A brush with the TSA today...

At MCI (KC International) I was putting my shoes back on and the guy next to me triggered a "bag check". Blue shirt opened the guy's carry on and pulled out a bowling pin (guy had won it in a tournament). Blue shirt pulled out his notebook of prohibited sports items - hockey sticks, javelins, bats, lawn darts, whatever - but didn't see a bowling pin listed so he called a supervisor. Supervisor said, "Just don't hit anyone with it", and gave it back.
 
I love these posts, as they always make me appreciate my home 'drome.

Mary and I will discuss this incident further....next time we do our two mile walk...on the parallel taxiway...50 feet from the runway centerline...drinking a beer. ;)
 
BillTIZ said:
In Strategic Air Command language, it's the "No Lone Zone", never be alone inside the zone.
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I hear from folks that fly down there that the Peterson kids have no sense of humor at all about those near the flight club ramp, down in COS, and show up with some pretty decent firepower PDQ if you're dumb enough to walk across that type of ramp line.
 
hmmmmm..... I'm thinking flash mob inside the red box. All pilots with the proper badges and no 121 aircraft in sight....
 
When I lived in SAF, I used to stand right next to the red box until TSA would engage. It was like a child's game of "I'm not touching you...I'm not touching you..."

And it was hilarious. They'd threaten to call the police, and I'd tell them "This will be fun! What law are you going to tell them I'm breaking?"

When they did call the cops, the only thing the officer said: "These guys aren't very bright. You are reducing the effectiveness of security, however, because they can't seem to do their own jobs very well, let alone do it while harassing you."

I couldn't argue that point...he was right. The "X" below is where I'd stand. They put the damned box right next to the FBO, so how could I resist?
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Jay Honeck said:
I love these posts, as they always make me appreciate my home 'drome.

Mary and I will discuss this incident further....next time we do our two mile walk...on the parallel taxiway...50 feet from the runway centerline...drinking a beer. ;)
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I got that beat. I regularly wander out on the runway or take the golf cart to get to my neighbors to drink or whatever. About the only time I resort to going around on the road side was when I was borrowing my neighbor's fork lift...it doesn't do well on the grass.
 
One of my favorite security standup routines goes something like:

TSA: Has anybody put any items in your luggage without your knowledge?
PASS: If they did it without my knowledge, how would I know?
TSA: That's why we ask.
 
Arguing with TSA would consume part of my life that I could be doing something productive. Ergo, I don't do it. OTOH, I've never had any real reason to.

BTW, I'm the guy Tim was talking about that stirred up the FBO. I did ask him how come I could walk out the door if they didn't want me to do that. As Tim said, no answer to that simple question.

Cheers
 
SkyHog said:
When I lived in SAF, I used to stand right next to the red box until TSA would engage. It was like a child's game of "I'm not touching you...I'm not touching you..."

And it was hilarious. They'd threaten to call the police, and I'd tell them "This will be fun! What law are you going to tell them I'm breaking?"

When they did call the cops, the only thing the officer said: "These guys aren't very bright. You are reducing the effectiveness of security, however, because they can't seem to do their own jobs very well, let alone do it while harassing you."

I couldn't argue that point...he was right. The "X" below is where I'd stand. They put the damned box right next to the FBO, so how could I resist?
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If standing still for more than 5 minutes, could be loitering or the ever popular public nuisance. Now if you had just been clipping your toenails....;)
 
Zeldman said:
If standing still for more than 5 minutes, could be loitering or the ever popular public nuisance. Now if you had just been clipping your toenails....;)
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If they run, they're terrorists.
If they stand still, they are well-disciplined terrorists.
Ain't security theatre hell?

(Apologies to Stanley Kubrick)
 
Generally, my experiences with TSA people, as a passenger and as a pilot, have been very positive. But, I have a sneaking suspicion that TSA folks are even more wired now than ever before, after recent events in Europe. Having a flight bag and headsets is no longer an indicator that we are 'legitimate' - generally, terrorists really aren't stupid (OK, Richard Reid was), they are quite clever. What better way to blend in than carry a flight bag and headsets?

But, I empathize with you, particularly when you are hassled for no good reason, when you go to the trouble to carefully walk around excluded areas, and still get called out. I do think a civil discussion with the TSA Supervisor might help them better understand, and thereby help other pilots in the future.
 
my favorite story: the tsa rule on tools is they must be less than 7 inches in length. so for my service trips i found a cardboard box that is 6 3/4 inches long inside dimension. i put my pliers, screwdrivers, wire strippers ect inside the box and put the box in my service kit. this kit triggers added checks because of the tools and circuit boards inside. no problem there, one time a TSA mental midget takes the box out and takes each tool out and measures it, never even thinking to just measure the box.

bob
 
My wife and I had a big vacation planned for Thanksgiving, 2001 (pretty sure that's when it was). The new security rules had just gone into effect. National Guard troops were armed and patrolling the terminals. My wife and I were going through the metal detector and a little old lady was getting her purse searched. The two security ladies pulled out a small pair of tweezers from her purse and were taking turns poking themselves in the arm. They kept asking each other, "What do you think? Are these a "sharp object?"" I figured we were doomed.
 
Being a certified wine judge and otherwise wine geek, I always have a cork screw with me. I got into a discussion with the TSA as they wanted to take it (because it had a tiny blade for cutting the foil in it). I pointed out I always flew with it (but my wife chimed in that we usually fly our own plane...darn it woman).
 
Zeldman said:
Part 121 operators.

Part 135 operators, scheduled or unscheduled, do not have to use TSA.

The red box that is being talked about is the SIDA box, Security Identification Display Area where the part 121 planes park to load/unload passengers.
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thanks.
 
Matthew said:
Maybe. If they do, there will be 3 TSA guys there: one on the stage, one in a chair, and one face down on the floor.
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On or off duty, or both? :rofl:

We had a Capt fly into KMGM (Montgomery AL) on a scheduled flight. While there he walked over to the FBO to get a Sectional and walked back when security (police) pulled up and queried him. The Capt didn't know about the 'red line' but the police was civil about it and let him off the hook. Of course we all gave him hell about it.
 
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Ryanb said:
That's one of the benefits I love about uncontrolled fields...NO TSA.

Abusing their jurisdiction is what they're known for. It's one thing to harass someone who doesn't belong, but someone who shows all the regalia...:sosp:

Try not to let it get to ya.
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Zeldman said:
I am guessing you mean at uncontrolled airports without airline service. I have been to plenty non-towered airports that have a scheduled service and TSA, but for the airline only.
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I fly out of a controlled field (at least, when the tower is open). No TSA drones here.

I fly over to KPUW now and then. Uncontrolled field (no tower), but Horizon operates a few flights a day out of there. TSA shows up 15-20 minutes before each flight, opens the security gate, checks everyone through and then goes home after the flight departs. There is a red line outside.

TSA people can be so clueless. Several years ago I was riding one of the airlines out of SEA. TSA guy at the ID check point asks "So, what are you doing today?" As I recall, that isn't one of the things they are supposed to ask. I shut him down with "Doing my imitation of self loading cargo on a pressurized aluminum mailing tube!" He hadn't heard that before and had no comeback. Now with TSA Pre-check I have much simpler dealings with them. Almost as simple as pre-9/11.
 
Matthew said:
The red line painted on the ground that keeps the bad guys out. Except Tim, nothing stops Tim.
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I used to work for a large east.coast shipping port.. we had blue lines only special people could cross.
 
Ghery said:
TSA guy at the ID check point asks "So, what are you doing today?" As I recall, that isn't one of the things they are supposed to ask.
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A few years ago the story circulated of a Hollywood director who was asked that question by TSA at LAX. His truthful answer -- "shooting a pilot" -- led to a lengthy and awkward delay.

o_O
 
To all the idiots picking fights for no real reason with TSA agents...

Two things.

1. They're just people. Sometimes they make mistakes. No need to be an ass about it just explain yourself briefly.
2. They're stopping attacks and are less effective while you're wasting their time with your childish antics.
 
Cavorter said:
To all the idiots picking fights for no real reason with TSA agents...

Two things.

1. They're just people. Sometimes they make mistakes. No need to be an ass about it just explain yourself briefly.
2. They're stopping attacks and are less effective while you're wasting their time with your childish antics.
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If you honestly believe that the TSA does anything to benefit the United States, then I'm afraid your "idiot" comment is misplaced.
 
Cavorter said:
To all the idiots picking fights for no real reason with TSA agents...

Two things.

1. They're just people. Sometimes they make mistakes. No need to be an ass about it just explain yourself briefly.
2. They're stopping attacks and are less effective while you're wasting their time with your childish antics.
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Friend/relative a TSA agent? Spent 24 years at an airline, so I probably disagree with you. Yeah let's go with that.
 
Cavorter said:
To all the idiots picking fights for no real reason with TSA agents...

Two things.

1. They're just people. Sometimes they make mistakes. No need to be an ass about it just explain yourself briefly.
2. They're stopping attacks and are less effective while you're wasting their time with your childish antics.
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Name one attack they've stopped.
 
The TSA has never stopped a single terrorist attack. It wastes $8.1 billion per year while likely indirectly causing an excess of 500 deaths on the highways each year due to people avoiding short haul flights and driving instead.

Unfortunately, about 50% of the US public believes they are doing some good in fighting terrorism.
 
Matthew said:
My wife and I had a big vacation planned for Thanksgiving, 2001 (pretty sure that's when it was). The new security rules had just gone into effect. National Guard troops were armed and patrolling the terminals. My wife and I were going through the metal detector and a little old lady was getting her purse searched. The two security ladies pulled out a small pair of tweezers from her purse and were taking turns poking themselves in the arm. They kept asking each other, "What do you think? Are these a "sharp object?"" I figured we were doomed.
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Shortly after they reopened the airspace after 9/11, we flew with our kids to Meigs Field in Chicago.

My daughter was 7 years old. My son was 11. When the security clowns would not let us exit our Cherokee, finally drove us to the terminal, and then WANDED my little girl with a metal detector, I figured we were screwed.

Then, when our Arab taxi driver failed to understand the (new) Chicago police checkpoint (after we spent a day at the museums), and we navigated a phalanx of drawn weapons and screaming cops, I KNEW we were screwed.
 
Home of the Not Really Free and the Not So Brave.

20th ranked in personal freedoms, and second highest incarceration rate per capita.
 
So they direct the attacks at security lines with 200 people standing around instead.

What's the difference?
 
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GlennAB1 said:
There have been numerous terror attacks in the US since 9/11. Any of them could have been directed towards airliners if security wasn't in place to deter them.
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So you're advocating for a totalitarian nanny state, that tells you what is safe to do?

Better have a security checkpoint before you take a dump, and one before the utensil drawer in the kitchen, and one before you get in a car
 
GlennAB1 said:
There have been numerous terror attacks in the US since 9/11. Any of them could have been directed towards airliners if security wasn't in place to deter them.
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We have also had zero Martian attacks since the inception of the TSA. Yay TSA, good job!

A more likely reason for no airliner attacks is secure cockpit doors and passengers that will no longer sit quietly and wait for ransom money to be worked out.
 
cheap weenie said:
Name one attack they've stopped.
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:D:D:D

Sure, how the most likely hundreds of attacks that would have happened if they hadn't been there?

:rolleyes:

You DO realize that the whole point of them being there is to deter bad people from slipping bad stuff onto the plane right? The fact that there have been no attacks is precisely the proof that it WORKS.

I'm just so happy that some of the incredible ignorant people posting in this thread are not involved in running the government.
 
Come to think of it, the F-35 is a lot bigger waste of money than the TSA. More new F-15's, F-16's, F-18's and F-22's would have been a hell of a lot cheaper and just as effective.

Cheers
 
Cavorter said:
:D:D:D

Sure, how the most likely hundreds of attacks that would have happened if they hadn't been there?

:rolleyes:

You DO realize that the whole point of them being there is to deter bad people from slipping bad stuff onto the plane right? The fact that there have been no attacks is precisely the proof that it WORKS.

I'm just so happy that some of the incredible ignorant people posting in this thread are not involved in running the government.
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There's also been zero black bear attacks in my yard since the TSA has been founded. I guess we can credit the TSA with that too.

TSA: Stopping black bear attacks since 2000-whenever.

One is a moron if they believe the TSA does anything useful.
 
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