Ensuring our continued participation in the Known Crew Member program requires each of us to know and abide by the rules. Failure to follow the established system-wide TSA policy could result in serious personal consequences including but not limited to revocation of your badge(s) and fines for the company and the individual responsible for the violation.
Known Crew Member (KCM) is a program allowing for expedited security screening and clearance to sterile areas for Crew Members. The structure of KCM enables TSA security officers to positively verify the identity and employment status of authorized crewmembers. It is a privilege we have all come to value. Attempted use of the program outside the established parameters puts all of us at risk of losing the privilege.
Ensuring our continued participation in the Known Crew Member program requires each of us to know and abide by the rules. Failure to follow the established system-wide TSA policy could result in serious personal consequences including but not limited to revocation of your badge(s) and fines for the company and the individual responsible for the violation.
When utilizing our KCM privileges as working Crew or when traveling in our leisure time there are a few important rules that need to be followed.
- If you have been inactive, that is, on a Special COLA or another “Leave of Absence” or in instances where you may have been temporarily removed from service, you will find your access via KCM has been restricted. Upon return to active service there will be a delay in updating your status to “active” which may result in your inability to use KCM access. In most instances, you will need to fly your first trip to trigger the return of your status to active which will restore your KCM eligibility.
- KCM may be used for all travel as Working Crew
- KCM may be used from personal Domestic Travel.
- While you need not be in uniform to access KCM, when out of uniform you will be required to present an additional form of identification which can be a passport, FAA Airmen’s Certification, or driver’s license along with your company issued badge. (Temporary government ID credentials are not accepted.)
- Any personal International Travel requires use of normal TSA screening checkpoints. KCM may not be used for this travel.
When selected for additional screening as working Crew or when traveling on our leisure time there are a few important rules that need to be followed.
- If you are traveling out of Uniform, you may not change into uniform to avoid liquid restrictions
- You are always subject to any necessary additional screenings
- If after entering the sterile area a non-working crew member does not remain within the confines of sterile area (i.e., concourse), secure area (i.e., domicile), SIDA, or security restricted areas of the airport (i.e., non-public) prior to boarding the aircraft, she/he must be re-screened using the above procedures.
- You may not carry the personal articles of others through the KCM check point.
Any request made by a TSA officer at the KCM checkpoint is to be complied with whether you believe the request to be in error or not. If they request something you believe to be inaccurate (i.e. needing a ticket when utilizing your badge to clear to a sterile area for a meeting or asking for additional forms of identification) you are expected to comply with the request. If, however, you believe you are being asked or directed to do something which you know to be incorrect, please, professionally, request to speak to a TSA supervisor for clarification.
Once you’ve cleared the checkpoint, file a Local Council Report so the issue can be addressed and corrected moving forward. All of these requests are being made in the interest of safety and security and we all have a vested interest at ensuring we meet all requirements.