I was meeting someone at SFO last week. As I stood waiting at the TSA checkpoint, I observed various crew members going to the head of the line and being screened.

I also observed one indivicual dressed in an airline uniform. He and his roll aboard walked down the exit lane. He stopped at the podium of a TSA guy in the exit lane, showed him something (ID, paperwork) then proceeded past the checkpoint without having his roll aboard screened, and without walking through any personal screening device.

I have never seen this before, anyone know why this guy had the privilege of avoiding the screening. It occurred to me that he may be one of the pilots with permission to carry a gun on board, but I would think he would have still been screened for explosives (e.g., liquids.)

The crew who proceeded through the exit was carrying a firearm. Really no need to test him for explosives; he doesn't even need te firearm to do damage, he can crash the plane himself.

Flght crew are allowed to cut to help ensure planes leave on time.

I do agree with both of these procedures.

I have no problem with the line cutting.

But, under the rationale that there is no need to check the pilot for explosives because he can crash the plane himself, why check any pilot?

Also, who's to say that the pilot is not bringing in extra explosives and guns to give to others in the sterile area to be used on other fights?

Seems to me to be consistent, all pilots should be checked (including those who are allowed to carry a gun), or no pilots should be checked.

I disagree with these procedures. Remember the store of the guy who pretended to be an ICE agent? I remember he was able to escort some lady while wearing two guns. I see no reason why flight crews shouldn't be screened. How do you know they really are flight crew? They might have a fake badge and uniform...

You need to be careful with sarcasm. Some people might not realize that you were joking.

We are not required to check any fligh crew...you hit the nail on the head.

Hmmm, so you have passengers who are screened because they are all suspected terrorists because they want to fly.
You have airport workers, some of which are screened and some who aren't.
You have aircrew which isn't screened.

Hmmm, seems like that is a very large security hole you've got there.

Thankfully, this misguided approach is only followed by the USA and a few others. In the rest of the world, crews are subject to the same (or in some cases stricter) checks than passengers.

The point of physical security checks is not to clear the person (thats the point of background checks) but rather to ensure that no contraband is entering the sterile area (intentionally or inadvertently).

The security checks that you "see" being done at the checkpoint are but one of many that every crew member must go through before boarding an aircraft.

Those crew members that carry firearms go through even more, and are issued credentials that identify them to the TSA as well as ground / terminal airline personnel. And that is not the only ID they must have before boarding an aircraft. So yes, we know who they are before we allow them access to the sterile area.

I don't like the whole crew cutting line thing myself. They are the true professional flyers, and as such they should be prepared for whatever the checkpoint has to throw at them. Arriving 2 hours early, clearing security in a timely manner, and bringing only those things allowed in their carry-on's. These are just a few of the things that crew members "should" be responsible for in addition to whatever requirements there may be for their flight duties. But no one asked my opinion when they made up the rules.

Do you believe the same should be true of TSO's?

I know a flight attendant that flies out of FAT. She says they just scan their ID card and enter the tarmack from a side door, as it's their home base. No need to go thru security.

If they are going to board an aircraft and fly somewhere, you betcha!

Woah, wait a minute, we do! Amazing how that happens isn't it.

Ron:
Do you not understand crew members are coming to work the same as you ? Are you going to pay them the extra time ?

I was under the impression that crew goes through the screening checkpoint whenever they fly and that they are exempt from shoes and LGA's. I was under the impression that, even at their home base, crew with SIDA are screened if they want to fly that day. If they are just going for a meeting or training, they use their SIDA. Has this changed, or was my understanding incorrect?

I understand that FFDO's always go up the exit lane, just like armed LEO's.

If you think so, I disagree.

As I said before, we are not required to screen flight crew. Many think we are required, even many who work for SAT. But certain arraignments can and sometimes are made so that they avoid screenig.