TSA and ALPA announce enhanced security initiative for airline crews =0A07-= Aug-2009 =0ATags :North America=0A=0AThe Transportation Security Administr= ation (TSA) today announced it has=0Aset the standards for the CrewPASS pro= gram, paving the way for=0Anationwide expansion. CrewPASS is an initiative = that verifies flight=0Acrew identity through biometrics, enhancing security= and expediting the=0Ascreening process for all travelers.=0A=E2=80=9CCrewP= ASS=0Ais an excellent example of public-private partnership that expedites= =0Atravel for flight crews, while increasing security standards,=E2=80=9D s= aid=0AJohn Sammon, assistant administrator, TSA.=0A=E2=80=9CWorking togethe= r, TSA,=0AALPA, ARINC and others made CrewPASS a success in its test phase,= and=0Asoon it will be possible to put it in place at airports nationwide,= =E2=80=9D=0Asaid ALPA President Capt. John Prater. =E2=80=9CAs a result, th= e identity of=0AU.S. pilots will be positively verified and crewmembers wil= l be=0Aexpedited through security screening checkpoints.=E2=80=9D=0A=0AElig= ible flight deck crewmembers will enter the secure area via the=0Aexit lane= of the security checkpoint after presenting their=0Aairline-issued identif= ication and another form of ID to Transportation=0ASecurity Officers (TSOs)= . An approved biometric will also be used to=0Aenhance identity verificatio= n. TSOs will check these credentials=0Aagainst the Cockpit Access Security = System (CASS) database, which=0Aincludes a picture and other information to= verify the individual=E2=80=99s=0Aemployment status.=0A=0AFlight deck crew= members who utilize this program will also be subject=0Ato random screening= , observation by behavior detection officers and=0Aother layers of security= .=0A=0ATSA=E2=80=99s standards require CrewPASS service providers to, among= other=0Athings, include a biometric component in crewmember credentials be= fore=0Arequesting approval to expand the system to additional U.S. airports= .=0A=0A=0A(c) Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation. Date posted: 7-Aug-09 <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> If you wish to unsubscribe from the AIRLINE List, please send an E-mail to: "listserv@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx". Within the body of the text, only write the following:"SIGNOFF AIRLINE".