Posted on 03/10/2005 10:59:07 AM PST by faq
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A group of airline pilots gave the U.S. government failing grades on Thursday in several areas of aviation security including the screening of employees and cargo, and defending planes from shoulder-fired missiles.
The Coalition of Airline Pilots Association released its Aviation Security Report Card that showed aviation security gets average to failing grades in over a dozen subject areas.
The trade group gave failing "F" grades to the government in five areas -- screening of employees, screening of cargo, high-tech credentialing of crew members, self-defense training for crew and the plan for countering shoulder-fired missiles.
The group gave good grades to the government on improved bag screening and on reinforcing cockpit doors on commercial airplanes.
Jon Safley, president of CAPA, said filling some of the "gaping holes" in aviation security will require major changes in the way the airlines and airports do business, and in the way the government manages airline security.
"The technology exists, or could be updated, to address many of these security problems," said Safley, whose group represents about 22,000 pilots from American Airlines, United Parcel Service, Southwest Airlines and AirTran Airways.
(Excerpt) Read more at story.news.yahoo.com ...
/sarcasm....pilots only group?
Of all the opinions that are out there on the subject, it's this group that I'd tend to believe the most. It's their butts on the line every day and they have the would not seem to have an axe to grind or anything to gain.
(((.)))
It's interesting they would give failing grades on the anti missile defense since the ALPA chairman(airline pilots ass., the biggest pilot union) agreed with the study that said the cost of installing anti missile technology on every plane would be prohibitively costly and wouldn't even guarantee success.
The pilots union are stopping this - they stopped guns in the cockpits for awhile as well.
The unions are demanding that staff and employees go un-inspected as they by definition can be "trusted".
As for the credentialing of crew members, they are also not wanting the background checks done on these employees.
As for the missiles, the cost is too much for anyone to bear at this point and not really needed.
Cargo is screened to a degree but can we inspect 100 percent and still have the planes leave on time.
I would wildly assert that if the money currently spent on the hoards of federal airport security lackeys, whose most valued skill is ignoring obviously suspicious appearance and behavior in favor of fondling retired American travelers, were spent on cargo inspection instead, we'd be money ahead and see actual improvement to security.
Pilot groups have been in the forefront of getting their members certified to carry weapons in the cockpit. It's TSA and Homeland Security which have put up roadblocks.
Pilots and staff are some of the most inspected people on earth. I was inspected before I ever got an airline job and since 9-11 I've had a security background check by the FBI. My fingerprints are on file at every known security agency on earth, probably including Mossad! Just kidding about Mossad
You'll have to show me where these "pilots unions" are stopping anything. Remember, it's our butts up front.
Pilot groups have been in the forefront of getting their members certified to carry weapons in the cockpit. It's TSA and Homeland Security which have put up roadblocks.
I have to disagree, Pilot groups have supported stun guns (I will support your comment on that) but not real guns.
The government only dedicates rules so the tsa is partly responsible it is the unions and airlines and costs - the people will not accept double ticket prices and worse service doing what the unions want.
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