Federal aviation inspector goofs and delays 40 American Eagle f...

Amazed wrote:

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Again, you're an idiot.
The responsibility of securing aircraft is that of the FAA and the airlines. TSA is going where is does't belong, obviously.

Name calling is a sure-fire way to earn respect.

Like I said, I'm not a TSA fan, and frankly, I don't trust them. I really don't think this is a case of some rogue agency doing something they aren't supposed to be doing. It's just some guy is not very bright and stepped places not designed to bear weight.

The TSA does a lot more than stand around at airport checkpoints. You just don't see these things because most folks aren't allowed to hang around dark airport ramps at night.

Think of TSA as security guards for the airport. That's one of their job functions. Your typical nightwatchman (sentry, guard, whatever) is responsible to make sure all doors are secure (read: locked, tamper-proof) when they make their rounds. How is TSA making sure planes (the ones that you and I fly on) are secure any different?

I don't have a detailed description of every single duty of the FAA vs. the TSA, but calm reasoning would suggest that an agency charged with Transportation Security just might be concerned with keeping aircraft secure. If that makes me an idiot, I'll accept the label.

http://www.faa.gov/about/mission/activities/

See anything there that says they are responsible for security issues?

Airliners do not have key locks.
This is why the area they are parked in is a 'secure area'.
The TSA inspector was doing something he had no business doing and the TSA is just trying to spin it.
In doing so they are lying when they imply that their inspectors are trying to determine if the aircraft are locked.

Thank you 73Guy, TSA is responsible for passenger screening,airport perimeter security and airport access. Not airline security.

Yes, the TSA screener was probably trying to get on the aircraft to see what he/she could steal. Apparently, there wasn't much in luggage to get his/her hands on!

They may have got 'on board' though that is still under debate. What isn't is that he NEVER got to the cockpit. He says his badge got him access. If the TSA manages to keep the ramp clear then no one could get near the aircraft anyway. That is THEIR mess up.

Second... "Goof"???? Gross understatement for damaging the very aircraft I fly. I call that breaking and entering.

I could take an ax to an aircraft and get in. Does that mean security is lax?

They may have got 'on board' though that is still under debate. What isn't is that he NEVER got to the cockpit. He says his badge got him access. If the TSA manages to keep the ramp clear then no one could get near the aircraft anyway. That is THEIR mess up.

Second... "Goof"???? Gross understatement for damaging the very aircraft I fly. I call that breaking and entering.

I could take an ax to an aircraft and get in. Does that mean security is lax?

TSA has no business being anywhere near an airplane. Someone needs to put this horrible agency out of business. The more power they get the more FUBARed the entire air transit system becomes.

And Texan? I hate to support name calling, but this time I agree.

Night security is one thinking. Destroying that which you are supposedly guarding is another. Damaging it in a possible manner which is undetectable until the NTSB is cleaning up a wreckage full of bodies is the worst. I fly the very aircraft that were violated. At this point I view the TSA as threatening my life. I am much more afraid of this action than any terrorist action.

Whiskey Tango Foxtrot wrote:

My guess is that this was the first time this inspector checked these make/model aircraft, and it being dark out, didn't see the no-step sign.
The onus is on TSA to adequately train their people.

You don't EVER step on any part of an aircraft or touch someone's aircraft unless it is yours. EVER. There doesn't need to be signs. Does someone need a sign not to walk on top of your car in the parking lot to reach an apple in the tree above? What did the moron think? The little tubes hanging out of the side of the aircraft were for pretty?

Apologies for double post, many posts and typos. I am so angry. If you came out to your car to find someone had broken your antenna off, you would be livid. These are the very planes I fly every day and nothing as innocuous as an antenna was broken, but something that could very well kill me. To read ANYONE supporting what the TSA did makes me sick. There is ZERO justification for what happened. None. Nothing. What's next? They cut a hydraulic line and don't tell anyone just to prove they can??? If they keep my ramp secure, the rest ios a moot point. Stay the HELL of my airplane.

hello??

Do you think a terrorist would pay any attention to the "do not step here signs", good job on this persons job.

Not so fast, eh Dumbrowski?

yea fucstici

Interesting how American keeps others for their faults... 40 flights delayed vs bombs and drugs?

I'd say the agent did their job... whining about it just makes me scrutinize American even more...

Red Heart wrote:

Any chance that he was a Jones or a Stroger?

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Hilarious! Yeah baby, if yer looking for incompetent, look no further than Jones and Stroger. But I guess we can also blame the largest federal beauacracy in the history of the USA, created by none other than georgie shrub - the DHS. They are only interested in pretending they are protecting us to make us feel "safe".

If there are external parts of such high sensitivity, couldn't a terrirst simply step on them in secret?

Why wouldn't a person intending harm also ignore signs that say "don't step". Isn't the point that the planes were not guarded and anybody slinking around could have done what he did? Why is the inspector in trouble for stating the naked the emperor is wearing no clothes? This makes all the standing and line and stupidity re nail clippers and water bottles all the more maddening.

rachel miller wrote:

Why wouldn't a person intending harm also ignore signs that say "don't step". Isn't the point that the planes were not guarded and anybody slinking around could have done what he did? Why is the inspector in trouble for stating the naked the emperor is wearing no clothes?...

That's correct. Someone out to deliberately cause damage would have no problem trampling sensitive, essential flight equipment to complete their objective. However, it is not the TSA's job to cause damage. Regardless of whether or not what this TSA agent was doing was within the scope of his responsibilities, he put hundreds of people lives in danger by using sensitive parts of an aircraft as a jungle gym. You seem to indicate that the ends (demonstrating how insecure these aircraft were) justify the means (damaging aircraft in the process of his inspection). By that thinking I should expect no punishment for the local fire marshal for testing smoke detectors by setting a fire in my building.

If you think these idiots are providing you with security you obviously have not been through an airport security point lately. Why don't you take a good look at who they are pulling out of line for secondary screening. Lets see, just about every senior citizen, families traveling together, attractive women some times. Last week when I flew they had this 80+ year old women in tears as she tried to explain she had an artificial hip. Remember the airplane movie where all the terrorists are going right through security and the two guards pounce on an old woman. Since they are not racial profiling maybe they are operating under the theory that the least likely looking person is going to hijack the plane. Maybe that handicapped kid in the wheel chair.

These dingbats are never going to stop a terrorist attack. At best they are there as a visual deterant. Just like all those national guard soldiers who were in the airports after 9/11 who they didn't trust with live ammo. All smoke and mirrors.

Juniper wrote:

And Texan? I hate to support name calling, but this time I agree.
Night security is one thinking. Destroying that which you are supposedly guarding is another. Damaging it in a possible manner which is undetectable until the NTSB is cleaning up a wreckage full of bodies is the worst. I fly the very aircraft that were violated. At this point I view the TSA as threatening my life. I am much more afraid of this action than any terrorist action.

I didn't say he was OK for destroying it, I was merely supporting the TSA's security functions.

Actually.

TSA is in charge of aircraft security.

Its in the AOSSP - basicly the Airline Security Plan.

It discusses securing the cabin, sweeping procedures, ramp security, etc.

FAA *USED* to be in charge of security until the gesta... err TSA was enacted in 2002.

TSA can NOT interfere with regular airline operations, but TSA Regulatory does and can do ramp checks at night to verify the aircraft is secure.

It is apparent the jet bridge door was locked (which is part of any standard AOSSP), and the inspector found a gap (also normal, especially with the Embraer family) and tried to hop up into the jet bridge.

The Embraers have plug doors (well most), and do not have locks. Instead, sometimes they will put a silver sticker on the door along the seam, but this practice is mainly at airports with unattended ramps, not at a busy airport at ORD where you have 20 hours of rampside operations.