# Do Pilots Go Through Airport Security? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 5, 2010, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-pilots-go-through-airport-security/523819 "2010-01-05T23:51:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Jinx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Jinx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jinx)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2010, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-pilots-go-through-airport-security/523819/1 "2010-01-05T23:51:50Z")
I’ve been traveling a lot lately, and I never see pilots and steward/essess in line with me. What gives? Who says they’re safe esp. when one just got busted for being drunk on the job? Or, the ones who forgot to land! [How high were they flying? ;)] So, are they immume and assumed safe and wholesome saints? ---
**Author:** ![garygnu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garygnu/32/2924_2.png) [@garygnu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/garygnu)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2010, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-pilots-go-through-airport-security/523819/2 "2010-01-05T23:54:43Z")
They get to skip the line, but yes, they do. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2010, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-pilots-go-through-airport-security/523819/3 "2010-01-06T00:08:35Z")
Absolutely pilots go through the security checkpoint. [Here](http://www.salon.com/tech/col/smith/2008/07/11/askthepilot283/), in fact, is a column from [Salon.com](http://Salon.com) written by a pilot. The particular column to which I’ve linked is one in which he relates the experience of having his metal silverware confiscated at the checkpoint, even though this is the same silverware provided by an airline on an overseas flight. ---
**Author:** ![mnemosyne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c4cdca/32.png) [@mnemosyne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mnemosyne)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2010, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-pilots-go-through-airport-security/523819/4 "2010-01-06T00:09:11Z")
Most airports will have VIP/Diplomatic/Crew lines for security and customs, which are usually off to the side of the regular ones, from what I’ve seen. ---
**Author:** ![Bernard\_Marx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4491bb/32.png) [@Bernard\_Marx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bernard_Marx)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2010, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-pilots-go-through-airport-security/523819/5 "2010-01-06T00:23:35Z")
Additionally, (at least in Australia), pilots and everyone else who has access to secure areas of an airport undergoes [security screening](http://www.infrastructure.gov.au/transport/security/aviation/factsheet/fact13.aspx#11) as a requirement of their employment So although they aren’t “assumed safe and wholesome saints”, they are assumed to be safer than the average passenger owing to this security requirement. ---
**Author:** ![MEBuckner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mebuckner/32/2896_2.png) [@MEBuckner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MEBuckner)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2010, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-pilots-go-through-airport-security/523819/6 "2010-01-06T00:40:36Z")
There’s also the point that confiscating someone’s pocket knife and checking his shoes for explosives…then handing him the controls of a 500-ton fuel-laden jumbo jet, is a bit pointless. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2010, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-pilots-go-through-airport-security/523819/7 "2010-01-06T00:43:01Z")
Having to get security screened up to several time per workday is one of the major quality of life beefs of working pilots / flight attendants. The motivation for screening is mostly to detect would-be imposters, not to detect real pilots bringing weapons in to hijack their own plane with. So in that sense the screening is sound. But it sure is frustrating. One more thing I don’t miss since I stopped flying. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2010, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-pilots-go-through-airport-security/523819/8 "2010-01-06T00:54:43Z")
> [@MEBuckner](#): > > There’s also the point that confiscating someone’s pocket knife and checking his shoes for explosives…then handing him the controls of a 500-ton fuel-laden jumbo jet, is a bit pointless. That and the .40 caliper semi automatic some of them carry. ---
**Author:** ![Rhythmdvl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85f322/32.png) [@Rhythmdvl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhythmdvl)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2010, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-pilots-go-through-airport-security/523819/9 "2010-01-06T01:26:41Z")
> [@Magiver](#): > > That and the .40 caliper semi automatic some of them carry. Stop, or I’ll measure you! ---
**Author:** ![MPB\_in\_Salt\_Lake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c0e974/32.png) [@MPB\_in\_Salt\_Lake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MPB_in_Salt_Lake)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2010, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-pilots-go-through-airport-security/523819/10 "2010-01-06T01:43:58Z")
> [@MEBuckner](#): > > There’s also the point that confiscating someone’s pocket knife and checking his shoes for explosives…then handing him the controls of a 500-ton fuel-laden jumbo jet, is a bit pointless. How dare you sir!!! Common sense pronouncements like that have NO place in THE WAR AGAINST TERROR!!! ---
**Author:** ![Jormungandr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a6a055/32.png) [@Jormungandr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jormungandr)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2010, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-pilots-go-through-airport-security/523819/11 "2010-01-06T02:27:03Z")
Yes, the main cause was the crash of Pacific Southwest Airlines Flight 1771. > **[Pacific Southwest Airlines Flight 1771](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pacific_Southwest_Airlines_Flight_1771)** > > Pacific Southwest Airlines Flight 1771 was a scheduled flight along the West Coast of the United States, from Los Angeles, California, to San Francisco. On December 7, 1987, the British Aerospace 146-200A, registration N350PS, crashed in San Luis Obispo County near Cayucos, after being hijacked by a passenger. > All 43 passengers and crew aboard the plane died, five of whom, including the two pilots, were presumably shot dead before the plane crashed. The perpetrator, David Burke, was a disgrun... ---
**Author:** ![Richard\_Pearse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/richard_pearse/32/13144_2.png) [@Richard\_Pearse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_Pearse)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2010, 4:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-pilots-go-through-airport-security/523819/12 "2010-01-06T04:29:58Z")
> [@Jormungandr](#): > > Yes, the main cause was the crash of Pacific Southwest Airlines Flight 1771. > > [Pacific Southwest Airlines Flight 1771 - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pacific_Southwest_Airlines_Flight_1771) It might have made sense then, but now some pilots are permitted to carry guns are they not? Not to mention the handy little crash axe in the cockpit. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2010, 4:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-pilots-go-through-airport-security/523819/13 "2010-01-06T04:34:29Z")
> [@Rhythmdvl](#): > > Stop, or I’ll measure you! I’m using a MS mind reader for spell checking so shoot me. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![md2000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/73ab20/32.png) [@md2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/md2000)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2010, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-pilots-go-through-airport-security/523819/14 "2010-01-06T13:41:11Z")
> [@Bernard\_Marx](#): > > Additionally, (at least in Australia), pilots and everyone else who has access to secure areas of an airport undergoes [security screening](http://www.infrastructure.gov.au/transport/security/aviation/factsheet/fact13.aspx#11) as a requirement of their employment > > So although they aren’t “assumed safe and wholesome saints”, they are assumed to be safer than the average passenger owing to this security requirement. The funniest thing I saw was in Alice Springs, changing planes. There was a USAF Galaxy C5A on the tarmac. The people ahead of us in line were 2 US Air Force people in flight suits - those overalls with the zippers everywhere, and I’m sure steel-toe boots as well. Fortunately, they lets us go through screening ahead of them, but they did have to go through security. They’re “armed forces”!!! ---
**Author:** ![constantine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3bc359/32.png) [@constantine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/constantine)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2010, 7:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-pilots-go-through-airport-security/523819/15 "2010-01-07T07:29:22Z")
> [@MEBuckner](#): > > There’s also the point that confiscating someone’s pocket knife and checking his shoes for explosives…then handing him the controls of a 500-ton fuel-laden jumbo jet, is a bit pointless. Security Expert Bruce Schneier discussed [this issue](http://www.schneier.com/blog/archives/2006/10/screening_peopl.html) on his blog awhile back This issue is no different than searching airplane pilots, something that regularly elicits howls of laughter among amateur security watchers. What they don’t realize is that the issue is not whether we should trust pilots, airplane maintenance technicians or people with clearances. **The issue is whether we should trust people who are dressed as pilots, wear airplane-maintenance-tech IDs or claim to have clearances.** We have two choices: Either build an infrastructure to verify their claims, or assume that they’re false. And with apologies to pilots, maintenance techs and people with clearances, it’s cheaper, easier and more secure to search you all. ---
**Author:** ![Richard\_Pearse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/richard_pearse/32/13144_2.png) [@Richard\_Pearse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_Pearse)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2010, 7:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-pilots-go-through-airport-security/523819/16 "2010-01-07T07:35:38Z")
Why dress up as a pilot when you can just take a catering truck through? ---
**Author:** ![Foldup\_Rabbit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/df788c/32.png) [@Foldup\_Rabbit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Foldup_Rabbit)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2010, 7:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-pilots-go-through-airport-security/523819/17 "2010-01-07T07:43:30Z")
What about people who just work on the other side of the checkpoint? Janitors, baristas, till workers at McDonald’s, etc? Do they have to go through security every day as a fun precursor to work? ---
**Author:** ![Richard\_Pearse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/richard_pearse/32/13144_2.png) [@Richard\_Pearse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_Pearse)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2010, 8:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-pilots-go-through-airport-security/523819/18 "2010-01-07T08:03:53Z")
Presumably. ---
**Author:** ![MEBuckner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mebuckner/32/2896_2.png) [@MEBuckner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MEBuckner)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2010, 8:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-pilots-go-through-airport-security/523819/19 "2010-01-07T08:19:58Z")
> [@Security Expert Bruce Schneier](#): > > We have two choices: Either build an infrastructure to verify their claims, or assume that they’re false. And with apologies to pilots, maintenance techs and people with clearances, it’s cheaper, easier and more secure to search you all. Well, I would kinda hope there’s an infrastructure to verify their claims _somewhere_ along the line, though. ---
**Author:** ![constantine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3bc359/32.png) [@constantine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/constantine)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2010, 10:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-pilots-go-through-airport-security/523819/20 "2010-01-07T10:40:27Z")
> [@MEBuckner](#): > > Well, I would kinda hope there’s an infrastructure to verify their claims _somewhere_ along the line, though. Did you read the article that I linked to? Of course there is infrastructure somewhere along the line. The question is whether we want to implement that at the airport. That turns out to be a more complicated (actually a much more complicated) undertaking than it might first appear. Allowing people with a pilot id through would provide an exploitable hole in the security system because it turns out to be kind of hard to guard against impostor pilots. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-pilots-go-through-airport-security/523819.md?page=2)