Zapata

I hated to say it, but nobody else did. Do you remember Auburn Calloway? He carried a spear gun and a hammer on a Fedex DC-10 and tried to bring it down. He was vetted and a former Naval officer. All I am saying is that the fact that we might possibly be flying the airplane isn't enough of a reason to let us through unchecked . All of us want to be expedited through, knowing full well that we might not be flying, but jumpseating or deadheading on a ticket. I betcha that the crew of that DC-10 wondered about how a fired pilot could get on their airplane with a spear gun and a hammer.

I know that there are many inconsistencies with the TSA, i.e. rampers going through unchecked, etc.. I'm as against the new scanners and the enhanced gropes as the next guy. However, let's not kid ourselves. Our case to DHS is full of holes, even though it appears that they're buying it. There has to be some level of screening for everyone, rampers, TSA goons, and yes, us.

I don't claim to have the answers, I'm just asking the unanswered question.

pilotrob23

no, pilots shouldnt get screend. Always a nut job to kill it for everyone. Still the flite controls, the biggest weapon of all.

rickair7777

As long as the pilots can be positively identified (ie biometric database with instant-update capability) we probably don't need to be screened for anti-terrorism purposes. This does not solve the very, very rare problem of a pilot who goes off the deep end.

blastoff

And in this rare example...he would've been taken out of CASS after being fired if it existed back then.

detpilot

I think a reasonable compromise is the metal detectors, and being able to skip the line. Which is what we have now...

There is no SURE FIRE way to guarantee that you'll bring a plane down, even if you wanted to, with the other pilot there, unless he's incapacitated. We all know that in non critical phases of flight, the other guy would have the reaction time to fight you, and in in critical phases, he's (she's) gonna be watching the controls like a hawk, ready to jump in if something doesn't look right. The easiest way to remove that element is to incapacitate the other person, and that's a lot easier to do if you can sneak something on board that they aren't expecting. Therefore, pilots SHOULD be screened... just not naked body scanned or felt up.

Zapata

Your point is moot due to the simple fact that not every pilot going through security will be at the flight controls. What's to stop a unscreened jumpseating pilot from bringing some sort of weapon aboard? Pilots are not infallible as a security risk.

Zapata

I agree 100%

80ktsClamp

Most of us don't get screened at our originating point of our trips. False premise means an unsound argument from the start...

On top of that, screening us really does nothing to enhance security. Just a positive ID verification in CASS to verify employment would do fine (no uniform required.... that is just for show. I've operated several flights out of uniform).

dojetdriver

Maybe where YOU'RE based. Only 1 of the bases at my company can bypass screening, and when it's growth peaks, will only make up for about 20% of the pilots.

YMMV

Many airports won't give out SIDA badges to pilots. Not enough of a "permanent employee" to get one. I remember LGA and BOS specifically being this way.

80ktsClamp

Look at my second statement, then. What does it really accomplish? I'll argue that it is negligble benefit at best.