Have a safe and Happy New Year!

2010 has been a year of promise and change. This blog-site was created for the express purpose of exposing and highlighting the managerial failings of CAS. Their outright disregard for fairness and lack of concern for the employees of CAS will not end until they are gone. We will continue to make the lack of adequate staffing known to TSA. We will continue to unmask the unfair promotion processes and favoritism that runs rampant. We will continue to listen, hear your complaints and post them.

Thanks to all those who have helped to make this effort a success. We will not stop until we achieve our goals.

May our future be full of hope and promise.

"Patriot Pilot" Reveals His Identity

The now famous pilot has revealed his identity. He is American Airlines pilot Chris Liu. He revealed this on Monday on Anderson Cooper 360 on CNN. He also responded to some of the claims that SFO had that we reported on the other day.

At this point it's a back and forth between Liu and TSA in which he claims security is lacking and TSA claims otherwise. It will be interesting how this story continues to develop.

Another Bad Day for CAS in New York

Front page news at the New York Post.

http://www.nypost.com

See below "Star Shot in Harlem"

and above "Blind fire hero to the rescue"

No heroes in this story, though.


http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/queens/he_on_zzzz_job_tnpkD6mCpP27bUcEu3Tn4K

TSA- The Best Choice of the available options

We all know that it's not perfect, but I would much rather expend energy trying to fix what is wrong at TSA versus trying to fix what is wrong at CAS. I would rather tackle the 800 pound gorilla and go straight to the source of all these security missteps and over reactions. Let's be instrumental pushing for procedural changes within TSA! Let's meet this challenge head on by offering sensible changes and solutions based on our own years of experience. Let's use our method of "Engage" to get things changed. Someone, somewhere should finally see that this is a valuable resource that should be used. We will keep searching until we find that someone!

The problems at TSA are numerous, too numerous to list. But, if we care at all about what we are doing, or what we are suppose to be doing let's fight to make things better. TSA needs to start listening to those in the trenches who want to make things better. Don't let our years of experience count for nothing! We are here to help, use us.

SFO Responds to Airline Pilot Posting Video to Youtube

In a report posted to CNN.com on Saturday, SFO responded to the controversy surrounding the airline pilot allegedly posting SSI (Sensitive Security Information) that we reported on earlier this week. SFO stated, "The video shows a door with a card swipe and suggests that access is gained to the airfield area through this door. In fact, the door shown in the video provides access only to an employee lunchroom." The statement from SFO goes on to further state that, "San Francisco International Airport is proud to both an innovator and a trendsetter in aviation security. SFO meets, and in many cases, exceeds every federal security requirement."

That is indeed true about exceeding "every federal security requirement." Before TSA eliminated the hand wand procedure, do we remember all of those unnecessary steps that Covenant Aviation Security required of us? Not to mention a myriad of other things that we're required to do by CAS that is neither good security or good use of manpower.

We shall see what comes of this controversy surrounding this airline pilot. Hopefully he will prevail in the end as it will be a sad day indeed when citizens of this great country are unable to speak and point out the failings of the government. And NO, TSA, he was NOT revealing any SSI! That is just a pure bull crap reason so as to shut him up!

It's time for all of us to speak up. Some may not agree with many of the points we make on this blog. In fact, even some of us contributors don't always agree with one another. But we're all speaking up and most importantly allowing our brains and common sense to come to the surface.

That is one of the inherent things wrong with bureaucracies such as TSA and CAS. Not only is thinking not encouraged, it is outright discouraged. Even though the federal government essentially wasted $45 million on the "Checkpoint Evolution" program, the idea of being proactive and "thinking outside the box" were worthwhile concepts in terms of improving security at the airports. Unfortunately, as many of us predicted, it was never really implemented. The main reason for that is those bureaucrats just couldn't buy in to it. If they did, there wouldn't be as much need for their jobs.

Let's all keep fighting the good fight, and don't be afraid to call out people in positions of power for their lack of forward thinking with security.

Merry Christmas!

We just wanted to wish everyone of our co-workers a very Merry Christmas. For those of us that might be stuck working today, cheer up and focus on the holiday pay. For the rest of you, enjoy your time with your loved ones.

Merry Christmas!

TSA Gets Schooled

Found this funny, but apropos video on youtube earlier. It's 7 minutes long, but well worth watching, because even though it's animated, it perfectly illustrates the absurdity of a lot of what we do.

Be warned, it does have a fair amount of profanity in it.

Be Careful What You Say

For all intents and purposes, National Opt Out Day was by and large a failure. Or was it? The one thing that it did accomplish is shining a light on TSA and the gestapo tactics that the agency has decided to embark upon.

Recently, for those that haven't been following, is the controversy surrounding Wikileaks. What you may or may not know is that not only are military employees not permitted to read the leaked cables because those cable are still classified, neither are TSA employees. Yes, that means all of us as well.

Now comes to light an FFDO (Federal Flight Deck Officer) recently released a video to Youtube that he took at SFO highlighting some of the security lapses that exist there. Shortly after releasing that video, TSA suspended his FFDO privileges and had county sheriffs show up at his home to confiscate his Federally issued firearm. TSA claims that he is revealing SSI, yet everything he shows is in the clear and public view.

Once again, this demonstrates the idiocy of not only the Federal government, but TSA as well. TSA has quickly become a farce and its half measures with security. It's time for the agency to be abolished.

Do the Hokey-Pokey in Sioux Falls

Covenant Aviation Security LLC will be out in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, come April 1. TSA has reserved the contract for a "small business", and will announce the contract winner in January.

They've got one foot out. But will they do the hokey-pokey and partner with a small business and keep one foot in?

Tupelo has done the hokey pokey. Sonoma has a Covenant partner. And Gerry Berry's home state of Montana hokey-pokeys all over the Big Sky state.

That's what it's all about!

A Dark Day for CAS

On December 7th, 2010 the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey awarded contracts and agreements for several facilities. One contract was to supply unarmed uniformed guard services for JFK and LaGuardia Airports.

The winning bidder was FJC Security Services, Inc. The previous contract holder was Covenant Aviation and, as a parting gift, there is a pending breach of contract lawsuit from the local chapter of SEIU.

How much did the 1 million dollar settlement CAS paid, without admitting any wrong doing of course, influence the outcome of this awarded contract? One can only speculate.


http://www.panynj.gov/corporate-information/pdf/Contracts_Report_dec_7_2010.pdf

R.I.P. Our Friend

I have wrestled with the idea of making a post about Brian Francisco ever since I heard the sad news. Yet, I feel I need to. For those that never had the pleasure of working with Brian, I am personally sad for you. He was a great guy and had such a wonderful attitude that it always brightened your day to work with him.

I wish there were words that I or anyone else could say that would console his family and close friends. Sadly there is nothing that any of us can really say to do that. He was taken from us way too soon. I know that he is in a better place, but that still doesn't soothe the sorrow we all feel for his passing.

Rest in peace Brian, and rest knowing that we all love and miss you dearly. God bless!

Bonus Checks

It would be real easy and simple to complain about our bonus checks, particularly the size of it. But to be fair, we really shouldn't. As one who regularly rails against the company for the many negative things it does, we should be grateful. Especially when we consider that supervisors, managers, and local TSA will not be getting raises again.

Yes, we know, they make more money than we do and it is easy not to feel sorry for them, but you'd be peeved too. So we have come up with a solution to this matter.

Cut the fat. Have any of you noticed how every time you turn around there is a new TSA suit? How many of these TSA "managers" does SFO really need? Why are our tax dollars being wasted for all of this management redundancy? When you factor in all of the managers that Covenant has, why is there this need for all of these other TSA suits?

So for TSA, we suggest you get rid of some of that excess. Maybe then TSA can afford to give the rest of you a raise.

Speaking of excessive management, have you ever wondered what exactly is the difference between an ATM and a TM other than pay and title? Yeah, after 8 years we're still trying to figure that one out as well as why we need so many, especially when you factor in the Floor Supervisors. Then again, Floor Supervisors exist so that they can relieve the ATMs and TMs of some of their inordinate amount of work.

Just as we suggested with the TSA folks, get rid of some of that excess. Perhaps then Gerry Berry will be able to scrounge up some coins from his pocket to give the remaining CAS management a raise.

Ahhh, but who do they get rid of??? Well, if this were run like a real business, they'd get rid of the less than stellar people. And only the cream of the crop would remain The problem with that is that it would require a little forethought, something the bosses of CAS care not to do.

So enjoy your bonuses and try not to spend it all in one place.

SEIU Sues Covenant in Brooklyn

What's this all about? According to the website Justia.com, SEIU Local 32bj initiated an action against "Convenant Aviation Security LLC" (sic) on December 6 for breach of contract.

I doubt this will ever see a trial, but could be a textbook example of a deal gone sour.

Stay tuned! Who'll get the house and who'll get the kids?

Radiation Exposure Levels at Checkpoints and Baggage

There is an article in USA Today concerning radiation exposure levels and the ability to test and detect machine malfunctions. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that TSA take steps to protect against excessive exposures.

USA Today requested, in November, to review the current inspection reports for the 4080 x-ray machines, and the 221 new full body scanners currently in use. So far, TSA has not released that information. Why? There have been reports about cancer clusters amongst TSA colleagues at airports in Boston and San Juan.

The article points to the millimeter wave machines as being much safer than the ionizing radiation machines.

Read the full stories at:
http://www.usatoday.com/travel/flights/2010-12-06-tsa-xray-inside_N.htm
http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2010-12-06-tsa-xray-inspection-records_N.htm

The Big "Green" Machine!

The Power of Money has, as you already know, both Republicans and Democrats calling for airports to opt out of TSA. We will have to connect the dots to expose this money trail that will lead to the real reasons for this opt out call. Private contractors will funnel money to airport commissions and political parties who were instrumental in pushing this "privatization" movement. A closer look at these financial connections needs to be initiated and exposed to the American Public. It is not about which entity will provide better and more responsive airport security, it is about which entity will provide the most "cash" for reelection campaigns and special interests.