TRANS BOHICA--TSA, Pilots Weigh Biometric System for Airport Screening

[mandatroy]

That didn't take long to hunt up. Today, pilots. Tomorrow, the rest of us.

http://www.nationaljournal.com/nati...ometric-system-for-airport-screening-20101116

Pilots who fly passenger and cargo planes want the U.S. government to implement a program under which their identities will be confirmed using biometrics so they can pass quickly through airport security checkpoints and avoid -- for the most part -- controversial screening procedures involving body scanners or pat-downs.

Pilots unions have entered into what are described as "high-level" and "sensitive" talks with Obama administration officials in recent days in response to a public backlash against the use of the whole-body imaging machines and physical pat-downs that are seen as being too invasive.

But a major outstanding issue is how to pay for such a biometric system. The pilot unions believe that the government must foot the bill.

Mayer described the costs involved in a special screening system in two parts: the cost of installing the physical hardware at all the airports, and the cost of maintaining a “real-time database” of who is legal to pass through a special system.
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"Now remember, when things look bad and it looks like you're not gonna make it, then you gotta get mean. I mean plumb, 'Mad-Dog' mean. 'Cause if you lose your head and you give up then you neither live nor win. That's just the way it is."--Outlaw Josey Wales,

~1868, post U.S. Civil War I; Warner Bros., 1976

 

[Abert]

CLEAR - Way to GO

They had this CLEAR System a few years ago at about 20 airports, but went out of business last year. A few months ago they were purchased by a new firm and they have started up again, currently in Denver and Orlando.

This is exactly the type of program they need for aircrews and business flyers who fly several times a week. But can we expect any innovation from a Government Agency?

The biggest problem for the TSA is that if used on a large scale you would need fewer TSA agents - that can never happen!

What this program does is, you pay for a background check, not unlike you would do for a concealed carry. They then do finger print and iris scan and put the info on a smart card. When you get to the gate area you give them your card and get an iris scan and you are good to go. EXCEPT you then still had to go through all the TSA screening!! - the only thing this did was get you to the front of the line - if you fly every week - you likely have status with the airline so you have access to the fast line anyway.

One reason the program went out of business was that the TSA did not want them operating - if effective it would have cut into the number of TSA agents necessary - can't have that can we.

Link:
http://www.clearme.com/

Good overview:
http://daggle.com/clear-airport-security-with-all-downsides-2179

 

[LONEWOLF]

fuggetaboudit......

 

[Ragnarok]

Classic...

There is your agenda...

Problem - Unconstitutional, invasive, and illegal searches at airports to cull the population into submission

Reaction - A public outcry

Solution - Biometric ID system

 

[Ragnarok]

If this doesn't make you question the whole agenda, I don't know what will.

How, exactly, does biometric identification prevent someone from brining explosives or other weapons on a plane.

The government just showed their hand.

 

[Seabear]

Saw this over at Alex Jones

http://www.prisonplanet.com/dont-touch-my-junk-the-tsa-hustle-song.html

 

[Technomancer]

If I remember right, this program was supposed to have existed many years ago for pilots to not make them go through TSA everytime they show up at work or between flights all day.

It was intended to remove the idiocy of considering a pilot a threat to himself. Most things they consider weapons are things that would allow you to take over the plane, and when a pilot is already going to be in control of the plane in the first place it seems silly to take away his nail clippers under the idea that he might use them to take over the plane.

It's really great to consider the logic involved in searching a pilot for makeshift weapons when he was going to be in the gun carry program, authorized to carry a gun on the plane but not a eyeglass repair kit.

How, exactly, does biometric identification prevent someone from brining explosives or other weapons on a plane.

A pilot could just fly his plane directly into a building regardless of whether he has explosives or other weapons on him, so it doesn't really make a difference whether a suicidal pilot brings a bomb along with him or not and is a waste of limited security resources. In other words, the biometric proof of his identity doesn't prevent him bringing a weapon on board, it just renders the question meaningless.

 

[Y2kO]

Classic...

There is your agenda...

Problem - Unconstitutional, invasive, and illegal searches at airports to cull the population into submission

Reaction - A public outcry

Solution - Biometric ID system

Exactly! This is the government's total control system over your ability to travel or buy and sell. They create the problem and then they offer the solution -- the solution that never would have otherwise been accepted by the people. And it's time for the people to wake up and tell them to stick it.

 

[Publius]

They can only make it work if they have the Real ID program (national ID) in place as they need all the states to obtain your photo using the Biometric system and them give it to the federal government. We have to many states not willing to play this game and unfunded at.

 

[almost ready]

When DH got his driver's license renewed this year, the lady at the DMV told him that all licenses will be issued from one place for the whole country starting next year. This will be the last time he gets his license made up at the dmv. They'll be mailed out.

This creates a perfect opportunity to create a national database (whether acknowledged or not) and "smart" licenses".

 

[blueridge]

Agree with the posts above - this has precious little to do with anything remotely resembling "airport security" and EVERYthing to do with total and complete totalitarian control of the human herd.