[427TJ]

As an airline pilot let me say that the cockpit doors, at least on my airplanes, are much stronger than they were before 9-11. Now that we know that hijackers want to take over the controls of the airplane the procedures for opening the door in fight have been enhanced and it is extemely unlikely that anyone will get into a cockpit in the future. If anyone got close to the door with the intent of getting into my cockpit then everyone's going to be on the ceiling. Again, now that I know the score, I will immediately zero-G the airplane and let the wacko(s) float around for a while. Believe me, there isn't a single pilot in the U.S. airline industry who doubts what they'd do if anyone tried to breach the cockpit door.

As for TSA, there have been times when they search airline crews with such vigor that you'd think they'd been instructed to treat us especially poorly. Flight attendants getting groped regularly, pilots having to stand with their arms outstreched while passengers walk past wondering if they're going to be safe because the crew is under such scrutiny. If you complain it's likely that your employer airline will not support you and side with TSA.

RAMP WORKERS, MANY OF THEM FOREIGN NATIONALS IN THE U.S. ON WORK VISAS DO NOT, REPEAT, DO NOT PASS THROUGH ANY SECURITY SCREENING WHATSOEVER BEFORE THEY ARE ALLOWED TO BOARD AIRPLANES TO CLEAN, CATER AND LOAD BAGGAGE.

How's that? They jack-up the crew but foreginers who work on the ramp go through doors down in Baggage Claim and walk right onto the ramp with backpacks, etc., and NO ONE searches them.

That's because all the TSA show-boating is for public consumption, not really to actually catch anyone. The traveling public sees all the wanding and bossing-around and thinks that the "War on Terror" is being successfully waged. Uhh, not so fast. In the wake of 9-11 and the subsequent economic downturn airlines have been firing their salaried and benefitted workers and hiring out-sourced foreign workers, many of whom have had scant background checking done on them. Why?, because they're CHEAP. And, because they're in the U.S. on work visas, they are afriad to lose their new jobs and thus don't complain about lousy pay and work conditions. Yes, they're good for business ($$$) but they are not screened nor searched at any time while they are at the airport. The typical airport ramp worker population has gone from being staffed by American citizens to being staffed by foreign nationals, many of whom can barely speak english and they ARE NOT SCREENED. Meanwhile, the flight crew is up in security being stripped and humiliated in front of the traveling public by people who were rejected for employment by Wal-Mart.

In defense of TSA, they make low wages and often work double shifts due to (typical) under-staffing. Again, great for business but bad for true security. I've seen them asleep at the X-ray screen when they're supposed to be looking at the video of your bag and looking for those nail clippers. What are supposed to be standardized nationwide screening procedures often differ from airport to airport and I always ask what the local procedures are before I 'beep' and get shaken-down. Local TSA guys develop their own power structure and harass anyone they wish. Ask too many questions and they call out the "supervisor" to get in your face. So, in lieu of good salaries and benefits, the government has given airport security employees POWER. Power is much more satisfying than better wages and benefits and now even the airport employee parking lot bus driver can shake you down if he doesn't like you.

Bin Laden must be laughing out-loud at how he's turned us against each other.

Rest assured that as far as I and my fellow airline crews are concerned, your safety is ALWAYS JOB ONE. If you're not safe then I'm not safe and that's unacceptable.

Oh, and those rare a$$holes who show up to fly their jet drunk and then hassle TSA deserve to be fired. Good riddance.

Lastly, flight attendants are often crabby because people buy internet tickets on the cheap and then expect, no, DEMAND first-class service. Do the F/A's a favor: next time you want to take a airline trip, PLEASE do not board the airplane drunk. PLEASE do not demand more service than your ticket price deserves. PLEASE do not blame the crew for things that are COMPLETELY OUT OF OUR CONTROL, like fog or a broken airplane. We're working harder than ever these days and we know most of you are too.