Originally Posted by
Thedude
So your gonna try to tell me what I did or did not see. Wow.
Have you been to JFK and seen the turn-styles at ramp level? Well, I have as I used to walk by them on the way into the terminal, so i think I have a bit of an idea what does and does not happen there. Apparently more so than you.
I never said I had a front row seat at the SIDA access point,nor do I want one. The things that happen at you station are indicative to YOUR station and your station only. I do know for a fact there are some airports where the CSA can bypass screening altogether if they have a SIDA badge. Which is the way it was for ALL SIDA badge holders before the invent of the TSA.
Is this what it is boiling down too, a CSA agent saying I have it rougher than you because I get screened X times a day? If so you are missing the point of the argument. They are screening the wrong people is the argument. As in screening the flight crews. A waste of money and rescources.
1) We have the ramp level turn-styles at bna with no "security checkpoint" but the TSA does set up camp and randomly screen employees walking through.
2) Ok holier than though pilot man, walking by the turn-style on your way into the airport doesn't mean that TSA doesn't sometimes screen people using that door. The OP did say when he got screened it was random.
3) ACEAV8R said they had seen the same random screenings for airport employees at other airports that they had TDYed at, not just their home airport.
4) It didn't appear to me that they were trying to say that CSAs have it rougher than you just pointing out that CSAs and RAMPERS do get screened and do not have un-checked access to the aircraft. The OP said he was screened when coming through a door from OPS into the terminal....this random checkpoint was set up for all people using that door not just crew...they can't just say oh well you are flight crew we don't need to screen you. The reason for being screened when going from a SIDA area into the terminal is the same reason you can't get a checked bag until you get to baggage claim, some items that can be checked (ie guns and ammunition) can't be brought into the the terminal.
5) Why should a member of a flight crew not get screened but a ramper should? Everyone who enters a secure area should be subject to screening. Although I agree some TSAers probably aren't very qualified to do it. You have more access to the aircraft than a ramper does (no body is going to tell you you can't climb into the cargo bin durring your walk around if you wanted to and you have access to the cockpit even if you are riding in the back on your own metal...you have a cockpit key).
I'm not trying to start another battle between CSAs and Pilots I just think you need to get your facts straight before you come on here and bash somebody for correcting you