TSA and pilots

[Bill Greenwood]

From an older issue of SPORT AVIATION, Aug. 2004 p. 18, the EAA hotline, says TSA had/has a program where they can suspend or revoke FAA issued pilot licenses, flight engineers and even mechanics. There are no criteria listed on what/who is a security risk and apparently no court or judicial hearings, so no due process for anyone whom TSA doesn't like.
This notice says there is a temporary hold on this action, because Congress has mandated that there be some appellate process, but TSA says they will institute the actions again once the appellate process is set up.
I don't know what has happened to this program over the years or if it is still done today. I hope not, but as gen av pilots we don't come in contact with TSA as often. We did have some really rude and nutty Homeland Security people come in a year ago from LAX and they caused everyone trouble but seem to have left now.

[Floatsflyer]

Regardless of whether or not this program still exists, based on the activity of the past 3 years, believe me when I tell you that you have far, far greater existential threats than mere TSA guys goose stepping on your civil rights.

[Airmutt]

Taken from AOPAs website...
On January 24, 2003, without prior public notice or comment, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and Transportation Security Administration (TSA) published " direct final rules" mandating the FAA to immediately suspend, revoke, or refuse to issue a pilot certificate to anyone the TSA determines poses a threat to transportation security.

[BJC]

http://www2.ca3.uscourts.gov/opinarch/041471np.pdf


BJC

[FlyingRon]

Alas that is not exactly a related case. The action in Menear were the city acting without cause, not the TSA. In fact, the TSA hadn't yet been created and the security screening was done by airline personnel. It appeared the city settled with Menear on the case shown. Menear also sued US Air, this took place in state court so I don't have easy access to the files on that.

[Bill Greenwood]

There are two things which are different now on the airlines from before 9-11. First, hijackers years ago were mostly less dangerous, for the most part in the U S they just wanted to go to Cuba, they weren't there to hurt anyone, much less sacrifice themselves or injure the passengers. They may have been motiviated by dissatisfaction with the U S govt or system, but they didn't hate the passengers and maybe not the airline. They were a better class of hijackers if you will. And the airlines, with some intelligence, realized that and just cooperated in whatever was needed. The pilots would take the person to Cuba, land safely and refuel and might be back in the U S the same day.
This all changed with 9-11 when the passengers on flight 91 heard on cell phones about the crashes in New York, and realized that these hijackers were different, and horrible as it was, fighting back was the only course left to the passengers. So now its all different, the passengers are not going sit still while the plane is flown to a crash target. If you should happen to be an old fashioned one who just wants to go to Cuba, you are out of luck.
And of course, this no cooperation motive is now with the pilots also, we have the reinforced cockpit doors, and the pilots are not going to open those doors in response to threats.
And I don't think TSA is the major factor in this case.
Sounds crazy, but its true that we had a better class of hijackers back in the old days, before idealistic driven hate became the main motivating factor.