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ALPA welcomes new TSA screening procedures for pilots

Direct News Source

19-Nov-2010 The Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l (ALPA), today welcomed the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) announcement of expedited screening for airline pilots as important action to move the nation toward a threat-based strategy that focuses security resources where the risk is highest and away from a one-size-fits-all approach.

"Airline pilots are trusted security partners, given the level of background checks they must satisfy as part of employment and the responsibility they have for the safe operation of the flight," said Capt. John Prater, ALPA's president. "We appreciate the TSA's recognition of this partnership with new procedures that will provide a higher level of security throughout the system while moving pilots efficiently through screening checkpoints."

ALPA has long advocated a threat-based approach to aviation security that focuses limited screening resources on individuals about whom little or nothing is known while accurately identifying trusted travelers such as airline pilots and allowing them to be screened appropriately.

ALPA proposed the creation of a highly secure and effective security screening system that would quickly and accurately verify the identity and employment status of active airline pilots. As a result, ALPA's Crew Personnel Advanced Screening System (CrewPASS) program would identify individual pilots as trusted and, as a result, enhance the overall security of air travel and reduce passenger delays.

In today's announcement, the TSA acknowledged ALPA for developing the CrewPASS concept and committed to phasing in CrewPASS nationally. The CrewPASS system is currently operating at Baltimore-Washington Thurgood Marshall International, Pittsburgh International, and Columbia Metropolitan airports.

"Airline pilots across this country are gratified by TSA's announcement of new procedures and its commitment to implement the CrewPASS enhanced pilot screening program nationwide as critical steps to making our air transportation system more secure for everyone," concluded Prater.