TSA to regulate General Aviation

[N941WR]

In reading the thread on the TSA and 12,500 lb airplanes, I began to wonder if it is me or all pilots that always seem to get singled out for special care.

I don't buy one way tickets or pay cash for my two way tickets, yet almost a flight never goes by when I don't get special screening, my bag is checked for explosives, and/or my checked bags get picked through.

Does this happen to other pilots who travel commercial airlines for business?

The only thing that I can think of that might trigger such special care, besides posting on this forum, is possibly my concealed carry permit.

(OK, moderators, if you are going to delete this note too, give me the courtesy of letting me know why?)

[mackd]

Originally Posted by N941WR

In reading the thread on the TSA and 12,500 lb airplanes, I began to wonder if it is me or all pilots that always seem to get singled out for special care.

I don't buy one way tickets or pay cash for my two way tickets, yet almost a flight never goes by when I don't get special screening, my bag is checked for explosives, and/or my checked bags get picked through.

Does this happen to other pilots who travel commercial airlines for business?)

I've never been singled out for special screening since I became a pilot 7 years ago.

[dhammer]

Originally Posted by N941WR

In reading the thread on the TSA and 12,500 lb airplanes, I began to wonder if it is me or all pilots that always seem to get singled out for special care.

I don't buy one way tickets or pay cash for my two way tickets, yet almost a flight never goes by when I don't get special screening, my bag is checked for explosives, and/or my checked bags get picked through.

Does this happen to other pilots who travel commercial airlines for business?

The only thing that I can think of that might trigger such special care, besides posting on this forum, is possibly my concealed carry permit.

(OK, moderators, if you are going to delete this note too, give me the courtesy of letting me know why?)

I average about 60 flights a year with about 10 to 12 of them international. Many of my flights are one way or disjointed because I'm on a corporate leg between the airline ones. I think the last time I got special screening was a couple of years ago as a random check.

Question - Have you ever given them a hard time or been cought with anything prohibited ? That will get you on their "hassle every time" list.

The stupidity of the deal is your boarding pass will have SSSS on it triggering the inspection before you ever get to security. What bad guy seeing that would go ahead an try to get something through? I don't think the folks making the TSA rules and procedures are rocket scientist material.

My opinion is the whole TSA thing is to make the un-washed masses comfortable and would do little to stop a wise person bent on doing harm and thinking about all those virgins. Just my VHO.

Don

[flyer46]

Bill R.
I suspect you had or still have a very small amount of "residue" on your clothes, on your bag, or did at one time on a previous check. Now you become a victim every time, because of the flag set on your file...

The only time I've been pulled aside for more screening was when I was late for a flight. I ran quite a bit, trying to make up time in the parking garage etc. I was winded and perspiring, so I understood completely. Once in a while I get the SSSS boarding pass, but very, very infrequently. I figure that is just a roll of the dice.

[N941WR]

Originally Posted by dhammer

Question - Have you ever given them a hard time or been cought with anything prohibited ? That will get you on their "hassle every time" list.

Don,

Good question but the answer is no, I have been very careful to be level headed with all airport personel, from the lady behind the checkin counter, to the flight attendents. After all, they are just doing their job.

Originally Posted by flyer46

Bill R.
I suspect you had or still have a very small amount of "residue" on your clothes, on your bag, or did at one time on a previous check. Now you become a victim every time, because of the flag set on your file...

Possible but unlikely. The one residue test my carry on was given (that I know about) was done while I was standing there and it was negative. I asked the lady some questions about what she was doing, how it worked etc. She was very informative and I was very courteous.

BTW, the reason I posted this thread drifting question here was because I tried to post it three different times as its own thread but the moderators kept deleting it for some odd reason.

[jtrusso]

I was on the TSA Don't Fly List for about two years. It was a major pain, I couldn't do curbside check in, self check in at a self serve kiosk or online check in. Every time I flew (and I was flying back to Boston from LAX once a month for 2 years) I had to check in at the counter. And 1/2 the time I did this they had to make a phone call to clear me to board the flight.

After about 6 months of this one of the gate agents told me I was on "the list" and that I should check the TSA website for how I could clear my name. It took just over two years to get off that list.

What happened was my travel department had me booked on three flights, all leaving from Boston Logan, all one ways, all within about 15 minutes of each other. I was chanigng plans while on this trip, so I had a flight to DC, JFK and LAX booked. It raised a flag and got me on "the list".

So if you make a bunch of changes to your travel plans make sure those old tickets get canceled!

[Ironflight]

Just a reminder from a moderator folks - this site isn't for generic aviation discussions, or political debate. It's for RV-related material. While I am sympathetic to the idea that we need people to comment to the TSA on this proposal, this isn't the place to do it.