New U.S. security rules rile airlines, air crews

[CHIMO]

Canada's airlines want their crews to be exempted from proposed U.S. rules that would force them to go through high-tech fingerprint screening, an extra layer of airport security that the carriers fear will delay flights.

Canadian pilots and flight attendants already undergo rigorous security checks, and it would be inefficient to add yet another U.S. entry hurdle for "low-risk" aviation workers, said the Air Transport Association of Canada (ATAC), which represents the country's carriers.

ATAC policy vice-president Fred Gaspar said Canadian airlines are worried that their flight crews will face disruptions in the U.S. inspection process, creating delays on the tarmac as pilots take time to exit and re-enter the cockpit.

Transport Canada and the RCMP already screen pilots and flights attendants for Canadian identification cards, and crew lists are provided 48 hours in advance to U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Flight crews are also interviewed by U.S. customs officials at major Canadian airports prior to departure to the United States.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20060904.wxrpilots04/BNStory/Business/home

Left hand doesn't know what the right hand is doing. Guess we don't need those preclearance checks anymore.