ALPA welcomes new TSA screening procedures for pilots

Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) welcomed (19-Nov-2010) the Transportation Security Administration's (TSA) announcement of expedited screening for airline pilots as important action to move the nation toward a threat-based strategy that focuses security resources where the risk is highest and away from a one-size-fits-all approach. In the announcement, the TSA acknowledged ALPA for developing the CrewPASS concept and Washington committed to phasing in CrewPASS nationally. The CrewPASS system is currently operating at Baltimore Thurgood Marshall International, Pittsburgh International and Columbia Metropolitan airports. TSA Administrator John Pistole, announced he is in talks with flight attendants about similar exemptions (Bloomberg, 21-Nov-2010). [more]

ALPA: "Airline pilots are trusted security partners, given the level of background checks they must satisfy as part of employment and the responsibility they have for the safe operation of the flight. We appreciate the TSA's recognition of this partnership with new procedures that will provide a higher level of security throughout the system while moving pilots efficiently through screening checkpoints." Capt. John Prater, President of ALPA. Source: Company statement.