Frustrated (?) pilots and security screening
Join Date: Aug 2001
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Yeah, life is just the pits and it seems to be that LHR has taken over what the TSA in the US started.
There are many inconsistencies and as world-wide crew member, I can certainly attest to that. Keep in mind, that the "security" is the appropriate govt showing the world that they can deal with whatever is thrown at them.
The shoe thing came after that British guy Richard (?) Reid and his igniting shoe. OK says everyone, let's now check shoes. Next it's belt's, pens you name it. Then the hullabaloo dies down and things are relaxed. Yep, H2O is no problem in the US now - but it still is in the UK!! As is the 1 carry-on bag "principle". So, having arrived from the US where the rules in and out are 1 piece of carry-on plus a personal item like a briefcase or computer bag, you suddenly find yourself with a different set of rules when you cross the Atlantic! It's this very same thing that prompted BA CEO Willie to spout off at the BAA (whose rule it is at all UK airports, not the airlines) saying they were losing out on business pax who were avoiding LHR and other UK airports if at all possible. These are the very same people that bring in the largest revenue.
Sounds like the world has gone competely nuts and no one seems to have any COMMON sense (or know how to use it) or discretion. Folks, the time for political correctness is long overdue.
And just to prove my point, against my wishes, I happened to travel through LHR earlier this week carrying what I've always carried when I go to or from work. The difference? I decided to travel in uniform and even though I was a transit pax, I was literally whisked through, taken out of the pax line and into the fast track line (I was deadheading on another airline as a pax, not my own). Not a soul mentioned the one-bag rule and I did NOT have to remove belt, shoes, nadda!!
Maybe times are achanging? Or maybe you just have to work smarter...
There are many inconsistencies and as world-wide crew member, I can certainly attest to that. Keep in mind, that the "security" is the appropriate govt showing the world that they can deal with whatever is thrown at them.
The shoe thing came after that British guy Richard (?) Reid and his igniting shoe. OK says everyone, let's now check shoes. Next it's belt's, pens you name it. Then the hullabaloo dies down and things are relaxed. Yep, H2O is no problem in the US now - but it still is in the UK!! As is the 1 carry-on bag "principle". So, having arrived from the US where the rules in and out are 1 piece of carry-on plus a personal item like a briefcase or computer bag, you suddenly find yourself with a different set of rules when you cross the Atlantic! It's this very same thing that prompted BA CEO Willie to spout off at the BAA (whose rule it is at all UK airports, not the airlines) saying they were losing out on business pax who were avoiding LHR and other UK airports if at all possible. These are the very same people that bring in the largest revenue.
Sounds like the world has gone competely nuts and no one seems to have any COMMON sense (or know how to use it) or discretion. Folks, the time for political correctness is long overdue.
And just to prove my point, against my wishes, I happened to travel through LHR earlier this week carrying what I've always carried when I go to or from work. The difference? I decided to travel in uniform and even though I was a transit pax, I was literally whisked through, taken out of the pax line and into the fast track line (I was deadheading on another airline as a pax, not my own). Not a soul mentioned the one-bag rule and I did NOT have to remove belt, shoes, nadda!!
Maybe times are achanging? Or maybe you just have to work smarter...
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Sydney, Australia
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Went through the crew channel at LHR recently. You know how they've got the list of operating crew for each flight and they tick your name off on the way through? Well on this day someone had c*cked up and they had the completely wrong list of names. Solution: "Oh, we'll just write your name on this blank piece of paper and fix it later."
Well THAT makes me feel just so safe. That name check is probably the MOST IMPORTANT check - proves that this homo-sapien is, in fact, permitted to be there. The hats-off-jackets-off-shoes-off-belt-off-brain-off -laptop-out-liquids-out nonsense just doesn't matter so much if you are AUTHORISED to be proceeding to a jet somewhere.
They do that again and I'm going to either (a) pull up a chair* and insist they go find the right list or (b) back to the office to make a formal complaint.
* then again, being LHR it'll probably have to be the floor
Well THAT makes me feel just so safe. That name check is probably the MOST IMPORTANT check - proves that this homo-sapien is, in fact, permitted to be there. The hats-off-jackets-off-shoes-off-belt-off-brain-off -laptop-out-liquids-out nonsense just doesn't matter so much if you are AUTHORISED to be proceeding to a jet somewhere.
They do that again and I'm going to either (a) pull up a chair* and insist they go find the right list or (b) back to the office to make a formal complaint.
* then again, being LHR it'll probably have to be the floor
Join Date: Aug 2000
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About water through security in the US
Just in case you guys don't know, in the US, all crews in "uniform" with the crew badge (working a flight or not) are allowed/exempt from the liquid ban to pax. You still have to go through screening and take your shoes off, most of the time
Join Date: Oct 2000
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Good to hear. At a major European airport, things are not so good as of a few weeks ago. They introduced new routines. We were forced to go through security to get from our own aircraft into the terminal. Crew badges and all. Yes, including the entire parody of putting deodorant and shaving cream in a plastic bag.
Repeat to get back to the aircraft. Getting anything to drink back onto the aircraft was off as well. Oh joy. Flight crews without anything to drink, now there's a safety hazard if ever I saw one.
It sure is ridiculous to have to tanker drinking water for the crew from home base, but that is where we're at currently. Sandwiches in the aircraft instead of eating in the terminal too - just cannot be bothered to be strip searched to enjoy another airport meal.
Repeat to get back to the aircraft. Getting anything to drink back onto the aircraft was off as well. Oh joy. Flight crews without anything to drink, now there's a safety hazard if ever I saw one.
It sure is ridiculous to have to tanker drinking water for the crew from home base, but that is where we're at currently. Sandwiches in the aircraft instead of eating in the terminal too - just cannot be bothered to be strip searched to enjoy another airport meal.
Join Date: Feb 2006
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It still amuses me that they continue to remove, nail files, nail scissors, nail clippers, tweezers etc. But once you are through security then you can purchase aforementioned items in Boots!
Not to mention charging you for the plastic bag for your 100ml toiletries.
Yep! really taking the P1ss now.
BR.
Not to mention charging you for the plastic bag for your 100ml toiletries.
Yep! really taking the P1ss now.BR.
Join Date: Feb 2000
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All the police and special branch people are allowed top pass through with impunity, and no searches.
I went through with an empty 500ml water bottle one day (by mistake I hasten to add). The security goon wanted to know why I had it. Quick as a flash (unusual for me) I told him it was my pee bottle which I needed because of the locked flight deck door routine that we have top put up with nowadays. If he emptied it could I have it back please? The look on his face as he went to empty it.....
I went through with an empty 500ml water bottle one day (by mistake I hasten to add). The security goon wanted to know why I had it. Quick as a flash (unusual for me) I told him it was my pee bottle which I needed because of the locked flight deck door routine that we have top put up with nowadays. If he emptied it could I have it back please? The look on his face as he went to empty it.....
I see LGW has closed their Concord House Security Staff Search between 2200 & 0300 Local.
More hassel for the people who are tryimng to actually keep aviation going. Nice 25 min walk to the some gates. As for getting buses to remote stands well you can guess. So most airlines have 1 hr report for crews for FTL purposes how long do you actually need to report in reality, surely enough is enough of this hassel.
More hassel for the people who are tryimng to actually keep aviation going. Nice 25 min walk to the some gates. As for getting buses to remote stands well you can guess. So most airlines have 1 hr report for crews for FTL purposes how long do you actually need to report in reality, surely enough is enough of this hassel.
Join Date: Jun 2001
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The folks at the door of Concorde House are there to check that the people wishing to enter have a proper reason for doing so (there've been there since the 'Open Borders' protestors were doing their thing about the new immigration detention centre being buillt down by 'X' car park).
I went through the LGW Concorde House crew security check on Tuesday and it took 25 minutes to get through.... wherein there was some officious bitch checking the checkers whom I seemed to particularly irritate when I asked why 1-in-2 were being patted down and about the large number of bag searches... Her highhanded response was that previously the searches had not been thorough enough and that this checkpoint would close if the job was not being done to a higher standard...... eeek !
Aside - has anybody also thought of putting a fire-axe in ones flight bag? I.e. remembering that we've got them to hand on aircraft in any case?!... wheren I've often been tempted to go and get the one on the a/c and bring it to show the tossers the futility of what they do !
Also, how about putting in some really hard-core filth / porno in ones bags so that the bags searches take on a new element of fun?!
And what about getting all your crew to carry as many 100ml bottle as you can fit into one of those 20x20cm bag... filling each with water..... the point being that with, say, 7 crew, with each having say a litre that's probably 7 litres of liquid... which just goes to show that Johny Terrorist and his friends could equally do same. Duh !
I went through the LGW Concorde House crew security check on Tuesday and it took 25 minutes to get through.... wherein there was some officious bitch checking the checkers whom I seemed to particularly irritate when I asked why 1-in-2 were being patted down and about the large number of bag searches... Her highhanded response was that previously the searches had not been thorough enough and that this checkpoint would close if the job was not being done to a higher standard...... eeek !
Aside - has anybody also thought of putting a fire-axe in ones flight bag? I.e. remembering that we've got them to hand on aircraft in any case?!... wheren I've often been tempted to go and get the one on the a/c and bring it to show the tossers the futility of what they do !
Also, how about putting in some really hard-core filth / porno in ones bags so that the bags searches take on a new element of fun?!
And what about getting all your crew to carry as many 100ml bottle as you can fit into one of those 20x20cm bag... filling each with water..... the point being that with, say, 7 crew, with each having say a litre that's probably 7 litres of liquid... which just goes to show that Johny Terrorist and his friends could equally do same. Duh !
Join Date: Jun 2004
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The crew channel at LGW is now closed at night.This means you have to go through the terminal security and then walk to your aircraft rather than use the bus.
Puritan...next time through mate, if you should run into said biatch again..politely enquire who checks her
Also, how about putting in some really hard-core filth / porno in ones bags so that the bags searches take on a new element of fun?!
the worst offender I know included a copy of "horse man love"
We need checks
Years ago, the tinkers in N. Ireland used to make taxi drivers drive bombs, under threat of attacking their family if they refused to comply.
By searching us, at least this avenue has been closed.
Sensible security must therefore stay.
MB
By searching us, at least this avenue has been closed.
Sensible security must therefore stay.
MB
Misterblue,
There are quite a few items on the aircraft that could be used for mass destruction by a crew member. The yoke, for one. No need to secret a bit of liquid or other "bad things" in ones lunch bag or crew kit.
Dea
There are quite a few items on the aircraft that could be used for mass destruction by a crew member. The yoke, for one. No need to secret a bit of liquid or other "bad things" in ones lunch bag or crew kit.
Dea
Profits
Coming through Heathrow last week as a pax I noticed that some of the shops are selling shampoo/shower soap in 100 ml bottles at nearly the same price as the regular sized bottles.
Ziploc dispensing machine at BHD gives four bags for a pound with an adjacent sign that states only one bag may be used!!!
Somebody is cashing in on this.
Ziploc dispensing machine at BHD gives four bags for a pound with an adjacent sign that states only one bag may be used!!!
Somebody is cashing in on this.
Join Date: Jul 2005
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Okay misterblue, so thatīs the reason pilots can no longer bring a leatherman tool to work?!
The avenue you described can be defeated by proper identification procedures for crew and random searches at dedicated crew entrance check points.
Taxi drivers werenīt chaced at all were they?
If Iīve been forced to carry a bomb into an airport I can just hint to the security personnel that they should search me or I simply put the bomb through the x-ray machine.
The avenue you described can be defeated by proper identification procedures for crew and random searches at dedicated crew entrance check points.
Taxi drivers werenīt chaced at all were they?
If Iīve been forced to carry a bomb into an airport I can just hint to the security personnel that they should search me or I simply put the bomb through the x-ray machine.
Join Date: Oct 2002
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Somebody is cashing in on this
And why is their shampoo any less explosive than mine?
This is a shining example of 'Rip-off Britain'.
Shut-up and pay - the UK way.
Join Date: Oct 2000
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There appears to be an intimation that the DofT seem to think that we're all deleriously happy with the current situation.
Since the only way to get the message across to anyone these days appears to be firehosing them with MOR's, I suggest we get cracking.
Offensive, discriminatory, threatning, intrusive, stressful, distracting, environmentally unfriendly, I don't know. You know politicians, you know what buttons to press, GET WRITING.
Since the only way to get the message across to anyone these days appears to be firehosing them with MOR's, I suggest we get cracking.
Offensive, discriminatory, threatning, intrusive, stressful, distracting, environmentally unfriendly, I don't know. You know politicians, you know what buttons to press, GET WRITING.