Thedude

1- Well, we have this nifty thing called crew pass now. We had the technology for it 7 yrs ago but the TSA didn't want us to have it 'cause it wans't their idea. Or we could have done bio-metrics.

2- They don't know the pax from Adam either but they accept a DL as a form of ID. Why not accept a SIDA badge. The old one I had for DFW was magnetic and (good luck on try to duplicate that thing) I could bypass security form the employee lot.

3- Once your inside the secure side of the terminal, you still just cant get access to the plane. Something about having keys codes and other info.

4- Guess you have never come up against a TSA moron who is on a power trip. They wanna give the whole search and then some. Right after 9/11, I was getting the full pat down infront of the pax. That served no reseaon other than to give the illusion of security.

5- I bring up the point again, do judges and lawyers get screened when they enter the court house. I think not. Most courthouses even have underground or seperate parking for those work in the courthouse. The same for US Embassy in foreign countries. Ever seen a US Diplomat or Embassy employee bypass security when going to work. I have.

duvie

I don't know enough about CrewPass to comment, but I hope the identification process is more stringent than the current one found in "crew lines."

The reason they accept a DL is because that doesn't give them access to the flight deck or secure areas; it simply gives passengers the joy of touring the terminal. Most of our airline IDs don't even have magnetic strips and I've seen some with barcodes, the only item separating it from a library card is a hologram. In that way, they are less terrorist-proof than a Driver's License.

That is a very good point. In my response to #2 I imply that you can get access to a flight deck with an airline ID, which isn't entirely true as you have pointed out. If the airport and its employees are following all the rules you would need to prove you are about to operate a specific flight, have a SIDA badge or door codes among other things. However, there are weaknesses in every airport and a uniform and ID can often get you almost anywhere you'd like to go.

As a matter of fact I have come across this. Imagine that

I will also reiterate my point that I haven't endorsed any other approach to security, therefore attacking them has no bearing on our discussion about TSA airport policies. I agree there are many weak points in our country, however there are many things that go on behind the scenes to which we are not privy.

rickair7777

2. The pax get screened...possession of a state DL does NOT exempt pax from TSA screening. Possession any piece of plastic should not exempy ANYONE from screening, unless it has biometric info encoded.

3. If you DON'T get screened, you can bring in a weapon. With a weapon, you can then access anything you like.

4. There are idiots in any group (even OUR group).

5. Who cares about courthouses? You can't hijack a courthouse and use it to kill thousands of people, or attack national-security infrastructure.

I fully agree that anyone who is going to bypass security (LEO's, diplomats, flight crew, etc) should have biometric ID.

While I agree that TSA management has fallen short in many, many ways, their basic screening policies are in line with accepted security and anti-terrorism practices (as devloped by the military and many foriegn governments long before TSA existed).

Personally, I don't think TSA ever should have existed in the first place...they were created by one political party in order to establish a large block of unionized government workers, who traditionally vote for that party. Their job could be done better by private screeners who are SUPERVISED by a small cadre of on-site armed federal LEO's. The adult supervision would be key to maintaining performance, and would provide a fast-reaction team of non-barney-fifes..

surreal1221

TSA = worthless waste of tax payers dollars. . .much like continuing our occupation of Iraq.

Neither will stop anytime soon though, so here we are. . .joy.

Aviatormar

To everyone who is for screening, again the argument is simple:

What can a pilot do with a weapon that he couldn't do if the pilot didn't have the weapon?

If you are in the CASS system, honestly, what is the difference?

Aviatormar

Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't the CASS system secure? Isn't the only way to be placed into it is after someone has passed all the background/FBI checks and is only when your currently employed by a carrier?


CrewPass now!

pete2800

Eh, this is about all I have to say about the TSA.....

STILL GROUNDED

I agree with your point but you my friend are in for an upset one day if you actually have a 100% trust in most people you don't even know.