August 5, 2011 - A new national enhanced security screening program for airline pilots called Known Crewmember will begin next week at Chicago O’Hare International Airport, the first of several test sites nationwide. Jointly sponsored by the Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l (ALPA) and the Air Transport Association (ATA), the program will positively verify airline pilots’ identities and, as a result, enhance aviation security and reduce passenger screening lines.
“The Known Crewmember program creates an enhanced security screening process for airline pilots that reflects the extensive background checks they already receive as employees and recognizes the position they hold on the front lines of aviation security each and every time they fly their aircraft,” said Capt. Lee Moak, ALPA’s president. “We are pleased to have joined with the Air Transport Association to bring the first phase of the Known Crewmember program to Chicago, and we look forward to expanding the program nationwide.”
The Known Crewmember program enables Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers to confirm the identity and employment status of airline flightcrew members. As a result, airline pilots, who already receive thorough criminal background and employment checks as a condition of their employment, will be subject to a more effective and efficient security screening process.
Known Crewmember Web Site: www.knowncrewmember.org