TSA agrees to allow airline pilots to skip security checks

[rsmith6621]

Source: Ap



WASHINGTON (AP) — The Transportation Security Administration has agreed to let airline pilots skip the security scanning and pat-downs that passengers face at the nation's airports, pilot groups said Friday.

Beginning Friday, pilots traveling in uniform or on airline business will be allowed to pass security by presenting two photo IDs, one from their company and one from the government, to be checked against a secure flight crew database, the TSA said.

The Obama administration's retreat on screening pilots comes less than a week before the hectic Thanksgiving holiday travel period. Some travelers are threatening to protest the security measures by refusing to go through the scanning machines. Airlines are caught in the middle.

Pilots welcomed the changes.

Read more: http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/politics/sns-ap-us-airport-security-pilots,0,1396384.story

[texastoast]

1. What about airline flight attendants?

It is just ludicrous.

[slackmaster]

3. They made a flight attendant who is a cancer survivor remove her breast prosthesis

http://www.wbtv.com/Global/story.asp?S=13534628

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=102&topic_id=4621768&mesg_id=4621768

[rainbow4321]

14. A flight attendent union rep was on our news last night

The interview was about SouthWest airline flight attendents being upset that they still had to go thru the pat downs while the pilots do not. She said it was unfair since they go thru the same security background check that the pilots do, yet the flight attendents still have to stop and go thru the TSA ordeal.
So the scenario is a flight crew going thru TSA, the flight attendents have to stop and get groped, yet the pilots in their group flash 2 picture IDs and whiz on thru.

[daleo]

15. It sounds like a social status thing

Pilots have higher social status than flight attendants. When things don't make sense, social status and class considerations are lurking in the background.

Eventually rich people will probably be exempted, like paying the church for indulgences in the middle ages.

[Matariki]

2. Good, but I hope they don't drop their opposition to the scanners now.

[herbm]

4. Why should anyone be exempt if its such a great freaking thing?

[slackmaster]

5. A pilot could crash the fucking plane

There's no point in screening them at all, once you have verified their identity.

[herbm]

11. And of course 90% of all passengers could be identified so they don't need to be screened either.

[slackmaster]

13. Yes, I agree with that completely

There should be a pre-screening option widely available to the general public.

[OrangeGrapes]

10. Good Point.

That's a good way of expressing it.

[sally cat]

6. Everything is throw it against the wall, see if it sticks these days. Knee jerk rules.

[lovuian]

7. the protests are going to get louder and louder

Houston voted out the video cameras at stop lights

[saigon68]

16. Every CROTCH GROPED one less vote for Obama

[LibDemAlways]

8. So airline pilots and Boehner are exempt?

Airline flight crews should never have been included in this shit in the first place. Just ludicrous.

Boehner, however, should be forced to endure a nude-o-scope or patdown just like the rest of the peons. It is absolutely outrageous that this asshole is sure the rules don't apply to him - and tsa agrees. I hope his office is flooded with e-mails from outraged, totally pissed off members of the public.

[saigon68]

17. Boehner needs to have his JUNK checked

[WestSeattle2]

9. Is it against the law to impersonate a pilot?

[herbm]

12. Is it against the law to impersonate a Boehner?

[HockeyMom]

18. My sister-in-law works at the airline VIP lounge

past security. Every day when she goes to work she has to go through security. She NEVER gets on a plane.

[sarcasmo]

19. Politicians you get a pass. Rich folks who can afford private plans you get a pass.

The rest of us Serfs get ready to loose you're rights.