FirstLine Transportation wins their battle...

and has successfully challenged the contract that was awarded to Akal Security, Inc. for the Kansas City International Airport in Kansas City, Mo. (MCI)

A judge has concluded that the TSA's award decision was fundamentally flawed and should be set aside.

Will there be a similar challenge for the contract awarded at SFO?

Read the full report at: (or start at page 71.)

http://www.uscfc.uscourts.gov/sites/default/files/BUSH.FIRSTLINE092711.pdf

Robbing Peter to pay Paul?

This information might explain the severe cost cutting measures that CAS has been following!


"Covenant has assigned all revenue to a third party at both SFO and Sioux Falls. (assignment of claims)

Some firms advertise it as a service to provide cash flow, although in theory it could be a creditor demanding payment.

So now Covenant has to cover the cost of financing, increasing the need to cut corners."

Your Bedtime Story!

TSA has awarded Sioux Falls and Sonoma to Trinity Technology Group. No official word if they've partnered with our heroes.

(Figure out for yourselves just who "our heroes" are.)

More Dirt on the TSA courtesy of Rep. John Mica

Rep. Mica, in one of his interviews, stated that the TSA now has a workforce of 63,000 employees.

Of those 63,000 roughly 12,000 are making more than 105,000 dollars a year.

The breakdown is as follows: 3,800 employees at the Washington, D.C. office are making 105,000 bucks a year. 7,800 employees out in the field are also at that pay scale.

Not a bad country America. It truly is a land of opportunity!

What ever happened to.....?

The petition that was submitted to management concerning a certain manager that alienated the majority of the CTX workforce? For all their time and effort, Nada!

Management went through the motions and interviewed the usual suspects, but as usual they swept in under the rug. Well, don't give up! The Feds eventually did get the "Teflon Don." So, all you petitioners should stay hopeful.

Will they get the new shift bid schedules right?

It's been 8 plus years since our wonderful management team has attempted to get a workable schedule in place. What are the odds that they will finally succeed? How about, "not a snowballs chance in hell." With the blind leading the blind they will no doubt fail again.

Maybe they should admit defeat and realize that it is beyond their capabilities. Now, what is it that they can do right? Does anyone have any thoughts?

Correction on the CAS contract info

The information that was posted not too long ago detailing the new contract was incorrect. At that time it stated that the contract was for a period of 4 years with a total value of 420 million dollars.

The actual terms of the contract are for a total of 5 years with the same 420 million dollar total value. It's a one year contract with renewable one year options for a total of 5 years. (84 million dollars per year.)

One would think that with a contract like this they would be able to supply us with new shoes!

One Small Step For CAS!

Things took a positive turn for CAS last week. Delta Airlines wanted to pull out of Tupelo, Miss., but was ordered to stay put until a replacement airline could be found.

So, a little more sugar is still flowing to CAS from this outpost in the wilderness.

Read the full story at:

http://www.wapt.com/r/29193705/detail.html
>

And the Testing Goes On and On!

We all know that we have been tested to no end by the TSA, but a question remains to be asked, are all airports subject to this, or is it just us?

We believe that this is a direct result of the calls from Rep. John Mica to privatize more airports and to reduce the size of the TSA. When push comes to shove, and the TSA is being shoved mighty hard, the TSA will be relentless in defending their turf. They are doing what any agency would do.

The sad part is that CAS management did not see this coming. They have failed to anticipate this kind of response from the TSA. And, therein lies the problem.

So, keep expecting to see more and more testing. Keep expecting it to continue with no end in sight.

Rep. John Mica- Preaching to the Choir

Well, he's at it again! Evidently, he is still listening to CAS management and has not been supplied with the latest testing results. One would expect that that information would cause him to pull back with his calls for privatization.

We will admit that he does have some very valid points. The TSA has exploded into an out of control agency with a budget that now stands, according to him, close to 9 billion dollars. ( And, he should know, as his committee controls the TSA budget.)

As for his statement that, "the TSA trains more workers than they have on the job", he fails to see the cause of that. Let's look at worker turnover! Of course, when you have a high turnover ratio you do train more workers than you have on the current payroll. He should be looking at how to reduce the turnover ratio and how to not spend close to 1 billion dollars on training.

Mr. Mica claims that switching to private contractors would save an estimated 40% for taxpayers is ludicrous. How would that happen? By not giving shift differential? Or by not supplying shoes and adequate supplies to the workforce? Or, not providing family medical coverage to the workforce? The list goes on and on.

Read the article and you be the judge. What do you think?

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/09/11/BAHR1L2HK8.DTL

In Memoriam

Our thoughts and prayers go out to the families and friends who lost loved ones 10 years ago.

May they rest in peace.

We will do what we can to make sure that this never happens again.

We are dropping like flies!

The last information we received on the number of CAS employees recently fired stood somewhere around 24. Are the managerial missteps from the past finally coming home to roost? Bad decisions eventually do catch up to all of us at some point. It appears that that time has come!

From zero out of 5 to six out of 12 is, in some circles, considered to be an improvement. Unfortunately, those numbers just aren't good enough.

Does CAS management see where all this is headed? Will they ever get the picture? We know what the TSA will be putting before Rep. John Mica when and if he resumes his push for the privatization of more airports. The proof is in the pudding!

"Take your time!"

It is more important than ever to take your time. We all need to take our time and to follow the SOP to the letter. Do the job as safely and professionally as we all should.

There has been a credible, but non specific threat announced today and, if anyone needed a reason to exercise more care this is your wake up call. Remain vigilant even after the 10 year anniversary of the events of 9/11 have passed. The life you save could be your own!

The Absurdity of Airport Security

TSOBob says check out this video on CNN.

http://www.cnn.com/interactive/2011/09/specials/911.ripple/index.html?hpt=hp_c2