Release #14.04
January 10, 2014

Known Crewmember Program Expands to Memphis International Airport

Memphis—Today ALPA pilots and staff were on hand at Memphis International Airport (MEM) to launch the Known Crewmember (KCM) program, a risk-based screening system that enables Transportation Security Administration (TSA) security officers to positively verify the identity and employment status of crewmembers. There have been over 12 million KCM transits to date, and MEM joins KCM as the program’s 31st airport location.

Known Crewmember is an enhanced security-screening program for airline flight crew members that positively verifies their identity and employment status, thus strengthening aviation security and shortening screening lines for passengers. ALPA first developed and presented the Known Crewmember concept to industry and government in 2007; since then, the program has evolved and become a reality through a tremendously successful partnership among ALPA, Airlines for America and TSA.

ALPA president Capt. Lee Moak said “Professional airline crews are on the front line of our nation’s aviation security effort. They have successfully passed in-depth pre-employment background investigations; they have been subjected to fingerprint-based criminal-history record checks and are the most highly screened employee group in the aviation industry."

In addition to the broad deployment of KCM stations, ALPA's goal is nationwide subscription to the system by all airlines, to include the all-cargo airline based at MEM, FedEx. For the most up-to-date information on the current KCM airports and their specific KCM portal locations, select the “KCM” tab on the ALPA smart phone app for iPhones and Droids, or visit www.knowncrewmember.org.

Founded in 1931, ALPA is the world’s largest pilot union, representing nearly 50,000 pilots at 32 airlines in the United States and Canada. Visit the ALPA website at www.alpa.org.

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CONTACT: ALPA Media, 703/481-4440 or Media@alpa.org