N6724G

You all are very pompas and arrogant. Do you think you are better than people because you have a college education? Or maybe you think you are better because you dont do what screeners do.

I happen to have used to be a TSA screener. The money I made paid for my instrument rating and commercial license. I enjoyed being in the airport environment. I guess you guys thing they are low class people and hoodlums. Wow. With that attitude, you probably need to stay up in the cockpit and not be around the general public.

I cannot believe the arrogance. You must have lower than a 10th grade education? What do you mean by that. I had a 4 year degree plus I am an officer in the military. many of my supervisors were current reserve officers and retired police officers. So, I dont understand your attitude. Sure you had some bad apples, but after reading this board, thats in every profession.

So, exactly what is you guys beef with screeners? Is it because they screen pilots? Do pilots feel they dont need to be screened? Wow. Ever hear of the story about the FE that tried to kill his crew? Most of you guys are too young to remember that probably. DO pilots think they ar eabove being screened? or do they think they are above screeners? Whats the deal here? Iused tobe a ramp agent too. I guess thats beneath pilots also, huh?

N6724G

Wow I was a Platoon Leader in the National Guard while I was a screener. Right before my deployment to Iraq. And no i didnt drop out of high school and neither di dmy supervisor who was a USMC Maj and F-18 pilot in the Reserves. Had another Supervisor that was a retied Army Sergeant Major

jonnyjetprop

And too young to remember the PSA (not the commuter airline) that was downed by one of its employees.

1forflying

I totally agree. Part of the problem with the TSA is their lack of consisdent procedures. Why do you need to remove your shoes at some airports and not at others? What moron came up with that idea?

Next, you give these people a badge and they think they rule the world. I witnessed an older person yesterday being given a hard time because he didn't know he had to take off his shoes and then forgot to take his watch off before going through the detector. Poor guy was publically humiliated by the time they were done.

Window_Seat

You proved the point... What are you trying to say? I can't read good, but you should go back to screening with grammar like that.

87iroc&amullet

Agreed. It sounds like a jr. high student wrote it. I guess that means he's overqualified for the screening job.

flynavyj

N6724G, i personally have no beefs with the military, no beefs with the reserves, and not really any problem with highschool dropouts...i think it's kinda sad that the starting salary for a screener is higher than that of a first year jet pilot, i think it's sad that the requirements for the job are so low, that they'll be willing to except people who obviously show little motivation for their own self accomplishments to be screeners. I'm sure there are plenty of valid reasons for not finishing highschool, however, i don't know any highschool dropouts that have those valid reasons, to pass public school, you simply need to show up, and if showing up for school is to "difficult" for a person to do, then i feel less safe knowing that the same person is being entrusted with the safety of millions of innocent individuals.

I think most of us are more angry with the lack of security than the actual screeners themselves. Given the people i see here in St. Louis, i think you'd be in the minority of college educated, ex(current) military individuals, who actually believe they're doing a good service to the community, and take the jobs seriously. The system is setup as a reaction, and not preventative. They're not looking for "bombs" cause who's actually gonna carry one? (i'm sure someone will try) instead the focus now is on how large the liquids you're carrying are, and if they're in a plastic bag or not, and they're probably not trying to see if the sole of your shoe is filled with C4, instead they'd like to know if you actaully do have a steel shank in those nice Italian shoes or not.

So, do i believe i'm above screeners because i went to college? No, but i believe i have a harder work ethic than most of the individuals who didn't.

And Do i believe i'm being screened because i'm a pilot? No, but...if they're worried about us (pilots) taking down an airplane, then they have more things to worry about, cause the only weapon a pilot needs is his own two hands.

belliott

I personally don't have an issue with the TSA. I did work around them as an airline employee (ramper/CSA) and I do have an issue with the quality of people that are hired. I do believe that both we, pilots and screening facilitators, are underpaid. I do believe that to be eligible for a screeners position you should have a degree or training in law enforcement/security. I think that the level of training and security need to be raised. That being said... I think that the inconsistent procedures that I come in contact with on a daily basis need to be rectified and corrected. I see different screening methods, a lack of respect (in general) towards both the travelling public and crewmembers, and I cannot get passed the idea of not being able to carry an eyeglass screwdriver onto the aircraft as a crewmember. I understand that it could be classified as a "weapon" but I would have to agree that the only weapon a pilot needs is their hands. Some screeners give me a hard time about bringing it with me and some don't. Why don't I get the same answer every time?

I wish to applaud those who do earnestly work in an effort to make our skies safer. I want to thank those who do their very best to make the process of screening passengers work. I expect the very best because I give my best everyday that I work and when it comes down to it not giving 100% could mean people dying.

This stirs the pot a little more... what do y'all think?

sigep_nm

i think the problem with the TSA is the procedures that they have in place. It seems to be inefficient at best. Just recently my son was selected for additional screening, which all in all isnt too out of the ordinary, except for the fact that he is 3 years old. They used the wand on him, and he kept reaching for it. Apparently the screener didnt realize that he is only 3 feet tall because he young, not a midget and snapped at him. They even made him take his shoes off. Not saying that they arent doing their best, but I think common sense would tell you that he probably isnt a threat. Profiling is another story best left somewhere else, but I dont believe it was a rogue group of toddlers that knocked down those buildings.

N6724G

Your beef is with the airline industrt then and not the individual screener. The reason airlines pay less than TSA is because young people are willing to sell themselves short to live out the drream of flying. They ar ewilling to take a $18K job to fly right seat in a CRJ. Dont fault the screener trying to make ends meet or take care of their families or in my case to get to an airline job. Blame the airline industry