First, you’ve got to read Michael Roberts’ account of the incident. Roberts is a Houston-based ExpressJet pilot who recently refused to walk through the TSA’s Advanced Imaging Technology (a clever Orwellian term for machines colloquially known as Nude-O-Scopes) at Memphis International Airport. It’s long, but worth the read.
Not only was he harassed by the TSA, then by the airport police, but his personal information was taken (now he’s on the dreaded TSA "enemy" list), he was unreasonably detained, and he has been suspended from his job after his boss got a call from the TSA that Mr. Roberts had not been a good boy and bent over to unreasonable TSA demands.
There is a twist. After refusing to walk through the nude-o-scope, Roberts also refused a pat-down, instead repeating to the TSA: I passed through the metal detector without setting it off. Do you suspect I am harboring anything illegal? Not surprisingly, the TSA responded that they "were just doing their jobs." Just like the brown shirts did…
I must commend Roberts for refusing the secondary screening–I’m not at that point yet. While I refuse to go through AIT machines, I will submit to the pat-downs, even if I feel they are unreasonable. But in the case of a pilot who has flown commercially for over five years, the question really becomes, "You trust this guy in the air, but not going through security?"
I’m working on a research paper on the TSA’s new AIT technology and will post it on my blog after I complete it and gather some initial peer review. Stories like the Roberts incident above really make me uncomfortable about the direction our airport security paradigm is headed. Things have been bad the last few years, but I think they’re about to get worse…
I have only been through the machine once, and it was the checkpoint at YYZ, where I was directed to go through it as a part of the regular screening. This was in the month after the incident in Detroit, and they were being extremely strict (But then CATSA is much stricter than the US)
@mowogo – Actually, CATSA is much better than TSA these days (since relaxing the knee-jerk insanity caused by the underwear bomber). My experience (mostly at YOW rather than YYZ) is actually quite civilized. First, CATSA uses a randomizing device to select people for the additional screening, avoiding the bias/whims of the screeners. Second, CATSA explicitly gives the choice of nude-o-scope or pat-down (whereas with the TSA I find that one has to be aware of and assert one’s right to opt out). Third, CATSA does the pat-down right away, whereas in my experience the TSA shoves people aside and makes them wait unecessarily.
YYZ is a completely different beast than YOW, and despite the lack of amenities, I prefer YOW.
since the relaxing, I have found CATSA to be more thorough, but also more professional. However, I will still say that the CATSA is more strict in how they treat everything, but I do not have a problem since it is more professional.
I absolutely 100% agree with the pilot’s viewpoint on government intrusion into our lives. That being said, I’m not sure what the airline can do for him. Currently the TSA sets the rules, and if he can’t follow them, he can’t do his job. That doesnt make the rules right, but that isn’t much consolation to the airline that has a plane without a pilot…
Its a sad situation.
Here is an interesting article from the head of the TSA: http://www.ajc.com/business/new-tsa-chief-wants-685851.html
AP has picked this story up:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/10/20/AR2010102002040.html
@mowogo: Very interesting interview and not encouraging.
@smashr: It’s true–and now that he’s refused, he’s probably on the “s-list” and will get secondary every time he tries to fly.