Airport security silliness

[guardian]

Letter written by an airline pilot encourages National Opt-Out Day:

I think it's high time we put our foot down to the TSA's incompetence and boorishness. To that end, the recommendations put forth by APA and USAPA show the best way forward: use the opt-out process to bring the whole works to a grinding halt. I suggest that everyone who will be flying on November 24th participate in "National Opt-Out Day.

http://fl250.blogspot.com/2010/11/security-silliness.html

[Mimosa]

1. Pilots being forced through security is STUPID...as the pilot/author noted

From the OP link:

All this inconvenience would be an acceptable part of my job if I felt that it serves some purpose. It does not. It's completely absurd to screen the pilots who will, in less than an hour's time, be seated at the controls of a fuel laden aircraft in flight, with crash axe within easy reach! This was recognized before 9/11 and we were allowed to bypass security. That changed in the wake of 9/11, but not due to any credible threat of terrorist acts by pilots or pilot impostors. Rather, it was believed that seeing flight crews forced to go through security would make the public more accepting of new procedures. This is exactly the sort of useless display that has become the TSA's primary stock in trade, what security expert Bruce Schneier refers to as "security theater."

[flyarm]

2. This retired 33 yr Flight attendant could not agree more!

It is absurd to use these machines.

It is absurd to take your shoes off.

It is abusrd for any Flight crew to go through security.

It is absurd for all passengers who refuse the XRAY Radiation to be groped.

[gratuitous]

3. Security measures are needed

But it remains an open question why we are letting policy be driven by the most pants-wettingest scaredy cats. All the over-the-top nonsense seems to be geared solely to impress the public without enhancing security. Passengers are heavily screened, while luggage is not: A sniff, a peek, and load it into the belly of the plane. That'll thwart the terrorists! Meanwhile, you have to get the sort of examination that used to be reserved for clearance to play football.