Whilst I am sure that 99.9% of flight deck crew are completely honest (excepting their submitted expense claim forms
) itseems fairly clear that if Johnny Terrorist realises that the only people who don't get security cleared on an a/c are crew, they will think about using this loophole to their advantage. Money wasn't a problem in getting the 9/11 operation into fruition.
I feel irritated every time this topic comes up and pilots trot out the 'we are above reproach because we are pilots' speel. You are humans, though some might have trouble remembering that, and that means that there will inevitably be bad 'uns of varying degrees amongst you. Pilots have had pressures so severe that they have hanged themselves down route, been caught smuggling, etc etc. So whilst 'you' mght be lillywhite and clean living please don't think that all pilots are like you.