Ask the pilot: The absurdity that is airport "security" continues

[babylonsister]

http://www.salon.com/tech/col/smith/2007/10/12/askthepilot249/

Ask the pilot

Confiscating shampoo? Forcing crew members to remove their shoes? The absurdity that is airport "security" continues.

By Patrick Smith
Pages 1 2

Oct. 12, 2007 | It has been a while since we've done airport security. Having devoted more than two dozen columns to the topic over the past few years, I try to keep my rants fewer and farther between. Of course, with the Transportation Security Administration being a source of limitless aggravation and befuddlement, one can only hold out for so long. Just when you think there's nothing left to say, the agency finds a way to outdo itself with yet another sparkling example of absurdity.

Reasonable or otherwise, pilots and flight attendants are required to pass through the same security checkpoints as passengers. They are subject to most of the same rules, but are granted the luxury of leaving their shoes on.

With this in mind, imagine for a moment that you're an airline pilot. You're assigned to an overnight flight from one of the country's busiest airports. Having commuted in from another city, several hours away, you show up at the terminal wearing civvies, as many pilots do. Your uniform is packed in your roll-aboard case. The plan is to change clothes in the crew room. Around your neck is a plastic case holding your employee identification badge, FAA licenses and medical certificate.

You lift your bags onto the X-ray belt, remove your laptop computer, and step toward the metal detector. "Excuse me, sir," says the guard, gesturing for you to stop. "Your shoes. You need to take your shoes off."

"I'm a crew member," you tell him, holding out your credentials.

"Yeah, but you need to be in uniform."

"I do? Why?"

The guard shrugs. "That's the rule. If you're not in uniform, you need to take your shoes off."

"But my uniform is right there, in my luggage."

"Sorry. No uniform, no shoes."

"But ... What's the difference? You can see my I.D."

More shrugging. "You gotta put your shoes on the belt."

And so you do, resisting the temptation to unzip your carry-on right then and there, throwing on your uniform in full view of passengers -- over your jeans and T-shirt.

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[Kutjara]

1. There's a kind of twisted logic there.

Since the kinds of people who work for the TSA and other "Stasi-lite" organizations worship the whole "uniform" ethic of their "profession," it's only reasonable that, for them, the uniform is the thing that matters. People are invisible to them. Even documentation barely registers in their world of bright buttons and shiny shoes. If you're not in a uniform, you're just another cow in the herd, to be pushed, prodded and tasered. Osama bin Laden would sail through airport security, as long as he was dressed as a pilot.

[n2doc]

2. I was going through security at New York and was just furious

There were two onl (and I mean, 90's+) ladies in wheelchairs that they gave the max treatment to in front of me. One barely could get out of her wheelchair, then when she set off the detector (natch) they pulled her aside and went over her with a fine tooth comb. And did the same with her luggage. They did the same with the next one in a wheelchair too. Like they could have somehow hobbled up to the cockpit, broke down the door, and forced the pilot to do what they wanted. This world is run by complete idiots, from the top on down.

[babylonsister]

4. I saw a man in a wheelchair with a white cane who got the same treatment.

Luckily his family was with him, but I thought it was just ludicrous.

[TomInTib]

8. I have a friend with a 6 year old daughter with Downs Syndrome.

They travel quite a lot and that poor child gets pulled aside almost every time.

[silverojo]

9. BEWARE OF TERRORIST TOTS!

Especially the ones with Down's syndrome...they're the worst!
:mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad:

:sarcasm:

[sweetpotato]

13. Is the goal to eliminate "undesireables" from flying?

There must be some reason why the disabled people mentioned were singled out for ultimate screening.

Is it to discourage undesireables from flying?

[thunder rising]

3. I got my private pilot's license in 2001 and I've never flown commercial since

For those of you that want to know the cost it's about $100/hr with an instructor and $75 solo. You need 20 hrs to solo and 40 for your license. Less than $4000 to freedom!!! And you don't pay up front ... $100 at a time. Heavy use of Flight Sim or (my favorite) x-plane will significantly reduce your times toward the minimums. If you fly less than 1000mi at a time even a small airplane competes on time overall.

The small airports appreciate your business. The lounges are very comfortable. You go through security IN YOUR CAR!!! Load the airplane and leave at your own time. The cost to fly your own plane is about middle-coach fare. No headwind and a small (Cessna 172) gets 15mi/gal.

The best way to rebel against commercial airlines is to fly your own airplane!!!

[babylonsister]

5. Yes, but your happy hour is really limited!

:D That's very cool, but I wouldn't trust myself. The going through security in your car sounds PERFECT!

[terisan]

6. Ah but you have to buy the plane too. nt

[Manifestor_of_Light]

10. No you don't, you can buy a share in one airplane.

You can do that with a small single engine plane. You are in a group of people who only pay for the engine time (actual flight time plus takeoff and landing) and gas for the plane. A cheap way to travel if you have a license.

My ex had a share in a four-seater Piper. It was fun to go places in a little plane that does 140 miles per hour.

[terisan]

12. Then it makes a lot of sense. I agree the freedom from harassment is worth it.

[Hangingon]

7. Sounds pretty good

A private pNow, I just need to convince my wife.lane would eliminate a lot of my commercial flying time.

[Manifestor_of_Light]

11. How much does it cost to rent a private pilot in a small plane?

Anybody got any figures?