Was it as a sting?

 

All employees with access to the sterile area are required to undergo a 10-year criminal history and background check. The same one we as pilots had to go through. Problem is, an employee who becomes criminal, or engages in criminal activity after they are hired. Often, many airport employees who otherwise would not commit a crime, are recruited or coerced into this by associates they meet or are introduced to. The people they hang out with in their personal lives is the problem.

Bottom line: Hire people for sensitive duties that are of sound mind and who are dependable and trustworthy. Not easy with these wages.

Unfortunately, it will take a horrible violent act before anyone notices or takes action to correct it.

 

I agree, especially with your last line. How about they go through TSA screening when showing up for work like everyone else? I don't think that's too much to ask and we'd all be safer for it.

 

Why? KCM is considered TSA screening.

The issue I have with baggage handlers is they are most often not screened, period, when accessing their work areas. That is unless they happen to get selected for a random screening, which is rarely, if ever. The issue with baggage handlers is that as a rule, they have the least invested in their "career" compared to pilots, for example. About seven years ago, at one large airline hub, which won't be named here, I was told by an immigrations officer that there had been a round up of nearly 30 baggage handlers who had been accessing the ramp (without screening I might add) for nearly 30 days before it was discovered that at least 30 baggage handlers weren't even in the country legally. They had been working in a sterile area, yet their "background checks" were still in the process of being run while they had full and unrestricted access to much of the airport, as well as airplanes. It's time for loopholes like this to be closed IMMEDIATELY, if not sooner!

 

TSA originally tried that. But what with airlines and passengers complaining about long screening times, and employees late for work, the TSA changed some requirements (for non-traveling employees). These vary from airport to airport, of course. Balance between economy and risk I guess.

 

Ummm, I was referring to baggage handlers NOT going through TSA. Not sure what you thought I was referring to. It's ludicrous and security theatre to have crewmembers who put their butts on a plane to get patted down and sometimes harrassed in front of regular pax while others who never leave the ground slip through a side door.

 

Tough darts...if lines are too long, create a separate screening area for them. Pax would be outraged if they knew this loophole.

 

They do now Faux just got a hold of it.

 

There have already been very violent acts.

 

Not disagreeing with you, but let's not forget the jumpseating FedEx pilot who went bananas on the flight crew with an axe some years back.