I know that pilots also violate security procedures from time to time, but FAs are in an entry level position with nothing to lose compared to a pilot. Hold your fellow flight attendants responsible for their actions. startxref They are using crew screening issues to say, "Hey - we're doing a great job!" Every pilot knows that you have to have a valid airline employee ID and be verified in the TSA computer database to get through KCM, no exceptions. Q:What if I have not received a KCM barcode card from my participating airline? 11/21/22 Notice to KCM Participating Airlines, 6/29/22 Notice to KCM Participating Airlines, 3/1/22 Notice to KCM Participating Crewmembers, 6/23/20 Notice to KCM Participating Crewmembers, A non-expired government-issued photo ID; and, An aircraft operator-issued crewmember photo ID. KCM provides crewmembers with an alternative entry point into airport sterile areas, which may be separate from the passenger security-screening lanes. The TSAs job is not to look for drugs or identify other illegal activity. There are 24,000 flight attendants just at my airline. Considering 90% of guns are not even found when the TSA is tested by other government agencies, I'm curious how they even manage to find guns or drugs on crewmembers. If any crew member wanted to cause harm they could. It is suggested that you print your pass prior to entering the sterile area. Failure to follow these rules could result in temporary or permanent loss of KCM privileges. Prohibited List: These items under most circumstances cannot be imported into the United States. Ill go easy on the guy that said he was a cargo pilot. If TSA cannot confirm a crewmembers identity or current employment status at the KCM access point, the crewmember will be directed to the passenger-screening checkpoint. Nevertheless, we know it takes man power and probably effects First, crew members appreciate having a KCM check point. What an absolute joke that anyone thinks there is any benefit at all to safety to screen pilots at TSA checkpoints. This whole system is a mess now and its not only hurting crew members, but it will hurt passengers that have paid for TSA pre check to now have to wait for countless crews to go ahead of them. after being told you got a random. Stay connected with the latest travel, aviation, and credit card news. I dont understand this statement about treating flight attendants differently than pilots because we all go through very stringent background checks and process. Then quit and go work somewhere else. More egregious violations of the Code Federal Regulations (CFRs) could result in civil or criminal penalties. Without them, you're just an individual sitting in the gate area, getting angrier because your flight is delayed because the flight attendants are stuck in security? 0000045258 00000 n The exception is that employees will sometimes be randomly selected to be screened, and the number of random screenings has reportedly increased significantly in recent months (and will continue to increase). Yes, I demand change. If you are an Employee or an Administrator (DER) please enter the information below to have a password reset emailed to you. Will you diffuse the bomb and save the day? You don't like your job and you feel so miserable at it. If being a part of a society with all of its problems is too much, there is no TSA screening for general aviation. Known Crew Members (KCM) Lanes KCM ties airline employee databases together in a seamless way and enables Transportation Security Administration (TSA) security officers to positively verify the identity and employment status of crew members. Other countries check their own and I have never witnessed this in the US. Not pilots. You dont have flight attendants so have no special procedures during flight. Drones are explicitly listed as forbidden luggage items on MSC cruises. A flight attendant like a pilot, goes through random drug tests. The simple reality is that pilots have FAR more to lose than flight attendants if they risk their career at a KCM checkpoint, and therefore they deserve a higher level of trust. Your password can't be a commonly used password. <]>> If there is to be no special consideration for a FA then there should be none for pilots. It's not about logistics. Making all of us lose this privilege will soon tax tsa, delay flights and and expand misconnects. If someone smuggles drugs or other prohibited items through security or customs, bust them and prosecute, dont completely attempt to re invent the wheel by punishing everyone. Now, when TSA asks, I just say Im not playing Your Game of going thru two lines, this is all eyewash anyway. Then go deal with management messaging and calling asking why your late to the gate because you got a random search and your flight is 3 terminals away. This enhanced process leverages current technology to provide an effective and cost-efficient solution. But I guess let's just ignore those statistics and realities because you're offended by it. I'm a flight attendant with 34 years seniority. You also clearly dont know what youre talking about if youre suggesting to not screen pilots. Historical flightdeck positions include: Battery-powered electronic smoking devices, such as "e-cigarettes, e-cigs, e-cigars, e-pipes, e-hookahs, personal vaporizers, electronic nicotine delivery systems," can be brought as carry-on items only. For those who abuse the line, like while going to leisure international travel, which is not permitted, an immediate 6 months suspension without pay. If the pilots on a flight become incapacitated, the lives of everyone on board are jeopardized; if the flight attendants become incapacitated, it is a Pilots are not easily replaced, flight attendants are. A KCM denial could result from a database error that is nonspecific to you, or it might involve a miscommunication with your air carrier. BTW! That is incorrect, KCM has an annual fee usually paid for by the union, company, or individual flight crew members - depending on the company. Let the security ppl stick to what they gotta do and you pilots can stick to being glorified bus drivers and you flight attendants can stick to being mobile vending machines. While I am an airline pilot, I fly for a major cargo airline and thankfully dont have to deal with the incompetent TSA smurfs. Then you have to listen to Its not entitlement. The crew may have to deal with several emergencies such as cabin fires or first aid situations. Pilots were the ones most often caught with a firearm in their bag. xbbbg`b`` / Keep dreaming. There's no generally available program that would allow most people to bypass airport security altogether. When it was expanded to include flight attendants, we almost immediately saw issues developing. Ok, back to your BarcaLounger. Unfortunately, due to the dubious actions and agendas of a few, here we are. For all these keyboard cowboys, do you actually know how to Google? TSA is out of controltheir job is to prevent a 9-11but today they are covid mask enforcers, DEA agents, uniform police etc etcKCM was paid for and pushed in by ALPA with alpa duesthe F/A's got in for free and ruined it. Now pilots are going to be harassed over non-compliant 3-1-1 liquids. Crewmembers will no longer be permitted to manually enter their KCM data. DGU W2VTsscpKX Ub. TSA never figured it out, who screens TSA agents? %PDF-1.4 % I'm tired of regularly going to KCM and being told that I got random. It takes all of us to to fly passengers. Blame is on BOTH sides of the door. They just flash their ID and in they go to the secure area. Once you arrive at the boarding gate and your pass has not been properly marked by the TSA, you will be sent back to the passenger screening checkpoint for proper screening. However, crewmembers on an extended leave of absence greater than 30 days, to include: disability, Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA), military deployment, voluntary leave of absence, furlough, suspension, termination, retirement, or other leave of absence must be suspended or removed from the KCM system. Imagine having to go through security and adding extra unpaid time to your job every time you went to work. You idiots change the security process based on whether or not crew have a certain shirt on. Not claiming the new policy will affect my trips, only that TSA has major staffing issues at certain airports. Instead it should focus on how TSA has become more relaxed and lazy at doing their jobs and are short staffed and dont have officers to man the KCM station so everytime someone gets randomed they are throwing a pissy fit about having to walk over. Any self respecting smuggler can take that on one flight, depending on what drug it is. I have also seen pilots try to bring animals or children through KCM with them. It's about protecting those who aren't from the delays and damage caused by the searches. TSA really should be abolished. They just walk all the way inside the secured area without being challenged or ID/Badge checked. AFA International | Drug interdiction isn't TSA's job and they know it. Look, your job could be replaced by a cardboard sign with a red arrow painted on it and a vending machine. Actually ALL flight attendant and pilots are required to scan our badge and it's mandatory. When you are selected for random, at Denver for instance, you are told to go to random screening. A KCM denial could result from a database error that is nonspecific to that crewmember, or it might involve a miscommunication with the crewmembers airline database. "A half a block" really? Allowing anyone to bypass security is illogical and needs to stop. When all of the flights are getting delayed, people will be wishing KCM was back. Ive definitely noticed an increase in random screenings over the last several months. A joke. Or that they pay for TSA and we don't because of ticket fees. The duration of disqualification from participation in KCM is related to the seriousness of the violation and/or a repeated history of regulatory violations. The flight attendants are required to be there before the rest of the crew because they are the ones needed to board passengers. 31 years as an airline pilot and seven years naval aviator. endstream endobj 66 0 obj <>stream Dont worry though, youll be back groping children in no time. TSA properly is strictly for managing terroristic threats. Security is an illusion there is no reason to subject those flying the airplane to TSA checks. 0000003664 00000 n Actually, I've seen the pre- check line longer than the general boarding line! TSA has determined that certain violations of TSA security requirements by a crewmember are inconsistent with a determination that the crewmember poses a sufficiently low risk to transportation security to be eligible for KCM expedited screening, regardless of whether the violation physically occurred at the KCM access point. Effective March 31, 2022, the TSA will require KCM eligible crewmembers to scan a KCM-issued barcode card when utilizing a KCM access point. This is going to cause As a flight attendant myself I see this as another power grab by the government entity tsa. Adding searches of gate personnel and aircrew adds around 5% to the number of searches. Have new threats from crew been identified? lost an engine, no hydraulics, a decompression, or worse) onboard your next flight and YOU need the assistance of a Flight Attendant to save your life or that of a loved one! Instead it should focus on how TSA has become more relaxed and lazy at doing their jobs and are short staffed and dont have officers to man the KCM station so everytime someone Blame it on the flight attendants, but oh the pilots wouldn't try to smuggle anything. Then to say the flight attendants can make a few runs and make their salary. Seemingly every airline is telling you to arrive 2-3 hours ahead of time because you never know how many TSA employees showed up that day. If you make it through quickly, then suddenly you have to kill 2 hours in a lounge. On the other, my spouse is a F/A for Southwest. Do not go through KCM. So, my take is its bull and going to cause more problems for everyone. I would propose that any crew member intentionally engaging in this activity, once caught and verified, be terminated immediately and banned from any job in transport, prosecuted and given an exhorbitant fine, say $100,000. 0000057317 00000 n Emirates restricts all smart balance wheels (with or without lithium batteries removed) to be transported as checked-in or carry-on luggage. Having an off duty employee pass rider clogging up lines that they didnt subscribe/pay for is spitting into face of As a paying subscriber of CLEAR & TSAPre, I would welcome a dedicated crew/employee line for those employees that are working. "Strip searched" When you fabricate, you lose all credibility. System Transfers Awarded Effective May 1, 2023, AFA Reporting System Memberlink Grievance Portal Update, AFA Grievance Reporting System Memberlink Planned Downtime for Server Move, Interruption of Reserve Legal Rest While at Home, Two New Letters of Agreement Approved by United MEC. 0000056810 00000 n As it is, the random screenings have increased exponentially - to the point where crew members are tempted to go through the pre check line anyway to avoid an extra step of waiting for someone to tell you to go there. Seriously??? Additionally, authorized crewmembers must not be on a leave of absence greater than 30 days, including furloughs and military duty. There are a number of products which have entry or exit limitations in Spain from outside the European Union, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein. Sign up Once a gangster town. always a gangster town - starting at the top down (with the exclusion of The Obamas - they were the major good that ever came out of Chicago). Steve - Did you fly this past year? I have heard stories of pilots and flight attendants ferrying money, drugs and electronics and that has led to the loss of this expedited service for us. As a result of having the FAA certificate, they are allowed to use the KCM lines. Now its being taken away. Provisions for Dangerous Goods Carried by Passengers or Crew (Subsection 2.3) Dangerous goods must not be carried in or as passengers or crew, checked or carry-on baggage, except as otherwise 2 provided below. This will ensure your ability to use the KCM system again. and when people are searched - which IS part of the security screening process - then there is a legitimate NECESSITY to escalate something that is illegally found to the appropriate law enforcement authorities. I recently took a leave of absence from my airline, am I eligible to use KCM while on leave? Too much education, and not enough accountability. Please view our advertising policy page for additional details about our partners. An aircraft can board without a pilotbut not without the minimum crew of flight attendants.. and considering how long our duty days are, I don't know any flight attendants willing to leave their layover hotel a couple hours earlier. You also are aware that pilots have had their fair share of violations with kcm too, right? Ive been going through regular security when I arrive at the airport at my home base just to avoid the bother of being sent there anyway. I'm guessing there are very few prohibited items discovered during random screening. I think the KCM program is complete bullshit. You walk on your own to TSA Pre and wait in line with everyone else. Yesterday when I went through TSA pre-check, i beeped walking through the detector even though I had nothing in my pockets or that I was wearing that should have beeped Im a flight attendant and Ive been random 18 times out of 22 since I started counting in January. It's not at all fair to the crew members who do the right thing. KCM is a risk-based security program. Great, making the job even more miserable will help the pilot shortage, You all realize that the ramp agents and TSA making $15-$20 an hour bypass all security and could put a bomb on a plane, but pilots and even flight attendants have to go through screening. So, what is even closer scrutiny of crew trying to accomplish? On January 26, 2021, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), issued an order, requiring operators to collect, store and verify documentation on the current COVID-19 status of inbound international air passengers traveling to the United States. Questions or feedback by flight crew should be directed to your respective airline. Crew members may not transit the KCM portal with any TSA prohibited items. U idiot clearly dont do this for a living.. 0000003889 00000 n Random screening/USP is a normal TSA screening policy. A: No. Carriage of another individual's property through the KCM portal to circumvent screening is prohibited. And no youre not getting a credit. 53 0 obj <> endobj the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has found circumstances where there have been egregious violations of the KCM requirements. The use of the KCM program is a privilege and not a right. crampons. There is no rolling back what the TSA currently does - like it or not. Doesn't my ID matches the same face and picture of myself in their laptop database? Flight attendants and pilots are not similar in importance or security. metagenics pyramid schemehow much was $50 cents worth in 1930. long haul trucking companies; blocks of bird breeding cages. TSA might not be perfect but I would rather have them then not. Incidents onboard aircraft involving Federal Air Marshals. Funny how you said that it's the flight attendants when I can tell because I actually work as a flight attendant that just last month a PILOT went through KCM with a loaded weapon that he should have declared. Dont just blame a work group. Known Crewmember has been a wonderful privilege. Stop worrying about pilots in flight, attendants and worry about every other employee. For context, with the Known Crewmember Program, eligible pilots and flight attendants dont have to clear security when passing through airports. For over two decades, Aircraft Operators have relied on NATACS for compliance services that meet the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and Transportation Security Administration (TSA) secured document and record management solutions. Yes, I flew this week. KCM does not exempt a crewmember from complying with these additional security measures. Pilots are not, and haven't been the problem. I honestly don't give a flying beep about ending KCM. H\n@E|E/E*Hc'IFvb@m/7HdsSnv&vgs.x 7$/L)Icvy7M;fxI:dn&_0VLot){u~?b'&o:L;v25pIcex?tw I],GpE%og9.Z,Y?"[Z\Kr dfEZvg_}Yee_}Yec_}999999999998s9A0G#s9=(xdYsY8sA8sA8sPAW+ Sadly people will always try and take advantage of a situation. That, and the fact that pilots or flight attendants could threaten the safety of the flight, makes crewmembers unique. There is no reason to trust flight attendants any more than any other trusted group, like police officers, travelers with security clearances, doctors or priests. Why not stop all cars on the highway and search for drugs? Upon returning to work, it is recommended that the crewmember contact their airline management or crew records department to see if your KCM file has been reactivated. The sticky problem here is that a crew member bringing in a pound of drugs could just as easily be bringing in something that could harm an aircraft. After-all, who you gonna call when the "center does not hold" at 35,000 feet? I've always been concerned they let them into known crewmember from day one. The ones working the KCM check point are the laziest ones. 2) You want to make the people who cross umpteen timezones for your safety stand around like the rest of you cheap cattle car bovines, watch crews take their sweet time at the back of the two hour A lot of money from pilot dues was spent by the Air Line Pilots Association to help get the Known Crew Member program going. Which is handing out band-aids and pressing buttons on an AED.after the machine TELLS you to. In my opinion and observations, many of the violations that have occurred in recent years have been new flight attendants (at a entry level pay scale) that have little to lose by sneaking things through KCM. Then go deal with management messaging and calling asking why your late to the gate because you got a random search and your flight is 3 terminals away. To operate as a CAP Solo Pilot, the member must possess a valid student pilot certificate, or in the case of a pilot transitioning to another aircraft category, at least an FAA Private Pilot certificate in another category and/or class of aircraft, and appropriate solo endorsements from a CAP Instructor Pilot for the make and model aircraft flown. History is not saved for crewmembers without a mykcmsupport.com account. This entire article was a joke and seemed more demeaning than informative. Jose stop your dammm complaining. Are allowed Liquids, Aerosols and Gels (LAGs) and other exemptions applicable to uniformed flight crewmembers atTSA PreCheck. You seem to be missing the point and just jumping on the offense instead. Perhaps we should make it easy for flight attendants to get to the aircraft too? Just dump your item, go though screening, exit security and you are reset to try again. It's not about logistics. The ones at my company who seem to be on a regular basis are the same ones complaining to the union all the time, whining all night long about this that and the other. For everyones information, so long as the plane is on there is no need to have pilots on board while boarding passengers. I got secondary screening and they did it right there at the crew line (which they do in other countries) they just wipe your hands and suitcase and test it. Having an off duty employee pass rider clogging up lines that they didnt subscribe/pay for is spitting into face of the passengers that do. Im not very worried about KCM going bye bye. NEWSFLASH: Most hand creams that flight attendants use (#1 preferred product by F/A's is "WORKING HANDS") have glycerine at the VERY TOP of the ingredients list. And not punish the rest of us. As if trucks and other merchandise dont come through to be sold at airport property. We are talking CLASS ACTION lawsuits for piss-poor treatment of crew. It's the flight attendants. Seems crazy to punish the vast majority of people because a few bad apples. The Known Crewmember (KCM) program is a joint initiative between Airlines for America (A4A) and the Air Line Pilots Association, Int'l (ALPA).KCM ties airline employee databases together in a seamless way and enables Transportation Security Administration (TSA) security officers to positively verify the identity and employment status of vI9F Xm0c(`8v{i?_)D]`5Qm5fd``6h~"p /% One morning last summer at SAN the PreCheck line was out the West Terminal door extending half a block. DepartureCheck is a Passenger and Aircraft Operator Compliance Solutions Platform, brought to you by NATA Compliance Services (NATACS). Crewmembers may request a new or replacement KCM barcode card from their airline management. Youre right though, losing KCM is the least of their problems; however, Full disclosure- Im a flight attendant, and its frustrating to lose this privilege because of crew members who dont follow the rules. The first step should be eliminating flight attendants from any expedited screening program. Is air travel going to get even MORE expensive? Youre right though, losing KCM is the least of their problems; however, youd be hard-pressed to find someone whos actually lost the privilege permanently. I'm a Flight Attendant for a major US Carrier and I've known of a few that have had privileges suspended for a year and of one who had her privileges permanently revoked. The last incident of the FA caught smuggling fentanyl in SF because they got the random at KCM and got caught at the security checkpoint was the final nail in the coffin for KCM. It's the easiest post. In some instances, generally involving prohibited items, the TSA is authorized by federal regulation to use a streamlined procedure and no LOI will be issued. Have a little fun with this!!! Keep dreaming. What? Prohibited items: Firearms & Ammunition, including realistic replicas. Also, according to you, pilots don't have to because "." does this mean pilots can't do exactly what yiu allege FAs are doing? Completely agree. Interesting viewpoint, except for those people who never have to pass through security could easily pass said product off to said pilot, attendant, or anyone with access to the plane storage cargo. Common sense solutions to common sense problems. AFA worked with the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) to ensure that Flight Attendants would be included in this vital program, which allows participating crew members to access sterile areas of the airport through a separate crew portal. Most helpful comments ( as chosen by the OMAAT community ). Maybe a probationary period before they are eligible, idk. A: You should remain calm and ask to speak to a Lead or Supervisory Transportation Security Officer (LTSO or STSO) to the discrepancy. Weve seen an increasing number of people smuggling drugs and other prohibited items through these checkpoints. Then there are the handful who do things they shouldn't do, that are making it a lot harder for everyone else. Get ready for crew members to be cutting in front of you everywhere ! So it does happen..not a fishy story. For those passengers saying we are using a program that they are paying for. Most crew have known for YEARS NOW that the TSA has done a piss-poor job of screening. There weren't "delays" before KCM. Q:How is the KCM barcode card used? You ruined this for yourselves. Am I not mistaken, but in many other parts of the world, do the pilots and FAs not just simply present to the front of the general security queues? Q: I am a crewmember that works for a KCM participating airline. My favorite is from all these so called pilots . Weren't we all background checked by FBI and other Federal Agencies to be issued this ID ? We do not speed up the security process because it's busy. A: If the TSA cannot confirm your identity or current employment status at the KCM access point, you will be directed to the passenger-screening checkpoint in order to access the sterile area. Sorry the rule applies if you don't like it then leave. Once you receive the barcode card, follow the instructions on the back to register it into the KCM system. The Airlines and the TSA needs to punish the people that commit the crimes, and not just put out a blanket change that punishes the 99.9% of the pilots and flight attendants that follow the rules. Maybe that would deter them? While I havent seen the document myself, this has allegedly been outlined in a Known Crewmember update, following a meeting with TSA Administrator David Pekoske. I think this KCM change may be a solution in search of a problem. This includes items such as lawn darts and several baby products (for example certain seats and cribs). That only causes issues. Therefore, KCM eligible crewmembers are required to understand theKCM Rules for Useand comply with these rules while using the KCM access points. This is not a U.S. government site. 0000004455 00000 n . It is to ensure safety on public transportation, thats it. Are you mad that they didn't let them go? So, lets start by eliminating FAs from KCM. And no one has said who pays for KCM now but it does cost something to operate and that funding should move to the TSA. NAVIGATION WARNINGS ENR 5.1 Prohibited, Restricted, and Other Areas. So much so, that I usually just go to security line. Not worried about this, i have not waited more than 5 mins in a TSA or clear line in years, so not concerned at all if there is all of a sudden an influx of crew members in the TSA that just means i have to wait 6 mins instead of 3. Items prohibited in checked baggage but permitted in hand baggage. Editorial Disclosure: The editorial content on this page is not provided by any entity mentioned herein. MNM8[@w1\J2t_ig VIgM]0%b"fM A: The Known Crewmember Program KCM is a risk-based system that enables TSA security officers to positively verify the identity and employment status of authorized crewmembers. If you have been inactive, on leave, or if you have been temporarily removed from service, you will not have KCM access. PURPOSE This directive establishes FPS policy for applying security force countermeasures to mitigate . My concern for flight attendants would be the TSA liquid limits. Yes, we expect, when we get to kcm that we will just be able to walk through and it is a disappointment when we cant. I have pre check and clear. Eh? Check it out its in the Pilot Wives Page or on KrewRestKaren. 1. Hours? So, according to you, FAs need to go through security because of prohibited items and drugs. Your flight will be delayed while we get screened. Meanwhile I have to show my employer issued ID, plus scan a TSA issued barcode identifying me and a 2nd Government issued picture ID (a 3rd ID not in uniform). A:The KCM barcode card is used to expedite the crewmember verification process at the KCM access points. The simple reality is that pilots have FAR more to lose than flight attendants if they risk their career at a KCM checkpoint, and therefore they deserve a higher level of trust. Unless traveling where you go through security like everyone else.
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