Originally Posted by
HSVTSO Dean
Regardless of the specific type of pat-down performed, however, the fact remains that a lot more people are getting patted down than used to. Granted, there's a lot of misunderstanding going about — such as the belief that the palm of the hand is used to screen buttocks and breasts and such — and these things inflame passions even in people that do not fly and have never undergone the screening themselves, but the simple and plain fact remains that the majority of people just don't like to be touched without a good reason.
Most here have seen pictures and video or experienced themselves a front of hand pat down on breasts and/or buttocks. It exists, even if it isn't trained that way. And that must speak to poor training or poor reinforcement of skills amongst your agency. Both of you tend not to tell us 'it didn't happen' or insinuate that we are lying, and many of us truly can report such things are happening to us.
You also overlook the war on skirts; I have been told by several people now in your agency that there is a directive that either ALL skirts or MOST skirts now require a pat down. That was not the case in past (and granted, it still varies remarkably from airport to airport)
Again, just because things are done a certain way in GSO and HSV doesn't mean that they are done that way in ORD, or SAT, or DEN or any number of other airports. There is far too much inconsistency happening right now and that is one reason why you have lost public trust. Masking poor training and poor leadership under the guise of 'planned inconsitency' is just insulting to your customers.