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TSA to trial alternate screening method to enable pilots to bypass checkpoints
The US Transportation Security Administration announced in conjunction with the US Air Transport Assn. and the Air Line Pilots Assn. union that a new crewmember screening system will be tested to determine if pilots, and potentially flight attendants, can be allowed to bypass traditional airport security checkpoints. Other organizations involved in the efforts include the Southwest Airline Pilots Assn. and the Coalition of Airline Pilots.
ATA Senior VP-Safety, Security and Operations Tom Hendricks told ATW that the system, which will rely on verifying crewmembers' identities and employment status rather than physical screening, will be tested through a pilot program at seven US airports. The airports have not been finalized, but they are likely to be "fairly large hubs in the system where we can pressure test this and see if we can roll it out" on a wider basis, he explained.
He noted that ATA and ALPA "made the case to TSA last week" that physically screening pilots in the traditional manner makes little sense given that flight crew has already undergone extensive background testing. Furthermore, they argued, pilots have unfettered access to cockpits and wouldn't need the kinds of weapons searched for at checkpoints to cause harm to aircraft. The system to be trialed aims to "satisfy security needs and free up TSA resources to improve passenger flow," Hendricks said.
The system to be tested is similar to the alternate screening method called the Crew Personnel Advanced Screening System, or CrewPASS, developed by AIRINC and used at three US East Coast airports for about three years. "This enhanced process leverages current technology to provide an effective and cost efficient solution," according to the joint statement.
Pilots at test program airports will present picture IDs and other information to TSA personnel who will use electronic databases to verify the flight crewmember's identity. The pilot would then be allowed access to the airside area of the airport without going through security checkpoint lanes.
Hendricks said that the program's "stated goal" is to eventually include flight attendants, but that is not likely to happen until after it is cleared for pilots. The test program will begin "later this year" and last for about 90 days, according to TSA.
"I look forward to the full national deployment of a known crewmember program at the earliest possible date," ALPA President Captain Lee Moak said in a statement. "As professional airline pilots, we have been through employment checks; we have been fingerprinted; we have been through criminal background checks. We are the most highly screened employees in the aviation industry."
TSA Administrator John Pistole added, "Deploying an enhanced screening program for pilots in uniform that allows TSA to verify their employment and identity is a step in the right direction as TSA continues to explore more risk-based, intelligence-driven security solutions. We want to focus our limited resources on passenger screening."
The US Transportation Security Administration announced in conjunction with the US Air Transport Assn. and the Air Line Pilots Assn. union that a new crewmember screening system will be tested to determine if pilots, and potentially flight attendants, can be allowed to bypass traditional airport security checkpoints. Other organizations involved in the efforts include the Southwest Airline Pilots Assn. and the Coalition of Airline Pilots.
ATA Senior VP-Safety, Security and Operations Tom Hendricks told ATW that the system, which will rely on verifying crewmembers' identities and employment status rather than physical screening, will be tested through a pilot program at seven US airports. The airports have not been finalized, but they are likely to be "fairly large hubs in the system where we can pressure test this and see if we can roll it out" on a wider basis, he explained.
He noted that ATA and ALPA "made the case to TSA last week" that physically screening pilots in the traditional manner makes little sense given that flight crew has already undergone extensive background testing. Furthermore, they argued, pilots have unfettered access to cockpits and wouldn't need the kinds of weapons searched for at checkpoints to cause harm to aircraft. The system to be trialed aims to "satisfy security needs and free up TSA resources to improve passenger flow," Hendricks said.
The system to be tested is similar to the alternate screening method called the Crew Personnel Advanced Screening System, or CrewPASS, developed by AIRINC and used at three US East Coast airports for about three years. "This enhanced process leverages current technology to provide an effective and cost efficient solution," according to the joint statement.
Pilots at test program airports will present picture IDs and other information to TSA personnel who will use electronic databases to verify the flight crewmember's identity. The pilot would then be allowed access to the airside area of the airport without going through security checkpoint lanes.
Hendricks said that the program's "stated goal" is to eventually include flight attendants, but that is not likely to happen until after it is cleared for pilots. The test program will begin "later this year" and last for about 90 days, according to TSA.
"I look forward to the full national deployment of a known crewmember program at the earliest possible date," ALPA President Captain Lee Moak said in a statement. "As professional airline pilots, we have been through employment checks; we have been fingerprinted; we have been through criminal background checks. We are the most highly screened employees in the aviation industry."
TSA Administrator John Pistole added, "Deploying an enhanced screening program for pilots in uniform that allows TSA to verify their employment and identity is a step in the right direction as TSA continues to explore more risk-based, intelligence-driven security solutions. We want to focus our limited resources on passenger screening."