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Editor: James T. Crouse
Profession: Aviation Accident Attorney

Category: Aviation Safety

According to Kip Hawley, the TSA's blog site is to "ask for your opinion about some issues we have now in discussion " and promises to "continue to go where you take us with the issues you raise". On the site, Mr. Hawley explains that since the TSA started from scratch, it relied on "standard operating procedures" to get it on it's feet and working. Since that time, SOP has created an environment where the operators had to do things just because it was SOP - whether or not it made sense thus lessening the credibility of the TSA and causing the TSOs to seem less than intelligent. In his opening article, Mr. Hawley appears very sincere in this effort for us to help the TSA help us by listening - he asks us to work with them and not to ignore the responses found on the blog. Frieda thinks we should give them the benefit of doubt and do our part to help the organization improve. Yelling at the screeners at the airport is certainly not the answer - they are busy and don't have time to give your complaint/suggestion their full attention plus they have probably dealt with several disgruntled passengers before you.

However, there are some not quite as optimistic as Frieda. The president of the Air Travelers Association suggests "this will just make it easier for them to receive complaints for them to ignore them in the name of national security." Others state it will do little to improve process or perception. An airline expert in Minneapolis applauded the idea but is concerned it will become an "online vacuum" where a small group of complainers will force the TSA to respond to them while other self-appointed so called experts will pontificate the right ways to do everything - or some travelers will be afraid to comment fearing retribution from the government.

All this could be true, but let's give the TSA a chance. It seems in this country, people are so quick to jump on the "what can go wrong" or "what's wrong with this idea" bandwagon instead of thinking "this could work, let's give it a try" - a great example is our two national political parties.

Check out the TSA's blog site and let them know what you think. You could make a difference.