Airlines For America, Air Line Pilots Association, Int'l Set to Expand Known Crewmember Program

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Feb 15, 2012, 03:41 ET

WASHINGTON, Feb. 15, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Airlines for America (A4A), the industry trade organization for the leading U.S. airlines, and the Air Line Pilots Association, Int'l (ALPA) today announced their intent to expand the Known Crewmember program to more U.S. airports in 2012, following a successfully completed test of the risk-based security program at seven hub airports.

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"A4A and its members are pleased to partner with ALPA and TSA to further advance an enhanced security-screening system that improves security and reduces passenger-screening congestion," said A4A President and CEO Nicholas E. Calio. "The expansion of risk-based programs like Known Crewmember is making travel easier for our passengers and employees. We hope to make this program available soon to all U.S. airline pilots and provide future access for flight attendants."

The Known Crewmember test program was launched in April 2011 and enables Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers to verify the identity and employment status of airline pilots, who already undergo thorough criminal background and employment checks as a condition of their employment. The program allows pilots to utilize a more efficient security-screening process. Both ALPA and the A4A have asked the TSA to include flight attendants in the future.

"The Air Line Pilots Association, Int'l, is pleased to partner with Airlines for America, the Transportation Security Administration and individual airlines on this broad implementation of the Known Crewmember program at airports throughout the country," said Capt. Lee Moak, ALPA's president. "This system will ensure a safe and secure work environment for all professional airline pilots, recognizing their backgrounds and qualifications, and also will provide a more secure and efficient environment for our passengers."

The Known Crewmember program was introduced in seven trial airports in 2011, including Boston Logan, Chicago O'Hare, Miami, Minneapolis–St. Paul, Phoenix Sky Harbor, Seattle–Tacoma and Washington Dulles. Each site participated in a minimum 90-day trial period. More than 340,000 pilots have been screened successfully at the checkpoints at these seven airports. The Regional Airline Association and many of its members also have participated and supported the testing of the system.

A4A has selected ARINC to provide a cost-effective service at U.S. airports, using ARINC's proven advanced screening technology. A4A and ALPA will work closely with TSA to determine a deployment schedule at specific airports.

For more information, visit the Known Crewmember website: www.knowncrewmember.org

ABOUT A4A

Annually, commercial aviation helps drive more than $1 trillion in U.S. economic activity and more than 10 million U.S. jobs. A4A airline members and their affiliates transport more than 90 percent of all U.S. airline passenger and cargo traffic. For more information about the airline industry, visit www.airlines.org and follow us on Twitter @airlinesdotorg.

ABOUT ALPA

Founded in 1931, ALPA is the world's largest pilots union, representing more than 53,000 pilots at 37 airlines in the United States and Canada. Visit the ALPA website at www.alpa.org.

SOURCE Airlines for America