Frustrated (?) pilots and security screening
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Originally Posted by Airbrake
The Pointy End.
I would not tell everybody you used your ID and Hi viz to go Airside on a day off just to meet your other half!
That is a big no no, consider your self lucky that security were dealing with explosive water and parfume and not catching individuals where they shouldn't be.
I would not tell everybody you used your ID and Hi viz to go Airside on a day off just to meet your other half!
That is a big no no, consider your self lucky that security were dealing with explosive water and parfume and not catching individuals where they shouldn't be.
I recently checked in for a 3 day trip and realised that I'd left my medication at home. Now due to the fact that Boots have now moved all their pharmacutical sevices to the airside store, I needed to go through to replace the stuff I'd left at home, yet I was refused permission to go through until I reported for the actual flight, 40 minutes later. (The lack of bags gave me away!) I tried to explain that, short of making the crew report early for the briefing, it would mean I would probably end up arriving late at the aircraft due to the inevitably long queues in the pharmacy, but still, they would not back down. I couldn't even go through early, then hang around airside as, once I passed the magic swinging doors (or not so swinging doors at the moment!), I couldn't get back to the briefing room to brief the crew, despite these rooms also being airside!
These are are just rules for the hell of it and in no way improve our safety and security!
Jsl
Jetset Lady.
Some unscrupulous individuals may try to off load their fags, booze, illegal substances prior to passing through Customs. Who would suspect an Id carrying member of staff???
Some unscrupulous individuals may try to off load their fags, booze, illegal substances prior to passing through Customs. Who would suspect an Id carrying member of staff???
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Airbrake,
Sorry, I may be being a bit thick here but I don't get what you're saying. If they had let me go through, I would have had to clear customs to come back to landside anyway and believe me, customs certainly don't trust us! If anything, we are more likely to get caught as there are less of us coming through the staff channel, than there are the hoards of passengers going through the normal channels.
Jsl
Sorry, I may be being a bit thick here but I don't get what you're saying. If they had let me go through, I would have had to clear customs to come back to landside anyway and believe me, customs certainly don't trust us! If anything, we are more likely to get caught as there are less of us coming through the staff channel, than there are the hoards of passengers going through the normal channels.
Jsl
Jetset, you may have to clear customs at your airport but there are plenty of ways to avoid it. Do you see all the airside staff at your airport walking through customs after a day working airside?
At my airport there are numerous ways to avoid going through arrivals and customs if you have a staff ID. However, you would lose your ID, job and get a criminal record if you were caught.
At my airport there are numerous ways to avoid going through arrivals and customs if you have a staff ID. However, you would lose your ID, job and get a criminal record if you were caught.
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Airbrake,
I see your point and that is true for where I'm based too. I assume then, that this is actually an immigration and customs ruling rather than a security one. Thanks for that. Still doesn't mean I have to like it though!
Jsl
I see your point and that is true for where I'm based too. I assume then, that this is actually an immigration and customs ruling rather than a security one. Thanks for that. Still doesn't mean I have to like it though!
Jsl
Airport security tightened after drug bust
Supervisor accused of smuggling khat into Canada from British flights
Andrew Seymour, Ottawa Citizen
Published: Thursday, April 26, 2007
Security at Ottawa international airport has been tightened after a ramp attendant supervisor was charged with drug smuggling.
Obviously BAA's security is lacking
Supervisor accused of smuggling khat into Canada from British flights
Andrew Seymour, Ottawa Citizen
Published: Thursday, April 26, 2007
Security at Ottawa international airport has been tightened after a ramp attendant supervisor was charged with drug smuggling.
Obviously BAA's security is lacking
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At the risk of thread drift, there is a problem with aircrew/airside staff smuggling goods. Customs are well aware of it and will have a sense of humour failure if they catch staff doing it.
S78
S78
Cunning Artificer
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Every day as I pass through the air-side check-point I'm x-rayed, metal detected and my security pass is scanned to ensure it turns on the green light to say I can enter. Then off I go into the hangars and workshops, where everything anyone needs to wreak havoc is nicely to hand. Toxic chemicals, detonators, electrical wiring - its all there. I don't need to carry anything at all. Soon, I'll be required to have a national identity card as well, but none of this makes the slightest difference. The only way to ensure complete safety is to shut down the airlines entirely and go back to ships and trains - after all, they're invulnerable aren't they. 
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BusyB
I can only speak for my local, but some airport staff are entitled to DF rates on some items. However the shop assistant (presumably too bright to work for security ) makes a note of your ID card no and what you've purchased - which I guess is held on a database somewhere, so if staff start to abuse the privilege customs get to find out......
S78
I can only speak for my local, but some airport staff are entitled to DF rates on some items. However the shop assistant (presumably too bright to work for security
) makes a note of your ID card no and what you've purchased - which I guess is held on a database somewhere, so if staff start to abuse the privilege customs get to find out......S78
The latest in how consistent this security screening lark is Policeman wearing gun breaches airport security - Travel - smh.com.au
Its interesting to note that the police are exempt from screening while the crew are not.
And this the day after I was surprised by the AFP turning up fully armed to a plane to remove a roudy traveller.
D.
Its interesting to note that the police are exempt from screening while the crew are not.
And this the day after I was surprised by the AFP turning up fully armed to a plane to remove a roudy traveller.
D.
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Fellow aviators
Whilst 30pages of comment is interesting it will change 3/10ths of nothing.
What is needed is a constant stream of MOR's etc to the CAA and TRANSEC.
Over the past couple of years there have only been a handful of reports. A back of the fag packet assesment shows that there are roughly 12,000 pilots in the UK and from the past three years there have been approx 20 MOR's recieved by the CAA on the subject of the security hastles.
So viewed from the other side of the fence that is such a small number that there is no problem percieved.
I am very concerned about essential items of a liquid nature being removed from aircrew, if a pilot determines that a certain solution is essential for his or her duty and the security muppet removes it from said pilot who then continues to operate then QED "it was't essental was it guv"
I usually ask said security guard to tell the pax why the aircraft is not departing on scedule.
Regards
Whilst 30pages of comment is interesting it will change 3/10ths of nothing.
What is needed is a constant stream of MOR's etc to the CAA and TRANSEC.
Over the past couple of years there have only been a handful of reports. A back of the fag packet assesment shows that there are roughly 12,000 pilots in the UK and from the past three years there have been approx 20 MOR's recieved by the CAA on the subject of the security hastles.
So viewed from the other side of the fence that is such a small number that there is no problem percieved.
I am very concerned about essential items of a liquid nature being removed from aircrew, if a pilot determines that a certain solution is essential for his or her duty and the security muppet removes it from said pilot who then continues to operate then QED "it was't essental was it guv"
I usually ask said security guard to tell the pax why the aircraft is not departing on scedule.
Regards
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Can I say that the more GCE's and the more money people are paid then the more they feel that they are above being treated like the rest of us plebs. Solicitors and Doctors are the worst but I think Pilots are slipping rapidly into third place. The argument here should be that none of us should be humiliated at so called security check points. Why should pilots be treat any differently than the passengers they are paid to drive. In this autopilot age they are after all highly paid bus drivers.
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Paarmo:
So, pax and crew are the same..they have the same responsability...they get the employment background records checked...training....and actually are working in the airline just for fun. So that they can only just switch on an autopilot and let it do the rest!!! Well.. well...well, I am begining to think that you might one of those security people that just have to wave a magic stick and are suspiciuos of airline crew!!! Please letīs get down to the issues the whole idea in this post, is to discuss how absurd it is to clamp down on airline crew at secuirty checks. Now if you donīt understand what we are getting at....leave out the real responsability of flying an aircraft around the world with 300+ paxīs to us and not to the autopilot. By the way do you also want to check the autopilot!!!!
So, pax and crew are the same..they have the same responsability...they get the employment background records checked...training....and actually are working in the airline just for fun. So that they can only just switch on an autopilot and let it do the rest!!! Well.. well...well, I am begining to think that you might one of those security people that just have to wave a magic stick and are suspiciuos of airline crew!!! Please letīs get down to the issues the whole idea in this post, is to discuss how absurd it is to clamp down on airline crew at secuirty checks. Now if you donīt understand what we are getting at....leave out the real responsability of flying an aircraft around the world with 300+ paxīs to us and not to the autopilot. By the way do you also want to check the autopilot!!!!
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Paarmo, are you security or an FSX pilot? I paid THOUSANDS upon THOUSANDS for my training, followed by gaining nearly 2 decades of experience precisely to ensure that I am capable and worthy of being able to make all the decisions that "George" (as it used to be known back then) is unable to. I still exercise my judgement at every step of the decission making process, in order to ensure I am SAFE every time I go to work.
The confiscation of essential medical supplies is NOT conducive to safety neither is delaying aircrew due to searches just for the sake of it. I dont know if you have ever flown anything bigger than a paper aeroplane, but if you have you will know that you are also paid to exercise judgement in the face of commercial pressure, and said pressure is excaserbated needlessly by unwanted and unjustified "security" making our jobs significantly more difficult.
The confiscation of essential medical supplies is NOT conducive to safety neither is delaying aircrew due to searches just for the sake of it. I dont know if you have ever flown anything bigger than a paper aeroplane, but if you have you will know that you are also paid to exercise judgement in the face of commercial pressure, and said pressure is excaserbated needlessly by unwanted and unjustified "security" making our jobs significantly more difficult.
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rigpiggy
Perhaps not so obvious; as apparently Khat is not illegal in the UK!
Airport security tightened after drug bust
Supervisor accused of smuggling khat into Canada from British flights
Andrew Seymour, Ottawa Citizen
Published: Thursday, April 26, 2007
Security at Ottawa international airport has been tightened after a ramp attendant supervisor was charged with drug smuggling.
Obviously BAA's security is lacking
Supervisor accused of smuggling khat into Canada from British flights
Andrew Seymour, Ottawa Citizen
Published: Thursday, April 26, 2007
Security at Ottawa international airport has been tightened after a ramp attendant supervisor was charged with drug smuggling.
Obviously BAA's security is lacking
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Romeo India Xray
No I am not and never have been Security. If you can supply times and dates of essential medication taken from Pilots then I will believe you. Even Security are not that stupid.
Mind you I am not sure that I would like my aeroplane driver to be on medication when he is driving me. I would have thought that pilots would have to be in reasonable physical shape to cope with all of the decisions to be made which the auto pilot cannot.
I suspect that the seizing of medication from aircrew is an Urban Myth.
If you want I can supply you with lots of these..
The problem here is not that Pilots are being humiliated at security checkpoints but that we all are. There are other ways of securing safety on aircraft but unfortunately they are not easily quantifiable which is why we have the ritual humiliation system that we have at the moment.
Mind you I am not sure that I would like my aeroplane driver to be on medication when he is driving me. I would have thought that pilots would have to be in reasonable physical shape to cope with all of the decisions to be made which the auto pilot cannot.
I suspect that the seizing of medication from aircrew is an Urban Myth.
If you want I can supply you with lots of these..
The problem here is not that Pilots are being humiliated at security checkpoints but that we all are. There are other ways of securing safety on aircraft but unfortunately they are not easily quantifiable which is why we have the ritual humiliation system that we have at the moment.
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Oh dear here's one...
Paarmo... are you actually aircrew? If so you would know how frustrating it is to be checked and security screend EVERY working day whilst pax are flying roughly 2 times a year.
Pilots being on medication.... Darling, have you ever considered they might, just might, be human as well? Maybe the medication is for their hey fever, or they are only taking their vitamins, at the end of they day what you are saying is completely pointless.
As for aircrew being treated differently. 2 Right i want a different treatment! Had an intensive training for weeks on end. I know the a/c inside out, i can react in an emergency with my eyes closed, you're sick i'm looking after you, you want to get safe from A to B i'll get you there safe (it's not all autopilot these days..), and i could go on and on. Point being that yes, i DEMAND a different treatment than the majority of pax, a pax who has 6 grades on his/her name and now they're going on holiday with MY MONEY (referring to tax money that come out of my hard earned wages every dam month).
Looking at it, it's you against the majority. And the majority is very unhappy with UK's apt security. Wanna moan about it? Go to the Rant thread and leave this to us, the ones who do HAVE to deal with this issue, day in day out.
Rgds,
ATS
Pilots being on medication.... Darling, have you ever considered they might, just might, be human as well? Maybe the medication is for their hey fever, or they are only taking their vitamins, at the end of they day what you are saying is completely pointless.
As for aircrew being treated differently. 2 Right i want a different treatment! Had an intensive training for weeks on end. I know the a/c inside out, i can react in an emergency with my eyes closed, you're sick i'm looking after you, you want to get safe from A to B i'll get you there safe (it's not all autopilot these days..), and i could go on and on. Point being that yes, i DEMAND a different treatment than the majority of pax, a pax who has 6 grades on his/her name and now they're going on holiday with MY MONEY (referring to tax money that come out of my hard earned wages every dam month).
Looking at it, it's you against the majority. And the majority is very unhappy with UK's apt security. Wanna moan about it? Go to the Rant thread and leave this to us, the ones who do HAVE to deal with this issue, day in day out.
Rgds,
ATS
Last edited by Abusing_the_sky; 5th Jul 2008 at 03:12.