B757CA

The whole uniform thing is the utmost example of moronic government rule making. Who the heck cares about a uniform? We have FEDERALLY CLEARED ID's........but you have to play the stupid game unfortunately! I'd like to see us all do this for a month: arrive at the TSA line in blue pants and your pilot shirt with epaulets on and an undershirt. Then when you get through security you open up your bag right there and change shirts and continue on your way until they see how ridicuous it is to be in uniform.....the only thing that will get you in the cockpit is your CASS approved ID, not a white short with epaulets!!

This has ticked me off since day 1!

fdxbusdriver

If I Remember Correctly

Sniper

Quick story:

You're a TSA agent working terminal security access. A gentleman in uniform who is dressed like a pilot comes up to you. You check his ID, and yep, it's authentic. You ask him for a boarding pass anyway. The pilot, in uniform, produces a boarding pass.

Ok, what behavior was just reenforced in that story?

A. pilots who are properly badged should be given access to security, regardless of what they are wearing or whether their airline serves the terminal they are attempting to access

B. properly badged pilots, including those in full uniform, should produce a boarding pass when accessing security

--

Help make answer A standard, not B.

Thanks 'fdxbusdriver'.

SharkyBN584

This was the case for about 6 months but is no longer in effect. Change was 11/2007 I believe. Any crew badge, at any airport, no matter what.

DENflyer

We had problems with tsa in MKE last February. Here is what we were told.....

Last night XXX and I followed up on this with Jim , our Principle Security Inspector (PSI). Jim works for the TSA and is the guy responsible for all security matters involving XXX. He's very good to work with.

Jim has told us several times that all crewmembers with valid badges can go through security at all domestic airports. It doesn't matter whether our airline serves the airport. It doesn't matter if you're in uniform.

He contacted MKE and confirmed that the ID-checkers at the security points were not using the proper procedure. They should be letting you through with your crew badge.

He said that if you are denied access to the sterile area at MKE (or any other airport) based on the absence of XXX service at that airport, you should ask to speak with either a supervisory TSO or a screening manager.

If they continue to give you a problem, tell them to consult the November 1, 2007 amendment to section 4.3.1.B.1 of the AOSSP. They should know what that is. I can't post the document here, because this isn't a secure web site.

HogsPilot

In CLL I was DH in uniform and the TSA agent asked to see my boarding pass. I challenged him on it, but he still wanted to see it. There were a lot of people in line and I didn't want to slow it up so I just showed it to him. Figures that they also had their metal detector on a higher sensitivity.

rsliman

I sent an email to tha tsa compalint dept... this is the reply

"Thank you for e-mail concerning the Transportation Security Administration's (TSA) evaluation and implementation of a sterile area access system, as required by the Implementing Recommendations of the 9/11 Commission Act of 2007 (9/11 Act).



TSA remains committed to developing a sterile area access system to provide crewmembers expedited access through the screening checkpoint to support the operational needs of crewmembers and consequently satisfy the requirements of the 9/11 Act. TSA has previously acknowledged that the Air Line Pilots Association's (ALPA) Crew Personnel Advanced Security System (CrewPASS) concept represents an excellent basis for a sterile area access system and agreed to evaluate this proposal.



The 9/11 Act requires TSA to examine the feasibility of instituting a sterile area access system and provide any recommendations in a report to Congress. On March 26, 2008, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security submitted a report to Congress on efforts to institute a sterile area access system in accordance with Section 1614 of the 9/11 Act. The report outlined TSA's progress with this initiative but also provided an opportunity to clarify the numerous challenges associated with instituting a sterile area access system such as CrewPASS. TSA has informed ALPA that these challenges must also be taken into consideration.



Given the complex nature of creating a nationwide sterile area access system, TSA intends to test the feasibility of any sterile area access system on a pilot basis at selected airports before instituting a system on a national level. Pilot testing will allow TSA to test concepts and adjust or enhance any system to make wider deployment feasible. While we cannot provide a detailed timeline at this point, TSA is developing a plan to test a sterile area access system at multiple airports during this calendar year. We are keeping ALPA and our other aviation security partners apprised of all developments associated with this effort.



We hope this information is helpful.





TSA Contact Center"

spitfire1500

Did they have their "stinkin badges"!!!

doug_or

Be careful, if you have liquids in bottles over 3.4 ozs when you do this. I believe they had a "sting" in MSP a year or two ago where they sat outside the crewroom snagging people who used the uniform to "smuggle" their toothpaste in. Not sure what the consequences of being caught were.

kronan

Don't know about you, but, my FOM has a section that outlines the appropriate clothing during a DH/JS. So, if they were running a sting on me. I can point out that the polo shirt is appropriate uniform/clothing to wear while on company business as specified per the FAA approved ops manual....so, I've just changed "uniforms" to one that will reduce confusion for the pax in regards to the operating crew.