircraft from tampering, ABCNews reported. Over 40 flights were delayed on Tuesday while mechanics checked the airplanes. "Our inspector was following routine procedure for securing the aircraft that were on the tarmac," TSA official Elio Montenegro told ABC. However, "There is a sign that clearly says don't step," Mary Frances Fagan, a spokeswoman for American Airlines, which operates American Eagle, told the Chicago Tribune. One pilot who posted on an Internet forum wrote, "The brilliant [TSA] employees used an instrument located just below the cockpit window that is critical to the operation of the onboard computers. They decided this instrument, the TAT probe, would be adequate to use as a ladder."

TSA workers will be retrained to ensure that the problem doesn't happen again, Montenegro said.

http://www.avweb.com/eletter/archives/avflash/1192-full.html#198632

 

[Stifler's Mom]

"There is a sign that clearly says don't step,"

Here's the obvious problem. The sign said nothing about hanging on. We need a sticker that says

"Don't step, put, set, place, position, lay, hang, grasp, grab, seize, touch, alter, modify, clutch, grapple, grip, take hold of...this means you Mr. TSA Guy."

One pilot who posted on an Internet forum wrote, "The brilliant [TSA] employees used an instrument located just below the cockpit window that is critical to the operation of the onboard computers. They decided this instrument, the TAT probe, would be adequate to use as a ladder."

What a great quote to add to the news print.

 

[ehaecker]

I believe that aircraft sabatoge calls for jail time and fines

Unless you work for the TSA. You can sabotage all the airplanes you want, then you get to fine the airline that owns them!

 

[updraft]

yeah get this now http://www.abcnews.go.com/blotter

 

[Nevets]

http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/story?id=5619046&page=1
Aviation Community In Uproar Over TSA's Botched Security Check


Pilots Outraged Over TSA Snafu That Grounded Nine Planes


By JOSEPH RHEE and ERIC LONGABARDI
August 20, 2008

var addthis_pub = 'abcnews';
Pilots around the country expressed outrage and concern today about the safety of their planes following an incident where a TSA inspector, conducting a spot security check, used sensitive instrument probes as a handhold to climb onto parked aircraft at Chicago's O'Hare airport. As reported on ABCNews.com, the incident led to the grounding of nine American Eagle planes, causing a ripple effect that delayed 40 flights throughout the day.

Pilots around the country expressed outrage and concern on Wednesday over the safety of their planes following a TSA inspector's spot security check.
(ABC News)


Today pilots weighed in with hundreds of complaints on internet aviation forums over whether TSA inspectors were properly qualified to conduct such airplane safety checks, according to Jim Campbell of Aero-News Network, a widely-read aviation industry news service. Campbell said he received over 600 e-mails from worried pilots and other aviation workers.

"This was and is a deadly serious issue," one e-mailer wrote. "I envision something like a TSA inspector trying to remove a prop lock as part of a security check and imparting a stress fracture into a blade."



TSA maintained that its agents are qualified to perform security inspections of parked airplanes. "Our inspectors are extensively trained over what their responsbility entails," TSA spokesperson Elio Montenegro told ABCNews.com. However, Montenegro said he did not know if inspectors received detailed training on aircraft flight systems.

Many pilots today expressed skepticism that TSA inspectors are properly trained. "Their job is to screen baggage and people," wrote an e-mailer. "How the TSA can train their inspectors on every single different style and type of airplane is a question many would like answered. Flight attendants and pilots go to school for months just to learn one specific make and model... but TSA inspectors can apparently walk onto ANY aircraft at ANY time and know exactly what belongs and what doesn't."

Given the sensitivity of the equipment affected by yesterday's incident, Campbell said TSA's security program could have deadly consequences. "I flat out predict that if this continues, an aircraft will be brought down," said Campbell.

 

[updraft]

I'm sorry but this shows TSA has too much power.

http://www.abcnews.go.com/Blotter/story?id=5624381&page=1

 

[Papa Woody]

Careful what you post here.

Big brother is indeed watching.

The same laws which allow airliners to be vandalized in the name of security are the ones which will have you thrown into Federal prison for 15 years for saying anything derogatory about those government agents on this forum.

 

[samballs]

Careful what you post here.

Big brother is indeed watching.

The same laws which allow airliners to be vandalized in the name of security are the ones which will have you thrown into Federal prison for 15 years for saying anything derogatory about those government agents on this forum.

F&CK TSA

 

[big pimpn']

Here's the obvious problem. The sign said nothing about hanging on. We need a sticker that says

"Don't step, put, set, place, position, lay, hang, grasp, grab, seize, touch, alter, modify, clutch, grapple, grip, take hold of...this means you Mr. TSA Guy."

I think they would understand it better if it stated:

" Yo playa, don't touch this mufuk@! It bees HOT and sh!!t."

 

[go!ng for broke]

Have you ever noticed people working retail or what ever will stand on anything to reach that top box or item. Some people just can't change...

 

[P-Dawg_QX]

I think they would understand it better if it stated:

" Yo playa, don't touch this mufuk@! It bees HOT and sh!!t."

Be careful not to confuse the TSA with Menzies rampers. Yes they're both incompetent, but in different ways. Although, those differences seem to be fading, because now they're both damaging aircraft.

 

[go!ng for broke]

Some day soon you will see a group of mad men attack our airports at the same time in numbers by driving trucks through the house fence (chainlink) that are supposed to provide a barrier. Then FEDS will blame the State police while putting our customers and us through the ringer..By the way no one would ever fly a aircraft into a building much less in numbers even though it had allready been tried. I guess no one has ever driven through a house fence either..???

 

[mtsupilot376]

American Eagle could face fines related to TSA gaffe

The US Transportation Security Administration may levy civil penalties against American Eagle Airlines after one of its inspectors was able to gain access to the interior of seven out of nine Embraer ERJ-145 aircraft at Chicago O'Hare International airport on 19 August.

Inspection results are being reviewed and depending on the outcome, TSA says it could penalize the regional. A TSA spokeswoman declined to explain the administration's reasoning behind a potential penalty.

An American Eagle spokeswoman says, "We are unaware of any violations," adding she is confident the airline followed procedures for securing aircraft overnight.

However, the carrier says in a statement it is concerned about the "unorthodox inspection techniques" used at roughly 0530 on 19 August.

An airline employee noticed a man hoisting himself up to the jet bridge close to an ERJ-145 using the pitot tube on the side of the aircraft near the closed and locked cockpit door for leverage, an American Eagle spokeswoman says.

The TSA agent admitted to using the same procedure on a total of nine aircraft, all of which the airline then pulled out of service. The agent gained interior access to seven of the regional jets. Inspections, which took up to two hours to complete, revealed no damage and all aircraft were back into service by 1045 on 19 August, the airline says

"If not observed by vigilant Eagle employees in Chicago, the actions of this inspector would have been unknown and could have jeopardized the safety of our customers and crew because of potential damage to the sensitive equipment mounted on the aircraft fuselage," the carrier says in a statement.

TSA says it was not its intent to cause delay or potential damage to the aircraft as a result of its inspections.

"TSA took immediate steps to re-enforce education about sensitive equipment located on the exterior of a plane," the administration adds.

Source: Air Transport Intelligence news

 

[Cobra17]

The US Transportation Security Administration may levy civil penalties against American Eagle Airlines after one of its inspectors was able to gain access to the interior of seven out of nine Embraer ERJ-145 aircraft at Chicago O'Hare International airport on 19 August.

If you find a TSA inspector onboard your aircraft, call the police immediately.

 

[dispatchguy]

F(&(*&( THE TSA

I wonder what would happen if I had a T-shirt that said that and wore it the next time I was a revenue pax...?

 

[big pimpn']

Be careful not to confuse the TSA with Menzies rampers. Yes they're both incompetent, but in different ways. Although, those differences seem to be fading, because now they're both damaging aircraft.

I agree; However, I don’t think the word “incompetent” even begins to describe their level of stupidity. We came into ORD after a 16 hour nonstop flight from ICN last week and were greeted by these buffoons for a surprise inspection. I can tell you from my experience; these guys are straight out of Reno 911.

 

[Cobra17]

That is a serious insult to the crack squad of men and women from Reno 911.

 

[samballs]

That is a serious insult to the crack squad of men and women from Reno 911.

I agree on Reno 911 they at least in the end get lucky. tsa will always be a week behind terrorist. There are only 3 qualifications to join tsa
1. Do you live in the projects?
2. Do you live in a trailer?
3. Were you that nerd in high school everyone made fun, and now you need to get some authority?

If you can answer yes to anyone one of the 3, then you can have a fun and exciting career with the tsa.

 

[flynryan15]

Sweet maybe I can be a TSA while I am furloughed?!?!