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-   -   How many TSO's does it take..... (https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/practical-travel-safety-security-issues/866163-how-many-tsos-does-take.html)

halls120 Sep 14, 2008 4:30 pm

How many TSO's does it take.....
 
..... to look at the X-ray display?

I was in San Diego earlier this week, and was treated to yet another demonstration of TSA incompetence.

In Terminal 1 at around noon, and only two of the five (or six?) lanes were open, which wouldn't have been a problem had the TSO's not been so clueless.

The operator of one of the baggage screening machines saw something she couldn't identify, so she called for a colleague. After a few intense minutes, the two called for a third colleague to come over. After a few more intense minutes, they called for a fourth. Amazingly, no one just said "hey, let's take it out of the machine and look through the bag!" And of course, the line, which had been virtually nonexistent, grew and grew.

Way to go, San Diego TSA. Inconvenience passengers because none of your screeners have enough common sense to take a bag out the X-ray machine and look through it off to the side. Simply brilliant. :rolleyes:

oneofthosepeopleyouloveto hate Sep 14, 2008 5:05 pm

Actually, if it appears there's a bomb in the bag, we would follow a different protocol rather than taking it out of the machine, jiggling it around and possibility detonating it.

That's called "cautious" -- another way of saying SMART! :cool:

chuckd Sep 14, 2008 5:25 pm


Originally Posted by oneofthosepeopleyouloveto hate (Post 10368562)
Actually, if it appears there's a bomb in the bag, we would follow a different protocol rather than taking it out of the machine, jiggling it around and possibility detonating it.

That's called "cautious" -- another way of saying SMART! :cool:

If jiggling it around were going to detonate it, wouldn't it have happened by then? I don't know, just asking. Does it really take more than one or two people though? That's not called cautious, it's called poor training and ineptitude. Another victory for minimum competency hiring standards.

halls120 Sep 14, 2008 5:45 pm


Originally Posted by oneofthosepeopleyouloveto hate (Post 10368562)
Actually, if it appears there's a bomb in the bag, we would follow a different protocol rather than taking it out of the machine, jiggling it around and possibility detonating it.

That's called "cautious" -- another way of saying SMART! :cool:

If it had been suspected of being a bomb, the terminal would have been cleared.

What I witnessed was nothing more than TSO ineptitude, no matter how hard you try to spin it.

quantas4me Sep 14, 2008 5:56 pm


Originally Posted by halls120 (Post 10368687)
If it had been suspected of being a bomb, the terminal would have been cleared.

What I witnessed was nothing more than TSO ineptitude, no matter how hard you try to spin it.

You're tax dollers at work.

Superguy Sep 14, 2008 9:56 pm


Originally Posted by oneofthosepeopleyouloveto hate (Post 10368562)
Actually, if it appears there's a bomb in the bag, we would follow a different protocol rather than taking it out of the machine, jiggling it around and possibility detonating it.

That's called "cautious" -- another way of saying SMART! :cool:

Ah yes, the Abundance of Caution®. Caution apparently doesn't equal smarts, else TSA would be a much better run organization and would actually catch real threats to aviation. :rolleyes:

purpleskiesfly Sep 14, 2008 10:54 pm


Originally Posted by halls120 (Post 10368455)
..... to look at the X-ray display?

7...At least that's how many it took last Monday AM in DEN.

halls120 Sep 15, 2008 5:29 am


Originally Posted by purpleskiesfly (Post 10369686)
7...At least that's how many it took last Monday AM in DEN.

I guess I was lucky in San Diego that it was just four vigilant employees. :rolleyes:

NY-FLA Sep 15, 2008 5:53 am


Originally Posted by oneofthosepeopleyouloveto hate (Post 10368562)
Actually, if it appears there's a bomb in the bag, we would follow a different protocol rather than taking it out of the machine, jiggling it around and possibility detonating it.

That's called "cautious" -- another way of saying SMART! :cool:

So the protocol if it looks like it's potentially explosive is to gather more TSO's into the blast zone adjacent to where the device is? Sure hope not!

squawk7500 Sep 15, 2008 7:32 am


Originally Posted by NY-FLA
So the protocol if it looks like it's potentially explosive is to gather more TSO's into the blast zone adjacent to where the device is?

Perzactly -- bait the first-responders & take 'em out. It's right in the tewwowists SOP handbook.
While they're all gazing at the shiny gold thingy, the next guy in line pulls HIS detonator-pin.

The more you know. ;)

greggwiggins Sep 15, 2008 9:47 am


Originally Posted by NY-FLA (Post 10370380)
So the protocol if it looks like it's potentially explosive is to gather more TSO's into the blast zone adjacent to where the device is?

Spiff would like that.:D

polonius Sep 15, 2008 9:56 am


Originally Posted by NY-FLA (Post 10370380)
So the protocol if it looks like it's potentially explosive is to gather more TSO's into the blast zone adjacent to where the device is? Sure hope not!

You don't? Why not? If one goes off, they can give them all posthumous Darwin awards for doing their part to keep stupid genes out of the gene pool.

NY-FLA Sep 15, 2008 10:05 am


Originally Posted by polonius (Post 10371380)
You don't? Why not? If one goes off, they can give them all posthumous Darwin awards for doing their part to keep stupid genes out of the gene pool.

Because if TSA's explosive looking thingy response strategy was that flawed, then I'd lose all my faith in the war on water, any liquids, shoes, cargo pants and whatever else we're warring on this week....

TheRoadie Sep 15, 2008 10:30 am


Originally Posted by NY-FLA (Post 10371428)
... I'd lose all my faith in the war.....

Hehe. For very small values of residual faith ....:)

VideoPaul Sep 16, 2008 6:22 pm


Originally Posted by halls120 (Post 10368687)
If it had been suspected of being a bomb, the terminal would have been cleared.

What I witnessed was nothing more than TSO ineptitude, no matter how hard you try to spin it.


Yeah, isn't where they shout "BRAVO!!!" at the top of their lungs and all activity, right down to the molecular level, stops instantly? Saw it happen in PHX one day...

--PP

mgilmer Sep 17, 2008 9:44 am


Originally Posted by polonius (Post 10371380)
You don't? Why not? If one goes off, they can give them all posthumous Darwin awards for doing their part to keep stupid genes out of the gene pool.

Yeah, but I do not want to have to fly naked with no luggage, which would be the result.

Boston_Bulldog Sep 17, 2008 3:40 pm

TSOs are zombies and have had their brains removed
 

Originally Posted by halls120 (Post 10368455)

Way to go, San Diego TSA. Inconvenience passengers because none of your screeners have enough common sense to take a bag out the X-ray machine and look through it off to the side. Simply brilliant. :rolleyes:


How many DHS/TSA staff are needed to replace a light bulb?

Answer: Forty (40)

Four (4) to babble apologies that there will be a delay due to technical maintenance issues;

Twelve (12) to stand around and supervise;

One (1) to get the ladder;

One (1) to get the light bulb;

One (1) to hold the ladder;

One (1) to climb the ladder, remove the old light bulb and insert the new bulb;

One (1) to take the old light bulb to the trash bin;

One (1) to take the light bulb just replaced to the trash because the new one didn't work;

One (1) to go run for a new replacement light bulb;

Ten (10) supervisor TSO's to stand around scratching their head because the second new light bulb won't work and light up;

Five (5) TSO management to form a committee to investigate the light bulb outage;

One (1) TSA Commander to run to Kippie and report the delay problem;

One big JERK (1) DHS Exec named Kippie to deny everything. :D

That's 40 !!!

But it takes ONLY One (1)-mad-as-hell First Class pissed-off passenger, delayed now for an hour and a half in line while this monkey-business is going on, to get out of line, walk over to the light switch and TURN IT ON .... :D to fix things CORRECTLY the FIRST time around...


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