quote:

application of commonsense seems to have evaporated.

sums it up for my part.

The treatment of crewmembers is sometimes a disgrace and has nothing to do with real security.


911 serves as an apology for everything that "securitymadmen" (aka controlfreaks n our governments and even in local police and airport management) ever dreamed about.

Now, all of a sudden, they are IMPORTANT.

Civil rights, human rights, commonsense throw it all out of the window, who cares the ... (f-word)

It just sucks.

The situation has rsulted in people that would be stretching their intellects turning burgers in McDonalds able to boss people about and Lord it over even the most mighty pilot. I'm told that some TSA person in the States is alleged to have said to one of our pilots "up there you may be God, but down here you are nothing!" (but as with ALL aviation stories which I have found to be utter fables, probably that one is rubbish too!), but whether to believe that one is another point.

I walk through these security-checkpoints every day, and it strikes me...

These things are metal-detectors... Nowadays, with all the fine composites and plastics we have, a knifeblade made of kevlar or carbon would easily pass through the detector unnoticed, and it would certainly do just as good a job as one of metal would...

....and some people still say that the the aircrafts, terminals, and airside is sterile?

You must be even dumber than anyone ever gave you credit for...

Fact is, nothing is perfectly sterile, and anyone working at an airport (exept those dealing with security of course) will know of many loopholes around the security-system. They may not use it, but they know of it...

If anyone working airside at an airport would feel the urge to commit to wrong-doings, they would know how to..

...and a pilot with the same urge wouldn't even have to bring anything with him/her... Simply pushing the yoke on short final would do the trick...

When I fly from my home base I always carry one of those 'leatherman' type multitools. It has a razor sharp blade amongst other useful things. This is allowed at EDI. However if I position to somewhere I have to leave it in the car lest it get confuscated. How come I'm trusted to look after it when I fly but not when I'm down the back?

I think most genuine, professional airline crews agree ... the whole thing is ridiculous, insulting and demeaning!

Let's just agree on one more thing - a date. Pick a date - let's say July 1st, and on that date we all make a stand - worldwide - on screening of professional crews with valid security passes.

It's time we stand together on this issue.

Sawbones - I am with you - its time for solidarity amongst crews on this issue.

Perhaps April 1st would be a better date!

IF we go back to the original story, as reported by flaps forty, we can conclude that the pilot in question was an idiot and clearly was trying to make a statement...which sadly misfired.


IF problems arise, call for a supervisor....works for me, every darn time. :ok:

Come on 411, Flaps also elaborated later on with the details. The captain was made to walk through the gate three times and being told he walked too fast. Maybe you posses the patience of Job but some of us do not. Doesn't necessarily make one an IDIOT .

Again based on the additional information posted by Flaps, some might think the airport authorities over-reacted just a little?

411A, now who is the IDIOT?
Get you facts strait before posting dude!

No we can't, as is well documented here.

However, had this individual been a pax, this thread would have a very, very, very, very different slant. Such comments as above would unquestionably be roundly applauded.

Hey ho, what do I know anyway as a lowly "clerk." :rolleyes:

We have the situation at Liverpool where the crew's carry on crew bags are opened and searched whereas that of the passengers just goes through the screening.

I know all the arguements where any one could get hold of a crew uniform and forge an ID pass etc, but I am getting fed up with the monotonous jokes from the security staff about wanting to see what the cabin crew have taken for lunch

Does this happen to every single crew member passing through? Because it doesn't seem to at MAN based on what I have seen, they appear to get picked on as randomly as pax.

Spare a thought for the poor security staff please. These people are paid next to nothing have minimal training or even experience of aviation, they are only doing the things they are told to do. Try to remember that many of them loose their jobs on a regular basis because of so called infringements by people posing as passengers or aircrew while trying to get past security carrying prohibited items. They dont know if you are a real pilot who needs to file his nails on the way across the pond or just some smart dick from the Dept for Transport trying to catch them out.

".......and Lord it over even the most mighty pilot" (quote from rainboe)

Might (pardon the pun) I ask how one becomes qualified to be termed a 'mighty pilot'? Does it require an apprenticeship period, perhaps a 'mighty pilot training captain' training a 'meek and mild trainee' in the skills required of mightiness?

How does one know if one has reached this lofty plateau? Is it possible to be mighty and not realise it or, perish the thought, think one is mighty but in actual fact not be?

Is it possible to progress further having achieved mightyness, say after a suitable period of consolidation and security guard abuse, and apply for beatification?

Where do I apply?

Answers on a postcard......................

As much as I can understand the frustration he must have felt that just isn’t the way to handle it and the pilot in question should have been smart enough to understand that.

I’m surprised that he wasn’t stopped long before he reached the plane after leaving security un-cleared.

I think it's fairly obvious Rainboe was applying irony in the use of the word "mighty". That is, he is exagerating the perceived gulf in "status" between these ex-con, Police Academy, Wannabe, Rent-a-Cop nazis and the slightly better-educated white-collar pilots over whom they enjoy holding 30 seconds of power. Of course none of us are really mighty so you needn't worry about being left behind. Did you detect my irony? Or was it sarcasm... it's a fine line.

Onya, 212man, another victim of Small Man/Airplane/Dick (take your pick) Syndrome. You and eel401 might be good friends by the sound of it.

If you're going to whack off about "mightyness", at least try to spell it correctly! You might look a bit of a t*** otherwise!!


For the ignorant, everyone knows Might is achieved with ATPL.... or is it ?

Thanks Itchybum, you could see it but there are people following me about the information superhighway determined to see everything the way they want to. Getting a scary place this superhighway- definitely not for a quite stroll on a sunny afternoon with people like that about!

I don't know about might, one could say 'soldier ants could even bring down a mighty slug'.......is that implying slugs are some sort of Conan figure? Let them see it how they want!

Next- is an ATPL so mighty? Well I'm pleased with it- it took a lot of work, and I haven't killed anyone so far! Perhaps they wouldn't mind if we got back to Security Checks and not me?

You may just have to eat humble pie, Itchybum, because "mightiness" is the correct spelling. I only comment this time because (while correct spelling etc would be ideal here as elsewhere, it is a lot to expect of everyone who may hail from anywhere) I often see your type of criticism appearing when the thread is going down the usual drain. Surely spelling is not the issue here and it is unbecoming to use it as a put-down.

Itchybum, I apologise unreservedly for one aspect of my criticism of you for I see that 212man has spelled the word both ways in his text. Hedging his bets, I expect! Still, I feel that too often we find criticisms of spelling etc in these pages. I\'m sure that only a minority would deliberately spell badly while far too many choose deliberately to abuse others in their posts - they would surely merit your ire.

For goodness sakes. The contributions above this are childish and could make the non-flying reader think we are a bunch of kids who deserve some discipline from the security people.

Please desist, non-pro pilots. This is not your place.