Cargo Security !!!
In addition to the information presented it is also a requirement for any operators of aircraft weighing 12,500 lbs or more, in this case freight compaies such as mine, to submit their flightcrews to a 10 year fingerprint- criminal backround investigation conducted by the F.B.I. This directive requires compliance by I believe April 15th of this year, any flightcrews not in compliance may not excersize the priviledges of their certificate and/or type ratings for scheduled revenue flying the above mentioned aircraft until this can be completed. My company is using the National Air Transport Association to administer this requirement and come into compliance.
As a foot-note, I am actually amazed that pilots certified by the F.A.A. continue to carry around a small paper card representing their qualifications. I would have expected anyone applying for a commercial pilot license or ATP, post 911, to have to complete a 10 yr backround investigation, employment and criminal and then be issued a credit-card, biometric type Pilot's license with picture and fingerprint data.
This license should also be swipeable and may then be configured to allow access to the S.I.D.A. areas for which the operator has received approval, in addition to being efficient this method might also allow the nationwide pilot data base to then be used as a source for jumpseat approval.
I submitted this suggestion to my local congressman, maybe in 10 to 100 years we might see some action.
In the meantime we shall continue to carry around our hard earned and expensive quals on a piece of 3 by 2 inch recycled goverment toilet paper and brandish our pathetic excuse for a company I.D., something that in my company's case could be manufactured in the cellar by a 5 year old with some color pens , cellotape and some superglue, in the vein hope of grabbing a ride to work.
Security ?? Where ??