One Hundred Million Crewmembers Cleared

Airlines for America (A4A) and the Air Line Pilots Association, Int'l (ALPA), along with the TSA, recently announced the Known Crewmember (KCM) program has reached a significant milestone with the clearing of over 100 million crewmembers since its inception in 2011.

The KCM program enables TSA security officers to verify the identity and employment status of airline pilots and flight attendants, who already undergo thorough criminal background and employment checks as a condition of their employment. KCM has been a valuable resource in helping to decrease airport congestion by providing alternative screening opportunities for airline pilots and flight attendants, reducing the impact on the general screening lanes used every day by the traveling public. KCM currently has 62 participating airlines and operates in 90 airports at 221 screening locations.

"With the TSA's strong support, KCM has proven to be a vital component to a multilayered security screening process that allows TSA to refocus security resources, increase efficiency in security screenings, and significantly reduce wait times in security lines for pilots and the traveling public," said Capt. Tim Canoll, ALPA president. "ALPA looks forward to KCM's continued expansion as well as further time and cost savings as the government and industry continue to adopt risk-based security."

"We would like to thank the TSA for its continued expansion and support of the KCM program, enhancing safety and security across our nation's airports while alleviating congestion and long wait times at screening lanes for the traveling public and our valued airline employees," said A4A President and CEO Nicholas E. Calio. "This is a leading example of a successful risk-based security program that delivers the benefits of safety, efficiency and improved customer service to the 2.3 million passengers that travel on U.S. carriers daily."

"I'm a huge supporter of the Known Crewmember program and think it's one of our most effective risk-based initiatives," said TSA Administrator David Pekoske. "I thank the pilots and flight attendants for their partnership with us in ensuring the security of air travel. On this anniversary month of 9/11, I know we all recommit to ensuring a terrorist incident does not occur on our watch. I also sincerely value our relationship with airlines and airports. We are stronger together."

(Source: A4A news release)

FMI: www.airlines.org, www.alpa.org, www.tsa.gov