Letters, We Get Letters About Life in the SPP

We've recently been contacted by some people out in federal TSA land. They are worried about their airports' showing interest to go private and they are worried about their futures. One thing they want to know is if it's true there are no shift differentials at SFO, as reported at this blog. It seems that the differentials are an important part of their overall package.

Well, they are correct to worry and to start asking questions. John Pistole has been hinting that 10% higher costs in the SPP is not cost-effective in his eyes, which might give TSOs hope that Pistole will reject SPP applications. But in Washington, Pistole will be an army of one with that kind of thinking. In Washington, 10% is within reason. He's likely to lose in the long run (as planned by Obama's good pals in labor, of course). The possible exception is small airports where the contractors can't cut essential staff and claim enough efficiencies to pocket the difference.

Our new contacts have honed in on a very important detail. Where's the differential? It must be implemented, and it must be factored in!

And Now a Word From Our Non-Sponsors

Sacramento International Airport's Central Terminal B is now open.

Check out this design pic from Sacramento's "terminal modernization":



Are you getting a sinking feeling that this is SFO-junior?
(http://www.sacramento.aero/smf/about/history/)

And, yes, we hear they are applying to the Screening Partnership Program.

Is this the work of Dan Lungren, or the SEIU?

From the looks of the building design, is Willie Brown involved? Maybe not, the materials look to be government standard, I can't see the signature Willie Brown upgrades. But other than him, it looks to be the usual suspects.

Dan Lundgren, Career Politician

It's important to have information in our democracy, or so I'm told. Here's some information that I found that is so crazy - nah, it's about politics as usual, but the kind of stuff the Tea Partiers get fired up about:

He used to be Attorney General in California. He's Dan Lundgren, Republican. He's a Congressman now (or, again, it's his second time). He sits on an Aviation Subcommittee. He gets things done. Also, he gets campaign contributions from FirstLine Transportation Security's political action committee, and from Covenant Aviation Security LLC's CEO Gerry Berry.

Remember that name, Dan Lundgren. What party? Republican. Status? Incumbent, career politician. Contributors? Screening Partnership Program contractors. Politics? As usual. Tea Partiers? Time will tell, time will tell..