It's about time. Still not sure why the rollout at a few more airports for more "testing" is needed, and 90-days at that.

The hangup to the system was cost. There was a vendor that was trying to charge outrageous fees. Now the ATA is going to provide the data services. It will be just like CrewPass but with different data servers. That is why they have to test it. The bonus is once it is tested, just about any web enabled device will be able to be used to access it (with security obviously) and therefore it won't be a big deal to set it up at any airport.

How come it's not ALPA, TSA and the ATA gets Crewpass done?

Guys,

I believe this is an April Fools joke in very poor taste. A few minutes of research on TSA, ALPA and ATA websites revealed no public statements or press release about the approval of CrewPASS for airline pilots. If this was indeed a true story it would make front page news on all these sites as well a the major news sites too.

If anyone has any proof of this claim please provide the verification.

alfaromeo, any comment?

Log onto the ALPA national website and read it for yourself. I just did.

I'm not a member of ALPA and can only access the public webpage which has no mention of it. The TSA and ATA websites don't mention CrewPASS either except for some documents and press releases dated 2009.

I got it in email form the legit DALPA mec address. It's real... It's dated March 31, not April 1.

Public Document so here is what DALPA sent out last night:

March 31, 2011

Crewmember Identity Verification Program

In his November 12 Chairman’s Letter, following the announcement that the TSA had instituted revised Advanced Imaging Technology (AIT) security screening measures, then Delta MEC Chairman Captain Lee Moak wrote “The rational solution to pilot security screening is CrewPASS. . . CrewPASS implementation will be my first order of business as ALPA president.”

On March 21, ALPA President Captain Lee Moak and Air Transport Association President Nicholas E. Calio sent a joint letter to TSA Administrator John Pistole announcing that “The Air Line Pilots Association, International (ALPA) and the Air Transport Association (ATA) have reached agreement on a plan for implementing an enhanced crew screening system that is designed to meet applicable portions of TSA guidelines . . .”

Late today, Captain Moak notified ALPA’s Board of Directors that ALPA and the ATA have “received approval from the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) for nationwide implementation of a crewmember screening system.” The jointly sponsored program will tie airline employee databases together in a seamless way, enable TSA security officers to positively verify identity and employment status of crewmembers, and get pilots out of passenger screening lines.

“I look forward to the full national deployment of a known crewmember program at the earliest possible date,” said ALPA President Captain Lee Moak. “As professional airline pilots, we have been through employment checks; we have been fingerprinted; we have been through criminal background checks. We are the most highly screened employees in the aviation industry, and we are on the frontlines of our nation’s aviation security effort every day, empowered to help protect it. This enhanced process recognizes those facts by providing pilots with a technologically modern and highly efficient alternative to the traditional security screening process.”

The program is operated jointly by ALPA and ATA with TSA oversight. ALPA originally promoted CrewPASS to the TSA in 2007. CrewPASS has been in use at three East Coast airports for several years, but for a variety of reasons, never became a reality at the rest of our nations airports. The new system leverages current technology to provide an effective yet cost efficient alternative screening solution.

What Happens Now?
The crewmember identity verification program can be implemented relatively easily and quickly because it relies only on an internet connection to a secure web server and a browser-equipped device (e.g. SmartPhone, iPad, laptop, etc) at TSA designated crewmember access points.

Over the next several weeks, the ATA will establish a web service using two isolated, secure servers to route crewmember data between airline employee databases and browser-equipped devices. Testing is then projected to begin at the following airports: Chicago O’Hare, Phoenix Sky Harbor, Boston Logan, Miami International, Minneapolis-St. Paul, Dulles International, and Seattle-Tacoma for a period of approximately 90 days.

Any pilot whose employer connects to the system and is currently capable of using CASS will be able to gain access through test checkpoints. ALPA, ATA and the TSA will work together to resolve any problems that may be identified during the test period.

Following the test, ATA member airlines and other TSA-regulated airlines will begin implementing the program at airports throughout the country.

Because the new program uses existing technology and databases, implementation costs should be minimal, and it is likely that in many if not all cases, participating airlines will assume these costs.

The crewmember identity verification program will quickly provide professional pilots with the alternate screening program we have been anticipating for many years. Expect additional details and more information from your union as the program is implemented.

alpa
 

Maybe now ALPA can concentrate on something that matters...like overturning the RLA. I love having a 14 hour duty day and getting paid for 3 hours.

It takes more than just dues dollars, it takes tireless volunteers to do this type of work. There is no glory in it, and no matter what you succeed at, someone will always be there telling you how you screwed up. Why don't ya volunteer today! :eek: