Stay in your busted vehicle because I can tell by the way you type youre a bum at best. If I'm not trusted, then fine. Thats fine. I do agree that some Flight Attendants have ruined it a lot by doing wrong but if they cancel the program and don't provide an alternative you'll see the number of Flight Attendants dropping drastically because none of us would go stand for 3-4 hours in TSA and then at the gate without getting paid. That is not correct. Ive definitely noticed an increase in random screenings over the last several months. A flight attendant, also known as steward / stewardess or air host / air hostess, is a member of the aircrew aboard commercial flights, many business jets and some government aircraft. Maybe they'll finally get it when they miss a connection or twomaybe? Security is fine as long as they make it quick for working crew membersthere isn't a pilot or flight attendant anywhere in the world who would be willing to wake-up 3 to 4 hours early on their already too short layovers. You guys walk right up to the front of the queue. Work closely with your union or become a rep to improve work rules and pay at your airline to make respecting your job more appealing. There won't be any after its gone. Too bad a few more here can't grasp the insight you just provided for them. 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 I asked the TSA what was beeping she said and I quote its not you its the system its chosen you as random Really??? Known Crewmember What You Need To Know! Are allowed Liquids, Aerosols and Gels (LAGs) and other exemptions applicable to uniformed flight crewmembers atTSA PreCheck. Uh huh. It's not about logistics. (a handful of others choose to use this out-dated screening method from time to time because they STILL consider it to be an accepted method of secondary screening!!!) And while I'm in line to be scanned throughout the KCM door, they just walk in without ID check. 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. It's not at all fair to the crew members who do the right thing. But of course, they would have to pay them more. She was seventy-seven years old. If you look at the Number of incidents that are occurring, the majority, are all flight attendants. Guess what? Smuggling drugs or trying to get a weapon through security should be punishable to the people doing it. What? 0000003099 00000 n why would it bother you what our reactions are? Known Crewmember Program Information The National Air Transportation Association (NATA) and NATA Compliance Services (NATACS) is pleased to offer the Known Crewmember Program (KCM ) to certain Part 135 and Part 125 air charter pilots. While you have no idea what its like going through security as many times as we do with our heavy bag, etc, as many times as we do, it is actually quite frustrating to walk up to kcm and be randomed 2/3 of the time. Please remember you said this when YOU have a medical emergency or a general emergency (ie. Known Crewmember - MyKCM Login Known Crewmember TM The Known Crewmember (KCM) website allows crewmembers to register a barcode to go through security checkpoints seamlessly. We are not law enforcement. Susan Hollis Garrett. If you continue to feel that operational procedures are not being followed correctly, follow the instructions given by the LTSO/STSO and contact to your airline management, for assistance in clarifying the issue. "A half a block" really? Central American Airways Flying Services Inc. c. May not access the sterile area through the KCM access point if any portion of their travel itinerary includes personal international travel. However, keep in mind it is not just F/A's who have been known to smuggle items or take advantage of the benefit. Crew are human. 0000056810 00000 n "First responders" L.O.L. That should have never been allowed any more than ground workers could access special security lines when traveling. Imagine having to go through security and adding extra unpaid time to your job every time you went to work. Now its being taken away. How do you call yourselves life savers when you routinely smuggle drugs which KILL people. Sign up Seems crazy to punish the vast majority of people because a few bad apples. Also a lot of airports, like Ohare, dont require ground crew to go through security check points. Did you mean minutes? Are you absolutely certain youd like to demean the ONLY people trained (and willing) on an aircraft at 40,000 ft. to do WHATEVER is necessary to save your sorry butt? That should have never been allowed any more than ground workers could access special security lines when traveling. Failure to submit to screening at the passenger screening checkpoint (e.g., using a SIDA badge to avoid screening) is considered circumvention of screening, and TSA may take enforcement action in accordance with the KCM Disqualification Protocols (KCMDP). "Y'all fucked around and found out". The problem is flight attendants abusing KCM. Anybody else want to guess how many pilots have gone to federal prison for such crimes as murder? If youve not got anything productive to say, just focus on flying the plane. Not claiming the new policy will affect my trips, only that TSA has major staffing issues at certain airports. Pilots have years and $100,000 plus dollars invested in this career. The random serves NO purpose, except harassment UNLESS TSA would escort you directly to screening. They may be carried by passengers or crew members and are for personal use only. 0000011580 00000 n You idiots change the security process based on whether or not crew have a certain shirt on. This enhanced identity-verification and employment-confirmation system for airline pilots will make airport checkpoint screening more efficient for all who depend on air transportation by removing airline pilots from passenger screening lines. Keep dreaming. 0000007899 00000 n Making all of us lose this privilege will soon tax tsa, delay flights and and expand misconnects. 0000004686 00000 n The statistics dont lie. That's Have anyone seen how TSA Employees (as well as LEOs )gain access to the secured sterile areas of any of our nation's airports around the country? 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. I have pre check and clear. Stay mad, enjoy going through the security checkpoint. Flights can board with/without pilots..however, a flight cannot board without the flight attendants. KCM is beneficial when not abused. So there you go. And several times I have seen PILOTS attempting to bring their family members through KCM and then throw a hissy fit when theyre told no. I hope KCM is not done away with, but kept with added safeguards to prevent abuse. Common sense solutions to common sense problems. Are you mad that they didn't let them go? We do not speed up the security process because it's busy. Authorized crewmembers traveling with a printed boarding pass or seat request card are subject to the TSA Secure Flight (SF) vetting system the same as passengers. NATA worked in close partnership with Airlines for America (A4A), the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA), the TSA and NATA Compliance Services to bring this valuable program to our industry. And I get to the plane faster. Only 1 per person/crew member allowed (II) Safety cover is securely fitted over the heating element . Hmm, your story sounds fishy. Report: TSA Ending Known Crewmember Program In 2023, My take on TSA Known Crewmember Program changes, How To Check TSA PreCheck Hours & Availability, Yuck: TSA Finds Gun Hidden In Raw Chicken, Please view our advertising policy page for additional details about our partners, On the one hand, I do think its time that some changes are made to the Known Crewmember Program, purely based on the number of people who have abused it, On the other hand, fully screening pilots and flight attendants will take up more TSA resources and could lead to longer lines at security; furthermore, the TSA isnt actually very good at finding hidden objects, At least in the case of pilots, I think screening is kind of unnecessary, since theyre flying the plane, and if they wanted to do something, Ultimately I also get the argument that the TSA isnt there to stop drugs, but rather to stop weapons; that being said, if someone is smuggling kilos of cocaine and fentanyl, getting that off the streets (or out of the skies) doesnt seem like a bad thing. The REAL problem is that airline management, in conjunction with the FA unions, basically hire anyone with a "pulse" to be a Flight Attendant. Flight attendants are consistently being found to bring prohibited items (including drugs, even though that's not what TSA is looking for) through KCM. Please remember you said this when YOU have a medical emergency or a general emergency (ie. I've got nothing to hide. I'm a flight attendant with 34 years seniority. This is also known as the 3-1-1 liquids rule. 0000007057 00000 n 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. We are talking IT IS TIME FOR CHANGE. 0 Sold! 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. Enjoy screening! I am a passenger and one day I saw how nasty attitude you get to tsa for random checks. Crewmembers can only view their previous 30 days of KCM usage. A few extra minutes of my time isnt going to matter that much. 0000003052 00000 n Surely if it truly were that long Donna (Karen) you absolutely would have taken a photo. The second most common hard skill for a mcdonalds crew member is food orders appearing on 29.2% of resumes. The TSA screening is NOT there to catch drug smugglers. What do you make of the news of the TSA replacing the Known Crewmember Program with Expedited Crew Access? If you are a crew member who, even ONCE, brought a firearm illegally to work, you should be randomly screened for LIFE (even if you only did it once). You have basic first aid. Which is handing out band-aids and pressing buttons on an AED.after the machine TELLS you to. Are they really catching crew members with drugs? I was next and was told I need further screening tho I did not ring told FA cannot be further screened so I have to be screened??? Just because you hate your life and job doesnt mean everybody else does. For those who say "well, they're flying the plane ." that didn't end well for the pax and rest of crew of the German flight whose pilot crashed it into a mountain after locking out his copilot, or probably MH360. I have PreCheck and Ive waited at least 30 minutes several times between April and October this year. A second non-expired government-issued photo ID. Yeah - I have been strip searched after a hand swipe - just because I made the mistake of applying a hand moisturizer prior to going through screening.). The 282-ton . 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. We KCM should be 100% allowed for pilots there is a MASSIVE difference in career terms and pay between pilots and FAs. If the crewmember iswearinga uniform, the crewmember must present a KCM barcode card and a non-expired: Aircraft operator-issued crewmember photo ID or National Air Transport Association ID. Unfortunately, due to the dubious actions and agendas of a few, here we are. If the investigation results in regulatory findings, including a Warning Notice, loss of KCM privileges will continue for the period of time that TSA has determined is necessary. _W+ Im so tired of the majority of us being punished because of the few idiots that break the rules or commit crimes. I think they should give a hefty fine and take away the privilege from the individual who couldnt follow the rules. If you combine all the flight attendants and look at the numbers is it even close to 1% of crew members doing this? It is to ensure safety on public transportation, thats it. 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. KCM does not exempt a crewmember from complying with these additional screening techniques. Im flight crew @ ORD. I just assumed thats how it works pretty much everywhere. 0000000896 00000 n And not using the KCM line. It's not about logistics. I am sorry to say but sometimes FA and Pilot take advantage of the KCM and sorry to say these but sometimes you also show up late to flights when getting coffee. GOVERNMENT!!!!!!!!!!!! That, and the fact that pilots or flight attendants could threaten the safety of the flight, makes crewmembers unique. And nothing to do with YOU! I thought you were a former twitter employee, not an airline pilot. - you would really have more "professionals" and those are less likely to abuse the system. Flight attendants have 2 months of training. All rights reserved. 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. Flight crews already have to arrive hours before their flight and are not even getting paid. 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). If you have been issued a temporary government issued photo ID and it is your only form of government issued identification, proceed to the passenger screening checkpoint or employee screening location to access the airport sterile area. Also allowing them to use this when they are off duty is the other problem. I'm sorry but I simply do not want to allow anyone to be able to conduct any illegal activity via aviation; the drug crisis in the US is horrific and anyone that wants to protect their personal privileges to allow someone else to profit and kill others should simply not have those privileges. Your fellow drug smugglers "submitted backgrounds" top. All Crew Members transiting a KCM portal are subject to random screening. document.getElementById( "ak_js" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Im a flight attendant and Ive been random 18 times out of 22 since I started counting in January. 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 relatively minor inconvenience unlikely to result in any sort of injury to anyone. The "Flight Attendants" column denotes airlines whose Flight Attendants are eligible to participate in the KCM program. <]>> I'll bet you even flash your "first responder" wings at cops on traffic stops too. Cry for us. axes, hatchets or similar. It would make better sense to just have a baggage scanner at each KCM checkpoint but eliminate the need to X-ray scan our bodies. It is only there to prevent security threats to aviation, originally hijacking then terrorist attacks. If you arrive at the busiest times, youll see dozens of airport staff coming thru the PreCheck positions. Not only does he have an axe under his seat, but he could simply crash the plane. Crewmembers may request a new or replacement KCM barcode card from their airline management. If your pass has a SSSS printed on it, you must undergo selectee screening at the passenger screening checkpoint. KCM privileges will be suspended immediately when TSA initiates its investigation into a disqualifying violation of a transportation security requirement. Right, but the OP say's he has " 100% positive reputation and revered status with Spacer's Choice" and yet " still can't buy restricted items such as mag-picks from Spacer's Choice vending machines". KCM is a privilege, not a right. Regardless of the circumstances? They also let a passenger through a week ago with a razor blade. 0000004455 00000 n Q:I have a SSSS on my boarding pass or seat request card, what do I do? Then there are the handful who do things they shouldn't do, that are making it a lot harder for everyone else. crew member definition: 1. a member of a group of people who work together, especially on a ship: 2. a member of a group. Have a little fun with this!!! NAVIGATION WARNINGS ENR 5.1 Prohibited, Restricted, and Other Areas. As a result of having the FAA certificate, they are allowed to use the KCM lines. That is incorrect, KCM has an annual fee usually paid for by the union, company, or individual flight crew members - depending on the company. You seem to have a rather myopic view of the situation. Once you receive the barcode card, follow the instructions on the back to register it into the KCM system. Crewmembers can utilize the KCM access points for both business and personal use. Get your facts straight! Don't have an account? If any crew member wanted to cause harm they could. #3 is DEN - they do a secondary screening where they swipe the crew member's hands and test the swab in a machine. As of publication, at least 922 crew members have been infected and at least 11 have died from COVID-19. TSA might not be perfect but I would rather have them then not. 0000009729 00000 n What an absolute joke that anyone thinks there is any benefit at all to safety to screen pilots at TSA checkpoints. Look, your job could be replaced by a cardboard sign with a red arrow painted on it and a vending machine. Its harassment as far as Im concerned its very frustrating to go through this every time you come to work. I'm a 44 year flight attendant. 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. 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. Get mad at your (and my) own work group. Is the little baby upset that he can't go thru KCM cause his coworkers got busted smuggling drugs? Stop worrying about pilots in flight, attendants and worry about every other employee. The REAL problem is that airline management, in conjunction with the FA unions, basically hire anyone with a "pulse" to be a Flight Attendant. who cares..I pay TSA people out of my taxes to keep a 9-11 from happening again. https://www.afacwa.org/setting_record_straight_kcm_rumors?fbclid=IwAR2Jx6AzwBq_JTj471QFrQZST-hQzQNXJEa26tUuXbfKvLQLc_UNFuWuNzc. Im a F/A. So they pick on us instead. Flight attendants do not have as much to loose as a pilot. Packages large enough to smuggle a sufficient quantity of drugs show up on X-rays or via manual searches. There is no rolling back what the TSA currently does - like it or not. ..and do what with the flight attendants? But only if you're nice. 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. As for the argument about crew members mucking up the pre-check line, the way immigration lines are done should be the standard: there is always a dedicated crew line which pre-check users can use if there are no crew members. It is time that "whoever takes over screening" looks at us (all) as individuals. Date: March 18, 2022 The government-approved Known Crewmember (KCM) program allows Flight Attendants and Pilots at many airlines to enjoy the convenience of an expedited security screening. Crewmembers will no longer be permitted to manually enter their KCM data. Duh. Completely agree. So they are more likely to risk their crap paying job (as stated in the article) to make big bucks very easily. : ). Most crew have known for YEARS NOW that the TSA has done a piss-poor job of screening. That would solve the vast majority of the issues. Care to share that photo to back up your claims? Other Airline Flight Attendants have told me that some of their colleagues have been terminated for violating KCM policies. I dont understand this statement about treating flight attendants differently than pilots because we all go through very stringent background checks and process. CBP is a little different here but TSA is definitely a lot of entry level type people just looking at a x ray machine doing what they were trained, like robots. CDCCheck is a web-based, touchless and digitized solution from DepartureCheck that complies with the documentation, attestation and record-keeping requirements of this order. Flight attendants are first responders..they are highly trained professionals.even if some refuse to acknowledge it. There are 24,000 flight attendants just at my airline. After-all, who you gonna call when the "center does not hold" at 35,000 feet? The crew may have to deal with several emergencies such as cabin fires or first aid situations. Im curious to learn all the details of what this will look like. Security is an illusion there is no reason to subject those flying the airplane to TSA checks. Opinions expressed here are the authors alone, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities. HAAAA!!! Im a 37-year flight attendant with bachelors and masters degrees. Prohibited Items Week 2021. Why, because it would require manpower that TSA is unwilling/unable to hire. Also a lot of airports, like Ohare, dont require ground crew to go through security check points. It would make better sense to just have a baggage scanner at each KCM checkpoint but eliminate the need to X-ray scan our bodies. I dont know if any pilots who have been caught in the USA smuggling drugs. Have anyone seen how TSA Employees (as well as LEOs )gain access to the secured sterile areas of any of our nation's airports around the country? A: No. Flight attendants (mostly female) live out of their suitcases for several days at a time and wouldn't be feasible to check their bags just for health and beauty products (make-up, shampoo, etc), not counting the amount of food that FA's are allowed to pack in their travel cooler (again, several days of food are packed in those coolers) FA's are background checked and it's My concern for flight attendants would be the TSA liquid limits. _W++Udy|_3>+^j!mle`8X_% G 5The Known Crew Member program enables TSOs to positively verify the identity and employment status of flight-crew members who have joined the program and provide expedited access to the sterile area of the airport for properly identified and verified, uniformed crewmembers. CrewPASS has been used successfully at three East Coast airportsBaltimore/Washington International (BWI), Pittsburgh International (PIT) and Columbia (S.C.) Metropolitan (CAE)for almost three years. To protect your ability to participate in the Known Crewmember program, you must abide by the following rules: Authorized flight crew members must travel in uniform. So to clarify, a flight attendant like a pilot is required to do a strenuous background check. First, crew members appreciate having a KCM check point. Ukraine Prohibited and Restricted Items FedEx Cross Border is unable to ship prohibited and non-approved restricted items on behalf of its customers. KCM is a risk-based security program. I show up clean shaven, fresh haircut, pressed uniform and a smile. And no youre not getting a credit. So much so, that I usually just go to security line. I have witnessed them walk through checkpoints in droves with little more than a flash of a badge.