TSA Screening Regulations

[katbuad]

I was reading the USA Today for Wed Mar 5th and came across an article about seven Montana airports asking for TSA security checkpoints to be put into their airports.

The below link has only a portion of the printed article

Airports seek millions to screen few - USATODAY.com

My first thought was why would any airport want TSA to setup check points in their airport? The article says that "screeners will help security and draw passengers to the small airports." Draw passangers?? Maybe I am a little jaded but IMO TSA security checkpoints don't draw passengers. Am I mistaken?

The printed article has a statment not in the online article. "Federal regulations require passengers to be screened only if they are boarding planes with more than 61 seats." Anybody ever heard of that before? I never knew that. If that is correct many regional jet passengers aren't required to be screened. Why not divide the passangers at security? If nothing else, it would ease the congestion of security checkpoints. Reduce a lot of TSA cost and passengers' hassel. Of course, airlines and passangers would have to become concerned about last min equipment switches.

[christykay]

What??? Am I missing something...you are wondering why airports have TSA security checkpoints??? Umm...for SECURITY!!! I get that the TSA can be a pain in the ass, but what the hell, I can stand a few minutes of inconvenience for SAFETY. Safety for me, saftey for my family, and safety for my pilot!

I don't know about you, but I have a husband who is flying almost daily and I want him to be as safe as possible. So if that requires checking absolutely EVERYONE on the flight than that is just fine with me regardless of how big the plane is that he flies.

I am absolutely confused by your post!

[UKcats06]

I think they mean by having TSA maybe airlines will fly there, bring pax there. That is what I got from it anyway. And as far as only aircraft with over 61 passengers, I would guess the 50 seat RJ passengers still have to be screened because they are mingling with people who are getting on much larger aircraft and could definitly get something by security for someone who was on one of the larger ones. TSA might be annoying, but like ChristyKay said, if its for my safety I'll be glad to stand there for a few minutes.

[katbuad]

Ramp workers and baggage handlers have total access to airplanes everyday. The do not go through screening when they come to work. They have only a 5 year background check. Unfortunetely they are the low paid workers at the airport. They have access to many compartments on every plane before and after the pilot does the walk around inspection. They scare me.

A person (or a group of people) could carry quite a bit of gasoline or acid on in several 3oz bottles. An umbrella could do quite a bit of damage as a weapon. Heck even an armrest from the plane could be a weapon. Hot water from the onboard coffe pots could be a weapon. But thankgoodness the cockpit door is not coming open.

Some of the TSA policies are just strange. A pilot (not working) can get on a plane with all the liquids he can fit in a bag when he is wearing a uniform but has to follow normal passanger rules when he is in plain clothes even while carrying his badge. Like the uniform gives him some sort of special security powers??

The TSA does serve a purpose. Those scanners deter the average flyer from bringing unsafe items on a plane. But for the most part, it is not the average passanger that I am scared of. A sicko wanting to do damamge will find a way.

I know it may sound like I am advocating less security but I am not. Most everyone would start screaming if we in acted what I think you should have to do before you get on or come in contact with a plane. I am all for security (my husband is a pilot and I fly quite a bit too) but I think security should be more through, complete, and efficent, not the strange hit or miss fumblings of the TSA.

[jr_lenz]

Originally Posted by katbuad

Ramp workers and baggage handlers have total access to airplanes everyday. The do not go through screening when they come to work. They have only a 5 year background check. Unfortunetely they are the low paid workers at the airport. They have access to many compartments on every plane before and after the pilot does the walk around inspection. They scare me.

A person (or a group of people) could carry quite a bit of gasoline or acid on in several 3oz bottles. An umbrella could do quite a bit of damage as a weapon. Heck even an armrest from the plane could be a weapon. Hot water from the onboard coffe pots could be a weapon. But thankgoodness the cockpit door is not coming open.

Some of the TSA policies are just strange. A pilot (not working) can get on a plane with all the liquids he can fit in a bag when he is wearing a uniform but has to follow normal passanger rules when he is in plain clothes even while carrying his badge. Like the uniform gives him some sort of special security powers??

The TSA does serve a purpose. Those scanners deter the average flyer from bringing unsafe items on a plane. But for the most part, it is not the average passanger that I am scared of. A sicko wanting to do damamge will find a way.

I know it may sound like I am advocating less security but I am not. Most everyone would start screaming if we in acted what I think you should have to do before you get on or come in contact with a plane. I am all for security (my husband is a pilot and I fly quite a bit too) but I think security should be more through, complete, and efficent, not the strange hit or miss fumblings of the TSA.

I know this isn't going to the popular opion, but i have to agree with you. Also there has been alot of studies and working trials ( people actually walking throu secrt.) and we aren't really providing that much more secutity than we were before. And we have alot more "percautions". also there is alot that get through secriuty, become a promblem, then is added to the security measures.

dateline, and a few other news shoes have done stories about what people are allowed to get through security, pretty intresting.