XJT First Officer Roberts = Hero of Life

[damnflyboy]

Pilot Refuses Full-Body Scan, Says TSA Doesn’t Make Travel Safer

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (CBS/AP) — A Tennessee pilot who says he’s tired of being manhandled by security agents is waiting to see if he will lose his job because he refused a full body scan.

ExpressJet Airlines first officer Michael Roberts was chosen for the X-ray scan Friday at Memphis International Airport. The Houston-based pilot says he also refused a pat-down and went home.
The 35-year-old Roberts told The Commercial Appeal newspaper he wants to go to work and not be “harassed or molested without cause.”
Transportation Security Administration spokesman Jon Allen says a person was turned away after refusing to follow federal security procedures but declined to say if it was Roberts, citing privacy considerations.
Roberts says he has safety concerns, but called TSA a “make-work” program that doesn’t make travel safer.
“I just kind of had to ask myself ‘Where do I stand?’ I’m just not comfortable being physically manhandled by a federal security agent every time I go to work,” he told the Commercial Appeal.
Earlier this week, CBSNewYork reported that full-body scanners have not yet been installed at New York City area airports, despite plans that were in place to have them installed at Newark Liberty International, John F. Kennedy International, and LaGuardia airports by September.
The Transportation Security Administration told The Star-Ledger of Newark the installation is complex and the scanners would arrive “in the coming weeks.”
Passengers who prefer not to be scanned can choose to be patted down and pass through a metal detector.
TSA spokesman Ann Davis says passengers are no less safe. She says the scanners are designed to be faster and less physically intrusive than metal detectors and pat-downs.
The TSA has installed 259 scanners at 59 airports nationwide.

 

[sunlitpath]

Shut up and get in the damn machine you little sissies. Nobody wants to see your small wieners. They are looking for weapons and explosives that blow up babies and mommies. Everybody is subject to the screening; you are not special. Did they frisk you a little briskly? You poor little bitches...

 

[Hamburger]

What the hell is a Hero of Life?

Getting fired (still waiting, but likely) for walking off the job because you don't grasp the Constitution is heroic?
He should be counting his blessings that TSA didn't revoke his license, as they have the unbelievable authority to do.

At least he'll have more time to attend Tea Parties. I wouldn't be surprised to find out that FFDO is not an option in his case.

 

[Captain Morgan]

Seriously, nothing was infringed upon. As much as I don't like the TSA or their mandates, he has recourses if he doesn't want to go through the body scanner. He can get a pat down which he declined. If he declines then he doesn't enter the sterile area. It's that simple. He chose not to enter the sterile area which resulted in his no show for work status. I will say if everything that he says is true with regards to how it was handled by the authorities then I would understand his anger. That's not to say he should've missed work because of it. I would've declined the x-ray and I would've done the pat down, then I would've written letters and filed complaints. He's on the outside looking in now. I wish him luck and I don't fault him because I wasn't in his shoes, but I would've tried to keep my cool a little better and then figured out a way to combat it.

 

[damnflyboy]

Seriously, nothing was infringed upon. As much as I don't like the TSA or their mandates, he has recourses if he doesn't want to go through the body scanner. He can get a pat down which he declined. If he declines then he doesn't enter the sterile area. It's that simple. He chose not to enter the sterile area which resulted in his no show for work status. I will say if everything that he says is true with regards to how it was handled by the authorities then I would understand his anger. That's not to say he should've missed work because of it. I would've declined the x-ray and I would've done the pat down, then I would've written letters and filed complaints. He's on the outside looking in now. I wish him luck and I don't fault him because I wasn't in his shoes, but I would've tried to keep my cool a little better and then figured out a way to combat it.

Thank God. Someone with a brain.

 

[centralpilot]

How many separate threads are we going to have about this?

 

[earhart]

Seriously, nothing was infringed upon. As much as I don't like the TSA or their mandates, he has recourses if he doesn't want to go through the body scanner. He can get a pat down which he declined. If he declines then he doesn't enter the sterile area. It's that simple. He chose not to enter the sterile area which resulted in his no show for work status. I will say if everything that he says is true with regards to how it was handled by the authorities then I would understand his anger. That's not to say he should've missed work because of it. I would've declined the x-ray and I would've done the pat down, then I would've written letters and filed complaints. He's on the outside looking in now. I wish him luck and I don't fault him because I wasn't in his shoes, but I would've tried to keep my cool a little better and then figured out a way to combat it.QUOTE]

I agree- and that would have been my reaction (comply). However, there is a fundamental right being trampled on here and regardless of real or imaginary threats, this man, (pilot or not) has a right to be allowed to pass through unmolested- I advocate and understand good security measures BUT our individual rights are what made this country great- don't be so quick to give that up................

 

[the palm]

How many separate threads are we going to have about this?

Agreed. I'll go start an ASA thread.

 

[johnsonrod]

That guy sounds like a punk - but I'll fly with him anytime...

 

[Captain Morgan]

Seriously, nothing was infringed upon. As much as I don't like the TSA or their mandates, he has recourses if he doesn't want to go through the body scanner. He can get a pat down which he declined. If he declines then he doesn't enter the sterile area. It's that simple. He chose not to enter the sterile area which resulted in his no show for work status. I will say if everything that he says is true with regards to how it was handled by the authorities then I would understand his anger. That's not to say he should've missed work because of it. I would've declined the x-ray and I would've done the pat down, then I would've written letters and filed complaints. He's on the outside looking in now. I wish him luck and I don't fault him because I wasn't in his shoes, but I would've tried to keep my cool a little better and then figured out a way to combat it.QUOTE]

I agree- and that would have been my reaction (comply). However, there is a fundamental right being trampled on here and regardless of real or imaginary threats, this man, (pilot or not) has a right to be allowed to pass through unmolested- I advocate and understand good security measures BUT our individual rights are what made this country great- don't be so quick to give that up................

I agree with you as well. I guess we all handle things a little differently in life. There are plenty of times that I have had to firmly bite my lip because I was about to give these goons a piece of my mind. If I had, it wouldn't have made any difference and it would have made my day and maybe life a living hell. We need a better way to get through security and I am one for CrewPASS. It allows us an unmolested way of showing up for work. It makes sense as they do want to ensure we weren't just fired and going to go on a rampage (a la Fedex style). I also agree that rampers need to be screened. How many times have you seen the news where rampers are caught up in illegal activities.