While exact details remain to be seen, it would appear that airline pilots and flight attendants may have to consistently start going through airport security as of next year…
In this post:
TSA introducing Expedited Crew Access
According to Aero Crew News, in 2023 the Known Crewmember Program (KCM) will be replaced by a new program branded as Expedited Crew Access (ECA). This would no longer be a joint initiative with the Air Line Pilots Association and Airlines for America, but rather would entirely be under the control of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA).
While I haven’t seen the document myself, this has allegedly been outlined in a Known Crewmember update, following a meeting with TSA Administrator David Pekoske.
In the meantime, random screenings through the program will continue to increase, to minimize the number of prohibited items being brought through security.
For context, with the Known Crewmember Program, eligible pilots and flight attendants don’t have to clear security when passing through airports.
Instead there’s a special lane they can go through, where they have to scan their badge, and then they can pass right through the checkpoint, without being screened. The exception is that employees will sometimes be randomly selected to be screened, and the number of random screenings has reportedly increased significantly in recent months (and will continue to increase).
My take on TSA Known Crewmember Program changes
Just a couple of weeks ago I posed the question of whether the Known Crewmember Program should be reconsidered. We’ve seen an increasing number of people smuggling drugs and other prohibited items through these checkpoints.
After all, there’s big money in smuggling drugs, and perhaps some newly minted flight attendants don’t feel like they have that much to lose career-wise. If they can make their annual salary as a flight attendant with a couple of “runs,” then they might figure it’s worth the risk.
What’s my take on these alleged changes?
- On the one hand, I do think it’s time that some changes are made to the Known Crewmember Program, purely based on the number of people who have abused it
- On the other hand, fully screening pilots and flight attendants will take up more TSA resources and could lead to longer lines at security; furthermore, the TSA isn’t actually very good at finding hidden objects
- At least in the case of pilots, I think screening is kind of unnecessary, since they’re flying the plane, and if they wanted to do something…
- Ultimately I also get the argument that the TSA isn’t there to stop drugs, but rather to stop weapons; that being said, if someone is smuggling kilos of cocaine and fentanyl, getting that off the streets (or out of the skies) doesn’t seem like a bad thing
Anyway, I’m curious to see what the new procedure looks like. Will the Expedited Crew Access program require all pilots and flight attendants to be screened, or…?
Bottom line
For years, pilots and flight attendants haven’t had to regularly go through security, thanks to the Known Crewmember Program. With an increase in travelers using these checkpoints to smuggle stuff onto planes, it seems that it’s going to be reconsidered.
As of 2023, the TSA will allegedly be introducing Expedited Crew Access, which will replace the Known Crewmember Program. I’m curious to learn all the details of what this will look like.
What do you make of the news of the TSA replacing the Known Crewmember Program with Expedited Crew Access?
Considering 90% of guns are not even found when the TSA is tested by other government agencies, I'm curious how they even manage to find guns or drugs on crewmembers. TSA really should be abolished.
Am I not mistaken, but in many other parts of the world, do the pilots and FAs not just simply present to the front of the general security queues?
There should be employee TSA entrance, no sense of having crews who show up last minute, which is understandable not having an employee entrance. They will interfere with Clear, TSA Pre and just squeeze in again and create even more frustration, plus they don’t pay for TSA checks but PAX do.
TSA is out of control...their job is to prevent a 9-11...but today they are covid mask enforcers, DEA agents, uniform police etc etc...KCM was paid for and pushed in by ALPA with alpa dues...the F/A's got in for free and ruined it. EVEN with FULL KCM we constantly have to go thru full passenger screening because some airports have NO KCM or limited hours. Requiring pilots to meet the same filter as a passenger or FA is silly...look what happened at German Wings A320
Imagine getting upeset that people smuggling narcotics are getting caught.
TSA doesn't screen for drugs. But if they find drugs they have to alert authorities. Are you mad that they didn't let them go? Is the little baby upset that he can't go thru KCM cause his coworkers got busted smuggling drugs? Boohoo.
And TSA doesn't enforce mask mandates anymore, and when they did it was because they had to follow the directive of The...
Imagine getting upeset that people smuggling narcotics are getting caught.
TSA doesn't screen for drugs. But if they find drugs they have to alert authorities. Are you mad that they didn't let them go? Is the little baby upset that he can't go thru KCM cause his coworkers got busted smuggling drugs? Boohoo.
And TSA doesn't enforce mask mandates anymore, and when they did it was because they had to follow the directive of The federal government.
Stay mad, enjoy going through the security checkpoint.
Love, a TSO
So many of these comments are quite entertaining. My favorite is from all these so called pilots . So easy to tell some of you are not actually pilots because you know nothing about the crew procedures. I’ll go easy on the guy that said he was a cargo pilot. You don’t have flight attendants so have no special procedures during flight. For all these keyboard cowboys, do you actually know how to Google? I...
So many of these comments are quite entertaining. My favorite is from all these so called pilots . So easy to tell some of you are not actually pilots because you know nothing about the crew procedures. I’ll go easy on the guy that said he was a cargo pilot. You don’t have flight attendants so have no special procedures during flight. For all these keyboard cowboys, do you actually know how to Google? I just love how every flight attendant in the World is a drug smuggler and pilots have never been arrested for anything. HAAAA!!! I’ll start with the Germanwing pilot. Anybody else want to guess how many pilots have gone to federal prison for such crimes as murder? The folks that said let’s punish those that break the rules are the only ones that have common sense. I’m not very worried about KCM going bye bye. Most airports have crew only lines and if they don’t we’re allowed to walk to front of line while in uniform. A few extra minutes of my time isn’t going to matter that much. The plane won’t be leaving without me as long as I inform schedule that I’m in the airport.
The people being caught with contraband are both flight attendants and pilots. It would make better sense to just have a baggage scanner at each KCM checkpoint but eliminate the need to X-ray scan our bodies. Also a lot of airports, like Ohare, don’t require ground crew to go through security check points. This whole system is a mess now and it’s not only hurting crew members, but it will hurt passengers that have paid...
The people being caught with contraband are both flight attendants and pilots. It would make better sense to just have a baggage scanner at each KCM checkpoint but eliminate the need to X-ray scan our bodies. Also a lot of airports, like Ohare, don’t require ground crew to go through security check points. This whole system is a mess now and it’s not only hurting crew members, but it will hurt passengers that have paid for TSA pre check to now have to wait for countless crews to go ahead of them.
Actually ALL flight attendant and pilots are required to scan our badge and it's mandatory. I would love to see the upcoming changes on the program since I'm currently a flight attendant.
I think they should give a hefty fine and take away the privilege from the individual who couldn’t follow the rules. Maybe that would deter them?
I'm a TSA officer and I'm glad KCM is ending. The sense of entitlement from flight attendants and especially pilots is wild. KCM is a privilege, not a right. It didnt always exist. The nerve of some of yall who give us an attitude when you get the random.
I guarantee if you're a flight attendant reading this you've said "oF cOuRsE I diD!" after being told you got a random. Tell your coworkers...
I'm a TSA officer and I'm glad KCM is ending. The sense of entitlement from flight attendants and especially pilots is wild. KCM is a privilege, not a right. It didnt always exist. The nerve of some of yall who give us an attitude when you get the random.
I guarantee if you're a flight attendant reading this you've said "oF cOuRsE I diD!" after being told you got a random. Tell your coworkers to stop trying to smuggle drugs and guns. The last incident of the FA caught smuggling fentanyl in SF because they got the random at KCM and got caught at the security checkpoint was the final nail in the coffin for KCM.
Yall fucked around and found out.
It’s fine. When flights get delayed or passengers miss their flights because the TSA already can’t keep up with their normal shit…
Lmao you think I care about wait times and passenger volume? I get paid by the hour, not per passenger.
That is actually the reason why some of us Flight attendant give attitude when random, not for the process itself but for the attitude of lots of like you who you can tell from far that don't care about either passenger of Flights.
Never said I don't care about the passenger. Learn to comprehend what I'm saying. I said I'm not concerned with passenger volume or wait times.
We do not speed up the security process because it's busy. That only causes issues. Worrying about wait times and passenger volume is what our management is for.
KCM is beneficial when not abused. Flight crews already have to arrive hours before their flight and are not even getting paid. Imagine having to wait in a security up to 3 hours when you already have to show up 1-2 hours beforehand.
The smuggling will just end up moving to the SIDA badge holders.
SIDA badge holder to carry it into the sterile area then give to the FA for delivery - many SIDA badge holders make less than FAs with easy entry into a position as long as they have a clean-ish background.
As a Flight Attendant I support keeping it for the pilots. Their union fought for this they should be allowed to keep it.
I'm also a flight attendant and I don't know about that since it looks like you're happy with arriving an extra couple hours even before your report time at the gate.
Are they really catching crew members with drugs? What’s the data? What else are they catching?
Yes they're catching fas with drugs.
The problem is flight attendants abusing KCM. Pilots should still be able to have KCM. Let’s not forget is was started by ALPA for pilots.
Nope, AFA, was also involved in the lobbying for KCM, all crew members or none. Pilots are not more trustworthy than flight attendants and should not be given more special privileges than their fellow crew members. It takes all of us to to fly passengers.
What? Flight attendants and pilots are not similar in importance or security.
Pilots are not easily replaced, flight attendants are. Pilots have a lot more to lose (significant investment in their career, inability to easily switch to a different field with similar compensation, licenses, etc) than flight attendants do. If the pilots on a flight become incapacitated, the lives of everyone on board are jeopardized; if the flight attendants become incapacitated, it is a...
What? Flight attendants and pilots are not similar in importance or security.
Pilots are not easily replaced, flight attendants are. Pilots have a lot more to lose (significant investment in their career, inability to easily switch to a different field with similar compensation, licenses, etc) than flight attendants do. If the pilots on a flight become incapacitated, the lives of everyone on board are jeopardized; if the flight attendants become incapacitated, it is a relatively minor inconvenience unlikely to result in any sort of injury to anyone.
I am not trying to disparage flight attendants, of course they are important … but they are not the same as pilots and there are multiple rational grounds for distinguishing between them. The fact that some flight attendants may feel differently does not change reality.
The vast majority of flight attendants are dedicated professionals, but unfortunately there have been too many examples in the news of flight attendants trying to smuggle drugs through KCM. The simple reality is that pilots have FAR more to lose than flight attendants if they risk their career at a KCM checkpoint, and therefore they deserve a higher level of trust. If you disagree, go get your Airline Pilot Certificate and 1500 hours of flight...
The vast majority of flight attendants are dedicated professionals, but unfortunately there have been too many examples in the news of flight attendants trying to smuggle drugs through KCM. The simple reality is that pilots have FAR more to lose than flight attendants if they risk their career at a KCM checkpoint, and therefore they deserve a higher level of trust. If you disagree, go get your Airline Pilot Certificate and 1500 hours of flight time and compare that with the job requirements to become a flight attendant, and then tell me who is more likely to risk their career at a KCM checkpoint.
Funny how you said that it's the flight attendants when I can tell because I actually work as a flight attendant that just last month a PILOT went through KCM with a loaded weapon that he should have declared.
I'm just here to drop a +1 for TPA.
My concern for flight attendants would be the TSA liquid limits. Flight attendants (mostly female) live out of their suitcases for several days at a time and wouldn't be feasible to check their bags just for health and beauty products (make-up, shampoo, etc), not counting the amount of food that FA's are allowed to pack in their travel cooler (again, several days of food are packed in those coolers) FA's are background checked and it's...
My concern for flight attendants would be the TSA liquid limits. Flight attendants (mostly female) live out of their suitcases for several days at a time and wouldn't be feasible to check their bags just for health and beauty products (make-up, shampoo, etc), not counting the amount of food that FA's are allowed to pack in their travel cooler (again, several days of food are packed in those coolers) FA's are background checked and it's an honor system just like Global Entry and Pre-Check, you're screened as to if you can be a "trusted traveler".
Stay in your uniform you won’t have that problem.
Since they have random and say catch someone doing something illegal make that individual go through the whole security process instead of punishing all of us?
Agree, the pilots should be exempt.
Flight Attendant here.
The bad apples have ruined a great privilege for the masses.
I am a U.S. airline pilot, and while disappointing, this development was not unexpected. The KCM program was initially developed by ALPA, FOR PILOTS. When it was in this form, there were virtually no problems. When it was expanded to include flight attendants, we almost immediately saw issues developing. When the JetBlue flight attendant in LAX got caught with cocaine shortly after F/A’s were included in the program, we all saw the writing on the...
I am a U.S. airline pilot, and while disappointing, this development was not unexpected. The KCM program was initially developed by ALPA, FOR PILOTS. When it was in this form, there were virtually no problems. When it was expanded to include flight attendants, we almost immediately saw issues developing. When the JetBlue flight attendant in LAX got caught with cocaine shortly after F/A’s were included in the program, we all saw the writing on the wall. If the program went back to its origins, it would work fine, but the authorities are far too politically correct to exclude just one problem group, so now we all get to suffer for their sins.
I do agree that some Flight Attendants have ruined it a lot by doing wrong but if they cancel the program and don't provide an alternative you'll see the number of Flight Attendants dropping drastically because none of us would go stand for 3-4 hours in TSA and then at the gate without getting paid. Plus I would love to see you pilots sitting in the cockpit waiting for 2 hours without being able to board.
If you look at the Number of incidents that are occurring, the majority, are all flight attendants. Flight attendants do not have as much to loose as a pilot. Pilots have years and $100,000 plus dollars invested in this career. Flight attendants have 2 months of training. I know that this isn't going to be a popular suggestion, but let take the flight attendants out of the program and let the pilots have the program....
If you look at the Number of incidents that are occurring, the majority, are all flight attendants. Flight attendants do not have as much to loose as a pilot. Pilots have years and $100,000 plus dollars invested in this career. Flight attendants have 2 months of training. I know that this isn't going to be a popular suggestion, but let take the flight attendants out of the program and let the pilots have the program. It was thought up and the Airline pilots Union and not he Flight attendants union.
Completely agree. The statistics don’t lie
That’s fine. Your flight will be delayed while we get screened. And no you’re not getting a credit.
since most smuggling takes place internationally, why doesn’t immigration have people go through machines when entering the US?
The TSA is a SECURITY SCREENING AGENCY not the DEA.
That being said, as a retired airline pilot, what business is it of the TSA. Why not stop all cars on the highway and search for drugs? It's not one bit different.
I'm sorry but I simply do not want to allow anyone to be able to conduct any illegal activity via aviation; the drug crisis in the US is horrific and anyone that wants to protect their personal privileges to allow someone else to profit and kill others should simply not have those privileges. If being a part of a society with all of its problems is too much, there is no TSA screening for general...
I'm sorry but I simply do not want to allow anyone to be able to conduct any illegal activity via aviation; the drug crisis in the US is horrific and anyone that wants to protect their personal privileges to allow someone else to profit and kill others should simply not have those privileges. If being a part of a society with all of its problems is too much, there is no TSA screening for general aviation.
US law is pretty clear that there is a legal basis for referring a suspected violator of US law to the appropriate law enforcement agency once there is a reasonable suspicious that arises out of a legitimate and legal search - which the TSA security process is.
NO. The TSA screening is NOT there to catch drug smugglers. It is only there to prevent security threats to aviation, originally hijacking then terrorist attacks. Again, NOT for drug enforcement.
and when people are searched - which IS part of the security screening process - then there is a legitimate NECESSITY to escalate something that is illegally found to the appropriate law enforcement authorities.
Again, the TSA doesn't handle drug cases but if they do even random checks and find something that is illegal, they are going to refer it to local or federal police.
Packages large enough to smuggle a sufficient quantity of...
and when people are searched - which IS part of the security screening process - then there is a legitimate NECESSITY to escalate something that is illegally found to the appropriate law enforcement authorities.
Again, the TSA doesn't handle drug cases but if they do even random checks and find something that is illegal, they are going to refer it to local or federal police.
Packages large enough to smuggle a sufficient quantity of drugs show up on X-rays or via manual searches.
That is simply the way it works in every part of society.
You are barking up the wrong tree and won't win your argument by saying that any part fo society should ignore illegal activity because it might inconvenience you.
If you don't like going through security, then commercial aviation is not the right job for you.
Legally, TSA searches are on thin ice with respect to the 4th Amendment. They are "consensual" in name only, and that bending of the usual prohibition of unwarranted search is justified only because their primary purpose is to stop terrorists from taking weapons onto planes. The more that original mission is replaced by "catch and imprison people carrying contraband" the less it makes sense to ignore the protections afforded under the Fourth.
The protection from...
Legally, TSA searches are on thin ice with respect to the 4th Amendment. They are "consensual" in name only, and that bending of the usual prohibition of unwarranted search is justified only because their primary purpose is to stop terrorists from taking weapons onto planes. The more that original mission is replaced by "catch and imprison people carrying contraband" the less it makes sense to ignore the protections afforded under the Fourth.
The protection from unwarranted searching isn't about protecting people carrying contraband. It's about protecting those who aren't from the delays and damage caused by the searches. And those are not small. If the average traveller's time is worth $30 per hour, then an extra 20 minute delay costs $10. Times one billion TSA searches a year means $10 billion annually taken from passengers, in addition to the fees and taxes used to pay for the activity. 99.99% of those passengers have done nothing wrong, and are carrying no contraband nor weapons. Yet they pay, through their time and treasure, for the billion searches performed in search of contraband and weapons.
Adding searches of gate personnel and aircrew adds around 5% to the number of searches. So TSA will have to expand 5% to maintain current levels of delays and missed flights. Where they can't, or don't, expand, everyone's delays will get worse.
governments around the world, including in the US, are doing more surveillance of their own citizens - let alone others from other countries. There is no rolling back what the TSA currently does - like it or not.
And, while doom and gloom regarding the future might be reality, there is a good chance that it will be nowhere near as bad as some try to paint it.
Also, the US is rolling...
governments around the world, including in the US, are doing more surveillance of their own citizens - let alone others from other countries. There is no rolling back what the TSA currently does - like it or not.
And, while doom and gloom regarding the future might be reality, there is a good chance that it will be nowhere near as bad as some try to paint it.
Also, the US is rolling out more and more high tech scanners which are much faster. The UK is committed to doing that as well, including eliminating the liquids rule.
There is more time spent in security waiting for a human to look at the images on the screen than any other process. There is automation that could easily reduce that time and move the whole process along faster for all passengers - more than offsetting the increased number of airline personnel that have to be scanned.
Not worried about this, i have not waited more than 5 mins in a TSA or clear line in years, so not concerned at all if there is all of a sudden an influx of crew members in the TSA that just means i have to wait 6 mins instead of 3.
Steve - Did you fly this past year? I have PreCheck and I’ve waited at least 30 minutes several times between April and October this year. One morning last summer at SAN the PreCheck line was out the West Terminal door extending half a block. Not claiming the new policy will affect my trips, only that TSA has major staffing issues at certain airports.
As a paying subscriber of CLEAR & TSAPre, I would welcome a dedicated crew/employee line for those employees that are working. If you arrive at the busiest times, you’ll see dozens of airport staff coming thru the PreCheck positions. However, off-duty crews should ALWAYS have to proceed thru the TSA security checkpoints like regular passengers. Having an off duty employee pass rider clogging up lines that they didn’t subscribe/pay for is spitting into face of...
As a paying subscriber of CLEAR & TSAPre, I would welcome a dedicated crew/employee line for those employees that are working. If you arrive at the busiest times, you’ll see dozens of airport staff coming thru the PreCheck positions. However, off-duty crews should ALWAYS have to proceed thru the TSA security checkpoints like regular passengers. Having an off duty employee pass rider clogging up lines that they didn’t subscribe/pay for is spitting into face of the passengers that do.
Interesting comment, at my local airport, SEA, screening for airport employees is done by the Port of Seattle, on a lower level, NOT the TSA at the lanes that the traveling public uses. I just assumed that’s how it works pretty much everywhere. Well, at least for larger airports.
Airline pilot here. I’ve definitely noticed an increase in random screenings over the last several months. So much so, that I usually just go to security line. As for their excuse as to why they’re increasing random security checks, it’s kind of a dumb argument. First as the article stated, pilots fly the airplane so… and second, at most major airports ground personnel do not have to clear security at all, ever! Why, because it...
Airline pilot here. I’ve definitely noticed an increase in random screenings over the last several months. So much so, that I usually just go to security line. As for their excuse as to why they’re increasing random security checks, it’s kind of a dumb argument. First as the article stated, pilots fly the airplane so… and second, at most major airports ground personnel do not have to clear security at all, ever! Why, because it would require manpower that TSA is unwilling/unable to hire. So they pick on us instead.
Interesting viewpoint, except for those people who never have to pass through security… could easily pass said product off to said pilot, attendant, or anyone with access to the plane storage cargo. So in reality anyone who come into the airlines as an employee. Should be required to use clear backpacks or purses to pass security/ metal detectors should be used and nothing else should be allowed on premises. Unless traveling where you go through...
Interesting viewpoint, except for those people who never have to pass through security… could easily pass said product off to said pilot, attendant, or anyone with access to the plane storage cargo. So in reality anyone who come into the airlines as an employee. Should be required to use clear backpacks or purses to pass security/ metal detectors should be used and nothing else should be allowed on premises. Unless traveling where you go through security like everyone else.
Also when is the last time you saw a TSA agent screened when going through a checkpoint . Other countries check their own and I have never witnessed this in the US.
A large part of the problem was allowing crew members - pilots or flight attendants - to use KCM when off duty with the exception of going immediately taccess o/from their base as a commuter. That should have never been allowed any more than ground workers could access special security lines when traveling.
As for the flight attendant vs. pilot issue, the justification for including flight attendants was always that there simply was not...
A large part of the problem was allowing crew members - pilots or flight attendants - to use KCM when off duty with the exception of going immediately taccess o/from their base as a commuter. That should have never been allowed any more than ground workers could access special security lines when traveling.
As for the flight attendant vs. pilot issue, the justification for including flight attendants was always that there simply was not enough volume to maintain KCM checkpoints just for pilots.
As for the argument about crew members mucking up the pre-check line, the way immigration lines are done should be the standard: there is always a dedicated crew line which pre-check users can use if there are no crew members.
And no one has said who pays for KCM now but it does cost something to operate and that funding should move to the TSA.
Also, many large airports have crew and employee security checkpoints that are currently in the secure area that are accessible by employee shuttle buses. That volume won't come back to the regular checkpoints.
Flight attendants have been the issue with attempting to smuggling things through KCM. Not pilots. Why not just revoke the flight attendants’ privileges and keep KCM for pilots?
Common sense solutions to common sense problems.
...Yeah, like pilot’s don’t smuggle thing’s in either smh!
Highly incorrect. There are multiple reports of pilots being busted with weapons. And several times I have seen PILOTS attempting to bring their family members through KCM and then throw a hissy fit when they’re told no
This is not good for regular TSA Pre-Check users. Prior to the Known Crewmember program and their dedicated lines, it was not uncommon to spend 10-15 minutes being delayed as crew after crew cut in line to be screened before the regular users.
TSA is already severely understaffed at many airports. This is just going to exacerbate the problem of long lines and lack of precheck in multiple terminals
You can even point to this as a reason for the insane crowding at lounges we’re seeing. Seemingly every airline is telling you to arrive 2-3 hours ahead of time “because you never know how many TSA employees showed up that day.” If you make it through quickly, then suddenly you have to kill 2 hours in a lounge
What exactly are the numbers of people who are trying to sneak in illegal things through kcm? To my knowledge it’s not that many. Seems crazy to punish the vast majority of people because a few bad apples.
The first step should be eliminating flight attendants from any expedited screening program. That would solve the vast majority of the issues. Secondly, it’s rather disturbing that TSA “agents” have very little oversight in regards to entering secure areas with bags, purses, etc. I have witnessed them walk through checkpoints in droves with little more than a flash of a badge. Absolutely no verification of credentials or inspection of personal items. While I am an...
The first step should be eliminating flight attendants from any expedited screening program. That would solve the vast majority of the issues. Secondly, it’s rather disturbing that TSA “agents” have very little oversight in regards to entering secure areas with bags, purses, etc. I have witnessed them walk through checkpoints in droves with little more than a flash of a badge. Absolutely no verification of credentials or inspection of personal items. While I am an airline pilot, I fly for a major cargo airline and thankfully don’t have to deal with the incompetent TSA smurfs.
The Airlines and the TSA needs to punish the people that commit the crimes, and not just put out a blanket change that punishes the 99.9% of the pilots and flight attendants that follow the rules.
If the TSA's job isn't to catch drugs, then I'm not exactly sure what this will accomplish. Now pilots are going to be harassed over non-compliant 3-1-1 liquids. We did it Joe!
Uniformed crewmembers are exempt from 3-1-1 restrictions
They should just permanently ban the violators from KCM. That would stop the violations real quickly. Too much “education,” and not enough accountability. Crew members know the rules - the bad apples just are overly confident they won’t be held accountable.
@ Alan -- I mean, I think the people who are actually caught with serious things (like kilos of cocaine) are facing worse punishment than just being banned from KCM...
Full disclosure- I’m a flight attendant, and it’s frustrating to lose this privilege because of crew members who don’t follow the rules. As it is, the “random” screenings have increased exponentially - to the point where crew members are tempted to go through the pre check line anyway to avoid an extra step of waiting for someone to tell you to go there. You’re right though, losing KCM is the least of their problems; however,...
Full disclosure- I’m a flight attendant, and it’s frustrating to lose this privilege because of crew members who don’t follow the rules. As it is, the “random” screenings have increased exponentially - to the point where crew members are tempted to go through the pre check line anyway to avoid an extra step of waiting for someone to tell you to go there. You’re right though, losing KCM is the least of their problems; however, you’d be hard-pressed to find someone who’s actually lost the privilege permanently. (I’d really be interested to know what the stats are on that??) In any event, I really enjoy reading your articles. Thanks for what you do. : )
Pilots are not, and haven't been the problem.
It's the flight attendants.
I've always been concerned they let them into known crewmember from day one. Maybe a probationary period before they are eligible, idk. But this could possibly delay flights... guess we'll see.
It’s not just flight attendants. There have been reports of pilots caught with weapons when they get randomed. I’ve also witnessed on more than one occasion a pilot attempt to bring a family member through KCM and then throw a hissy fit when they’re turned away.
I don't think any pilot would try to bring a family member through KCM when they understand that it just doesn't work that way. Every pilot knows that you have to have a valid airline employee ID and be verified in the TSA computer database to get through KCM, no exceptions. And then throwing a hissy fit when they are not allowed to do what they already know 100% they are not allowed to do? Hmm, your story sounds fishy.
I have also seen pilots try to bring animals or children through KCM with them.
The TSA’s job is not to look for drugs or identify other illegal activity. It is to ensure safety on public transportation, that’s it. We can’t forget this and need to push back against their continued scope creep in the name of self preservation.
Drug interdiction isn't TSA's job and they know it. But as federal employees they are obligated by duty and law to report violations of other federal/state laws when it comes to their attention - such as finding illegal narcotics while screening for WEI.
I just hope the tsa dosen't find out we have a one handed crash axe in every cockpit. I agree with you about flight attendants vs pilots. If they think after 4 years of school, $100k in training, another 4 years of grinding time as a CFI, after finally becoming a airline pilot that I would even know where to score these drugs then they must think I'm way cooler than I actually am.
I thought you were a former twitter employee, not an airline pilot.