Are HHMD making a comeback?
Apr 29, 2014 | 8:20 pm
#31
Join Date: Nov 2008
Posts: 3,657
I'm not GSOLTSO, but since you seem to be unable to understand what he is saying ...
HHMDs are not part of current documented TSA screening procedures. Now, GSOLTSO is not omniscient, so he can't say "I know with 100% certainty that there are no HHMDs in use at any TSA checkpoint anywhere in the country, in any and every screening situation." If he did say that, everyone here would jump all over him for reporting incorrect information, based on the largely unsourced and unverified reports referenced at the beginning of this thread. So, instead, GSOLTSO gives a completely accurate and precise statement: as far as he knows, HHMDs aren't currently approved for use in screening.
If you're asking him to testify regarding "facts" stated here that have not been sourced, and for which he has no access to information to verify them, of course he's not going to answer the question directly --- BECAUSE HE CAN'T.
GSOLTSO is one of the few TSOs participating here in FT who will state clearly what he knows and what he doesn't know, and what he can and cannot discuss. He has earned the respect of many FT participants as a result.
But if you want to focus on playing word games instead of discussing the matter at hand, feel free.
Apr 29, 2014 | 11:34 pm
#32
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: BHM
Programs: AAdvantage
Posts: 83
*sigh*
I'm not GSOLTSO, but since you seem to be unable to understand what he is saying ...
HHMDs are not part of current documented TSA screening procedures. Now, GSOLTSO is not omniscient, so he can't say "I know with 100% certainty that there are no HHMDs in use at any TSA checkpoint anywhere in the country, in any and every screening situation." If he did say that, everyone here would jump all over him for reporting incorrect information, based on the largely unsourced and unverified reports referenced at the beginning of this thread. So, instead, GSOLTSO gives a completely accurate and precise statement: as far as he knows, HHMDs aren't currently approved for use in screening.
If you're asking him to testify regarding "facts" stated here that have not been sourced, and for which he has no access to information to verify them, of course he's not going to answer the question directly --- BECAUSE HE CAN'T.
GSOLTSO is one of the few TSOs participating here in FT who will state clearly what he knows and what he doesn't know, and what he can and cannot discuss. He has earned the respect of many FT participants as a result.
But if you want to focus on playing word games instead of discussing the matter at hand, feel free.
I'm not GSOLTSO, but since you seem to be unable to understand what he is saying ...
HHMDs are not part of current documented TSA screening procedures. Now, GSOLTSO is not omniscient, so he can't say "I know with 100% certainty that there are no HHMDs in use at any TSA checkpoint anywhere in the country, in any and every screening situation." If he did say that, everyone here would jump all over him for reporting incorrect information, based on the largely unsourced and unverified reports referenced at the beginning of this thread. So, instead, GSOLTSO gives a completely accurate and precise statement: as far as he knows, HHMDs aren't currently approved for use in screening.
If you're asking him to testify regarding "facts" stated here that have not been sourced, and for which he has no access to information to verify them, of course he's not going to answer the question directly --- BECAUSE HE CAN'T.
GSOLTSO is one of the few TSOs participating here in FT who will state clearly what he knows and what he doesn't know, and what he can and cannot discuss. He has earned the respect of many FT participants as a result.
But if you want to focus on playing word games instead of discussing the matter at hand, feel free.
I don't know for certain what the specific orders were regarding HHMDs once their use was officially discontinued (store them, sell them, or destroy them), but apparently a few folks at various airports had sense enough to keep one or two of them handy in case a need arose to quickly and effectively resolve a WTMD alarm. I can't help but wonder, though, if this isn't the sort of logical, practical thinking that might get a TSO in trouble with higher-ups because the use of HHMDs is no longer officially sanctioned despite their obvious benefits of time-savings and concise resolution, not to mention their minimal invasiveness in use.
Apr 30, 2014 | 2:54 am
#33
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Greensboro
Programs: TSA
Posts: 2,496
Alas, that is beyond my meager sphere of influence. I could buy you a coffee next time you come through GSO... If you ever make it here!
^
I already gave you the only answer I can.
Well, he did by saying that they weren't part of normal clearing procedures at this time, so in that sense he provided you with a straight answer that had new information. Anecdotally, HHMDs appear to be making their way back into the mix recently, but until they're almost universal we don't know if/when they'll [once again] be a part of the SOP to clear a WTMD alarm.
I already gave you the only answer I can.
Apr 30, 2014 | 2:55 am
#34
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Greensboro
Programs: TSA
Posts: 2,496
*sigh*
I'm not GSOLTSO, but since you seem to be unable to understand what he is saying ...
HHMDs are not part of current documented TSA screening procedures. Now, GSOLTSO is not omniscient, so he can't say "I know with 100% certainty that there are no HHMDs in use at any TSA checkpoint anywhere in the country, in any and every screening situation." If he did say that, everyone here would jump all over him for reporting incorrect information, based on the largely unsourced and unverified reports referenced at the beginning of this thread. So, instead, GSOLTSO gives a completely accurate and precise statement: as far as he knows, HHMDs aren't currently approved for use in screening.
If you're asking him to testify regarding "facts" stated here that have not been sourced, and for which he has no access to information to verify them, of course he's not going to answer the question directly --- BECAUSE HE CAN'T.
GSOLTSO is one of the few TSOs participating here in FT who will state clearly what he knows and what he doesn't know, and what he can and cannot discuss. He has earned the respect of many FT participants as a result.
But if you want to focus on playing word games instead of discussing the matter at hand, feel free.
I'm not GSOLTSO, but since you seem to be unable to understand what he is saying ...
HHMDs are not part of current documented TSA screening procedures. Now, GSOLTSO is not omniscient, so he can't say "I know with 100% certainty that there are no HHMDs in use at any TSA checkpoint anywhere in the country, in any and every screening situation." If he did say that, everyone here would jump all over him for reporting incorrect information, based on the largely unsourced and unverified reports referenced at the beginning of this thread. So, instead, GSOLTSO gives a completely accurate and precise statement: as far as he knows, HHMDs aren't currently approved for use in screening.
If you're asking him to testify regarding "facts" stated here that have not been sourced, and for which he has no access to information to verify them, of course he's not going to answer the question directly --- BECAUSE HE CAN'T.
GSOLTSO is one of the few TSOs participating here in FT who will state clearly what he knows and what he doesn't know, and what he can and cannot discuss. He has earned the respect of many FT participants as a result.
But if you want to focus on playing word games instead of discussing the matter at hand, feel free.
Apr 30, 2014 | 4:38 am
#35
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2012
Posts: 3,526
*sigh*
I'm not GSOLTSO, but since you seem to be unable to understand what he is saying ...
HHMDs are not part of current documented TSA screening procedures. Now, GSOLTSO is not omniscient, so he can't say "I know with 100% certainty that there are no HHMDs in use at any TSA checkpoint anywhere in the country, in any and every screening situation." If he did say that, everyone here would jump all over him for reporting incorrect information, based on the largely unsourced and unverified reports referenced at the beginning of this thread. So, instead, GSOLTSO gives a completely accurate and precise statement: as far as he knows, HHMDs aren't currently approved for use in screening.
If you're asking him to testify regarding "facts" stated here that have not been sourced, and for which he has no access to information to verify them, of course he's not going to answer the question directly --- BECAUSE HE CAN'T.
GSOLTSO is one of the few TSOs participating here in FT who will state clearly what he knows and what he doesn't know, and what he can and cannot discuss. He has earned the respect of many FT participants as a result.
But if you want to focus on playing word games instead of discussing the matter at hand, feel free.
I'm not GSOLTSO, but since you seem to be unable to understand what he is saying ...
HHMDs are not part of current documented TSA screening procedures. Now, GSOLTSO is not omniscient, so he can't say "I know with 100% certainty that there are no HHMDs in use at any TSA checkpoint anywhere in the country, in any and every screening situation." If he did say that, everyone here would jump all over him for reporting incorrect information, based on the largely unsourced and unverified reports referenced at the beginning of this thread. So, instead, GSOLTSO gives a completely accurate and precise statement: as far as he knows, HHMDs aren't currently approved for use in screening.
If you're asking him to testify regarding "facts" stated here that have not been sourced, and for which he has no access to information to verify them, of course he's not going to answer the question directly --- BECAUSE HE CAN'T.
GSOLTSO is one of the few TSOs participating here in FT who will state clearly what he knows and what he doesn't know, and what he can and cannot discuss. He has earned the respect of many FT participants as a result.
But if you want to focus on playing word games instead of discussing the matter at hand, feel free.
Last edited by petaluma1; Apr 30, 2014 at 4:48 am
Apr 30, 2014 | 7:38 am
#36
Join Date: Nov 2008
Posts: 3,657
We may all disagree with the preposterous limits on SSI imposed by the TSA on its employees, but our disagreement with them does not change the fact that they are there. There are limits on what GSOLTSO is allowed to say publicly without losing his job. And while some TSOs have chosen to forfeit their jobs in order to speak publicly, or only speak off-the-record in private messages, GSOLTSO chooses to work within those limits in order to bring us whatever public information he can on an ongoing basis.
There are many TSA employees whose public statements I would characterize as "smug and coy". (Some of them have posted in this forum.) GSOLTSO is not one of them.
May 1, 2014 | 12:19 am
#37
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: 대한민국 (South Korea) - ex-PVG (上海)
Programs: UA MM / LT Gold (LT UC), DL SM, AA PLT (AC), OZ, KE; GE and Korean SES (like GE); Marriott Gold
Posts: 1,995
Maybe you should lighten up a bit? I thought his comment was pretty funny. I've seen many high-heel-wearing downfalls myself!
May 2, 2014 | 2:44 am
#39
Suspended
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Watchlisted by the prejudiced, en route to purgatory
Programs: Just Say No to Fleecing and Blacklisting
Posts: 102,077
By the way, the US GAO is annoyed that the TSA doesn't know how to count and/or TSA doesn't care to keep consistent count. It's one of the biggest problems when it comes to GAO's attempted studies of the TSA strip-search machine use and various other things TSA-screening related.
I'm used to hearing GAO off-the-record gripes with various parts of the government, but from what I hear TSA is in a league of its own when it comes to even that.
Some people consider the use of word games to be a sign of smug and coy play. Whether or not such thing was being done -- and let's not assume it was -- there is no limit imposed by the TSA upon TSA employees that prohibits mention of the following phrase: alternative screening procedures.
Last edited by GUWonder; May 2, 2014 at 2:52 am
May 2, 2014 | 1:48 pm
#40
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: gggrrrovvveee (ORD)
Programs: UA Pt, Marriott Ti, Hertz PC, Avis PC
Posts: 6,095
and geez, people are sure touchy (er, no pun intended when it comes to a TSA screening thread!) 'round these here parts.