Allows Expedited Access To Sterile Areas Of Airports

TSA's Known Crewmember program (KCM) will soon be available to Part 135 and Part 125 air charter pilots. The program is a risk-based screening system that enables Transportation Security Administration (TSA) security officers to positively verify the identity and employment status of flight-crew members. The program expedites flight-crew member access to sterile areas of airports, reduces passenger-screening line congestion, enhances security, and makes airport checkpoint screening more efficient for all who depend on air transportation.

NATA worked in close partnership with Airlines for America (A4A), the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA), the TSA and NATA Compliance Services to bring this valuable program to our industry. “KCM has dramatically improved the efficiency of airport checkpoint screening for airline crewmembers for the past few years and will become even more beneficial to our industry as well as the traveling public with the addition of Part 135 and Part 125 crewmembers,” said NATA President and CEO Thomas L. Hendricks. “NATA commends the TSA for expanding this risk-based security measure to include the air charter community. Our members will benefit greatly with inclusion into the Known Crewmember program and we are pleased to deliver this access through NATA Compliance Services.”

Pilots and other crewmembers who wish to participate in this program will apply for a two-year badge online through the secured NATA Compliance Services website. All participants will be issued a new NATACS identification badge and KCM key card through the program. As an added benefit, NATA members will receive a discount on the biannual badge fee as well as the monthly service fee.

“This proven program greatly enhances security at the nation’s airports and enables greater productivity for crewmembers and TSA officers alike by leveraging this highly vetted population of crewmembers and improving passenger screening throughput at major airports nationwide,” added Hendricks.

FMI: www.knowncrewmember.org