| Sign in: |
| Members log in here with your user name and password to access the your admin page and other special features. |
|
|
|
|
|| SportsShooter.com: Member Message Board
TSA Idiots!
David Bailey, Photographer
|
Steven E. Frischling, Photographer
 |
| | | Posted: 8:13 AM on 02.16.10 |
->> David,
In fact I am not surprised by the story. I have witnessed this and heard of this countless time. A friend of mine's mother has had cancer multiple times and needed locking braces for her legs. On more than one occasion she has been told to remove the braces and then told she needed to x-Ray her cane. She has requested a pat-down, as is allowed under TSA regulations and been denied this request more than once.
My father, also weakened by cancer, wears non-metal braces in his shoes for support. He to has been denied when asking for a pat down being told he must removed his shoes...except the shoes and the braces are molded into a single piece.
The rules are supposed to be consistent from airport to airport ... no wait ... the new rules call for 'random and inconsistent screening procedures from station to station to avoid policy and procedure memorization by those seeking to do harm.'
The TSA is starting to issue a 'classified' document to 10,000 TSA front line agents to help them better detect terrorists. Of course only approximately 275 TSA agents have so far qualified for the security clearance required for the classified document.
The contents of the 'classified' document are, from what I understand, basic behavioral, baggage content clues and profile characteristics that can be tracked down by using Google in about two minutes if you know what you're looking for. The document that is intended to strength security is still reactionary rather than proactive and has sections that appear to continue to focus on those who 'don't fit in' rather than than the "Timothy McVeigh" travelers who blend in perfectly.
Keep in mind that keeping a document 'classified' with 10,000 front line agents having access means the document will have leaks ...
...and lets not forget that the TSA has also recently hired someone convicted of Felony Robbery who didn't disclose this on their application (which would have rejected the application). The TSA failed to find out this person was convicted of a felony within the past 10 years in a background check. When Richmond Int'l Airport found the person's felony conviction (which the applicant did not disclose to the airport as required in the security badge application) the airport denied them the security badge ... as their policy is to not badge convicted felons as per TSA regulations. When the felony conviction was discovered, and it was discovered and that the TSA screener failed to disclose this conviction on multiple background checks (which means the TSA never ran a background check before hiring the screener) rather than firing the screener, the TSA has forced RIC into issuing them a security clearance badge for the airport!
Maybe once the TSA has a new Permanent Administrator the agency can get back on track. In only 8 years in existence the agency has had 4 Permanent Administrators and now is overseen by an Acting Administrator (she's not permanent) for more than a year.
Happy Flying! |
|
Matthew Sauk, Photographer
 |
Sandy | UT | United States | Posted: 10:50 AM on 02.16.10 |
->> Glad to see our gov't dollars working out so well...
Another broken program, great.
just makes me sad to see how broken our gov't is these days |
|
Phil Hawkins, Photographer
|
Fresno | ca | usa | Posted: 3:54 PM on 02.16.10 |
->> Steven,
You gotta know that you've posted more down-and-dirty information beneficial to all SS members than anyone else I can think of. You've helped me immensely in anticipating airport and travel problems. Please don't leave SS. Thank you so much for all you've contributed. |
|
N. Scott Trimble, Photographer
|
Lake Oswego | OR | USA | Posted: 4:41 PM on 02.16.10 |
->> Hmm...Well, one out of four isn't bad... I'll let you decide which one.
(from the TSA job posting site)
Securing Travel, Protecting People: At the
Transportation Security Administration, we serve in a high-stakes
environment to safeguard the American way of life. In cities across
the country, we secure airports, seaports, railroads, highways, and
public transit systems. We protect our transportation infrastructure
from terrorist attack and ensure freedom of movement for people and
commerce.
At TSA, we act swiftly and with integrity to:
Discover and stop emerging transportation security threats,
utilizing state of the art technology
Educate and provide friendly customer service to travelers
Screen passengers and gather intelligence
Coordinate security involving aviation, rail, and other surface
and maritime transportation
Oversee most transportation-related responsibilities of the
federal government during a national emergency |
|
Israel Shirk, Photographer, Assistant
|
Boise | ID | US | Posted: 5:43 PM on 02.16.10 |
| ->> Agreed, Phil! |
|
Chuck Steenburgh, Photographer
|
Lexington | VA | USA | Posted: 11:08 PM on 02.16.10 |
| ->> Hey, don't be so hard on TSA. I mean, AFTER the underwear bomber set off his bomb, had it malfunction, and was overpowered by passengers...the system worked! |
|
Gregory McKie, Photographer
|
Seattle, WA and Portland | OR | US | Posted: 12:21 AM on 02.17.10 |
| ->> TSA = Thousand Standing Around. Remember we're paying them $5 per ticket to inflict this on us. TSA is just a show. |
|
Steven E. Frischling, Photographer
|
| | | Posted: 9:06 AM on 02.17.10 |
->> Phil,
Thanks, I appreciate it.
Recently I have been able to get a lot of folks to listen to me, including having been contacted by the US House Committee on Homeland Security who apparently has had a number of is staff and members reading Flying With Fish. I got a phone call directly by the House Committee on Homeland Security in early January because they were genuinely interested in my insights and opinions on the topic of the TSA and airline/airport security.
That contact is becoming a semi-regular open dialog. Will it impact anything? I don't know, as the House Committee and the DHS its self are very much at political odds with each other, however it is nice to know that at least someone in the Government is interested in fixing the system. |
|
David A. Cantor, Photographer, Photo Editor
|
Toledo | OH | USA | Posted: 10:10 AM on 02.17.10 |
| ->> And while we're at it, let's wish the TSA Happy 8th birthday because on this day in 2002, "the new Transportation Security Administration took over supervision of aviation security from the airline industry and the Federal Aviation Administration." (NYT) |
|
Matthew Sauk, Photographer
|
Sandy | UT | United States | Posted: 10:27 AM on 02.17.10 |
->> Steven,
You should tell them that the TSA should all be fired and we should actually put people who know what they are doing, as in people from places like Israel, etc...
I saw an interview of a guy that does security at airports and his insights were very interesting.
He even said the TSA is just for show, and that full body scanners are ridiculous. They do nothing but impede our civil liberties.
In the end though I think we all know nothing will happen. It is just another money making scheme. |
|
Michael Fischer, Photographer
|
Spencer | Ia | USA | Posted: 10:58 AM on 02.17.10 |
->> Chuck,
In fairness to the TSA, you have to chalk up the Christmas bomber's exploits to security at AMS not TSA.
I flew back via AMS last week from Istanbul. The screening at the Delta gate involved everything including bag xray and pat down for everyone.
Michael |
|
Chuck Steenburgh, Photographer
|
Lexington | VA | USA | Posted: 11:09 AM on 02.17.10 |
->> Michael,
True enough.
And as good as El Al's security is...I don't think you can compare the scope of El Al's operation with the challenges faced by TSA in any way, shape, or form. Many orders of magnitude greater in terms of number of airports, flights, and passengers.
Chuck |
|
Steven E. Frischling, Photographer
|
| | | Posted: 12:11 PM on 02.17.10 |
->> Oh yea... and the TSA is also about to start swabbing passengers hands for explosives, in addition to items on carry-on baggage.
This should be great for anyone who shoots for sport or hunting. |
|
Steven E. Frischling, Photographer
|
| | | Posted: 12:36 PM on 02.17.10 |
->> Michael,
Security screening at Amsterdam Schiphol Airport (AMS) is handled by ICTS. ICTS is an Israeli company that makes its headquarters in Amstelveen, Netherlands
Security for non-EU/Schengen flights from AMS is unique in that security is handled at the gate rather than upon entry into the air-side of the terminal, this is because arriving and departing passengers are intermingled in a common concourse.
The security screening you received for your Delta flight to the US is the same as a passenger flying to London on British Airways (as the UK is in the EU but not a Schengen country). The minor difference in the US fight is the pat-down, although some non-US flights have a pat-down by ICTS as part of the random-security protocols.
Surprisingly, although ICTS is Israeli, they do not follow many of the common procedures found in Israeli commercial airports. |
|
Steven E. Frischling, Photographer
|
| | | Posted: 12:39 PM on 02.17.10 |
->> Matthew,
As for implementing Israeli style airport security in the United States, that is logistically challenging. Currently Israel has five commercial airports ... presently both Los Angeles and New York City both have 7 metro airports that each that require TSA screening ... and the TSA operates in more than 600 commercial airports in the US.
I could go on about this, but no one wants to read 3 pages of info regarding logistics, mis-steps, training, crew efficiency, profiling, partner intervention, the failure of the DHS in allowing multiple commercial airports (including SFO) to not be TSA controlled airport (ie: they outsource the security), airline cooperation, the security failures of continuing registered traveller and the problems related to passenger manifest data transmission after the aircraft door has closed. |
|
Phil Hawkins, Photographer
|
Fresno | ca | usa | Posted: 1:49 PM on 02.17.10 |
| ->> Frankfurt, Germany is an armed military camp. Soldiers walking around w/ submachine guns... I was in a bad mood due to the confusing instructions for transferring passengers, and seeing this, the guy at (German equivalent of) TSA took me aside and 3 guards grilled me for 10 minutes... They do not f*** around in Frankfurt. TSA personnel were very efficient and thorough; my photo bag was searched, smeared, x-rayed... dog-sniffed... I felt real secure getting on the plane for Dallas after all that, but there was a price to pay. Keep your contrary emotional status to yourself when going through Frankfurt... |
|
Phil Hawkins, Photographer
|
Fresno | ca | usa | Posted: 1:51 PM on 02.17.10 |
| ->> Parenthetic comment; who the hell has the balls to give Fisch an "off-topic" on anything he posts? Some people.......... |
|
Israel Shirk, Photographer, Assistant
|
Boise | ID | US | Posted: 3:53 PM on 02.17.10 |
| ->> Someone who doesn't know what they're talking about and doesn't want to know, that's who! :) |
|
Steven E. Frischling, Photographer
|
| | | Posted: 4:41 PM on 02.17.10 |
->> Phil
Now you're just feeding my ego and it doesn't need any feeding :0)
Oh yea...and the TSA apparently is disciplining agents in DC who failed to reported to work in DC due to the snow ... despite the fact the airports were officially closed. |
|
Jeff Martin, Photographer
|
wellington | OH | usa | Posted: 7:54 PM on 02.17.10 |
->> "Oh yea...and the TSA apparently is disciplining agents in DC who failed to reported to work in DC due to the snow ... despite the fact the airports were officially closed."
That's the gov. I was employed by for 25 yrs. |
|
Steven E. Frischling, Photographer
|
| | | Posted: 8:34 PM on 02.18.10 |
->> PJ,
I have been writing about the TSA's inability to track lost, misrouted and stolen firearms for more than a year. I had written some stats a while back, based on what info (very very limited info) was available and ended up being called by a law enforcement agency who wanted my info for their records.
It is amazing how many firearms are stolen from 'sealed cases' that go unreported to any law enforcement agency (TSA not included) |
|
Chuck Steenburgh, Photographer
|
Lexington | VA | USA | Posted: 8:41 PM on 02.18.10 |
| ->> Is that article that PJ posted an op-ed piece or a news story? Not that I'm trying to give DHS a break. |
|
Michael Fischer, Photographer
|
Spencer | Ia | USA | Posted: 9:04 AM on 02.20.10 |
| ->> Chuck, the article is a column in the Washington Post. Stolen and mis-routed firearms that Steven refers to are in addition to the missing/lost DHS firearms. Not too surprising that way too often the guns end up in the possession of "bad guys". |
|
Return to --> Message Board Main Index
|