Originally Posted by
eyecue
The term GSC means Ground Security Coordinator. They are the persons that are representing the airlines in issues of security. They are the ones that tell you that you cannot fly. When TSA finds something wrong that warrants calling the GSC to make a determination about the issue, the TSA can make a recommendation to the GSC about whether or not the passenger should fly. This is according to federal law and also according to that law, the GSC is not allowed to over ride TSA recommendations.
From a hearing before a subcommittee of the Senate Committee on Appropriations, OVERSIGHT HEARING ON PASSENGER SCREENING AND AIRLINE AUTHORITY TO DENY BOARDING
June 24, 2004:
In a case where a passenger is removed as a result of a security incident, TSA officials cooperate with the air
carrier's ground security coordinator, law enforcement agencies and other Government agencies to determine whether or not the removed passenger does, in fact, pose a threat to civil aviation security. TSA's role in clearing a passenger consists of performing any necessary rescreening of the passenger and their belongings and a recheck of the passenger's name against Government watch lists if deemed necessary......
Clearly delineate the appropriate lines of communication and decision making in such incidents. For example: (i.)
require that one individual, such as the ground security
coordinator, take charge of coordinating the decision making process; (ii.) require that airline security departments, as well as its central dispatchers, be consulted prior to any decision to refuse transport; (iii.) specify which airline employees should and may be informed of the situation and under what circumstances; (iv.) specify who finally determines whether to refuse transportation (e.g. dispatcher in conjunction with Captain).
Clearly, in these instances of a passenger possibly being removed from a flight, the GSC takes precedence over the TSA.