I'm glad you are so confident...but you have no way of knowing that. There are rules about discussing any aspect of security with passengers, but TSA agents are human...they like talking about their day at work just as much as anybody else. I know for a fact that some TSA agents talk about this kind of thing from time to time...from personal experience. I actually reminded the agent about the disclosure rules, but she dismissed my concern, said it was no big deal and she wasn't on duty at the time anyway. Just because it says somewhere in a rule book not to talk about it, doesn't mean that it will never happen.
There is absolutely no way they would continue using a detector knowing full well it is not operating correctly.
They would simply switch to another that is working correctly.
If they did knowingly continue to operate a detector that was known to be faulty then they are in breach of the protocols that they are hired to uphold, i have seen people lose their jobs for a LOT less.
I think it is more irresponsible NOT to post a comment. Posting on CPF is hardly the best way...reporting it to someone who could actually do something about it would be better...but keeping silent is definitely not going to help matters. The best way to improve security is to test it, and address problems that are found. A lot better than sticking your head in the sand, ignoring potential problems, and hoping for the best. And it isn't like any specifics were given...if he posted the comment at the time, listing a specific checkpoint that was inoperable, that would be a different story. But it doesn't provide any info at all that would help an attacker carry out a plan at this point.
Like everything in life there is a balance, sure there is a slight possibility that someone within that has enough authority to make change within the TSA may read this thread, it's unlikely they will put much weight behind unsubstantiated comments that are nothing more than gossip though.
By the same token it's just as likely that someone intending harm to others may read this thread, even if they don't use these supposed breaches as a plan to carry out harm the idea is still sewn in their heads.
I think it's extremely irresponsible (and just downright bad form) to post on a public forum that another member is full of BS. :thumbsdow You're certainly entitled to your own opinion, but there is no way you can know for sure. Pity we don't have a Troll icon.
No i grant you there is no way i can know for sure, but having worked within the airport security industry world wide for the last 15 years i am well aware of it's good sides and bad sides and know for a fact that if any detector operator knowingly worked a faulty system their job would be in serious jeopardy.
It's not like the operator has the final word either, this fault would have needed to have been reported to their supervisor, who would then have had to report it to the technical duty officer on shift, who would then report it to the engineers on site.
So you would have to have a conspiracy involving several departments and people to knowingly work a detector that's known to be faulty, and for what gain, even small airports have more than one detector, they'd simply just use another one.
I would also be grateful if you would reread my post, because i felt i made it clear that it could have been the operator/agent that was full of BS and was just saying that to move the passenger along.
Another bold opinion by someone with absolutely no way to know if what he is stating is true.
It's not much of a stretch because if you had flown with Al El you would have known about their increased security measures, likewise if you have ever flown out of Ben Gurion Airport you would have known the security is dramatically higher than any other civilian airport in the USA.
Again this is coming from someone that has worked together with El Al and has worked at LLBG.
Nearly double the flight prices, eh!? :lolsign: How long did it take you to arrive at that conclusion? It must have been quite a lengthily endeavor. Please show your work.
Where do you think the money will come from?
These highly skilled, highly trained and highly educated TSA officers that are proposed aren't going to work for nothing, for it to be a long term solution they will have to be paid the market rate for their level of education and skill set otherwise they'd just quit.
So you will be competing with blue collar workers salaries and mid level management.
Currently most the staff you see around the security checkpoints are struggling to meet minimum wage, so that's a DRAMATIC increase in wage costs.
Then there is the equipment, to update every airport in the USA with bang up to date systems you are talking billions of dollars, the larger hold luggage scanning scanning systems sell for up to $2 million each, for even a small sized airport you'd need 10 to 20 systems, you then have to think that because airports built over 20 years ago we not designed to have in-built luggage scanners the entire baggage handling system will need to be redesigned to accommodate these newer systems
This is JUST behind the sceens, we're not even mentioning body scanners, hand luggage X-ray systems, sniffers, dogs, undercover agents etc etc etc
The current system is extremely effective, it's stretched in places and could be improved, absolutely no doubt about that, but to make a sweeping statement that all airports should operate the El Al style of security is both unreasonable and ill informed.
Should also say that if passengers took responsibility for what they pack in their own suitcases, pockets etc the system would be a LOT more effective.
Speaking as a regular flier and not as someone that works in the industry, the stupidity and/or arrogance of so many passengers astounds me.
They are asked at check-in if they have any prohibited items in their hand luggage or on their body, they respond no.
There are signs in most airports as you go through immigration/customs of the items that are prohibited on the plane.
They then get to the security check point and stand directly in front of a sign clearly showing exactly what is prohibited, they stand in the line waiting for their turn seeing these signs.
They are then asked at the security check point if they have any of these items, they answer, nope.
THEN when these prohibited items are found in their pockets or in their hand luggage they stand there for 15 mins arguing with the security staff, which then holds up every other responsible passenger :shakehead
Ok we've all made the odd mistake, but it's clearly stated what's prohibited and what's not, why should a TSA agent who is a complete stranger and has absolutely no idea who you are risk his/her job to let you on a flight with a prohibited item just because you say so (not talking directly at you, but in general).
I've seen one guy who spent 30 mins arguing with the security staff because he refused to hand in his 4" folding knife.
Yes some of the rules don't seem to make sense, i can understand that, but pretty much every single time these rules are put in place as a direct result of intelligence against a perceived threat, even being in the industry i do not know many of these threats, so a passenger has absolutely no idea, but they're there for your protection, no matter how daft they seem.
