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Security Screening of Passengers

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Security Screening of Passengers

Old 28th Oct 2002, 01:10
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Red face Security Screening of Passengers

I am sure we all agree that security screening of passengers is necessary but I wish the companies involved would put a little more effort into training of staff and customer relations.
Yesterday at MEL DJ terminal I set the alarm off and was asked to go through again.... no problems. I said to the staff that I had emptied my pockets earlier. OK take your coat off. Ahhh problem identified buttons on leather coat.
I then remarked to staff that their equipmment must be supersensitive as I had previously passed through 2 other screenings that day without problems. Response " Dont be a smart ass there is nothing wrong with our equpment get going or you will be in trouble" mmmmmmmmm .
Great customer relations !!!!!!!!
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Old 28th Oct 2002, 02:14
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Someone told me a while ago that they can changed the sensitivity of the machine depending on how 'high risk' the day is. Can anyone verify? Perhaps this is why you can pass through one day with no problems while setting it off the next???
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Old 28th Oct 2002, 06:29
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Yes. Anything from handheld to walk through metal detectors have the ability to change sensitivity.
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Old 28th Oct 2002, 19:23
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I stuff everything into my jacket pockets and send that through the X-ray. That includes my military style belt buckle with a simple pressed metal clasp, and all the usual trouser pocket stuff - coins, phone, gum and wallet.

I've had to snip the little metal toggles off the plastic zippers on my warm winter boots - and these boots don't have any more metal in them since Virgin X-rayed them once. On some multi-airport trips (domestic-international) I've still rung a buzzer at some checkpoint despite my unchanged apparel, so I guess the toggle on my trouser fly is next followed by the two rivets in my Levis.

Oddly, and with time and curiosity to spare, I've doubled back and tried an alternative adjacent scanner without ringing it (eg: Melbourne). I mentioned it to the operator and they got their handheld out - obviously a trouble maker.

Having removed all metalwork, sharp and blunt, from every pax, the flighties then offer us all a Chardonnay from a selection of wines in glass bottles.
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Old 29th Oct 2002, 01:47
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Not to mention knives with five inch blades....
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Old 29th Oct 2002, 08:30
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Raider 1;These people do have an unenviable job, especially when they have to explain to some semi-irate pax that they have to put their nail file/clippers in the bin and no they won't get them back. I know I'd get a little abrupt if I had someone making what could be construed as a smart arsed remark, especially if I got it several dozen times a day.
Give them the benefit of the doubt. Not every security person graduated from the Heinrich Muller school of public relations
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Old 29th Oct 2002, 12:36
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While going through the machine at YBBN a few months back I was asked to open my carry on because of scissors.

Well ok sez I, a little perplexed, as I wasn't carrying anything I would describe as 'scissors'.

The offending item, which was removed and deposited in the bin, was a pair of 2 inch nasal hair clippers with rounded ends!

My argument that they were designed to be shoved up your nose without bringing tears to your eyes and therefore how much damage did he think I could do with them brought forward the expected parrot response.

In a moment of uncharacteristic restraint I managed to refrain from suggesting he keep my toothbrush as well as I know exactly how to use that, unmodified in any way, to kill someone if the moods strikes!!

Like North America we are lumbered with the dregs of the gene pool mindlessly following stupid procedures laid down by beaurocrats with very little idea how to really stop what they are all terrified of.

It's all about the public's perception of increased security and that is ALL.

But hell...I suppose we can all rest easy in the knowledge that if a domestic aircraft we are on is hijaked, and we are going to have to fight these bastards for our lives, we can delete nasal hair clippers off the list of expected armament we are likely to face.

Chuck
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Old 29th Oct 2002, 12:56
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Years ago, going to Aus for the first time and passing through SIN I saw an old woman being grilled by 4 very nasty Singapore policeman over the cake-slice they found in her luggage. Maybe they were right and she was planning to slice up the pilot, but I doubt it.....
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Old 29th Oct 2002, 22:04
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And almost every medical kit has a pair of scissors in it ?? Are your medical kits under lock and key ??
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Old 30th Oct 2002, 01:16
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Yes, but the F/As cork screws aren't once we get going!!
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Old 30th Oct 2002, 02:35
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These would'nt be the APS charlies would it?

A friend of mine used to work for them. She's told me that some of these people really get a power trip out if it and can be obnoxious. She suggested that if this happens, report them immediately to the supervisor and they would take appropriate action.

Might be worth doing next time this happens.
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Old 30th Oct 2002, 05:17
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I beleive they do alter the sensitivity depending on the day, if important politicians are traveling i've heard they bump them up a bit.

In response to the fact that you can go off in one machine and not another on the same day with the same gear, this all depends on whether you walk through the middle of the machine or not, If you brush up close to the sides with a watch etc it will go off, I've experimented many times, if I keep my watch centered I can go through with quite a lot of metal!

Cheers All
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Old 30th Oct 2002, 07:39
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Please be mindful of the information we post. I have come across numerous posts on pprune after Sept 11th which can be pretty informative to the twisted minded.
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Old 1st Nov 2002, 02:04
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Angry

These people are on a huge power trip. For just a few hours a day, they get to become important, they get to feel like gods! They think "Oh look, here comes a pilot. Lets see how many items we can get them to remove".

When the crazy thing is, if I didn't want to go upstairs for something to eat or drink, I could walk straight pass the machine, and swipe myself through the door with my ID card to get to my aircraft.

Why do we even bother with having the security check to get them?

I case you haven't noticed I have had it up to here (I'm pointing at my head) with the people at the metal detectors. They have ZERO logic, I say to them "If I was going to take over the aircraft would I be, oh wait a minute, I all ready am in control of it?!"
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Old 1st Nov 2002, 04:14
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Thumbs down

AND, in order ro run the gauntlet, judging by the apparent physical attributes of some of these individuals, all you would need to do is run very fast and you'd get away

Security at Australian airports really is a joke. Look at the APS: The only time you see them is when they are at the terminal for a quick Hungry Jacks. Notwithstanding that, on the ramp they always go for the soft targets.

I think it's going to take a significant event on our home soil before we see any serious change to current practices.
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Old 4th Nov 2002, 22:46
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You are right NEAR MISS the people doing screening are on a huge power trip ; taking tweezers off people and letting them carry on 2 bottles of jim beam, i would sooner face tweezers than a broken bottle in a fight . the airport i work at i get screened in the morning to put the airbridge on the first flight departure for the day yet the engineer who sits on the flightdeck to start the apu gets on board via the airbridge side stairs unscreened,, strange move ah ..we have F A s who have had nail scissors taken from them only to be given to me by security put in a security item bag to give back to the F A and tell them to put somewhere safe on board (even more strange ah).also we get a lot of pax ex syd to nz that have items removed from them and are told it will be placed in the hold as a security item to collect on arrival never to be seen again (must be a good market for 2nd hand swiss army knives around syd)...
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