What would you change about DHS & the TSA?

braunpilot

braunpilot

What day is it?
Since Doug was kind enough to start this website for us all I wonder what people would change about Department of Homeland and the Transportation Security Administration? Remove the idiots and stuff like that is obvious but what would you change to make it better. Who knows, maybe some HSD or TSA officer who may later be able to influence policy might read this thread and help contribute. What would you change to make things better for all of us? Aviation, Marine, Rail, Trucking...all forms of transportation. (Obviously aviation will be most prevalent).

I believe the biggest change would be to include many many more people from around the nation (whether it be NBAA, AOPA, EAA, ALPA, APA, etc) to help influence decisions about aviation. Let the people who know the most about the industry help determine the best course of action. If I knew that I had a representative and that person told me this was the best course of action based upon threats and current resources I would be more willing to accept certain changes that have occurred. This council of elders (so to speak) would allows those from all walks of aviation, 91, 121, and 135, the ability to have a voice where it matters most. Then I would make it a requirement for TSA employees to have extensive training on PRACTICAL risks in the different areas they are trying to protect (aviation, trucking, etc).

SIDE NOTE: Maybe because I am watching MSNBC's 9/11 As It Happened, but it seems to me that if we just complain about it and don't give them any options then they will always have a solution looking for a problem. You and I may agree that things need to change but what needs to change? Pay it forward, even the government needs some help sometimes.
 
Re: What would you change about HSD & the TSA?

1. Completely decouple politics from national security.
2. Safety symposiums with people who actually use the system instead of gentleman with ties that don't know how "ramp" and "tarmac" differ.
3. Focus on technology.
4. Freer flow of information.
5. Have the TSA focus on security, leave wrecking pitot probes to mechanics.

I've got a few others.
 
Stop the bureaucratic pass offs! I don't think the TSA should have any input over flight operations policies, leave that to the FAA please.

Thanks to TSA, we have to open 13 different panels on the airplane's exterior on the first preflight of the day, and every int'l pre/post flight. This was instituted because some TSA person observed one of our preflights years ago and complained that we weren't opening every panel on the plane. Now the gate agents are asking us "when was the safety check completed" before every flight because it has to be put on some TSA form. Let's NOT have the TSA sit around and think of more unpaid preflight chores for pilots.

In my opinion the inspections are not so much about safety as they are about looking for "contraband", (thus the requirement to do it on int'l post flights), which should not be a pilot's job in my opinion. I'm all for increasing safety, but in my opinion TSA has become some kind of pseudo-law enforcement agency, basically the enforcement arm of DHS, and they're not going to get any smaller. Let's keep their mission narrow, specifically baggage and passenger screening, nothing more. They should do that alone, and try to do it well.

Also, I cringe every time I go through a checkpoint and see about 30 TSA people sitting around, chatting, doing nothing that would even come close to any definition of "work". Meanwhile they have 1 out of 10 lanes up and running. I try not to be the stereotypical "wastin' my tax dollas" complainer, but come on...

In addition, crewpass should've been done 3 years ago.
 
I'd make the entry standards much much higher, I'd make it more like a military branch than a political organization, I'd make it where the TSA/DHS couldn't make any rule affecting operations, only create suggestions for proposed rulemaking changes (kinda like the NTSB-ish). The TSA shouldn't be able to detain anyone, nor should they do anything but "screen." If something is found, they should alert law enforcement or, if safety's not necessarily a factor, they should contact the Pilot in Command of the flight, and alert him/her if there's a problem.

Also, the fines that are imposed for SIDA violations, etc. are a little excessive. $10,000? Really. The fine is ridiculous, because anyone wishing to do harm isn't going to be stopped by a $10,000 fine.
 
braunpilot said:
I believe the biggest change would be to include many many more people from around the nation (whether it be NBAA, AOPA, EAA, ALPA, APA, etc) to help influence decisions about aviation. Let the people who know the most about the industry help determine the best course of action. If I knew that I had a representative and that person told me this was the best course of action based upon threats and current resources I would be more willing to accept certain changes that have occurred. This council of elders (so to speak) would allows those from all walks of aviation, 91, 121, and 135, the ability to have a voice where it matters most.
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So if whatever idiocy coming down the pike were marketed better, you'd get onboard with it? That, as example, AOPA burned their membership by how they handled the LM FSS debacle or user fee issue doesn't dismiss them as being unworthy? So, like, they are totally worthy of your trust? What makes you think they would even listen? And your proposal to enlarge an already obese govt agency is okey dokey as long as the "many many more people" come from the right place, ie, the alphabet groups?

Then I would make it a requirement for TSA employees to have extensive training on PRACTICAL risks in the different areas they are trying to protect (aviation, trucking, etc).
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Hitler's jackbooted thugs received extensive training. No amount of training will overcome the bad strategery. Screw the training, change the mandate first. And who decides what is PRACTICAL? Do you trust them? Do you trust them to not develop their own agenda?

My eyes are bleeding. I cannot believe I'm reading a pilot suggesting to pilots to come up with ways to help make the TSA "better". Oh little one, you have much to learn about the evil that resides in men's hearts.
 
You expected a logical, thoughtful, discussion on this:rotfl:

On this forum:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl: Hopefully, the new Director they just appointed yesterday can square it away. At least he has a real airport security background, instead of just standing a post on board Air Force One.
 
rd757 said:
Abolish it.
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That's probably the best solution.

In this day and age of more government and the opinion that the government should serve as a jobs program, that is highly unlikely. Many TSA agents couldn't get their old jobs back if airport security was re-privatized.

So, short of that, the TSA should be made to back off from GA completely. Their heavy handed, no common sense, one size fits all approach to aviation security is completely incompatible with GA.
 
Barty said:
. Many TSA agents couldn't get their old jobs back if airport security was re-privatized.

So, short of that, the TSA should be made to back off from GA completely. Their heavy handed, no common sense, one size fits all approach to aviation security is completely incompatible with GA.
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The worst part is, TSA (and DHS for that matter) was a window-dressing knee-jerk reaction to 9/11, in order to make the people "feel safe" and that the governement was "doing something." Great. So create more goverment bureaucracy. And even worse, airport security DID NOT fail during 9/11. The hijackers went through security with items that were perfectly legal to carry at that time.
 
Yes, that would be better, but we need realistic baby steps. Get them out of flight training, searching cars on GA ramps, LASPs, etc. would be a HUGE step for all of us that use GA for the freedom and mobility that it once provided.
 
MikeD said:
The worst part is, TSA (and DHS for that matter) was a window-dressing knee-jerk reaction to 9/11, in order to make the people "feel safe" and that the governement was "doing something." Great. So create more goverment bureaucracy.
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Agreed, and made worse by inept managers that rallied their overblown security credentials to return from their Secret Service retirement and save the country from itself.


MikeD said:
And even worse, airport security DID NOT fail during 9/11. The hijackers went through security with items that were perfectly legal to carry at that time.
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This is a point that is all to often forgotten in the static. I won't disparage the entire workforce of TSA there are good and hardworking people within the agency, Its to bad they are overshadowed by the idots.

The guy that has been nominated to the TSA administrator job, has a good background as a "working" FBI agent and an Asst. Chief of the LAX Police Dept in charge of Anti Terror section. We'll just have to wait and see what comes next.
 
Corporate jets are not the problem. No need to implement security procedures for a segment of the industry that secures itself.

Regarding other branches of the DHS; the CBP could sure use some standardization. Go to the same port 3 times. The first time, you're supposed to go fetch the inspector. The second, you meet him in the middle of the ramp, and the third, you get threatened with detainment for even opening the door before he "authorizes" you to do so. Same for the APU. Sometimes its gotta be off, others it can stay on.
 
TFaudree_ERAU said:
Corporate jets are not the problem. No need to implement security procedures for a segment of the industry that secures itself.
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GA's bad for 'murica.

Regarding other branches of the DHS; the CBP could sure use some standardization. Go to the same port 3 times. The first time, you're supposed to go fetch the inspector. The second, you meet him in the middle of the ramp, and the third, you get threatened with detainment for even opening the door before he "authorizes" you to do so. Same for the APU. Sometimes its gotta be off, others it can stay on.
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Amen.

APU off? Srsly? With the door closed? I'd be giving Mr. Inspector a "GFY" on that one. I like to stay cool in the summer and warm in the winter.

-mini
 
BillErvin said:
Agreed, and made worse by inept managers that rallied their overblown security credentials to return from their Secret Service retirement and save the country from itself.


This is a point that is all to often forgotten in the static. I won't disparage the entire workforce of TSA there are good and hardworking people within the agency, Its to bad they are overshadowed by the idots.

The guy that has been nominated to the TSA administrator job, has a good background as a "working" FBI agent and an Asst. Chief of the LAX Police Dept in charge of Anti Terror section. We'll just have to wait and see what comes next.
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That, and the prevailing thought process at the time of cooperating with hijackers. No one predicted that the planes would be used like they were that day. By all accounts prior to the actual impacts, it was another series of hijackings, just waiting for the demands to be made.

With the planning, logistics, biding of time, distribution of personnel/assets, overall timing and coordination, training, observation of weaknesses that could be exploited such as mindset of hijackings etc, and overall patience involved.....these are factors that made 9/11 the absolutely brilliant and successful operation that it was, as seen from a purely tactical standpoint. One must study the enemy and his ways in order to effectively counter him.
 
MikeD said:
That, and the prevailing thought process at the time of cooperating with hijackers. No one predicted that the planes would be used like they were that day. By all accounts prior to the actual impacts, it was another series of hijackings, just waiting for the demands to be made.

With the planning, logistics, biding of time, distribution of personnel/assets, overall timing and coordination, training, observation of weaknesses that could be exploited such as mindset of hijackings etc, and overall patience involved.....these are factors that made 9/11 the absolutely brilliant and successful operation that it was, as seen from a purely tactical standpoint. One must study the enemy and his ways in order to effectively counter him.
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Well said.

-mini
 
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