Originally Posted by
contrail67
I thought it worked pretty good too....wish it would get around.
Kinda sucks that the Clear folks had to pay for this and now they are not getting refunded. Ouch!
Actually, it may be closer to a reality at all airports now. The following came out from ALPA on Monday, June 22nd:
In a communication today to ALPA, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) identified the security standards for all expedited airport sterile area access systems for on-duty flight deck and cabin crewmembers. TSA credited ALPA with developing the concept for and proposing to the agency a sterile area access system called the Crew Personnel Advanced Screening System (CrewPASS)
“In 2006, the BOD made expedited airport access for pilots a top priority and confirmed that priority again last fall,” said ALPA President, Capt. John Prater. “Today we are happy to report that ALPA’s hard work and perseverance to meet that challenge over the past three years has paid off. As a result of our teamwork with TSA, ARINC and others, U.S. pilots and flight attendants will soon benefit from our recommended aviation security enhancements.”
ALPA developed the CrewPASS concept in early 2007 to harness the proven technology of the Cockpit Access Security System (CASS), which provides real time flight deck crewmember identity and employment status from personnel databases maintained by participating airlines. The Association promoted the CrewPASS concept to Congress and to TSA shortly thereafter. In July 2008, TSA initiated a CrewPASS pilot program at Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport, at Pittsburgh International Airport, and at Columbia Metropolitan Airport.
ARINC, the CrewPASS contractor, will continue work on meeting TSA security standards in the coming weeks; after which, requests will be submitted to TSA to expand the program to other U.S. airports.
Stay tuned.