Sacramento's whistleblowing pilot explains why he did it

[harvey007]

Source: Sacramento ABC TV - 10 News

The pilot, who was deputized by the TSA to carry a handgun in the cockpit as a Federal Flight Deck Officer (FFDO), posted a series of six cell phone video clips showing what he believes to be a serious flaw in airport security.

Current regulations require flight crews to pass through a TSA checkpoint, while ground crews can gain access to the same aircraft simply by swiping a card at an unmanned door.

"How effective is security when everybody on board is screened and everybody on the ground isn't?" the pilot asked.

Within days of the video appearing on YouTube, a team of four federal agents and two sheriff's deputies appeared on the pilot's driveway to confiscate his federally-issued handgun and badge in what the pilot believes was an obvious attempt to intimidate him.

Read more: http://www.news10.net/news/story.aspx?storyid=113731&catid=2

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Watch the video interview.

[EFerrari]

1. This is the government's response to anything it doesn't like any more.

Intimidation.

[w4rma]

2. It's no longer about fixing problems, it now all about keeping the status quo.

And the billionaires who are effectively running things really like our status quo just as it is.

[OrangeGrapes]

3. Instead of trying to fix the problem...

Or even putting on a facade by pretending to fix it, they call this guy a saboteur. Cheery, eh?

[TheMadMonk]

5. And the stupid thing is, that these specific concerns are the subject...

...of seemingly annual "current affairs" exposes.

Cleaners, caterers, baggage handlers and ground crew all have total access to planes with no more security than an employee swipe card. Smaller airports might not have even that. And unlocked and unmanned gates are not uncommon either.

[truedelphi]

4. I love what that pilot did.

I choose a different route, circa 1995 to 1996, when I tried to bring attention to an egregious security flaw inside the terminals of the San Francisco Airport. It took me MONTHS to get anyone to care. Most of these jobs, including the position for the top guy in charge of security at that air terminal - they' re all about who you know politically, and for many of these people, I doubt if they ever seriously think about anything other than how they are going to blow their sweet "little" salary.

Finally when the airliner went down in the Florida Keys, President Clinton had Al Gore put together a review board and committee to look into air safety. When I heard about that Committee, I called the WH, got the receptionist to get me over to Al Gore's committee. I was referred to a senior FBI man dealing with the committee and he decided the matter was so urgent that someone should fly immediately to San Francisco and deal with the issue.

But months had passed since I first noticed the security breach, and no one in San Francicso had cared. Not people in the CIty Council, not the Security people at the airport, not any local FAA offices etc.

It took Friggin' Al Gore. And because of his assembled people, things were changed.

[harvey007]

7. Thank you for your efforts

I recall an experience at the MSP airport when I was traveling with a firearm in my baggage. I declared it at the ticket counter and was taken into a back room to have the firearm scanned. TSA put the firearm back in my baggage and then encouraged me to take my bag OUTSIDE and LEAVE IT at curbside check-in station. I refused and took my bag to the regular indoor counter to check it in.

[Downwinder]

10. With the hijackings in the 60s and 70s, pilots tried to get a secure door and lock

on the cockpit. They were unsuccessful. Too expensive, not cost effective.

[dixiegrrrrl]

12. Having lived in SF not all that long ago, I totally understand and believe you.

Which really makes any need for security and for intelligence, very very scary.

[IScreamSundays]

6. No blowing of whistles allowed nt

[Sen. Walter Sobchak]

8. See: PSA Flight 1771

Naturally this pilot is just a racist rightwing agitator lashing out at the noble minorities who slave away at the TSA to keep the skies safe...

Or... maybe he is on to something: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pacific_Southwest_Airlines_Flight_1771

Using his unsurrendered USAir credentials, Burke, armed with a loaded .44 Magnum revolver that he had borrowed from a co-worker, was able to bypass the security checkpoint at LAX.

[Downwinder]

9. Anybody who says the Emperor has no clothes must be investigated.

[Doremus]

11. Love the guy defending Blackwater in the last comment at the link.

Crazy, crazy, crazy people in this world.