I can hardly believe this CRAP... TAT and AOA probes apparently make great ladders... Guess we all need to very closely preflight our A/C for footprints in the future!!!
TSA investigating possible violations by American Eagle - CNN.com
ABC News: TSA Snafu Grounds Nine Planes at O'Hare Field
(CNN) -- The Transportation Security Administration said Thursday it was opening an inquiry into "multiple security violations" by American Eagle at Chicago's O'Hare airport just a day after the airline complained a TSA inspector could have jeopardized the safety of their aircraft by grabbing a probe on the fuselage of several planes to hoist himself aboard.
American Eagle, which could face fines totaling $175,000, says it followed security procedures.
The TSA said in a statement it has "consistently found problems" at O'Hare regarding American Eagle, a regional carrier for American Airlines. This week's inspection "was a follow-up to earlier inspections in which the same vulnerability existed," the TSA said. The inquiry could result in fines totaling $175,000, the agency added.
At issue is American Eagle's practice of leaving unsecured aircraft parked too close to jetways during night hours, when the planes are out of service, a TSA official told CNN. Airlines are allowed to park planes with unsecured doors, provided they are away from jetways so they are inaccessible, the official said.
But early Tuesday morning,
a TSA inspector was able to gain access to seven of nine parked American Eagle planes by hoisting himself up with pipe-like air temperature probes on the side of the aircraft. Pilots use readings from the probes to gauge the probability of icing.
The method of entry infuriated American Eagle officials, who said the inspector "
could have jeopardized the safety of our customers and crew" by damaging the equipment. The airline removed all nine aircraft from service to inspect the probes and found no damage, said airline spokeswoman Andrea Huguely. Nonetheless, about 40 flights were delayed because of the inspections, Huguely said.
The TSA admitted its inspector erred by touching the probe and said he will undergo retraining. But it said the inspections demonstrated a vulnerability that someone with ill intent could have exploited.
The problem is not systemic, the TSA said Thursday, it is one "specific to this carrier at this airport."
"The inspector was ... seeking to close a real danger to the traveling public, not looking for a technical violation. The TSA stands behind the inspector and that effort," the statement read.
American Eagle could not be reached immediately Thursday afternoon. But in a statement Wednesday, the airline said it was "confident that it followed all proper security procedures."
"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 airline said. "American Eagle is also concerned that the TSA inspector's method of physically hoisting himself up to the jet bridge using a part of the aircraft could have placed him in physical danger."
Captain Sam Mayer, a spokesman for the Allied Pilots Union, expressed concern about the inspector's actions to CNN.
Most air temperature probes have a painted decal on the side that reads 'NO STEP,' " he said.
"We caught it this time. But who knows if this has happened other times ... and with other planes that are out there," he added.
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TSA Breaks Into a/c on Overnights....
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