And where is alpa? Instead of recommending ALL crews request private pat downs to grind security to a halt and delay all flights, we get a email to cooperate and be professional. Another words, just shut up and accept more BS from the retards at the TSA.

Never once has anyone though that there might be a reason for all of this? Everyone just jumps to the conclusion that TSA is just creating more and more procedures just to upset you.

Sure, there's a reason for all of this, but that doesn't give TSA carte blanche to introduce a technology that was rushed into production, with insufficient study regarding the effects of repeated exposure.

We're not sure what the effect will be after years of repeated (4x per week, every week) exposure from a properly operating machine. No long-term study was done.

We don't know how rigorous the maintenance will be on the devices. Will it be comparable to medical equipment? Doubtful, IMO.

I chose to "opt out" of the scan while on my way to training last week. The exam was thorough and uncomfortable. (The screener disliked it as much as I did, FWIW.) If we were to all opt out, the screening process would grind to a halt, and IMO, screening would return to the previous method.

When a safe and more effective screening process is developed, I'll be all for it, but I'm not going to facilitate the introduction of this piece of garbage.

Judging by the events occurring at the end of this week, I would tend to think that there is a very credible threat out there that has a lot of security officials concerned.

The above article was somewhat entertaining, but also somewhat disconcerting in a lot of ways.

I think the biggest gripes people/pilots have with the TSA is their "one-size-fits-all" method of security screening.

The funny thing is that if every single person refuses a backscatter screening, those machines will become nothing more than a waste in government spending.
All the technology in the world pails in comparison to a keen, watchful eye of a dedicated security professional, and judging by this article the some TSA agents are far from dedicated or professional.

I have no issue with opting out. They have given the traveling public that option. (Not a right btw as flying is not a right) I may opt out as well, but I understand the "need" for these increased procedures.

Exactly! That's the element of the screening process that needs enhancement.

You are correct about the compounding effect that these sort of machines will have on people like pilots and FF's that travel though these devices a lot. Add it to the radiation that we get while flying and it is significant over the life of a career. That is why opting out is your call.

http://www.alpa.org/portals/alpa/pre...WP_1-19-10.pdf

Public information

That is hilarious!!!