US Air Pilot arrested

[flydog]

PHILADELPHIA, Pennsylvania (CNN) -- Police at Philadelphia International Airport arrested a US Airways pilot Sunday on two misdemeanor charges after he made an "inappropriate comment" relating to security to an airport screener, airline and law enforcement officials said.

Elwood Maneer, 46, was charged with making terrorist threats and disorderly conduct, said Philadelphia police spokesman Cpl. Jim Pauley, who would not disclose what was said.

"I don't have the exact words," Pauley said. "We're just saying he made an inappropriate comment. We're not going to get into exactly what he said."

Maneer is from Annville, Pennsylvania, about 18 miles east of Harrisburg.

The pilot was going through the screening process around 7 a.m. EST when he "made an inappropriate comment relative to security," said US Airways spokesman David Castelveter, who said the airlines was "cooperating fully" with the investigation. "We find this type of behavior intolerable," he said.

Maneer's comment did not affect airport operations, airport spokesman Mark Pesce said.

Local police have filed misdemeanor charges against Maneer, and the U.S. Attorney's office in Philadelphia was considering the case, said Linda Vizi, a spokesperson for the FBI's Philadelphia office.

Maneer had been scheduled to pilot a flight from Philadelphia to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, which was briefly delayed because US Airways officials had to find another pilot for the flight, Castelveter said.

 

[avbug]

I know of several cases where similiar things have happened to pilots, and in each case, the pilot has lost his job.

While personally I believe such actions are far out of line and inappropriate, I'm the first to remind myself that a pedestrian may have the right of way over an 18-wheeler, but is probably best not to insist. Sacking someone and creating a ruckus over a comment is at best over-reaction, especially for the personnel involved.

HOWEVER, it behooves everyone to keep such comments away from the public, screeners, and the SIDA. We can complain and bicker all we like at meeting places such as this, but for now, comments to screeners, security, and others, are best kept very professional. I would highly recommend that any commentary that is negative in nature, or derrogatory with respect to measures in place, be kept to one's self while passing through those measures.

 

[JetProp]

So..once again a legitimate pilot going to work is treated as the badguy!! What..you can't speak your mind anymore? While the illegal alien, non-US citizen, can't speak english, less than GED educated airport screener is exaulted! What BS!!

 

[1900laker]

I guess it all depends on the comment he made. If he joked about having a bomb tucked in his underwear, because he was pissed about the way he was handled, then he's screwed. But again, depends on what he said. Everytime something like this shows up in the press, the security/crewmember relationship gets more and more attention, which could be a good thing.

 

[Bluestreak]

Yep,he shoulda known better,no doubt.Sure,arrest a pilot,but let the guy with explosive tennis shoes on who was denied boarding the day before that looked like a kook...Can't offend anyone,you know....At least he didn't joke around at security.

 

[JetProp]

Maybe with more attention to the hassles we go through..It will get better.. I get frustrated every time I have to get the "rub" down, wand up the butt..etc..When all I want to do is go to work..
As legitimate crewmembers, we are not the badguys!!

 

[Huck]

He should shut up and watch our once-enjoyable jobs be ruined, like the rest of us.

 

[TurboS7]

MIA,FLL,LAX,ORD,BOS,BWI,KEF,Gitmo,NRR,SJU, I just take my shoes off, jacket, belt, and all my "stuff" and send it through the scanner. When my body goes through the detector no beeps and I am on my merry way. As I walk by the screeners mutter "Your one of the few pilot's that has figured this whole thing out." Cheers.

 

[JetProp]

Good idea..In addition I remove my clip-on tie and eye glasses which seem to set off the dreaded metal detector. Tomorrow, I'm going to Wal-mart and buy some loafers to make the shoe part easier..

 

[jetexas]

I have come very close, on those early am shows (pre-coffee), to just putting my entire body through the x-ray machine. I would'nt even have to take my hat off and I could keep my eye on all my stuff as it goes through!

 

[Cornelius]

I wonder if I could get a job where I screen the screeners. Now that would be some fun!

 

[Bluestreak]

Now THIS would be fun:
On an overnight when you're the originating crew,pack the crash axe and flare gun in your bag before heading to the hotel.Then,in the morning,try explaining to security that it must go back on the airplane !

 

[328dude]

Dude, you scare me!!!!!! LOL

 

[Bluestreak]

You flew a Mitsu "If I ever get this thing trimmed,I gonna have it welded" Moo-too and "I" scare you ? That's saying something.

 

[gulf227]

He should have just kepy his mouth shut...how we all get to hear about it on CNN, why to go DumbA$$.

Security is Sh!tty, but is it bad enough to lose your job over? Don't think so... Kepy your mouth shut until you THROUGH the security checkpoint!

Oh, and if they ask you to take off your belt, don't keep undressing, that doesn't get you any favors...

 

[JetProp]

Here's what he said:
"Why are you worried about tweezers when I could crash the plane?"
...Big brother is watching you...be careful about what you say to these moron screeners!

 

[enigma]

What's your source?

Here's what he said:
"Why are you worried about tweezers when I could crash the plane?"
...Big brother is watching you...be careful about what you say to these moron screeners!

I don't doubt you, but where did you get this information?

Obvioiusly this means that we say nothing to security. If you have a comment, request that the GSC be in attendance.

good luck to us all.

 

[JetProp]

The info is from a recent www.aviationplanning.com article on the subject.
Regards, JetProp

 

[CornJulio]

BOS screeners

Will we get in trouble for pointing out that the new security screeners in Boston look like cub scouts?

For those who haven't seen them, picture this: Black baggy cargo pants, a tight black top with yellow "SECURITY" across the back," a gold braid under the right arm, a yellow scarf under the collar, and a black beret. Yes, a beret.

And these people wonder why people are snickering all day long? Heh....

 

[ifly4food]

He should have just kepy his mouth shut...


Security is ***CENSORED***, but is it bad enough to lose your job over? Don't think so... Kepy your mouth shut until you THROUGH the security checkpoint!

Originally posted by JetProp
Here's what he said: "Why are you worried about tweezers when I could crash the plane?" ...Big brother is watching you...be careful about what you say to these moron screeners!

I find it extremely disturbing that our government has chosen to make an example out of this pilot.
It is a clear attempt to intimidate us into assisting with their joke of a security system (by being singled out for more thorough checks than un-uniformed individuals) and giving up our rights.
Those who say we should just shut up and comply are the ones the government wants to have. These same individuals are the ones who will allow the government to take back the Bill of Rights one by one. Do you all realize what's happening here?

The Big Brother comments become more ironic every day. This is really starting to look like 1984. Now we have uniformed, badged crewmwmbers being publicly arrested and publicly degraded (whatever happened to innocent until proven guilty; let's just try them in the media) for excercizing their right to free speech. Granted, his choice of words may not have been appropriate to the situation, but one ounce of common sense would show that he was not serious. This is a slippery slope and we should be very wary of the precedent this sets.
Before we know it, you won't be able to make anti government comments on the street or risk being arrested on terrorism charges.
Wake up people. We are losing our freedom every day.

 

[I'm Q]

According to Airwise.com - aviation news, the pilot asked why they were worried about tweezers when he could crash the plane. Valid comment but poor timing.

 

[RichardFitzwell]

I feel for this guy. I've said things to security that now would get me arrested.

In fact, on one of my last trips I started making a comment not disimilar from what he said. The difference being I caught myself in time.

R.F.

 

[waka]

To those that implied that he had even a little justification; I disagree. Remember, it's not that hard to duplicate ID's and get a pilot uniform. Uniformed crews should undergo the same scrutiny as passengers.

 

[ifly4food]

To those that implied that he had even a little justification; I disagree. Remember, it's not that hard to duplicate ID's and get a pilot uniform. Uniformed crews should undergo the same scrutiny as passengers.

how many times do we have to hear this excuse?
I CHALLENGE YOU to produce a pilot uniform and fake an ID. All airline IDs have been upgraded. You need ID now to buy any pilot uniforms, (except maybe shirts) and must shop at company stores... ones that know what real IDs look like. You simply can't do it and make it real enough to fool anyone under this increased scrutiny.
Let's remember, the terrorists of the 9/11 attacks didn't use fake uniforms or IDs. They were PASSENGERS.

As for crews getting the same scrutiny at security as everyone else, I wholeheartedly agree. Unfortunately, we are still being singled out and made examples of... getting much more than typical passengers get. Try an experiment... go through in uniform, then out of uniform (no, they won't recognize you). I'll bet you get checked a lot more carefully in uniform. I do every time.
This is frustrating and yes, even enough to drive a normally rational Us Air pilot to make a smart remark. One for which he is now being made an example of by our government.

 

[~~~^~~~]

To those that implied that he had even a little justification; I disagree. Remember, it's not that hard to duplicate ID's and get a pilot uniform. Uniformed crews should undergo the same scrutiny as passengers.

You obviously have never flown for an airline. Everything must match - paperwork, computer, scheduling etc... Then, the imposter would have to not be recognized, although the crew has probably been flying together for weeks and eats three meals a day together. The imposter would have to be a real whiz to know all the procedures, both formal, and informal, to get an airplane out of the gate.... There is just no way that a stolen ID and uniform would equip a person to do anything but be discovered and go straight to jail. James Bond himself could not even carry off your "Mission Impossible" scenario.

Just wait until there is a set of these screeners that you have to meet on the way to your Hawker. Your opinion will change rather quickly...

Further, how does taking my toe nail clippers make me safer - when I have a crash axe, fire extenguishers, cabin de-press, flash lights, metal logbook covers, flares and God forbid my own two hands on the flight deck with me? Obviously, the airplane goes where I fly it.

I was hoping for a higher level of security, beginning with professional officers, when the Federal government took over this process. We all have read that the screeners we have now will remain, with unionized federal jobs.

Now anybody care to guess how long it will take to get through security when these high school dropouts decide they need a raise and stage a little work slowdown?

What happened September 11th is an absolute and terrible tragedy. Now we are prolonging the pain by forcing our customers and ourselves to put up with this security sham.

We should all carry a copy of the security directives in our flight bag (see ALPA rep, of Chief Pilot's Office). If you are harassed, ask for a security supervisor. At some airports the FAA is available near by - let the security supervisor talk to them rather than harass you.

When I politely ask, more than 60% of the screeners I have talked to admit to having never seen, or been formally trained, on the security directives. The "procedures" are left to their own imaginations. What ends up happening is a set of "monkey see - monkey do" searches where they simply copy eachother and assume they are doing the job. IMHO, this is not acceptable.

 

[ifly4food]

Further, how does taking my toe nail clippers make me safer - when I have a crash axe, fire extenguishers, cabin de-press, flash lights, metal logbook covers, flares and God forbid my own two hands on the flight deck with me? Obviously, the airplane goes where I fly it.

Careful... Big Brother is watching. I GUARANTEE that the FBI's RAPTOR system, the contraversial Internet evesdropping program unveiled last year, is monitoring this site.
What you said could be called a "threat".
You could be labled a "Terrorist" and hauled off to a dark dungeon in Gitmo where you get "culturally sensitive meals and excercize every day".

 

[~~~^~~~]

You could be labled a "Terrorist" and hauled off to a dark dungeon in Gitmo where you get "culturally sensitive meals and excercize every day".

ALPA would come to my rescue and represent me, wouldn't they?

 

[ifly4food]

ALPA would come to my rescue and represent me, wouldn't they?

Ha! Riiight!
You know, you guys may get me over to the "dark side" yet. I'm getting fed up with their lack of representation.

 

[gulf227]

Taking my words...

Now wait a minute...

"shutup until you get through security" does not imply that I will roll over for our government. I'm just asying that security isn't worth losing your job over.

If you have a problem with security, call the GSC, if they aren't any help, get in touch with your Union or Chief pilot, then write your senators, write your congressmen, write your president. Tell them your not going to be treated like a criminal when you go to work and that you will write them everyday until your treatted with the respect you deserve.

BUT

But by all means, BE PROFESSIONAL, passengers would rather see you acting professional then getting arrested.

You can't stand up to your govenment with hand-cuffs on or from behind bars...If it bothers you that much, go drive a truck!!!!

 

[MAK]

For all of those wondering what, if anything, ALPA is doing to support Captain Menear (US Airways), just go to www.alpa.org and see if you can find anything (I couldn't).

I'm afraid there's only ONE thing ALPA understands anymore... your dues check-off.