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We are very surprised at the company’s announcement that they may be considering to opt out of Known Crewmember (KCM) as it has moved to a permanent program of the TSA. The idea behind KCM is not simply to expedite security screening for known assets, such as pilots, but to alleviate additional TSA security resources in order to have more effect at passenger screening portals. This makes our entire U.S. travel system safer and protects us from additional threats. In a message to the crew force, the company writes, “The KCM program was halted abruptly as a trial offering and has suddenly become an ongoing commercial program with considerable fees attached to it. Given the extremely short notice we were given and the extensive fees, we are only now able to begin to assess the details and determine our options, and how we might reach a reasonable ongoing arrangement with the KCM program administrators.” Last year, KCM began issuing barcodes to expedite screening, if your airline paid for it. However, FedEx chose not to subscribe to the optional barcodes. Airlines for America (A4A) was notified of KCM moving to a permanent program months ago. There was nothing abrupt about the halting of the test program as the date was solidified and reported long ago. Not only has this now become a permanent program and industry best practice, FedEx and UPS are the only two carriers reported thus far to have “carved themselves out” of the 43 total US airlines participating. As we all know, another successful terror act against aviation will not “carve” FedEx out, but affect all airlines with disastrous operational and financial impacts equally. For this reason, pilots have taken on broader security roles. Airlines have also taken on a broader security role and the public expects them to provide the safest airline system in the world.

The company may consider that our present use does not justify the cost. The cost per pilot is just $2.50 per month. This means that FedEx could conceivably be looking at around $138,450 per year for all pilots to be in the program. The company also mentioned some additional programming, but we have not been advised what that may entail. However, KCM “piggybacks” on CASS, and that programming has already been secured in place for a long time.

Here are some facts: FedEx had 36,257 uses of CASS last year. It is almost impossible to determine how many times each individual pilot used screening at an airport, but that means that of the 4,615 eligible pilots the use of ALL screening access points (CASS is offline use only) was 3,021/month or 65.47% of the total pilot number. Remember, this would be for jumpseat only, so it doesn’t include DH positive space tickets transiting security check points as they would not be utilizing CASS at all. However, it does forecast where the use of KCM could go by demonstrating how much we transit screening checkpoints every day. The numbers will only go up as KCM is expanded. As for KCM, the sample period used was only 5 months, but it equated to 909 uses per month (at a very limited number of airports for now) or 19.69% of the eligible 4,615 pilot group. Imagine the use when KCM becomes more prevalent and especially in Memphis where the company has had as many as 64,000 deadhead tickets a year; not all originating in Memphis, but a majority for sure. You should know that Memphis is reported to us to be on the 2013 list with “high priority.” Additionally, statistical numbers from the vendor show that FedEx pilots used KCM 4,544 time during the last part of the test period (which was limited to a few portals considering the future expansion). That is 4,544 times more time was available to be directed at other potential threats to the aviation system by TSA screeners and behavioral specialists. That’s 4,544 more times our secure skies system may have been protected. That’s 4,544 more times a FedEx pilot was able to get to work with less hassle and stress. And that’s 4,544 more times a FedEx pilot was treated with the professionalism we have earned, in view of the public, at a screening portal. And that’s just the KCM numbers for 1SEP2012 through 17FEB2013!

A great deal of ALPA resources, your resources, have been spent in making KCM a reality. Additionally, at the inception of KCM, ALPA made it clear that no pilot should ever pay for this program. Without ALPA, KCM would probably have never become a reality. It was ALPA that insisted pilots needed to be viewed as assets to aviation security, not threats; knowing full well all persons must still be screened in order to enter a sterile area. An additional concern is the high probability of downsizing the TSA workforce which would greatly reduce the number of screeners. This translates to fewer assets screening a portion of the population that has other means of vetting available to them such as KCM. If the company opts out, this entire situation lacks vision and professional courtesy that should be extended to all FedEx pilots--and for what, $138,450/year? The FCIF says they will “keep you apprised of our efforts and what can or cannot be done to resolve this.” The resolution is simple. The company should pay the small membership fee, $2.50 a month per pilot, just like all the other airlines do for their professionals and for the integrity of the aviation security system. Based on these facts, which clearly show that FedEx pilots do use the system, the cost is not extensive and A4A notified the company months ago that KCM was moving to a permanent program. A reasonable theory would conclude that our company may have other reasons to go down this road if they opt out.

Here is the list of airlines that are participating in KCM and a list of the current and future KCM access points:

Alaska Airlines (ASA) Capitol Cargo International (CCI) (AAL) (CHQ) American Eagle (EGF) Commutair (UCA) ,(GTI) Compass Airlines (CPZ) Delta (DAL) Republic Airlines (RPA) Executive Airlines (EGF) Ryan International Airlines (RYN) ExpressJet Airlines (ASQ) (SBS) (FTT) Shuttle America Airlines (TCF) GoJet Airlines (GJS) Sky King (SGB) , Inc. (HAL) Sky Way Enterprises (KI) (QXE) SkyWest Airlines (SKW) JetBlue (JBU) (SWA/TRS) II (KFS) (SCX) (ASH) (LOF) Peninsula Airways (PEN) (UAL/COA) (PDT) US Airways (AWE) Pinnacle Airlines (FLG) Virgin America (VRD) (PAC) Worldwide Jet (WWI) PSA Airlines (JIA) http://www.knowncrewmember.org/P ages/Airlines.aspx

Here is the list of existing and future KCM expedited screening portals:

ATL, BOS, BWI, CAE, CLT, DEN, DFW, DTW, EWR, HNL, IAD, IAH, IND, JFK, LAS, LAX, LGA, MDW, MIA, MSP, ORD, PHL, PHX, PIT, SEA, SFO, SLC, and STL. http://www.knowncrewmember.org/Pages/Airports.aspx

And finally, as mentioned above, you should know that Memphis is reported to be on the 2013 list with “high priority” and that your representatives are looking into this.

Rich Odbert Jumpseat Chairman Security Committee Liaison FedEx ALPA Master Executive Council