A question for you: are the procedures for the passengers more relaxed, or do they also have to have their package handled if they don't want the scan? It's kind of hard to make the argument to the public that we don't have to take the kind of treatment they now have to take because of the underwear guy. And it's hard to make the argument that the package is off limits, considering the attempt (on one of our planes, btw) to use the package zone for the opposition's business.

I do think we have a legitimate argument for some sort of "other" procedure because the frequency of travel gives us only two bad choice: to get your family jewels tailhooked, or nuked. In light of other events, such as the FedEx fisherman/handyman, we're kind of stuck having some kind of check, however.

It gets a little tricky when you start going beyond the complaining, and try to figure out a dignified solution. I'm not saying there isn't one, and I'm not saying we're dassertive enough finding it, but I am saying I don't see anything real obvious. Besides, I think a public forum isn't really the place to have a meaningful discussion about credible alternatives... which leaves us to simply complaining.

Have any pilots with valid ID's ever tried to get handguns or other weapons through security checkpoints?

Sink,

I'm sure passengers have to go through the same thing if they choose to bypass the scan. But, if they choose to be groped, they can sit in their nice little seat in the back of the airplane and fume about it for the duration of their flight.

We, on the other hand, have to review weather, logbooks, do walk arounds, brief flight attendants, load flight plans, check fuel slips, make pa's, taxi, takeoff and land, immediately after the offense.

This groping is really what I have an issue with, because of the description the guy I'm flying with gave of the reaction his previous captain had. He said he had reconstructive surgery of a knee or something and set's off the regular detector every time and every time he will have to go through the "frisk" when there is no body scanner available.

I made a joke of it at first, and asked if he could ask for a female TSA agent to do it. But, in light of the above description of what the frisk involves, I don't think it is a joking matter.

When you are deadheading in the back of a jet, you don't want your pilot to be "visibly shaken" because of some new TSA procedure and I don't think it's reasonable to expect us to get used to it.

If that is what ALPA is proposing, they are about to get an earful from me.

At least one. Enough said.

I'd say 99% of the time it has happened, it was an accident.

The only time I can think of that a pilot used a weapon in the cockpit was the Fe Ex incident.

I understand. I share your concerns, but... I'll PM instead.

As a friendly reminder for 88 drivers: the vibrators (not talking about engines, FA's, brakes, etc and you know it) you love so much should never ever ever ever be turned off in flight.

Can you say jetway spot checks from our friends who are just here to help?

Sincerely,
FTB
Peanut Gallery Seat 17B

Responded. :)

Picked up a white slip that ends with a DH. I want to change my DH flight I know we can but I can't figure out how.

Thanks

Does it really matter? Our hands are on the yoke/stick. Checking pilots is pointless other than ID verification.