Sorry, but insults have NO place on a so-called "professional" forum. That's waaaay different from having my feathers ruffled. Believe me, I can ruffle feathers better than most of you, but don't lest I incur the wrath of the mods and out of respect for the website.

As for many of FAs being crazy, that's a reflection of YOUR airline that hires them then doesn't fire them. I can say the same for some totally off-the-wall pilots I've had the "pleasure" of knowing and working with. THEY can do a helluva lot more damage than FAs.

BTW, how come not one of you has acknowledged pilots who have carried weapons through TSA, have gone bat-**** crazy in-flight, who are KNOWN child porn possessors and the list goes on and on of other serious personality flaws up to and including alcoholism and drug use? Are you really that blind to it or is it just easier to make blanket assumptions about FAs?

(Not directed at you directly, but in general to all the posters who have such negative views of FAs).

 

In my opinion, the entire security system that is set up is a joke anyway. We're all forced down the same security as passengers, and then watch the TSA walk thru the metal detectors, because they've had "more background checks".

Everything needs to be changed from the bottom up. I also see both sides of the argument of why FA's should be allowed thru KCM, and really don't have a strong feeling either way. I feel bad when they get their nail filers taken away, but like others have been saying, there is no "risk" if they get caught. If a flight attendant is fired, oh well, they lose a job. If a pilot gets fired for the same reason, that's thousands of dollars of training that they've pretty much thrown away for the rest of their careers/lives.

 

Agree with all of this.

Additionally...

The Captain should know the location of and the quantity of all weapons aboard his aircraft. Take away screening of FA's, that becomes an unknown.

Furthermore, think 18 to 22 year old FA. 10 year background check goes til they were 12 years old. What the hell is that going to tell you? Nothing. As little $ as they make you think they can't be bought off to bring something through?

I really have nothing against FA's. Are there more security risks that I could identify (but wont publicly) that are more prominent? Absolutely! Should those be handled immediately? Absolutely. The existence of these loopholes doesn't mean we should add another.

 

Pretty funny about how little money we make and having a price. I made more as a FA at my regional than many of my FOs made. PLUS, I wasn't the one with $100,000 in student loans. Oh well, another theory out the window! ALSO, a background check to age 12 ensures you know EVERYTHING about someone as opposed to a 30 or 40 year old pilot who possibly did some stuff back in his early days that is now off the record. Next!?

(BTW I am totally against 18year old FAs for other reasons...)

 

Yeah, I have quite a bit of animosity, especially for the amount of drama and just plain ridiculous chit that a large majority of flight attendants bring to work. I tend not to hang out with flight attendants because of the above mentioned reasons. Add this absurd argument to that list as well. I went to college, I worked long hours for many years flight instructing, commuter airlines, etc so that I didn't have to be the one in the back of the airplane dealing with that crap you mention. You showed up and filled out an application. Perhaps you should have tried harder, planned more and taken some initiative so that you wouldn't have to deal with what you deal with. Now here we are,, you telling everyone how you are just as qualified as professional pilots in the realm of aviation security. CPR and First Aid,,, you serious?

 

I was originally trying to avoid posting in this topic but i am surprised at some of the responses here.

I completely understand why some do not want FA's to be in KCM, I have flown with a large number of FA's that snap and do things that make you go what the He**. But overall most of the FA's are fine to fly with. When you fly to the stations where the whole crew bypasses I never think twice about whether the FA should be screened or not. So it is hard for me to say that they should not be allowed in the program.

I have to say to the comment above that money might be able to pay a FA to bring something through just shocks me of what you think of your co-workers. What about all of the FO's? Are they going to get paid to bring something through.

Maybe it is because i am on the 200 so there is only one FA and we all as a crew hang out on over nights and this might make us closer as a crew/what to stick up for FAS's.

 

Yes, I do have issue with this for the same reasons. A ramper has about the same amount of training as you do with the same lack of career forcus or requisites for getting the job. Show up, fog a mirror, haven't killed anyone on purpose? You're hired. No offense meant toward rampers or flight attendants. You can be a pilot if you put in the time, money, and sacrifice that it takes, or you can be a flight attendant/ramper/airport employee with none of the above.

 

You have a lot of nerve questioning my career aspirations and goals. You have NO idea how old I am and my financial or educational status. Once again, stop ASSuming.

BTW, Slick, I've reported your post.

 

BTW, I completely agree on the small crew mentality and the closeness you have.

Thank you for the common sense response.

Let's not fool ourselves. EVERYONE has a price, unless they have a strong moral compass. I do believe there were pilots back in the day and even recently allowing drugs to be shipped on their flights while turning a blind eye and obviously getting paid to do it. Let's not act like FAs are lowlives and pilots are above reproach. One size does NOT fit all.

 

You're right. None of us know your financial or education status. For all we know you could be a lawyer who flies part time for the benefits. Good for you! Seriously! Odds are that's not the case.

Again, some FAs are amazing in what they've accomplished.

Unfortunately, in my experience, 90% are cut from one or more of the following cloth:

1) Straight out of the hood
2) Medicated with illegally obtained pills from India
3) Life drop outs who, at 26, realized they needed a job. Any job.
4) Have a rolling-FMLA for depression (verified, in that I know of two specifically who have this)
5) Are so poor that if someone offered them $20,000 to bring contraband through security they probably would. Heck, I used to date an FA that sold her "extended buddy" travel benefit for money!

Not to mention, it is so easy to become a FA that if a terrorist organization sponsored a young, naive "recently converted to extreme Islam" kid for $100,000 to be their drug/weapons mule, I'm sure it could be arranged.

So, for those reasons and more, I don't support KCM for FAs