Originally Posted by
bdschobel
Earlier today, I flew out of Clarksburg, WV (CKB), on one of only three daily flights, all of which go to IAD. Those three daily flights (only two on Tuesdays) are tiny prop commuter planes, holding only about 30 people. Today, maybe 10 people boarded in Clarksburg. The plane already had some passengers who had boarded in Morgantown, but it was far from full. Screening the handful of departing passengers took maybe 10 minutes. I counted four TSA staff, but others may have been in their little office. I didn't see a supervisor.
Anyway, getting to my point, one of the passengers departing with me is apparently friendly with one of the TSA guys (not surprising in such a small community), and they were chatting away just a few feet from me while we all waited for the plane to arrive. The passenger asked the TSA guy, "How's it going?" to which the TSA guy went off on a rant about how stupid it is for the government to pay him (and, obviously, his colleagues) to "sit around all day." But he acknowledged that he's not going to turn down what amounts to free government money for doing no work, except for 30 minutes a day, tops. Things are tough in West Virginia!
How can the government waste money like that? Couldn't they hire part-timers? Or drive people around from one small airport to another? Or even, heaven forfend, let the United Express staff do the screening? There's got to be a better way.
Bruce
Considering I have worked at a Cat IV airport I can help to answer your questions (my airport had 2 flights a day!).
Most employees at such airports ARE part time, and almost always work split shifts. Nothing bad about split shifts - but understanding how the go ernment pays, all those hours are paid at differential rate. I believe all the Cat IV airports in the SAT hub (2 or 3) employee almost all part time hours, except for a STSO who may be full time.
There are airports around the country that TSA ships in people as you suggest, and that is much more expensive than having employees based there. TSA has to pay for their hotel and food cost for each day they are there, even the days they do not work (not TSA policy, government policy in general). Because of this TSA has actually pulled out of a handful of airports and instructed the local governments to hire a contract company to provide screening, with TSA oversight.
There may not have been a STSO there at the airport. If only one is stationed at the airport, that STSO has 2 days off a week. There will most likely be a LTSO in charge during that time, but perhaps simply just a TSO. At such airports, the highest ranking person there at any time is the STSO. No TSMs or god forbid the FSD for an upset passenger to ask for.
Those are hard airports to fill. Most employees are hired to work 20 to 30 hours a week, and split shift at that. I am not sure some of you understand this important thing: the airlines have contracts with TSA to have staff at the airport during specific times to handle unexpected events. Yes, at thise airports there is a lot of standing around, but to a large extent not much can be done about it, beside close down the airport. And this may shock you - long before TSA showed up the federal government subsidized these airports as they do not make enough to stay open, often. Many are still subsidized. Not by TSA, mind. It's simply that the fed govt has stated such airports serve a community need.
Hmmm early here. Did I cover everything? Let me know.