TSA Conducts ‘Inappropriate’ Screening at BNA FBOs
 

http://www.ainonline.com/news/single...g-at-bna-fbos/
TSA Conducts ‘Inappropriate’ Screening at BNA FBOs
By by Matt Thurber
February 3, 2009
Security, Business Aviation


Transportation Security Administration officials conducted unauthorized screening of passengers and flight crew at FBOs at Nashville International Airport in December and January, according to NBAA. The screening included checking “a number of pilots and passengers with wands and actual baggage searches,” NBAA vice president of safety, security and regulation Doug Carr noted in an e-mail to members.

Signature Flight Support confirmed the accuracy of Carr’s description of events at Nashville. A TSA spokesman told AIN that inspectors “did badge verification of employees and pilots but not any hand-wanding of passengers.

The bag searches, he said, were to make “sure that nothing that poses a threat is in those bags. According to Carr, “We can confirm that based on discussions held with TSA that this kind of screening was inappropriate and should not have happened. The local TSA officials were acting beyond the guidance provided by headquarters.

The TSA effort at Nashville stemmed from a TSA document called the Playbook, which outlined TSA plans for random screenings at FBOs and hangars, originally planned at Bradley International Airport in Windsor Locks, Conn. After NBAA raised concerns about the Playbook, the TSA decided not to go ahead with the Bradley inspections, Carr explained.

Ohhhhh, the Playbook!

Just thinking about the Playbook makes my head hurt ... :mad:

Do they think LASP is in place already?

Can't say I know. Perhaps they were just trying to find out what they could get away with. Perhaps they'll be very lucky next time that I'll be one of the people going thru the FBO to get to my aircraft.

Yeah, the Playbook is lame. Whoever came up with that loved football waaaaay too much.

I guess there's a first time for everything. :rolleyes:

and a 2nd and a 3rd and a....

Whomever ordered these screenings should be reduced in rank to "non-government employee" post haste!

Should, but won't. Given past experience with federal canine fornications the person who ordered this has already been promoted.

...2745, 2746, 2747... ;) (And those are just the ones we hear about...)

The FBOs should be harangued by their customers for even letting the screeners onto their property - they need to grow a set (of brains too). I'm almost tempted to call up the FBO and do a little haranguing myself.

However, it was the private pilots and passengers who let this happen to them - they could have flipped the screeners the bird, went on their way and departed and there would be nothing the screeners, nor TSA management could have done to stop them. If the screening was a violation of policy, they can't be fined for refusing it.

Should, but they'll probably get a promotion. "keeping us safe" and all that rubbish.

I haven't been in TS/S in a while and after reading a few threads I know why...SSDD. I did however feel a need to respond to this thread. My reply is based on the limited information available on this story and some knowledge of TSA's operating procedures. The screening may not have been completely inappropriate as claimed by Mr. Carr of the NBAA since screening of some type is allowed at DAPs. I would suggest reserving judgement until more facts are known but I doubt that will happen given the track record of this forum.

Let me know where/when they are going to do an "operation playbook" again and I'll be happy to be there. That way we can find out what the TSA screeners actually think they can do.

None of my business but if you would, what field do you operate out of?

My son works at the field just south of you, the one with the blimp hanger. Is that Pompano?

Last year I was able to get a ride on the airship. Nice views of the area.

RB