The Coalition of Flight Attendant Unions, representing nearly 90,000 Flight Attendants in the United States, welcomed a decision by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) to include all U.S.-based Flight Attendants into the risk-based, Known Crewmember (KCM) program.
The KCM program allows for expedited screening of authorized and trusted crew members at security screening checkpoints utilizing established security clearances that each aviation employee clears as a condition of employment. Expedited screening for Flight Attendants could begin as early as the fall 2012.
“Inclusion of Flight Attendants and Pilots in the KCM recognizes that all crewmembers are subject to same intense screening and background checks and all crewmembers are certified by the Federal Aviation Administration,” said the coalition in a joint statement. “The Flight Attendant members we represent are especially grateful for the forceful advocacy and unwavering support we received from U.S. Representatives Sheila Jackson Lee and Bennie Thompson and U.S. Senator Mary Landrieu who championed this issue and helped make today’s announcement a reality.”
