caracaskid

Througout the time that increased security has been in place, items have still continued to go missing from passengers' luggage. It would therefore seem likely that if someone can steal a video camera from someones luggage, for example, as happened to a friend somewhere between the US and the UK (airside) then it would not be that difficult for the same people to get other items as required past the current security barriers.

Chimbu chuckles

Wanna hear something REALLY scary?

The security industry is now SERIOUSLY suggesting that aircrew will not be allowed to have their families on board the same aircraft...period...and that includes pilot's wives that may be cabin crew and are rostered together for the sake of actually getting to see one another often enough to contemplate having a relationship.

Now if they were holding your 10 year old outside the door with a knife to her/his throat you might open the door...that is the latest fear...wives might be a waste of a sharp knife however

I kid you not...this is coming to an airport near you....anyone think that might unite the pilot body against this security madness?

The money wasted on security that could be better spent on intelligence is just amazing.

BOAC

Once again, folks, 'Chirp' are active on the crew screening issue (see latest issue) and would like your reports.

Max Angle

What you need is your wife or kids sitting somewhere that the terrorist can't get at them, somewhere with an armoured and locked door that can only be opened from the inside. Can anyone think of a place like that on the aircraft?

Re-Heat

Highly annoying, but why do you NOT think this is anything but entirely sensible??

spud

Because we're adults

captjns

Hey wait theres more.... Body Cavity Searches starting at the end of the year... pardon the pun

Superpilot

Let the dft know what you think about their idiotic practices.

Pick an email address: http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/aviation/emailcontacts

It's not hard............ (just a little brave)

RatherBeFlying

Back in my mid-teens, I was thoroughly read up on the encyclopedia articles on nitroglycerine and other things that go bang.

The early railroad cuttings were blasted with nitro. The major problem was transport of the stuff as it has a tendency to go boom at the slightest shock. Nitro carriers were required to display a signal flag so that other workers could give them a wide berth.

Later practice was to mix the stuff on the spot, sometimes even in the blasting hole.

Mixing the stuff together requires transport of nitric acid -- quite nasty stuff that I would not want on my person as well as temperature control -- security and cabin crew are advised to be extremely vigilant for ice buckets and cooler packs

Nitro is today available by prescription in small capsules for heart patients, but I have not heard of any such patients suddenly vaporising

But who knows what could happen when you get a few score rickety HPs extracting the nitro from their little capsules to get enough together for a big bang

firemac

I went through security at a certain UK airport last Thursday forgetting completely that I had a toilet bag with aftershave, toothpaste, mouthwash, etc. in my overnight bag (hand baggage). Normally I have checked baggage which contains the toiletries but, as this was only a one-nighter, I only had one cabin-sized bag. So no clear plastic bag routine: overnight bag through the scanner & not a word from the security bods about the liquids.
Amazingly enough, I similarly overlooked the toiletries when passing through the scanners at the European airport on the way back and, guess what? Not a peep from the scanners nor any word from the staff.
Now, what therefore is the point of all this liquids in clear plastic bags b0ll0x? If I had been a terrorist chappie.....?? Doesn't exactly fill one with confidence, does it?

Chilli Monster

Maybe if we all filled up the mailbox at [email protected] they might get the message

Superpilot

Exactly!

This is the exact method lobby and pressure groups use to show their disgust at something. Please realise that this is one of the best methods to get your voices heard these days.

It will take between 3-5 minutes to write an experience or view and press the send button....do it!

BEagle

Although I no longer fly multi-crew aircraft, as a passenger it concerns me greatly that the stress of heavy-handed and frankly absurd 'security' screening conducted on law-abiding aircrew by some lowest of the food chain bottom-fondling idiot will lead to distraction and, ultimately, to a serious incident or accident.

I was horrified to read those accounts in CHIRP which thudded onto my doormat today.

The DfT are responsible for this nonsense; you can complain to them at http://www.dft.gov.uk/about/complaints . I hope you all will!

boyband

I think nitroglycerine that was mentioned earlier couldn't possibly get as far a security check without going off. If you remember Bo and Luke Duke always had to be mega careful when lifting it from the trunk of their Dodge Charger, prior to blowing it up with the help of their cross-bow and sticks of dynamite.

Wefeedumall

As someone who has to endure security several times during my 12 hour shift I can sympathise with flt crews, especially when they take my 250ml bottle of water from me and yet the vehicle I am driving could have over 800 of the same sealed in the back to be put on an a/c!
Just a thought but could someone not start a petition on the government website similar to the one that got so much media attention to do with road pricing and then let us all know through this site when it is ready so we could all add our voices.
As I say, the road pricing petition made the main TV news plus all the daily papers. It just need's someone to start it off and I am afraid I am not up to the task but I am sure one of our more educated pilots could do it in a few minutes.
Maybe it will be the voice we all need?

girtbar

Just typed up one now, and it will take a day to be approved. Once it has i will post the link and i hope we can perhaps make some ripples in the waters that be?

Have just had a little bit of a "D'oh" moment however.

After spell checking the main body of text i have forgotten to spell check the heading

So instead of asking to realax the current rules on air side pass holders carrying liquids i've spelt carring.

Been a long day in my defence!

Alpine Flyer

I just read news that the EU Parliament might take a stand against a prolongation of the liquids rule. They reason that there is no evidence that the liquid ban/screening has prevented any act of terrorism and that the cost (apparently for disposal of all the liquids surrendered at checkpoints) is too high.
The same news said that it's mainly the UK government that opposes less stringent rules and the MEP interviewed suggested that the UK make their own rules if they feel like it but let the rest of Europe revert to sensible security checks.

(Even now the UK apparently does not excercise the option that allows a little less stringent screening of crews.)

RossEA

If the UK are so fixed on dealing with passengers and liquids at security, who screens and checks liquids that get transported to air-side that we all buy once we've got through security? Whats stopping terrorists plotting to get a batch of "water" through this way and purchasing their own stuff once they've been through security?

radeng

Last week, they took great delight at FRA in confiscating a spanner from me. A double ended 2 and 4BA spanner - 3 inches long, 5/32 thick, 3/8 inch wide, with no sharp edges. Obviously there was a danger that I would take the aeroplane apart with it....I'm not sure who the dafter ones are - the goons implementing the searches or the fools who mandate them.
Left me with the all metal Parker ball point pen thugh,. which you could stab someone with - well, just..

cavortingcheetah

Flew back via Arabia this weekend just passed from a small island country in the Indian Ocean. Plastic bottles of water, which had been frozen to prolong cool refreshement were confiscated, on the basis that what had been water would revert to same liquid form in turgid heat of airport.
A large party of young Russian men following through security were each allowed to take a full size umbrella on board. One presumes that, because the umbrellas had been handed out by the primary political party as election gimmicks during the run up to such an event, they were state approved?
The Russians youths, by the way, behaved with boisterous impeccability and drew attention to themselves only by favourable comparison with the almost certain behaviour of a similar group of young male weightlifter types, had they been British, English or whatever dear Gordon the Scot would call the ersazt population of that northern isle.