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Originally Posted by javabytes
(Post 20368615)
Don't worry... I'm sure these rogue airports processing passengers efficiently will quickly be brought into line.
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Originally Posted by guflyer
(Post 20324805)
My hope has been that this would mean that the TSA does not have money to purchase new body scanners for the airports that do not have them.
There is no reason that the cuts should result in any delays. The TSA could easily open up the metal detectors instead of using body scanners and could have the staff that normally performs gate checks, chat-downs, etc. open new lanes. Unfortunately, the agency will likely try to make things painful for travelers. Any inconvenience caused will be artificial, and not a result of budget cuts, but a result of attempts to cause pain. Think of this being a second show put on by the same people who put on the security theater. He stated "Headquarters has told us 100% AIT". I asked if this was a written directive and he said yes. Being the cynic, I'd say headquarters is tryng to jack up the appearances of lines... but hey, I'm a cynic. They were also doing 'noob training', so many milling about in confusion- and my bag had to be rescanned due to a Dell Power Brick. (seriously) So I opted out and was able to successfully pass with 6 ounces of black tar heroin on the bottom of my feet... ;) Anyone hearing/seeing the same as a policy? I did see this previously, but more along the lines of "we use AIT as primary", but not "headquarters says 100%" |
Originally Posted by Exec_Plat
(Post 20412714)
Today I had a chat with a TSA supervisor at SMF...I was complaining about the excessive lines at the 3 open AITs, with 7,8+ people waiting- and the ONLY people getting the meagnetometer were employees.
He stated "Headquarters has told us 100% AIT". I asked if this was a written directive and he said yes. Being the cynic, I'd say headquarters is tryng to jack up the appearances of lines... but hey, I'm a cynic. They were also doing 'noob training', so many milling about in confusion- and my bag had to be rescanned due to a Dell Power Brick. (seriously) So I opted out and was able to successfully pass with 6 ounces of black tar heroin on the bottom of my feet... ;) Anyone hearing/seeing the same as a policy? I did see this previously, but more along the lines of "we use AIT as primary", but not "headquarters says 100%" |
Originally Posted by Exec_Plat
(Post 20412714)
Anyone hearing/seeing the same as a policy? I did see this previously, but more along the lines of "we use AIT as primary", but not "headquarters says 100%"
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Originally Posted by skidv25
(Post 20414107)
Absolutely, DCA and BOS come to mind as some recent airports I've been through where the WTMD was roped off. BOS wouldn't even open up the WTMD while the MMW ran through it's calibration cycle. I was forced to wait 1-2 minutes until it was done. Meanwhile, my bags had gone through the x-ray and a TSO called a bag check on them :rolleyes:.
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I find it interesting that they are starting the new knife policy right as the sequester hits. I would think having clerks measuring knife blades will surely contribute to slower screening......and thus will legitimately result in longer lines. Thoughts?
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Originally Posted by deldel
(Post 20415428)
I find it interesting that they are starting the new knife policy right as the sequester hits. I would think having clerks measuring knife blades will surely contribute to slower screening......and thus will legitimately result in longer lines. Thoughts?
As I am a machinist by trade, I would consider it smart if they would create and issue go/no go gauges and remove any possibility of error. If they were smart. It is sort of self-answering. Consider it rhetorical. |
PreCheck is being hit at IAD. It took 20 minutes to clear Precheck last Monday at IAD, and the ID checker was interrogating each passenger as to final destination and asking to see all boarding passes. Only ONE x-ray open, and the single paired WTMD. I've had much faster trips through the premium regular lines. Much faster.
At BOS (the UA/B6 terminal), only half the lines had the strip-search machines running, though the B6 "faster" line was so slow that the moat dragon took a group of us down to the UA Premium line & let us go through there. Total time to clear BOS, no precheck (and for those that identified the correct lines - no scan), was about 10 minutes. |
The games the government is playing now are fundamentally dishonest and show how governmental actors view citizens as pawns to subject in a game where pawns have no value for time and only deserve whatever whimsical opportunity the government unilaterally decides is appropriate while denied otherwise.
I am disappointed that again we have gotten a government that repeatedly disappoints for no good reason. Perhaps again we have gotten the government we deserve. Unfortunate all around. |
BNA was pretty good today even with the spring Break Weekend. Maybe 2 minutes longer than usual.
They had a table set up announcing the coming of PreCheck as well. I hope WN signs on. At BNA, there won't be many using it if they don't. At the other end, MDW, it was backed up to between the E and F sign, almost the full run of the ropes. Priority lane was wide open. |
Originally Posted by InkUnderNails
(Post 20415799)
As I am a machinist by trade, I would consider it smart if they would create and issue go/no go gauges and remove any possibility of error. .
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In Sequester Debate, White House Tours Collide with TSA
TSA a victim of the sequester was dangerous for the White House because people who hate TSA might like the cuts?
Critics argue, however, that the Executive branch is targeting budget items that are especially visible, largely in the hopes of drawing public attention to the effects of the sequester. One legislator in particular, Sen. Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), has proposed cutting $2.5 million from the Transportation Security Administration to fund the tours. Citing $50 million that the agency recently spent on "uniform-related expenses," Moran said "The same taxpayers who are funding TSA officers' new uniforms are being denied the opportunity to tour the White House -- the people's house." http://www.jaunted.com/story/2013/3/...llide+with+TSA |
Originally Posted by MetricFlyer
(Post 20441714)
they have already budgeted a one-time $50-million-dollar budget for such devices.
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Originally Posted by InkUnderNails
(Post 20442790)
Back of the envelope numbers but I could make and sell them for about $50 each and make about $40 each in profit. Add a little red and green LED and we are up to about $25 each, my cost. I could outsource them to China and get them for about $2.95.
Or, better yet, manufacture them not-quite-to-spec and accidentally discover the problem after all checkpoints have been equipped. Ask for a big $$ infusion to study the problem for a solution, announce that there isn't one, and manufacture a new (flawed in a different way) set. |
Originally Posted by chollie
(Post 20442802)
Of course, you would want to manufacture them EXACTLY to spec, so that a few months from now, you can lobby your Congressman to lobby TSA to modify the rules - slightly wider/narrower blade, mm longer or shorter. That way, TSA would have to completely replace the useless tools and you would be able to cash in a second time around. Of course, your profit would be marginally lower, because you would be expected to 'donate' generously to your Congressman...
Or, better yet, manufacture them not-quite-to-spec and accidentally discover the problem after all checkpoints have been equipped. Ask for a big $$ infusion to study the problem for a solution, announce that there isn't one, and manufacture a new (flawed in a different way) set. Seriously, an adjustable gauge with certified calibration would be about $50 to manufacture given the number of airports X the number of lanes, wild guess of 50,000 needed. So, $2.5 million, and that is at a normal tolerance of .001". At 1/10" most good machinists could make them with an ax. |
Originally Posted by InkUnderNails
(Post 20442844)
I forgot that expense in my calculation. That probably gets me up over $100 each.
Seriously, an adjustable gauge with certified calibration would be about $50 to manufacture given the number of airports X the number of lanes, wild guess of 50,000 needed. So, $2.5 million, and that is at a normal tolerance of .001". At 1/10" most good machinists could make them with an ax. |
Originally Posted by MetricFlyer
(Post 20441714)
they have already budgeted a one-time $50-million-dollar budget for such devices.
Originally Posted by InkUnderNails
(Post 20442790)
Back of the envelope numbers but I could make and sell them for about $50 each and make about $40 each in profit. Add a little red and green LED and we are up to about $25 each, my cost. I could outsource them to China and get them for about $2.95.
Originally Posted by chollie
(Post 20442802)
Of course, you would want to manufacture them EXACTLY to spec, so that a few months from now, you can lobby your Congressman to lobby TSA to modify the rules - slightly wider/narrower blade, mm longer or shorter. That way, TSA would have to completely replace the useless tools and you would be able to cash in a second time around. Of course, your profit would be marginally lower, because you would be expected to 'donate' generously to your Congressman...
Or, better yet, manufacture them not-quite-to-spec and accidentally discover the problem after all checkpoints have been equipped. Ask for a big $$ infusion to study the problem for a solution, announce that there isn't one, and manufacture a new (flawed in a different way) set.
Originally Posted by InkUnderNails
(Post 20442844)
I forgot that expense in my calculation. That probably gets me up over $100 each.
Seriously, an adjustable gauge with certified calibration would be about $50 to manufacture given the number of airports X the number of lanes, wild guess of 50,000 needed. So, $2.5 million, and that is at a normal tolerance of .001". At 1/10" most good machinists could make them with an ax. |
Oh, please! Don't you know that those sneaky tewwowists will steal the knife outline when somebody isn't looking and substitute one with a 3" knife? Then where will we be? Planes will be flying into buildings again, and our economy -- all of Western civilization, actually -- will collapse, just like it did in 2001. Remember? :)
Bruce |
Originally Posted by WillCAD
(Post 20445285)
Of course, the irony in all of this is that the TSA really WILL spend $50 million on knife guarges, when they could spend $50 on a few reams of paper and simply distribute a printable file with a drawing on it, and a colored rectangle 2.36"x1" against which a knife blade could be held. If any part of the blade sticks out of the rectangle, it's a no-go; so simple, even a cave-TSO could do it.
Besides, they'd have to hire and train specialists to distribute the paper references to the checkpoints and someone would keep stealing them..... |
I wonder if there was a TSA work action at SAN today? There was a post on the Southwest Airlines facebook page of someone stating the x-ray machines were not working and they everyone had to check their belongings. I mean seriously how could all the x-ray machines be down?
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Originally Posted by CDKing
(Post 20492140)
I wonder if there was a TSA work action at SAN today? There was a post on the Southwest Airlines facebook page of someone stating the x-ray machines were not working and they everyone had to check their belongings. I mean seriously how could all the x-ray machines be down?
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Bumping even thought the last post was mine.
During my inevitable bag check today, my checker said that I needed to start getting to the airport about two hours early. I asked what was the reason they were punishing us while knowing full well the answer. He said they were beginning furloughs and everyone was having to take a day a week off and they would be short of help. Okay, that set me off, but I was on a short fuse today anyway. I said that if it got rid of a few extra bodies and the wasted money it would be a small price to pay. I also said if I thought I could get rid of about half of the waste that was the TSA I would get there three hours early. I looked up and there was a guy in line at the end of the conveyor laughing his butt off. How dare him, on tax day no less. My income was down 2/3 last year and I have been using savings to get back in the swing of things and build a new customer base and he is crying to me about a day off a week? He should try 30 a month and not getting paid for 2.5 months of work while having to eat the travel expense because his primary customer declared bankruptcy. I got a really good bag check, too. |
Originally Posted by InkUnderNails
(Post 20597562)
Bumping even thought the last post was mine.
During my inevitable bag check today, my checker said that I needed to start getting to the airport about two hours early. I asked what was the reason they were punishing us while knowing full well the answer. He said they were beginning furloughs and everyone was having to take a day a week off and they would be short of help. Okay, that set me off, but I was on a short fuse today anyway. I said that if it got rid of a few extra bodies and the wasted money it would be a small price to pay. I also said if I thought I could get rid of about half of the waste that was the TSA I would get there three hours early. I looked up and there was a guy in line at the end of the conveyor laughing his butt off. How dare him, on tax day no less. My income was down 2/3 last year and I have been using savings to get back in the swing of things and build a new customer base and he is crying to me about a day off a week? He should try 30 a month and not getting paid for 2.5 months of work while having to eat the travel expense because his primary customer declared bankruptcy. I got a really good bag check, too. |
Originally Posted by omascreener
(Post 20597592)
Wow thats funny because everyone got an email weeks ago stating that TSA wasn't going to do furloughs.
Either way, if it stops a bit of the cash from being stuffed down a rat hole, I am for it. I really am not real generous today. |
While furloughs are not currently in effect, if circumstances change and furloughs are required, impacted employees will be provided notification 30 days prior to the effective date of the furlough. |
Originally Posted by TSOguy
(Post 20597941)
That's part of an e-mail I got from Washington four days ago. Although they did kill all of the overtime, so we're going to be shorthanded if too many people take the day off.
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Originally Posted by TSOguy
(Post 20597941)
That's part of an e-mail I got from Washington four days ago. Although they did kill all of the overtime, so we're going to be shorthanded if too many people take the day off.
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Originally Posted by TSOguy
(Post 20597941)
That's part of an e-mail I got from Washington four days ago. Although they did kill all of the overtime, so we're going to be shorthanded if too many people take the day off.
(I know, I know, I'm an optimist, but really any time like this should be an opportunity for managers to see where they can cut the fat and the waste and reallocate resources more effectively) |
Originally Posted by exbayern
(Post 20600879)
That may be an opportunity for managers to improve efficiency. The number of people who stand around doing absolutely nothing at TSA checkpoints is astounding. I've never seen that elsewhere. And the amount of goofing off is also an annoyance.
(I know, I know, I'm an optimist, but really any time like this should be an opportunity for managers to see where they can cut the fat and the waste and reallocate resources more effectively) Which only reinforces the impression that TSA is a giant jobs program for the uneducated and unskilled amongst us. Now, there are good TSOs. There are smart, educated, professional TSOs who consientiously attempt to do the job with which they're entrusted - screening passengers for weapons, explosives, and incendiaries. I just wish they were not in the minority. |
Originally Posted by WillCAD
(Post 20601027)
Not being an America, you probably don't shop in American WalMarts, K-Marts, or other such stores, or eat in our fast food restaurants, but the amount of goofing off and standing around that goes on in such places is very similar to that of the average airport. The behavior, comportment, professionalism, and communications skills, not to mention interpersonal skills, of the average TSO seems to be in line with that of the average minimum-wage person who works at one of those private venues.
Which only reinforces the impression that TSA is a giant jobs program for the uneducated and unskilled amongst us. Now, there are good TSOs. There are smart, educated, professional TSOs who consientiously attempt to do the job with which they're entrusted - screening passengers for weapons, explosives, and incendiaries. I just wish they were not in the minority. I do know that while in most of world airport screener is a profession, it isn't in America. But the behaviour is indicative of management, and if management is ok with people standing around, dancing, singing, pounding on the WTMD, making inane comments about passengers, staring into space, etc then it reflects on the management and the agency just as much as on the employees. I've been to Burger King and similar in poorer states and while perhaps there such behaviour may be tolerated, it shouldn't be tolerated at TSA. For instance, strikes I do know. Strikes are a great time for management to see how their organisation can be more efficient with fewer resources with the least amount of negative impact on the customer. A good organisation and a good management team would use this opportunity to review staffing and efficiency and make the required changes. |
Originally Posted by Boggie Dog
(Post 20598011)
What else did it say?
Subject:.......... 100 – Sequestration Update On March 1, sequestration took effect, and on March 26, TSA’s FY13 budget was enacted. I want to make sure we continue to provide you information about the combined impact on TSA. As I wrote in a TSA-wide March 7 email broadcast, our guiding principle is mission first and we will continue to focus on our three goals of risk-based security, employee engagement, and organizational efficiencies. Together we can achieve our goals, and to ensure our success, I am asking that everyone adhere to the following guidelines during sequestration. Most recently, Security Operations directed airports to limit or freeze hiring of TSOs in order to reduce spending to achieve budget levels to operate within our budget as adjusted for the sequestration. Airports have different levels of attrition that will determine their hiring needs and this approach provides more operational flexibility than a nationwide hiring freeze. Personnel levels at each airport are being monitored to best maintain operational capabilities at budget levels. Making necessary adjustments to manage our budgeted level is something we do every year, but this year with the sequestration it has been particularly challenging. Other programs may take similar actions to live within their budget. While furloughs are not currently in effect, if circumstances change and furloughs are required, impacted employees will be provided notification 30 days prior to the effective date of the furlough. In addition, as a reminder, only travel that is considered mission critical and approved by the Assistant Administrators (the top officials for TSA’s 18 Offices) will be allowed. Mission critical travel is travel associated with security operations such as Federal Air Marshal missions, security operations at the airports, and responding to natural disasters. Travel related to training is not deemed to be mission critical unless the appropriate Assistant Administrator determines that the training is directly related to security operations. All waivers to this restriction must be submitted to and approved by the Assistant Administrator. Also, as indicated in early March, we have canceled previously approved conferences, meetings that require travel, and training conferences. Likewise, all new conferences have been suspended. Bonus actions, including performance bonuses, special act awards, and on-the-spot awards, that were not processed by February 28, 2013, have been suspended. Time off awards are still permitted under heightened scrutiny, but are frozen at 2010 levels. Thank you for your hard work and service to our nation and your commitment to the safety of the traveling public. |
Originally Posted by exbayern
(Post 20600879)
That may be an opportunity for managers to improve efficiency. The number of people who stand around doing absolutely nothing at TSA checkpoints is astounding. I've never seen that elsewhere. And the amount of goofing off is also an annoyance.
(I know, I know, I'm an optimist, but really any time like this should be an opportunity for managers to see where they can cut the fat and the waste and reallocate resources more effectively) |
Not sure if it's sequester related or not, but some airports with lower traffic numbers which had a single strip search machine have lost the machines to higher traffic airports in recent months.
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Originally Posted by GUWonder
(Post 20611160)
Not sure if it's sequester related or not, but some airports with lower traffic numbers which had a single strip search machine have lost the machines to higher traffic airports in recent months.
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Originally Posted by ellinj
(Post 20611939)
All airports are having the Rapiscans removed, I am not surprised that they may be moving the L3 machines due to supply issues.
Supply or money issues, just glad that even the MMW machines have been removed from some airports that neve had the back-scatter X-ray strip search machines. |
Two data points from today. They may not mean anything.
MDW about 9 a.m.: Wide open, no waiting in either the regular or priority lanes. It was just about as open as I have ever seen MDW mid day. BNA about 1:30 p.m.: An absolute zoo. Passengers on the C side were backed up in six or seven lines all the way back into ticketing and nearly to the outside doors. Maybe they were making good on their promise to back everything up due to the sequester. Maybe just heavy traffic. The concourse itself was packed as well so maybe it was just a busy afternoon. I fly out again Sunday. Going to add an hour just in case. |
TSA furloughs may not matter so much.
http://www.cbsatlanta.com/story/2203...kick-in-sunday Air Traffic Controller furloughs set to kick in Sunday Long delays are expected to follow the FAA mandatory furlough days set to start Sunday. It could result in flight delays of more than three hours in Atlanta, as well as significant delays at major airports across the country. |
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