scissors

[CamarosRus]

While on this general airline/security subject, please allow my comments. With all the technology this country has available.....why do YOU have to be screened at the airport each and every time. Why cant you be in a data base and your name and or S.S. number be allowed more lee way each time you access secure areas. I personally HATE the removing of my shoes each and almost every time.
I hope they get the eye/iris I.D. technology OR your hand/ finger print technology in place soon, so some of this other nonsense can stop.
Do you have any idea the staggering $$$ payroll the TSA
people at airports around the country are bringing down..

[MosportGreen66]

Even with these locking cockpit doors it is easy to break into the pilot area. The terrorists that broke into the cockpit of the plane that crashed in PA busted the door open with an industrial size fire extinguisher. To me, that is no different than a police officer, breaking open a door with the cylinder type entry tool used to catch criminals. If there is a will, there is a way. We live a sick world. This is something we should become accustomed to. I have ALWAYS said, better safe, than sorry. While inconvenient, I will always remove my shoes, open my bags numerous times (if need be) and participate in any action the security officer needs. The extra waiting is just to ensure our safety. Nothing we can do.

[Dusk Blue Z]

Check out how old the TSA employees are the next time you fly.

They relaxed the rules because all terrorists know you “don’t run with scissors”.

Happy Holidays,
Mike

[mssl72]

NO blade should be let on a plane...period. We've done without them now for a few years and I for one can live with it for the rest of my life. I don't mind taking my shoes off or being selected for a further "security check". We need to do it and not complain. Think about it, a terrorist gets one of those small Swiss Army knives on board, grabs a hostage and theatens to kill this person by slitting their throat. The skin isn't very thick on your neck. It doesn't take a long blade to do the damage. Sure the pilots aren't supposed to open the door for any reason, but how many people will die before they do. All of them??There were multiple terrorists onboard the 9/11 planes. Passengers can try to stop them, but how many will it take? Can they actually stop them? Nobody can answer those questions because every situation is different. Not everybody is combat ready. These guys train to kill us. I heard that they're (TSA,etc.) more worried about explosives getting on-board. How long will it be before they implant explosives in their own bodies to get through? Can that be sniffed out? I hate to state the obvious, but they want to kill us and they will keep on trying anything to do just that. We don't need to make it easier for them.

[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.

[PeteLeathersac]

Great comments Bill and nice to understand things from your side of the cockpit door....hope you feel better after letting that all out too? . Last night I sent my kids for Christmas break to the ex in California from Toronto International airport. . I'm far from prejudice but I couldn't help but notice every airport worker I saw looked like Bin Laden's brother?? . It was very apparent and had me thinking about it all....then came your post of today! . If these characters aren't screened, shouldn't your pilot's union threaten to strike unless something changes? . And working anywhere, you'd think those loose robes and headgear would be a hazard for sure? . On a better thought, how's it feel tooling around w/ 10,000 HP on tap? ~ Pete

[427TJ]

[ QUOTE ]
hope you feel better after letting that all out too?

[/ QUOTE ]

Hey, it needed to be said! (Yes, I feel better now, thanks Pete.)

[ QUOTE ]
If these characters aren't screened, shouldn't your pilot's union threaten to strike unless something changes?

[/ QUOTE ]

If the union mounted a serious protest perhaps something might be done but it is a highly charged political issue. Make too much noise about foreign ramp workers and you can be labled "intolerant." Make too much noise about TSA/airport security procedures and you can be labeled as "aiding the terrorists." Airlines were dead-set against their pilots carrying guns (air marshall program) but the public was on our side. The word among us is that if a pilot shoots someone trying to take-over the airplane then you'd better kill them. Otherwise the lawsuits against the airline could be crippling.

With anti-union sentiment running high these days our union has to be very careful about which fights it chooses to engage in. There are powerful anti-union interests that would be happy as hell to watch us twist in the wind over an issue that gets spun out of our control. Sounds good to screen these foreign ramp workers, right? Well, the opposition to tighter screening and background checks (that cost money--get it?) would spin it as though we were being "intolerant" or "anti-business" or whatever. The union can't afford a massive media campaign required to fight-off such unwarranted charges so we have to pick our fights carefully. It will probably take another horrific event such as 9-11 to get anything done. It's called "tombstone regulation." Someone has to die before anything gets done.

[ QUOTE ]
On a better thought, how's it feel tooling around w/10,000 HP on tap?

[/ QUOTE ]

Nothing like it. We usually use reduced power (not maximum thrust) on takeoff to save engine wear but occasionally we use the full rated thrust. On a cold day and a light load the jet will climb like a homesick angel. Remember, there is always a terrified passenger on every flight so max-power takeoffs must be performed smoothly. No yank-and-bank stuff! A max-power takeoff, properly and smoothly done, usually elicits positive comments from the passengers upon arrival.

I did a ferry flight from Oakland to Phoenix one night, just us two pilots in a new 737-700 (kinda' like the "427 Cobra" of 737s). We did a max-power takeoff with a very light airplane and the tower controller basically shouted "WOW" into our headsets as we lifted off and climbed out. Got the nose up to about 30 degrees of pitch and let'er eat for about 5,000 feet. Then lower the nose and accelerate to climb speed and we were up to 41,000 in no time flat, basically circling Oakland as we climbed. What a rush.

[Chevy454]

[ QUOTE ]
Airlines were dead-set against their pilots carrying guns (air marshall program) but the public was on our side.

[/ QUOTE ]
I say lock and load, Captain! If it's beyond their means to figure out that screwing with the pilot/flight crew means a lead sandwich, with no questions asked, then good riddance to 'em...

[Mr. T]

[ QUOTE ]

I say lock and load, Captain!

[/ QUOTE ]

I totally agree. Heck, I will even loan out my Ruger 9mm to the pilots. (Hollowtips included)

[71-LS6]

I used to fly commercial airlines 4-5 times a year for business and for vacations, I no longer do that. In addition to being subjected to the federal govt's surreal version of security, which is most certainly PC theater, I can't stand being locked up like a prisoner for who knows how long. Couple the preceeding situations, with a growing number of passengers who have no idea of how to behave in public, and I just drive to my destination. This is a shame too, because I really did enjoy hopping a plane whenever I wanted. Maybe I'm just showing my age.