Newsstand - CEO of Mass Port Authority thinks air pax deserve better than TSA; so do I

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Air travelers deserve better

By Craig P. Coy, 11/17/2003

CONGRESS CREATED the Transportation Security Administration two years ago with the promise of doing a better job protecting the traveling public. Tremendous progress has been made. Every piece of checked luggage is screened or searched for explosives, significantly more federal air marshals fly aboard airline flights, and cockpit doors have been reinforced. But while layers of effective security have been added, the most obvious difference to passengers may be the long lines at security checkpoints.

They should be trained to look for terrorists -- not just pocketknives. Almost eight million knives and more than 50,000 box cutters have been confiscated since the TSA was created. Do these figures indicate that even one terrorist attack has been thwarted? How many people missed a flight because the TSA was searching for a pen knife? The TSA needs to decide if it wants to be the Transportation Screening Administration or the Transportation Security Administration.[/b]</font>

Link (http://www.boston.com/news/globe/editorial_opinion/oped/articles/2003/11/17/air_travelers_deserve_better/)

Sounds exactly like what Spiff and I have been saying from the beginning. And you can't call this guy some anti-security, foaming-at-the-mouth liberterian; he is the head of the Mass. Port Authority.

Finally, more and more people (especially those in power) are beginning to stand up and point out the nakedness of the emperor (Adm Loy). Maybe common sense will someday prevail.

Lots and lots of penknives and boxcutters. But how many terrorists?

Are there actually any terrorists out there to look for?

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/thumbsup.gif http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/thumbsup.gif

"Lots and lots of penknives and boxcutters. But how many terrorists?"

Zero

It's time to send this joke of an agency packing. And Admiral Loy and his cronies should be liable for damages for the funds they've squandered on this nonsense.

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"Give me Liberty or give me Death." - Patrick Henry

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by FWAAA:
[B] Link (http://www.boston.com/news/globe/editorial_opinion/oped/articles/2003/11/17/air_travelers_deserve_better/)


Passengers deserve a system that does not place them at the end of the line.
B]</font>

Good article. Although I think he gives the TSA more credit than I do re: able to do a better job.

Without the passengers the Airlines/TSA will not exist. Keep placing "us" at the "end of the line" and the Airlines/TSA will not exist, at least not with the present, seemingly unlimited number of employees they currently employee.

Said it before and now again: The TSA can't be taught common sense. You have it or you don't. TSA doesn't.

Locking my luggage, removing my shoes, confiscating fingernail files and children's blunt ended Dumbo/Mickey Mouse scissors, knitting needles, or even box cutters is not making anyone safer.

That said, I'm noticing a turnaround with some of our TSA posters. It appears they are beginning to see the light as we see it. Frustrated, tired of defending what their organization does. Some even admitting their only reason for staying is because it's a government job.

We are winning the battle against the redundent, wasteful TSA. Keep on keeping on...

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by CarmelGreg:
That said, I'm noticing a turnaround with some of our TSA posters. It appears they are beginning to see the light as we see it. Frustrated, tired of defending what their organization does. Some even admitting their only reason for staying is because it's a government job.</font>

I've been active here since May and I've been lurking several months before that and I haven't seen any change in the TSA screeners here. Most of them have always been happy to concede problems with the organization. I've only seen them get uppity when people like you abuse them.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by CATSA Screener:
I've been active here since May and I've been lurking several months before that and I haven't seen any change in the TSA screeners here. Most of them have always been happy to concede problems with the organization. I've only seen them get uppity when people like you abuse them.</font>

You got that right!!



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Don't take life too seriously, afterall, you won't get out alive.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by CATSA Screener:
I've been active here since May and I've been lurking several months before that and I haven't seen any change in the TSA screeners here. Most of them have always been happy to concede problems with the organization. I've only seen them get uppity when people like you abuse them.</font>

Look at some of Tuner's recent postings, Fenito's recent postings and even TSADude. They appear to me to be fed up. (V=Victory) It seems like most of the abuse is coming from an Ex-TSA person whom is still a TSA expert on current TSA issues (?) and a Canadian. Neither of your expertise is relevant when discussing the (USA) TSA since your not with the TSA, eh.

If you consider my postings abusive it's only because I point out and discredit the Proganda you spew that "WE ARE NO SAFER TODAY THAN WE WERE X (fill in the X with ANY value) YRS AGO" whilst you insist "in the Name of Safety" that I remove my freakin shoes and leave my luggage unlocked and then remind me how much safer I am because I don't have access to intel regarding shoe threats. Please... I'm abusive? You and the TSA are insulting.

Good acurate article by a qualified writer, not some nobody passenger. Hit's the nail right on the head. The question is how the heck is this absurd TSA debacle going to be fixed to make it work properly? After all the US Government are running (ruining) it?

Great article.

I'd say that the TSA is no better or worse doing their job under the current set of ground rules that private sector screeners were doing their job under previous sets of rules. It's the ground rules that need to be changed -- along with those individuals who imposed them. The change, as we all know, was incredibly wasteful for a marginal return on investment.

The biggest improvement in operational civil aviation security has been the "no cooperation with hijackers" change. Absolutely nobody in the US government can take credit for this.

"Transportation Screening Administration" is a apt description.

Hopefully along the way, the Mass Port Auth is making it clear that they did NOTHING WRONG on 9/11. Way too many times have people faulted Boston for the "breach in security" that took place.

There was no breach as all the rules were followed. The biggest breach is that the policy at that time was to allow hijackers to do whatever they wanted.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by NoStressHere:
Hopefully along the way, the Mass Port Auth is making it clear that they did NOTHING WRONG on 9/11. Way too many times have people faulted Boston for the "breach in security" that took place.

There was no breach as all the rules were followed. The biggest breach is that the policy at that time was to allow hijackers to do whatever they wanted.

</font>

Agreed. Boston's alleged security lapses (wholly without merit, as you pointed out) have taken on a life of their own, much like the popular belief (also without merit) that the Valujet crash was caused by shoddy maintenance of the plane, and by extension, that low fare carriers = shoddy maintenance.

BOS is also saddled with the MOST incompetent FSD in the nation.

How Mr. Nacarra has kept his job is WAY beyond me.

Before anyone blames the poor performance and attitude at BOS on Northeast Attitudes, MHT is one of the BEST TSA Stations in the country.

After having met Craig Coy in person I can tell you he's an idiot. He's a beauracrat plain and simple (simple should be highlighted here for multiple reasons). IF he actually understood what FF go through I would be amazed. I was at a FF meeting where he was there and got up 5 minutes into the meeting after repeating telling everyone that Senator Kennedy was coming to meet with him and walked out. The meeting was scheduled for one hour to brief him on an elite program proposal to get FF through the airport faster. He only cares about making himself look better and name dropping. Don't be fooled.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by BostonTravel:
After having met Craig Coy in person I can tell you he's an idiot. He's a beauracrat plain and simple (simple should be highlighted here for multiple reasons). IF he actually understood what FF go through I would be amazed. I was at a FF meeting where he was there and got up 5 minutes into the meeting after repeating telling everyone that Senator Kennedy was coming to meet with him and walked out. The meeting was scheduled for one hour to brief him on an elite program proposal to get FF through the airport faster. He only cares about making himself look better and name dropping. Don't be fooled.</font>

I hope you let Sen. Kennedy know what Mr. Coy did to make it to their meeting!

i don't feel much safer due to anything TSA has done. i do feel safer with the knowledge that anyone makes a questionable move on a plane these days, and they will have a lot of angry PAX to get through before they find that cockpit door.

they banned butter knives but left forks?? ...? to me that fork is a bit more dangerous than a butter knife....

TSA is a joke at the larger airports. when i travel i wear the same exact clothes, and pack my bags exactly the same every time. i find it amusing anymore to go through airport A's security and then do the same at B. PWM by far has the most stringent i have seen (due to Mr. Atta being caught on tape there the morning of 9.11).

IMHO what TSA should have done was recruit retired police officers. lets face it this is not a physically demanding job. police are used to 'screening' people every day. after 30 years they develop a sense about a persons intentions and lies, with only a few questions. i doubt that a 20 year old with x hours of suppposed training can do much more than find a box cutter (if that)....