Aviation Community In Uproar Over TSA's Botched Security Check

[sabra]

Source: ABC News

Pilots around the country expressed outrage and concern today about the safety of their planes following an incident where a TSA inspector, conducting a spot security check, used sensitive instrument probes as a handhold to climb onto parked aircraft at Chicago's O'Hare airport. As reported on ABCNews.com, the incident led to the grounding of nine American Eagle planes, causing a ripple effect that delayed 40 flights throughout the day.

Today pilots weighed in with hundreds of complaints on internet aviation forums over whether TSA inspectors were properly qualified to conduct such airplane safety checks, according to Jim Campbell of Aero-News Network, a widely-read aviation industry news service. Campbell said he received over 600 e-mails from worried pilots and other aviation workers.

"This was and is a deadly serious issue," one e-mailer wrote. "I envision something like a TSA inspector trying to remove a prop lock as part of a security check and imparting a stress fracture into a blade."

TSA maintained that its agents are qualified to perform security inspections of parked airplanes. "Our inspectors are extensively trained over what their responsbility entails," TSA spokesperson Elio Montenegro told ABCNews.com. However, Montenegro said he did not know if inspectors received detailed training on aircraft flight systems.

Many pilots today expressed skepticism that TSA inspectors are properly trained. "Their job is to screen baggage and people," wrote an e-mailer. "How the TSA can train their inspectors on every single different style and type of airplane is a question many would like answered. Flight attendants and pilots go to school for months just to learn one specific make and model... but TSA inspectors can apparently walk onto ANY aircraft at ANY time and know exactly what belongs and what doesn't."

Read more: http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/story?id=5619046&page=1

[Sen. Walter Sobchak]

1. when you hire the scum of the earth,

things like this are just bound to happen,

[calimary]

14. And when they're hired BY the scum of the earth, it's virtually guaranteed.

Let's run it like a bizzness. On the cheap. How low can you go? How cheap can you do it? How much can you get away with before it starts costing you something? But, but, but, we have to be able to compete!!! We HAVE to be able to lower our costs!

[Sen. Walter Sobchak]

16. the TSA is nothing more than...

an employer of last resort for republican hacks too incompetent to line up a lobbying gig and losers who bathe in the sink at Burger King.

[truthisfreedom]

2. Pilots and mechanics should be inspecting these planes. Period.

Heckofa job, bushco!

[UpInArms]

3. related: TSA Snafu Grounds Nine Planes at O'Hare Field

http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/story?id=5613502&page=1

Nine American Eagle airplanes were grounded Tuesday after a TSA inspector, conducting an overnight security check, used sensitive instrument probes to climb onto the parked aircraft at Chicago's O'Hare Airport, aviation sources tell ABCNews.com.

A TSA official confirmed the incident.

At least forty regional commuter flights were delayed throughout the day, according to American Airlines. "We think it's an unfortunate situation," American airlines spokesperson Mary Frances Fagen told ABCNews.com.

The TSA agent, as part of spot inspection of aircraft security, climbed onto the parked aircraft using control sensors mounted on the fuselage as handholds, according to a TSA official in Chicago, Elio Montenegro.

"Our inspector was following routine procedure for securing the aircraft that were on the tarmac," Montenegro told ABCNews.com.

The TSA agent was attempting to determine if someone could break into a parked aircraft, according to Montenegro.

Pilots were furious at the TSA misstep.

"The brilliant employees used an instrument located just below the cockpit window that is critical to the operation of the onboard computers," one pilot wrote on an American Eagle internet forum. "They decided this instrument, the TAT probe, would be adequate to use as a ladder," the pilot wrote.

Another pilot wrote the TSA agents, "are now doing things to our aircraft that may put our lives, and the lives of our passengers at risk."

...more...

[yardwork]

4. TSA does a terrible job screening baggage and people.

I didn't know that they were also supposed to be performing security checks on planes. I doubt they're qualified. I don't think they're required to have high school diplomas.

[ladywnch]

8. yes, they are required to have HS diplomas.

I performed the initial TSA checked baggage screening training. And, while many of their prior jobs had been "would you like fries with that?", they all had to have a HS diploma.....that was the minimum. Quite a few had college degrees and/or were former military. The most fightening thing was that every airport decided on their own what procedures they would and would not follow and that most of the FSD (federal security directors) had NO security or aviation experience at all and THEY are the ones who decided what would be followed and what wouldn't.

And as far as the other training........based on the basic TSA training........I wouldn't trust them ANYWHERE on the tarmac or on a plane.

[yardwork]

10. Thanks for that info. I remember when TSA was first formed they didn't have to have HS diplomas.

I guess that was changed after public outcry.

Now I understand why my experiences at some airports are more hellish than others. For instance, things go fairly smoothly at Washington National (I refuse to use its new name after that buffoon) but God help anyone traveling through O'Hare these days.

[RedLetterRev]

5. Trainingk? Ve don't need no schtinkingk trainingk!

Vhere are your papers?

Yeahright. The TSA should leave technical details to qualified individuals and return to harrassing the elderly and preschool children. QED, they're unexcelled worldwide in that area.

[benld74]

6. Lets see, if I grab this I can pull myself up to see,,, oops!

[Crowman1979]

7. They should just have the state police take charge of inspecting baggage.

All TSA is just the same minimum wage security folks, only with a different name.

[Cronus Protagonist]

9. Pictures of TAT probes

[elehhhhna]

11. Mystery solved: TSA employee thought they were Deer Whistles.

[high density]

12. how long until they have to paint circles around them

and label them: "TSA: Do Not Touch!"

[Ian David]

13. I'm sure the inspector was anti-choice, pro-Bush and anti-gay.

The only criteria for getting a job under Bushfirmative Action.

[dmr]

15. Talk about ignorant idiots running the asylum

Are these people crazy? Even after being called out by experienced professionals, they maintain their integrity of knowledge?

Yep, ignorant idiots. Too ignorant to know they're idiots. The most dangerous kind.

[DemoTex]

17. Airline pilots have the ability to stop this insane shit. It's called S.O.S.

Suspension Of Service. Period. Not about pay. Not about seniority lists. Not about retirement programs. But a universal S.O.S. against the most egregious threat to aviation security and safety in the history of the industry.

Captain DemoTex
Airline Captain
Airline Accident Investigator (ALPA-trained)

[lib2DaBone]

18. TSA Goons.....

TSA pulled me aside.. and said they'd have to check my carry-on because it looked "suspicious". Upon arrival at my hotel later that day, I discovered $1,500 in vacation cash missing. It was stored in an envelope in my suitcase pocket. No one else but me and TSA touched that bag? (I did not think to check the pocket at the time of inspection). I could also mention the situation with the under-wire in my wife's bra.. but for the sake of discretion.. I won't even go there. Long story short.. George Bush has unleashed one of the most corrupt, sadistic, fascist, criminal agencies ever conceived on the American Public. Now, reading this post, I see where we have the TSA Gestapo "Adjusting" the electronic sensors on jet aircraft. Why don't I get a warm-fuzzy feeling about this....?

[Ghost Dog]

19. General Strike. n/t

[jmowreader]

20. Oh, this shit gets worse and worse...

http://www.tsa.gov/press/happenings/chicago_airport_inspections.shtm

"The Inspector was following through on regulatory inspection activity. The Inspector was able to gain access to the interior of seven of the nine aircraft inspected, which is an apparent violation of the airline’s security program. TSA is reviewing the inspection results and depending on the conclusion, could take action with the airline, up to and including levying of civil penalties."

So let me get this straight: first TSA breaks their airplanes, then has the gall to penalize them because they were able to open the door of the plane while standing on a $150,000 sensor? (Price includes the part, mechanic's fees, disruption to the airline's schedule...) Can you even lock the door of a transport-category aircraft? I'm betting you can't.