He clearly doesnt do this on the day yo day and sounds dumb. Since you dont deal with people Im going to ignore the commentary on your lack of understanding why its necessary to go through an expedited process as a flight attendant. But this could possibly delay flights guess we'll see. Nevertheless, we know it takes man power and probably effects their bottom-line, to manage the check point. Instead theres a special lane they can go through, where they have to scan their badge, and then they can pass right through the checkpoint, without being screened. If they increased the requirements - say you have to have a 2 year degree -- an EMT license, etc. Im not attacking them personally but if you think they are some highly specialized person they are not. You are barking up the wrong tree and won't win your argument by saying that any part fo society should ignore illegal activity because it might inconvenience you. So they pick on us instead. 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. When flights get delayed or passengers miss their flights because the TSA already cant keep up with their normal shit. Must not be in possession of any TSA-prohibited items, weapons, or firearms. No other individuals are allowed access in the KCM program. Dont worry about that connecting flight in Denver thanks. 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). 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 line to get through security. I highly doubt it but they wont release the exact numbers they give vague statements so they can grab more power. If you arrive at the busiest times, youll see dozens of airport staff coming thru the PreCheck positions. Then you have to listen to Its not entitlement. 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. Thats fine. Its simply aggravation when you have to wait on a slow ass employee bus then drag your bag to security and here an offer say You wanna try your luck with a dumb ass grin on their face. 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. Eh? KCM is a privilege, not a right. Guess what? We do not speed up the security process because it's busy. For information about the Known Crewmember program, please contact us at:info@knowncrewmember.org. Secondly, its rather disturbing that TSA agents have very little oversight in regards to entering secure areas with bags, purses, etc. There is no rolling back what the TSA currently does - like it or not. * link https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2015/06/02/411423341/head-of-tsa-reassigned-after-tests-reveal-security-failures, you tsa guys are cluelessspend a day in ben gurion airport (TLV) and learn what it takes to prevent a 9-11. Pilots have years and $100,000 plus dollars invested in this career. 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. If youve not got anything productive to say, just focus on flying the plane. Known Crewmember (KCM) - It's a Privilege, Not a Right! Plus I would love to see you pilots sitting in the cockpit waiting for 2 hours without being able to board. One morning last summer at SAN the PreCheck line was out the West Terminal door extending half a block. Most airports have crew only lines and if they dont were allowed to walk to front of line while in uniform. Then you have to listen to passengers complain and ask why your late. endstream endobj 66 0 obj <>stream It didnt always exist. More egregious violations of the Code Federal Regulations (CFRs) could result in civil or criminal penalties. If they can make their annual salary as a flight attendant with a couple of runs, then they might figure its worth the risk. 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. Backpacks (including clear backpacks), hard-sided coolers (regardless of size) and bags larger than 16 x 16 x 8 inches are NOT permitted at Wrigley Field.Other bags (such as wallets, purses, drawstring bags, fanny packs, lunch bags, briefcases and soft-sided coolers) smaller than 16 x 16 x 8 inches in size are permitted. Dangerous Goods are also known as restricted articles, hazardous materials and dangerous cargo. Too bad Clayton Osbon didn't have a gun and kill the fo right? You seem to have a rather myopic view of the situation. Now there's a delayairline management won't like that idea. Seriously??? 0000060977 00000 n Too much education, and not enough accountability. Then there are the handful who do things they shouldn't do, that are making it a lot harder for everyone else. endstream endobj 81 0 obj <>/Size 53/Type/XRef>>stream All Crewmembers transiting a KCM portal are subject to random screening. I love my job and certainly contribute more than just having a pulse. I say, take it from those who violate the policy, but don't penalize those of who do right. Enter your email address here and we will send you an email with your username and instructions on how to change your password. Interesting SMR? BTW! Prohibited items: Firearms & Ammunition, including realistic replicas. Questions or feedback by flight crew should be directed to your respective airline. ]m+o^tw?Mxw7{[7Clikcno9b. Items prohibited in checked baggage but permitted in hand baggage. KCM does not exempt a crewmember from complying with these additional screening techniques. We shouldn't put anything pass anybody. 0000003099 00000 n I'm guessing there are very few prohibited items discovered during random screening. I said I'm not concerned with passenger volume or wait times. KCM privileges will be suspended immediately when TSA initiates its investigation into a disqualifying violation of a transportation security requirement. A. KCM is designed to confirm an airline flight -crew member's identity and current employment status, expedite their access to sterile areas of airports, reduce backlogs, increase throughput at passenger -screening checkpoints, and make 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. 0000001314 00000 n Please stop blaming flight attendants! I dont understand this statement about treating flight attendants differently than pilots because we all go through very stringent background checks and process. A few extra minutes of my time isnt going to matter that much. This was discipline issued by the carrier and documented by TSA. Scissors with blade length less than 4 inches . 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. All rights reserved. The outdated machines are looking for glycerine - a primary agent in bombs of the past. I have pre check and clear. If you believe that a KCM denial occurred relative to your employment status, please enter the sterile area as directed via the passenger-screening checkpoint and, when time permits, ask your airline supervisor for assistance in rectifying the situation with your carrier. You're about as much of a "first responder" as the senior citizen who greets people at Walmart. So, like with just about everything else good, a few ruin it for the majority. ice skates. Hmm, your story sounds fishy. I was impressed with KCM at SFO the other day. We are talking IT IS TIME FOR CHANGE. It's not at all fair to the crew members who do the right thing. Therefore, KCM eligible crewmembers are required to understand these KCM Rules for Use and comply with these rules while using the KCM access points. Sponsored by ALPA and Airlines for America. 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? Dangerous Goods must not be carried in (or as) passenger or crew-checked baggage The STSO must: a. Crewmembers may request a new or replacement KCM barcode card from their airline management. I agree some abuse the system and rules in place. 0000005203 00000 n An automated enhancement to random screening/USP has been enabled in the KCM system. Punish those that broke the rule. Many of them have very poor attitudes and thats because they deal with people all day long and its not easy. I was then forced to go through the x-ray scanner, and I was still flagged as they said the zipper on my uniform was a problem and then I had to stand there and be patted down in front of everyone, it was infuriating. At the end of a flight cabin crew members are there to make sure that passengers disembark the aircraft safely. Did you mean minutes? If a crewmember does not present an active KCM barcode card and is referred for screening, they must follow the TSOs instructions and complete the screening process at the passenger screening checkpoint. Remember, the crew may instead check your carry-on luggage when embarking, so if you carry any electronics that break the MSC drone policy, they may be confiscated until the end of the cruise. How many pounds of illegal drugs have TSA agents detected and confiscated since their inception? If you are an Employee or an Administrator (DER) please enter the information below to have a password reset emailed to you. This could help to discourage any would-be smugglers. It is possible, however, that a crewmember may be selected for random screening. who cares..I pay TSA people out of my taxes to keep a 9-11 from happening again. Pilots have much more to lose. The perpetrator will gain access without a doubt because they're never checked as they walk in. KCM is a risk-based security program and the use of the KCM program is a privilege and not a right. Are you EOD now? Next time you get on a flight that is cancelled or delayed because the crew cant get through security in a timely fashion perhaps you will remember this . I just love how every flight attendant in the World is a drug smuggler and pilots have never been arrested for anything. Right Eddie!?! We should not take a step backward. But it's ridiculous to get rid of a program that seems to be working fairly good so far. Are you worried that they might find the child porn that you regularly travel with now that you'll be going through security more often? 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. "TSA PRE-CHECK" line where most do not have to remove their shoes or take laptops out of bags - yay. 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. I was getting randomly selected so many times, I never renewed my KCM. It also has warned that such violations could jeopardize the entire Known Crew Member program. There is a dedicated crew line in every country and some countries have a system very similar to kcm where crew members are chosen randomly to be screened. Either way, you're a crewmember so you'd better get ready for work, you have peanuts to distribute. That is not correct. Our frustration has absolutely nothing to do with entitlement. As a flight attendant KCM is a privilege most of us highly respect with air travel at an all time high to be sent thru regular screening will cause delays and many frustrations Deny entry and inform the crewmember/s, as applicable, that they are not authorized through the KCM access point. 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. A: No. They are not the DEA and yet they end up finding ridiculous amounts of drugs usually because some idiot left a water bottle in the bag. 2023 PlanePeople. The majority of flight attendants and pilots follow the rules. {uyn1j~_L;t26mHMSY%?kbS&eGo?3/_fbd^`Gv`!=XYX+\GGGGGGEES%%%%%%y;`-^Sc;_y^1}iF3 I would love to see the upcoming changes on the program since I'm currently a flight attendant. This enhancement will include retention of the crewmember selection for USP for a period of time at all KCM access points in that airport. Flight crews already have to arrive hours before their flight and are not even getting paid. . 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 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. HVO@_qIgr&mU%x Jii7l%S~/-iL@+$gh^OFA^ ,=`no~e)b(RJHKiyW:VNXGtZF E`kpn3SkO{ QzW-aIXeAINd~#n"xOZe{u^{OF&kkZ page on our website to help with some of the misunderstandings in this program. Sorry the rule applies if you don't like it then leave. KCM is a risk-based security program. It is time that "whoever takes over screening" looks at us (all) as individuals. Maximum penalties. Can we also ban the pilots who brought their guns, or the ones bringing their wives wine? Let the hate flow through you. Agree that the problem stems from flight attendants being able to use this as well as pilots. But only if you're nice. Get over yourselves. KCM Crewmember definition & requirements: For the purpose of the KCM Program, authorized crewmembers have been defined by the TSA as: Captains or Pilots in Command, First Officers or Co-Pilots, Flight Engineers, Flight Navigators, Flight Attendants and Load Masters for full all-cargo operations. 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. 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 You really need to understand a few basics of airline travel. Our frustration has absolutely nothing to do with entitlement. No jumping in front of the line ( I always commute in polo shirts ). And while I'm in line to be scanned throughout the KCM door, they just walk in without ID check. As a flight attendant myself I see this as another power grab by the government entity tsa. Almost every cruise ship in the world offers some sort of laundry service onboard if you need. It only takes a few bad apples (be it pilots or flight attendants) to ruin the process for everyone.. The Known Crewmember program (often abbreviated KCM) allows select airline pilots and flight attendants to enter the sterile area of the airport without going through the standard security screening process. When youre randomly checked five or six times in a row, its easy to cop a tude. Reddit - Dive into anything. The random serves NO purpose, except harassment UNLESS TSA would escort you directly to screening. I dont think there was EVER a 3-4 HOUR security line.except maybe right after 9/11 or perhaps a few times in AMS over the summer. Pilots should still be able to have KCM. 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 do not have as much to loose as a pilot. 50.5% mcdonalds crew members have this skill on their resume. It is suggested that you print your pass prior to entering the sterile area. Exactly Mr. DeKnob! I get to see both sides of this equation. There have been reports of pilots caught with weapons when they get randomed. a. Pilots are not, and haven't been the problem. Not pilots. You ruined this for yourselves. I'm sure many blog readers have stories of this to share. 0000057317 00000 n The second most common hard skill for a mcdonalds crew member is food orders appearing on 29.2% of resumes. They're the offenders over and over. Q: Are temporary government issued photo IDs allowed? There should be employee TSA entrance, no sense of having crews who show up last minute, which is understandable not having an employee entrance. @ Alan -- I mean, I think the people who are actually caught with serious things (like kilos of cocaine) are facing worse punishment than just being banned from KCM Full disclosure- Im a flight attendant, and its frustrating to lose this privilege because of crew members who dont follow the rules. Crewmembers may not bring pets or pet carriers through the KCM access point. 0000001822 00000 n I don't think any pilot would try to bring a family member through KCM when they understand that it just doesn't work that way. endstream endobj 64 0 obj <> endobj 65 0 obj <>stream Life rafts are located on Deck 7 . Unaccompanied Baggage. 31 years as an airline pilot and seven years naval aviator. After-all, who you gonna call when the "center does not hold" at 35,000 feet? Your fellow drug smugglers "submitted backgrounds" top. 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? Pilots were the ones most often caught with a firearm in their bag. What do you make of the news of the TSA replacing the Known Crewmember Program with Expedited Crew Access? They are picked up and dropped off from the ramp. So it does happen..not a fishy story. 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. 0000003664 00000 n We KCM should be 100% allowed for pilots there is a MASSIVE difference in career terms and pay between pilots and FAs. 4.1.2. Instead of addressing their mess, they are looking to SHOW how they are making changes to "Protect the public" by using us crew as an example. "Y'all fucked around and found out". I'll be signed in and ready for work whenever. : ). Q: What should I do if the TSA cannot validate my identity and employment status at the KCM access point? Enjoy screening! KCM is Accessible Only for "Active" Crewmembers. If there is to be no special consideration for a FA then there should be none for pilots. The BCAS (Bureau of Civil Aviation Security) have come out with an advisory declaring locally made Power bank as prohibited item not permissible for carriage on person, hand baggage and Check-In baggage, and air cargo consignment. Common sense solutions to common sense problems. They set their feelings aside and DO the right thing when the chips are down! We will just have more delayed flights. For all these keyboard cowboys, do you actually know how to Google? KCM should be 100% allowed for pilots there is a MASSIVE difference in career terms and pay between pilots and FAs. The continued success of the program is dependent upon crewmembers demonstrating that they can be trusted to comply with all related requirements. Its ridiculous they were added to the program. For those who abuse the line, like while going to leisure international travel, which is not permitted, an immediate 6 months suspension without pay. Also, the US is rolling governments around the world, including in the US, are doing more surveillance of their own citizens - let alone others from other countries. Its simply aggravation when you have to wait on a slow ass employee bus then drag your bag to security and here an offer say You wanna try your luck with a dumb ass grin on their face. Let the security ppl stick to what they gotta do and you pilots can Are you mad that they aren't letting people smuggle drugs thru security? 0000010714 00000 n 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. List of Prohibited Items Examples of items prohibited by UPS include, but are not limited to the following: Ammunition (except as expressly provided in the "UPS Tariff/Terms and Conditions of Service - United States" beginning on page 7) Bank bills, notes or currency (other than coin) Corpses, cremated or disinterred remains Fireworks Failure to follow these rules could result in temporary or permanent loss of KCM privileges. Maybe that would deter them? A lot of money from pilot dues was spent by the Air Line Pilots Association to help get the Known Crew Member program going. Thank you to the wonderful TSA for wasting everyones time and making the lives of hard working crew members harder while decreasing safety at the same time. TSA never figured it out, who screens TSA agents? Second, customers are always disappointed when a crew member steps to the front of a line. That being said, as a retired airline pilot, what business is it of the TSA. Security is an illusion there is no reason to subject those flying the airplane to TSA checks. The duration of disqualification from participation in KCM is related to the seriousness of the violation and/or a repeated history of regulatory violations. 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. The plane wont be leaving without me as long as I inform schedule that Im in the airport. This includes: one open liter of alcoholic beverage and 300 cigarettes, or 50 cigars, or 2 kilograms of smoking tobacco, or a proportionate amount of each; merchandise not exceeding $200 in value, which may include gifts the crew member has purchased for persons in the United States, free of duty. Again, the TSA doesn't handle drug cases but if they do even random checks and find something that is illegal, they are going to refer it to local or federal police. On the one hand, I've spent the last 16 years+ working for TSA. 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. Who cares if a pilot brings a gun onto a plane. Again, NOT for drug enforcement. Im flight crew @ ORD. I wish I could taste the tears of your unfathomable sadness. 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? And how might a TSA random screening have prevented the German wings incident? why would it bother you what our reactions are? It is only there to prevent security threats to aviation, originally hijacking then terrorist attacks. 0000060864 00000 n Real professional comment on your part. We are talking CLASS ACTION lawsuits for piss-poor treatment of crew. Yes, I am furious. However, keep in mind it is not just F/A's who have been known to smuggle items or take advantage of the benefit. 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. There's always going to be a few who thwart the rules and get busted. If a crewmember believes that a KCM denial occurred relative to employment status, they should proceed to the passenger-screening checkpoint for screening and, when time permits, ask an airline supervisor for assistance with the airline KCM record. Yes, I flew this week. Alcoholic beverages, illegal drugs, flammable liquids, explosives, and dangerous chemicals will not be returned. 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. Random screening or Unpredictable Screening Procedures (USP) is built into the system as a check and balance to ensure the integrity of the KCM program. 0000006114 00000 n Actually, I've seen the pre- check line longer than the general boarding line! It's not one bit different. 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. Why, because it would require manpower that TSA is unwilling/unable to hire. There are 24,000 flight attendants just at my airline. Crewmembers will no longer be permitted to manually enter their KCM data. Unfortunately, too many folks don't realize or even care that flight attendants are safety professionals. The current system is broken beyond repair at the moment. Please view our advertising policy page for additional details about our partners. CAP Solo Pilot 4.1.1.1. b. This would no longer be a joint initiative with the Air Line Pilots Association and Airlines for America, but rather would entirely be under the control of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). If they want to look in my bag, no problem. 911? 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 an honor system just like Global Entry and Pre-Check, you're screened as to if you can be a "trusted traveler". 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! It takes all of us to to fly passengers. The current limits are arbitrary and nearly meaningless. So, what is even closer scrutiny Crewmembers are subject to a federal background check and fingerprinting as a result of 9/11. Thanks to the right wing gun nuts that cant tell a difference between their flight bag and a range bag. Stay mad, enjoy going through the security checkpoint. Known Crewmember Fact Sheet (Source: www.knowncrewmember.org) Q. Didn't we all crewmembers provided the Agency with Fingerprints, ( They want new one's by next year 2023 ). Now its being taken away. Just give us our own lane already. Because flight attendants would bring something to harm their day at work? An average pilot makes whatunder $200k at best. For everyones information, so long as the plane is on there is no need to have pilots on board while boarding passengers. 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. Just a couple of weeks ago I posed the question of whether the Known Crewmember Program should be reconsidered. The more that original mission is replaced by "catch and imprison people carrying contraband" the less it makes sense to ignore the protections afforded under the Fourth. Making all of us lose this privilege will soon tax tsa, delay flights and and expand misconnects. I've come up with a plan though for my KCM screening, up 75%I now wear flip flops and a Jethro Bodine belt to then get sent to random screening! A: Effective March 31, 2022, the TSA will require KCM eligible crewmembers to scan a KCM-issued barcode card when utilizing a KCM access point. The Crew Appreciation charge is paid to Holland America Line team members and represents an important part of their compensation. Prohibited Items Civil Enforcement Civil Enforcement Prohibited Items Planning ahead and packing properly can facilitate the screening process and ease your travel experience at the airport. I agree with you about flight attendants vs pilots. On the other, my spouse is a F/A for Southwest. The vast majority of crew use KCM exactly as they should and are law abiding. 0000011580 00000 n Crewmembers can only view their previous 30 days of KCM usage. After-all, in an emergency at 35,000-feet, calling 911 isn't going to save youbut the flight attendants just might? I will however, proceed to explain that there is a necessity to have minimum crew on board to board passengers which I do realize you do not deal with.