TSA slowdown / sickout
Jan 24, 2019, 12:54 pm
#256
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Jan 24, 2019, 12:57 pm
#257
Join Date: May 2010
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Certainly over dramatic, but there are legitimate concerns being raised by law enforcement and security professionals.
Jan 24, 2019, 1:18 pm
#258
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Yes I know extremely it's unlikely. But my position for years has been that the TSA needs to be disbanded with aviation-passenger security re-booted from scratch. A prolonged shutdown is a potential trigger for that.
Jan 24, 2019, 1:22 pm
#259
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A big percentage of TSA workers won’t even be needed once airports go to biometric gates. Scan your ID and/or boarding pass, scan a thumbprint, and that’s it.
Jan 24, 2019, 2:01 pm
#260
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Jan 24, 2019, 2:12 pm
#261
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Jan 24, 2019, 3:22 pm
#262
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Jan 24, 2019, 4:10 pm
#264
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In the event of a serious disruption to air travel resulting from a months-long shutdown, I wonder if the airlines/airports could in a matter of days or weeks cobble together a private replacement for TSA. Instead of handing over the ticket surcharge for TSA to the (shut down) feds, start hiring contractors. Strip the process down to basic screening for real WEI. The truth is a better-than-pre-9/11 system could be created using the existing TSA equipment and much lower staffing levels than TSA (get rid of the needless gropes, BDOs, overzealous ID checkers, war on water, general standing around, etc.). And it might finally force the conversation regarding 9/11 not being caused by failure of airline security.
Yes I know extremely it's unlikely. But my position for years has been that the TSA needs to be disbanded with aviation-passenger security re-booted from scratch. A prolonged shutdown is a potential trigger for that.
Yes I know extremely it's unlikely. But my position for years has been that the TSA needs to be disbanded with aviation-passenger security re-booted from scratch. A prolonged shutdown is a potential trigger for that.
TSA's problem has never had anything to do with WHO does the screening. It's always been about HOW the screening is accomplished. Those who have been calling for privatization for years have consistently missed the fact that SFO, the largest US airport with private screeners, has the second worst reputation in the nation behind PHX. And the reason is simple - they're not TSA, but they follow all of TSA's rules. It's the rules that need to change, not who enforces them.
Jan 24, 2019, 4:13 pm
#265
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I agree with you completely about the need for a procedural reboot.
TSA's problem has never had anything to do with WHO does the screening. It's always been about HOW the screening is accomplished. Those who have been calling for privatization for years have consistently missed the fact that SFO, the largest US airport with private screeners, has the second worst reputation in the nation behind PHX. And the reason is simple - they're not TSA, but they follow all of TSA's rules. It's the rules that need to change, not who enforces them.
TSA's problem has never had anything to do with WHO does the screening. It's always been about HOW the screening is accomplished. Those who have been calling for privatization for years have consistently missed the fact that SFO, the largest US airport with private screeners, has the second worst reputation in the nation behind PHX. And the reason is simple - they're not TSA, but they follow all of TSA's rules. It's the rules that need to change, not who enforces them.
Jan 24, 2019, 6:25 pm
#266
Join Date: Sep 2016
Posts: 245
In the event of a serious disruption to air travel resulting from a months-long shutdown, I wonder if the airlines/airports could in a matter of days or weeks cobble together a private replacement for TSA. Instead of handing over the ticket surcharge for TSA to the (shut down) feds, start hiring contractors. Strip the process down to basic screening for real WEI. The truth is a better-than-pre-9/11 system could be created using the existing TSA equipment and much lower staffing levels than TSA (get rid of the needless gropes, BDOs, overzealous ID checkers, war on water, general standing around, etc.). And it might finally force the conversation regarding 9/11 not being caused by failure of airline security.
I imagine they could hire up, add some overtime, move employees from other screening assignments, etc. reasonably quickly, but: are the Feds still doing background checks? Also is the TSA willing (or able) to approve new screening partners? Even if the government weren't shutdown, the normal process for this takes a year.
Jan 24, 2019, 6:35 pm
#268
Join Date: Sep 2016
Posts: 245
Very true, but if I were an airline or airport executive, I’d want to be thinking about what to do if the shutdown continues indefinitely.
Might not matter, though if there’s nobody to inspect new or repaired planes, nobody to process medical certificates, etc.
Might not matter, though if there’s nobody to inspect new or repaired planes, nobody to process medical certificates, etc.
Jan 24, 2019, 8:13 pm
#269
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I haven't seen any reports about the call out numbers from TSA the last few days. Suspect the numbers will be increasing with time, published or not. TSA and ATC workers are uniquely positioned to make a statement. Is now the time?
Jan 24, 2019, 9:24 pm
#270
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The few days before the superbowl is the time.