Long TSA Lines [merged threads]
Mar 3, 2016 | 12:28 pm
#46
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Is Neffenger as incompetent as the last TSA Administrator?
Mar 3, 2016 | 12:43 pm
#47
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Neffenger spoke loud and clear.
His number one priority is to improve test scores.
He believes low test scores can be attributed to TSOs trying to work too quickly. He believes that long lines and slow screenings are indicators of more thorough screening that will result in higher test scores.
I suspect he could pick a couple target airports and insist that every single pax receive a grope and every single bag be searched and he would still get poor test scores.
Having two and three times the staff you need cluttering up checkpoints with their presence, their cellphones and their distracted personal chatter, often with other screeners actively involved in doing something, is a part of the problem he refuses to address. Refusing to acknowledge that the current application of 'screener discretion' (ie, no rules, anything goes, zero oversight) is another reason why TSOs will continue to 'find' deadly threats like well-frosted cupcakes, nitro pills, Buzz Lightyear Grip Toys and funky high heels while missing the Red Team threats.
If wait times double and there's still no significant improvement in test scores (especially with all these academy-trained TSOs), then what? Send them all back to the academy for refresher training?
His number one priority is to improve test scores.
He believes low test scores can be attributed to TSOs trying to work too quickly. He believes that long lines and slow screenings are indicators of more thorough screening that will result in higher test scores.
I suspect he could pick a couple target airports and insist that every single pax receive a grope and every single bag be searched and he would still get poor test scores.
Having two and three times the staff you need cluttering up checkpoints with their presence, their cellphones and their distracted personal chatter, often with other screeners actively involved in doing something, is a part of the problem he refuses to address. Refusing to acknowledge that the current application of 'screener discretion' (ie, no rules, anything goes, zero oversight) is another reason why TSOs will continue to 'find' deadly threats like well-frosted cupcakes, nitro pills, Buzz Lightyear Grip Toys and funky high heels while missing the Red Team threats.
If wait times double and there's still no significant improvement in test scores (especially with all these academy-trained TSOs), then what? Send them all back to the academy for refresher training?
Mar 3, 2016 | 1:19 pm
#49
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Neffenger spoke loud and clear.
His number one priority is to improve test scores.
He believes low test scores can be attributed to TSOs trying to work too quickly. He believes that long lines and slow screenings are indicators of more thorough screening that will result in higher test scores.
I suspect he could pick a couple target airports and insist that every single pax receive a grope and every single bag be searched and he would still get poor test scores.
Having two and three times the staff you need cluttering up checkpoints with their presence, their cellphones and their distracted personal chatter, often with other screeners actively involved in doing something, is a part of the problem he refuses to address. Refusing to acknowledge that the current application of 'screener discretion' (ie, no rules, anything goes, zero oversight) is another reason why TSOs will continue to 'find' deadly threats like well-frosted cupcakes, nitro pills, Buzz Lightyear Grip Toys and funky high heels while missing the Red Team threats.
If wait times double and there's still no significant improvement in test scores (especially with all these academy-trained TSOs), then what? Send them all back to the academy for refresher training?
His number one priority is to improve test scores.
He believes low test scores can be attributed to TSOs trying to work too quickly. He believes that long lines and slow screenings are indicators of more thorough screening that will result in higher test scores.
I suspect he could pick a couple target airports and insist that every single pax receive a grope and every single bag be searched and he would still get poor test scores.
Having two and three times the staff you need cluttering up checkpoints with their presence, their cellphones and their distracted personal chatter, often with other screeners actively involved in doing something, is a part of the problem he refuses to address. Refusing to acknowledge that the current application of 'screener discretion' (ie, no rules, anything goes, zero oversight) is another reason why TSOs will continue to 'find' deadly threats like well-frosted cupcakes, nitro pills, Buzz Lightyear Grip Toys and funky high heels while missing the Red Team threats.
If wait times double and there's still no significant improvement in test scores (especially with all these academy-trained TSOs), then what? Send them all back to the academy for refresher training?
That would mean not letting the State Department know.
Mar 3, 2016 | 1:21 pm
#50
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Besides, if people keep hearing about the limited and unpredictable availability of Pre, the multiple and unpredictable 'flavors' of Pre, and the long lines in Pre (see one of the recent photos posted on @AskTSA), I can't see them rushing to sign up.
Slightly OT: @AskTSA's completely tone-deaf comment on the photo complaining about the enormously long Pre line was that it's an expedited experience, so the line will move quickly.
Mar 3, 2016 | 1:42 pm
#51
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A short regional flight, say DAL to AUS. About 50 minutes gate to gate. Plus 2 to 3 hours for TSA and 30 minutes or so for boarding time. Total trip time, not counting the time it takes to get to the airport, 4:30 hours.
Going by car is faster.
Going by car is faster.
Mar 3, 2016 | 2:33 pm
#52
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As I've posted elsewhere, I think Neffenger is going to justify the long lines by greater attention to security instead of 'customer service' - then he's going to ask for $$$ to greatly increase the number of non-working staff hanging around open checkpoints instead of staffing closed checkpoints.
Presidents Fiscal Year (FY) 2017 Budget, which includes $7.6 billion for the Transportation Security Administration (TSA).
$3.0 billion to support 42,848 FTE Transportation Security Officers (TSOs), an increase of $72.1 million and 323 FTE over FY 2016, to ensure effective screening operations while minimizing wait times. This funding will help to ensure that TSA maintains an appropriate staffing level at our checkpoints.
$116.6 million to provide training for TSA frontline employees, including new basic training initiated in January 2016 at the TSA Academy located at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center in Glynco, Georgia.
$3.0 billion to support 42,848 FTE Transportation Security Officers (TSOs), an increase of $72.1 million and 323 FTE over FY 2016, to ensure effective screening operations while minimizing wait times. This funding will help to ensure that TSA maintains an appropriate staffing level at our checkpoints.
$116.6 million to provide training for TSA frontline employees, including new basic training initiated in January 2016 at the TSA Academy located at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center in Glynco, Georgia.
A disproportionate focus on efficiency and speed in screening operations rather than security effectiveness powerfully influenced organizational culture and officer performance. As a result, there was significant pressure to clear passengers quickly at the risk of not resolving alarms properly. Our analysis also revealed that our screeners did not fully understand the capabilities and limitations of the equipment they were using, and several procedures were inadequate to resolve alarms. We have addressed this by continuing the Mission Essentials training initiated in FY 2016 so that our TSOs can more effectively use their equipment as threats evolve.
Mar 3, 2016 | 2:52 pm
#53
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Mar 3, 2016 | 4:26 pm
#54
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Mar 6, 2016 | 8:05 pm
#55
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How much longer it will be last? Are they going to hired more screeners? Neffy had to go now. He won't have a chance. He gotta go now!
It's time to end the TSA. Now!
Bring the private contractor into airports. Hire more screeners immediately and start on the job training. Better stepped it up the plate and stop wasting their time!
It's time to end the TSA. Now!
Bring the private contractor into airports. Hire more screeners immediately and start on the job training. Better stepped it up the plate and stop wasting their time!
Mar 8, 2016 | 6:20 am
#56
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An update:
The full story is here:
Atlanta Journal Constitution: TSA pledges airport fixes for summer (Posted: 6:28 p.m. Monday, March 7, 2016)
Hoping to avert a summer meltdown, federal officials said Monday they plan to make changes in airport security screening to ease growing lines in Atlanta and other U.S. cities.
Airport officials are rightfully concerned about delays, as we are, Peter Neffenger, chief of the Transportation Security Administration, said after meeting in Atlanta with officials from Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport and Delta Air Lines.
Neffenger said the TSA will use more overtime to boost staffing, speed up training of new screeners, deploy more dog teams that augment human workers and try new techniques and wait-line configurations to speed the process.
Its a production problem. What were doing is looking at the industrial engineering, he said.
Airport officials are rightfully concerned about delays, as we are, Peter Neffenger, chief of the Transportation Security Administration, said after meeting in Atlanta with officials from Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport and Delta Air Lines.
Neffenger said the TSA will use more overtime to boost staffing, speed up training of new screeners, deploy more dog teams that augment human workers and try new techniques and wait-line configurations to speed the process.
Its a production problem. What were doing is looking at the industrial engineering, he said.
Atlanta Journal Constitution: TSA pledges airport fixes for summer (Posted: 6:28 p.m. Monday, March 7, 2016)
Mar 8, 2016 | 9:06 am
#59
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Long Lines - Are They Really Due to Increased Passenger Volume? [merged threads]
It's now national news, on the CBS Evening News Sunday night:
Prepare to wait longer in airport security lines
A print version is available on the New York CBS station website:
MARCH 6, 2016, 6:17 PM|If you have been to an airport recently, you may have noticed that security lines are getting longer. Officials are blaming inadequate federal funding for a drop in the number of TSA screeners. Jamie Yuccas reports.
TSA: Longer Airport Security Lines May Be Here To Stay
<snip>
Nationally, the number of TSA screeners is down 15 percent since 2011.
TSA Administrator Peter Neffenger told Congress last week that the agency is taking steps to do more with less.
We are rethinking how we invest in technology, and are partnering with several airlines and airports to develop in near future a dramatic improved a passenger screening environment in couple of key airports, Neffenger said.
<snip>
Nationally, the number of TSA screeners is down 15 percent since 2011.
TSA Administrator Peter Neffenger told Congress last week that the agency is taking steps to do more with less.
We are rethinking how we invest in technology, and are partnering with several airlines and airports to develop in near future a dramatic improved a passenger screening environment in couple of key airports, Neffenger said.
<snip>
Mar 8, 2016 | 10:01 am
#60
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AskTSA is currently claiming that the Pre experience is generally 10 minutes or less.
The rest of the two+ hour curb-to-gate delays is the wait in the Pre (or regular) line to the xray belt.
AskTSA doesn't believe TSA is responsible for the time you spend waiting in line. Apparently their calculations start from the time you load your belongings on the belt.
TSA blames the staffing levels, the same levels they've had since 2011. Is Neffenger really saying that from 2011-2016, TSA failed its core mission, because for five years, TSA exposed pax to an unacceptably high level of risk to keep lines moving with a short staff.
Congress should set up hearings and go after Pistole if this is true. He not only did not earn his pay, he put countless thousands of Americans at risk, according to Neffenger.
Meanwhile...has Neffenger done anything to control the crimes and exposures involving TSOs with outdated background checks and unchallenged access to the sterile areas?
The rest of the two+ hour curb-to-gate delays is the wait in the Pre (or regular) line to the xray belt.
AskTSA doesn't believe TSA is responsible for the time you spend waiting in line. Apparently their calculations start from the time you load your belongings on the belt.
TSA blames the staffing levels, the same levels they've had since 2011. Is Neffenger really saying that from 2011-2016, TSA failed its core mission, because for five years, TSA exposed pax to an unacceptably high level of risk to keep lines moving with a short staff.
Congress should set up hearings and go after Pistole if this is true. He not only did not earn his pay, he put countless thousands of Americans at risk, according to Neffenger.
Meanwhile...has Neffenger done anything to control the crimes and exposures involving TSOs with outdated background checks and unchallenged access to the sterile areas?