Tsa, What A Bunch Of Bs!

[N813CA]

I just thought that my experience today in the CVG security screening was entertaining and uncalled for. I just wanted to see what you guys/girls think. I was nonreving and was about to go through the detector and the TSA lady said that she recommended I take off my shoes. I said no my shoes are fine. She repeated herself again and again I said no thank you. I went through the detector without a beep, in fact I had way less metal on me then when I am in uniform, obviously because I didn't have my wings/ect... on. Well she gave me a smirk and sent me to the chosen group to get checked/touched/groped. I have never been in a situation were it was so blatantly obvious

 

[T-Gates]

I would have asked to see her supervisor, you cannot be forced to take off your shoes. I would definately write a letter.... The TSA Bull$hit needs to stop.

 

[crashpad]

Exact same thing happened to me. Most of the TSA knows what they can get away with and can ask anyone to go to the chosen area regardless of a non-beep. What's a joke is they're harrasing pilots by not using common sense. But let's get real here (as Dr. Phil would say), common sense is'nt their strongest point. However, the 'smirk' is where you have a valid complaint with her supervisor since it plainly exhibits contempt, instead of suspicion.

 

[jetexas]

I took my shoes off once in CVG, for the 5am something flight, and my feet got wet from the carpet shampooing that night. No big deal, they dried, but I'll never take off my shoes there again.

Another special treat, again at CVG, is when they say good morning to you and noticably stick their face about one foot from you and look in your eyes. I don't say anything back..afterall don't sniff me for alcohol after a 9 hour overnight and tell me what kind of morning to have, pre coffee.

 

[crashpad]

...noticably stick their face about one foot from you and look in your eyes.
__________________________________________________
Whoa... there's gotta be a great comeback for that one!

 

[GCD]

Ah yes, CVG. Biggest bunch of hilljacks I have ever seen working for the TSA. I live in the Y'all Mall town, so I know where they dig some of them up from.

Get this. While I was waiting for a flight to work from CVG:

I was waiting for a flight in a gate area. Two TSA agents sat down in the same gate area, and pulled out their People Magazines and started reading.

Meanwhile, a lady ran into the gate area, dropped a brown grocery sack on a seat, then ran off. I mean to say, she ran like it meant her life. While plugging my ears, waiting for the impending boom, I looked over to the TSA agents. They were obviously unmoved by the lady's actions.

I said, "Hey, did you see that?" One of the TSA agents peered over his magazine and replied, "Hey, do you see we are on a break?"

Well, it turns out the lady was running for the rest room, but she still violated a big security rule by leaving her items unattended.

The TSA agents were on break, so I guess they couldn't / wouldn't bother. Unless, of course, the lady had been in an airline pilot or flight attendant uniform. Then they would have been on top of it as quick as stink on you know what.

 

[RegionalFA]

GCD - you know it!


I thought to send you to the "random" group they had to notify you prior to beginning the process that you were selected for random screening. They can not make you take your shoes off and TSA now allows a "second chance" so that if you beep, you may exit once, remove any items you now doubt and reenter one time with no penalty.

If you're not in uniform and have your ID you are also not required to have a boarding card or itenerary according to the tsa site. Lots of places still try to enforce that.


This whole situation still drives me nuts. Until the day that I see EVERY employee going through security to get to a "Secured" area or I see the people who are ACTUALLY on the plane at 37,000 feet allowed to bypass security...

 

[Mike man]

Haven't we as pilots had the same background checks as the freaking TSA? So why are we singled out to do the random checks? I don't mind the checks but the random check are a bit much. I think of the checks as being more of a "flex-my-muscle" check than a random check.

And the TSA "Agents" must go through security each day before starting work, right? So the TSA people must be randomly selected too right? But I seriously doubt that they are ever randomly checked.

I wonder if a letter writing campaign to the TSA would do any thing or if it would just get us added to a "black list"...

 

[RichO]

The TSA is completely out of control....I say we as pilots, create a do not fly list of TSA agents and kick them off the planes if they are trying to ride....maybe they'll get the hint......all someone needs to say now is TSA and I get fired up..................what a bunch of jack*sses...........

 

[GCD]

You've got to love this one.

Remember when the National Guard was in the airports?

Every soldier I know carries a knife. It's just a basic of soldiering. Well, a NG troop was entering the security area for his patrol, and when going through the metal detector, his folding knife was discovered. He had to surrender his Buck Knife, all the while he was in possession of an M16 and M9 during his patrol.

It makes no sense, but niether does the TSA.

 

[RichO]

Get this, I heard that at my company there was a flt attendant who was deemed a security risk after 9/11.......and was finally told she couldn't fly anymore..........but, she is a National Guard member.....so, she could no longer fly on the aircraft but could now still guard the airports........makes no sense........this is what happens when people react.....they tend to react the wrong direction...........


PS what will happen when this new computerized screening comes out??????? I wonder how many crews/military people will be told they can't fly......how many of a 300 army unit deploying on a charted DC-10 have a police record????? probably a few......so what, they cant' fly......but they can deploy overseas to protect our freedoms........?????

 

[SWEMB120]

Here is another one of those blood pressure raising moments at the TSA screening point. This was a few months ago but besides the fact. I was in FAT non reving and displayed my ID (company ID and SIDA badge from another base) to the agent she didn't know if she could let me through without a pass so she asked someone else they said I had to go to the ticket counter and get a pass. After a small argument I did what they requested and went on with my business. Biting my tongue and blood pressure shooting through the roof. These people are out of control!! Fly safe

 

[PBRstreetgang]

Hello,
Do not remove your shoes in a public area, I personally do not want to walk where thousands have walked before.
Our pilot policy has a section about being in proper uniform while in the public realm. Ask for a private screening, it wastes twice as much of their(tsa) time and provides me as much satisfaction as possible. I find it entertaining to ask for a private screening then go as slow as possible and chat real friendly to the goons while wasting their time and retaining some semblance of control, it's funny when they try to encourage me to finish up and I drop my shoe and start out on the weather or some impending sporting event. Have some fun with a painful situation.
PBR

 

[EX_CV580FR8Dawg]

TSA=Thousands Standing Around...as you all probably know by now. Being a freighter, and not having a whole lot of experience walking through terminals, I am not routinely subjected to this treatment. But I indeed sympathize with you all. I guess when you hire a bunch of high school/GED graduates that were previously working at MCDs or the local convenient store/speedway and give them the slightest ounce of authority... I suppose we should have seen this coming in some way or another.

Just my .02cents

 

[TR4A]

I was nonreving and was about to go through the detector and the TSA lady said that she recommended I take off my shoes.

Same thing happened to me at RDU last Summer. The guy on the other side said something about my shoes that I could not hear and I said that they are OK. Walked through no beep. Made me get wanded. I talked to the supervisor, what a waste of time. If you aren't wearing your uniform a CREW member does mean squat to them.

Since 911 I wear my uniform to commute.

 

[exeagle]

Same thing happened to me 813 in DFW. Guy had a chip on his shoulder I guess. Even showed him my aoa badge!

 

[atpcliff]

Hi!

I basically haven't had a problem with TSA. Sometimes in small airports they're not quite sure what to do with jumpseaters, but when they learn they're OK.

There is a new shoe inspection machine they are testing. It is built into the floor, and checks your shoes as you walk over it, so no more taking off your shoes if the airport has that machine. I don't know about any schedule to have it installed, and don't know how expensive it is-It may go only to large airports if it's expensive.

Cliff
DTW

 

[N813CA]

Well it sure sounds like I am not the only one that can't stand TSA. Thanks for the info

 

[JJJ]

...noticably stick their face about one foot from you and look in your eyes.
__________________________________________________

Whoa... there's gotta be a great comeback for that one!

How about a nice smelly belch..

 

[sleepy]

If you are in uniform, the TSA cannot make you take off your shoes. If you are out of uniform, even if you get through the medal detector with you shoes on, they can still select you for an additional screening. There is a little sign that explains this at the DFW check point.