Some thoughts about security checks for aircrew.
First, making a group of people exempt from scanning per se could possibly provide a means for a determined and organised terrorist to exempt HIMself. i.e. A uniform which could possibly be used as a means of gaining an exemption. So, through the scanner we must go.
However, there is absolutely NO point in taking away a tool from myself and my colleagues at a security check and to do so at a public check area would completely undermine the confidence of any public witness in any event. For that reason, aircrew should be screened separately.
We do our own daily checks on our aircraft and we do actually NEED tools in order to open cowlings and pierce engine oil cans etc. The aircraft toolkit, not surprisingly, contains tools such as pliers, screwdrivers, etc, shock, horror! If I wanted, I could stab myself in the neck with any one of them in flight.
