Wot's goin' on with officialdom at STN
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Here are a few answers:
1 IN 5: I've heard of the random search of one in five people before, and believe it is because the walkway's only pick up metal objects and therefore an item made of anything else will not be picked up. As for not experiencing it before, I imagine that's because the Validation Points always seem to be a little more 'relaxed'.
TERMINAL FINAL CALLS: All announcements in the terminal are made by the airport information desks. Handling agents submit a requst to them for the call, and within a few minutes it will be made. In general it will be the agents at the gate who call their controller to request the final call, and therefore the actual announcement will not be made until boarding has at least started. I do however know that one handling agent automatically submits a final call request when check-in closes, meaning that often the calls are made before the aircraft is on stand, and there have been times when final calls are made for delayed flights.
GATE FINAL CALLS: I'm with you on this one. I'll always do 'further calls' and then one final call. It always makes me laugh when I hear a colleague say 'Once again, a final boading call.....'
INFORMATION SCREENS: It is true that the FIS's update automatically, for most flights you get 'GO TO GATE' at -60, 'BOARDING' at -30, and 'FINAL CALL' at -15. To overide these messages takes a few clicks of a mouse, but this does mean that all future updates must be made manually as the automatic update is cancelled. A culture now exists whereby it is thought to be okay to put a flight on boarding and final call early to get passengers to the gates early. I have arrived at departure gates to board a flight and found that the dispatcher has had the flight on Final Call from -52. Customer service is dropping, and i don't think punctualty is benefiting. I think it starting to get to the stage where passengers realise that it is false information and will instead keep to their own schedule.
ON A SEPERATE ISSUE: I've been working at STN for three years for the same handling agent, but am moving over to a different handling agent next week. I will have the same airside access as I have always had, yet I am required to take the same five year background check as I did before (and wait while that takes place), even though the only change to my airside pass will be the employer name. Confused.
1 IN 5: I've heard of the random search of one in five people before, and believe it is because the walkway's only pick up metal objects and therefore an item made of anything else will not be picked up. As for not experiencing it before, I imagine that's because the Validation Points always seem to be a little more 'relaxed'.
TERMINAL FINAL CALLS: All announcements in the terminal are made by the airport information desks. Handling agents submit a requst to them for the call, and within a few minutes it will be made. In general it will be the agents at the gate who call their controller to request the final call, and therefore the actual announcement will not be made until boarding has at least started. I do however know that one handling agent automatically submits a final call request when check-in closes, meaning that often the calls are made before the aircraft is on stand, and there have been times when final calls are made for delayed flights.
GATE FINAL CALLS: I'm with you on this one. I'll always do 'further calls' and then one final call. It always makes me laugh when I hear a colleague say 'Once again, a final boading call.....'
INFORMATION SCREENS: It is true that the FIS's update automatically, for most flights you get 'GO TO GATE' at -60, 'BOARDING' at -30, and 'FINAL CALL' at -15. To overide these messages takes a few clicks of a mouse, but this does mean that all future updates must be made manually as the automatic update is cancelled. A culture now exists whereby it is thought to be okay to put a flight on boarding and final call early to get passengers to the gates early. I have arrived at departure gates to board a flight and found that the dispatcher has had the flight on Final Call from -52. Customer service is dropping, and i don't think punctualty is benefiting. I think it starting to get to the stage where passengers realise that it is false information and will instead keep to their own schedule.
ON A SEPERATE ISSUE: I've been working at STN for three years for the same handling agent, but am moving over to a different handling agent next week. I will have the same airside access as I have always had, yet I am required to take the same five year background check as I did before (and wait while that takes place), even though the only change to my airside pass will be the employer name. Confused.
Last edited by Departures Beckham; 5th Aug 2003 at 19:57.
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Now thats a good idea
Just think of it passengers actually telling porkies to check in staff.
As to final final, final call, and bags will be off loaded.....last month I saw and heard the announcment being made, and there still were no pax actually being permitted to board....
I am sitting in the Lounge in LTN, with a cold beer, and a slice of Genoa Cake......
However STN has a better drop off KISS and tell (FLY) set up than LTN....for those you interterested the barriers are now reinstalled in LTN, but the Info desk is still closed, but there is now a special assistance desk........don't you just love the english language....
As to final final, final call, and bags will be off loaded.....last month I saw and heard the announcment being made, and there still were no pax actually being permitted to board....
I am sitting in the Lounge in LTN, with a cold beer, and a slice of Genoa Cake......
However STN has a better drop off KISS and tell (FLY) set up than LTN....for those you interterested the barriers are now reinstalled in LTN, but the Info desk is still closed, but there is now a special assistance desk........don't you just love the english language....
Sorry to return after posting at the beginning of this thread, but have just had the affrontery to interrupt the Stansted staff by making another SLF trip to Belfast, out yesterday, back tonight (and nice flying around the t'storms, EZY crew). Points about security.
Broken glass on the ground from yet another break-in in the short term car park (Zone B), there yesterday, still there tonight. Sorry, "security", but you seem to be missing the point about what are the real security issues that impact on pax at the airport.
25 minutes in security queue. My queue turns out to be significantly slower than others. Tough. When we get to x-ray machine, a trainee is being given instruction by more senior operator, who has all the time in the world to explain points to the trainee, and none at all for the resulting delays to pax.
At gate old lady with arthritis given bollocking by twentysomething gate agent for not having presented passport fully opened at photo page. Old lady feels she has to attempt an apology. Pax queued behind look on in amazement. But pax are mesmerised nowadays that if they say anything to the security staff reprisals will be taken out on them, so nothing is said. I know this is not security staff, but whole low-cost final ID check is dressed up as for "security".
If FlyBe hadn't given up LCY-BHD I wouldn't be here.
Broken glass on the ground from yet another break-in in the short term car park (Zone B), there yesterday, still there tonight. Sorry, "security", but you seem to be missing the point about what are the real security issues that impact on pax at the airport.
25 minutes in security queue. My queue turns out to be significantly slower than others. Tough. When we get to x-ray machine, a trainee is being given instruction by more senior operator, who has all the time in the world to explain points to the trainee, and none at all for the resulting delays to pax.
At gate old lady with arthritis given bollocking by twentysomething gate agent for not having presented passport fully opened at photo page. Old lady feels she has to attempt an apology. Pax queued behind look on in amazement. But pax are mesmerised nowadays that if they say anything to the security staff reprisals will be taken out on them, so nothing is said. I know this is not security staff, but whole low-cost final ID check is dressed up as for "security".
If FlyBe hadn't given up LCY-BHD I wouldn't be here.
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WHBM - it seems things have changed since they days of GO ... its a shame, as there service was considerably better than that of EZY ... although I've had no real problems with either.
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with every one moaning at secirity they do have to be seen to be doing certain amount of things asking silly questions body searches by the department of transport or some government body. if they r being watched and they let every one through someone gets a bolloicking i went through vp8 the other day just to find an empty loo and got a body search which i thought was unusuall as the buzzer never went off and i even new the guard as theres lots of new guards being trained i think they have to be seen to do things . i know on fragile belt they r suppsoe to check hand search every 10 bags going through and get the pax to sign
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I agree entirely with the comments made about the "this is a very last and very final boarding call for....." announcements. They make me cringe too!
From the gate agents perspective I can understand, however, that they have little information regarding when the gate WILL actually shut, therefore making a "final call" nearly impossible to time. Each dispatcher will vary the point in time when they decide to off load the passengers in question - depending on circumstances.
However, as Departures Beckham correctly states, "Further" boarding calls are far more professional.
As a dispatcher at STN, I am sometimes guilty myself of over riding the automatic timing system regarding the flight status. However, final call at -52 is ridiculous.
Please remember that we know (or at least we like to think we know!) the whole picture regarding the turnaround, and there may be a good reason to put the flight on final call at -10 to our planned commencement of boarding, if for one example, the flight has been allocated a slot BEFORE it's STD.
It's all well worth taking into consideration the fact that at STN it takes a good 10-15 minutes to get from the nice shops and restaurants onto the TTS (transit), and to the gate (Sat 1). I have been at the gate countless times when Mr and Mrs Late come running down to the gate with shops worth of hand luggage and countless kids only to tell the gate staff in no uncertain terms that "it took us ages to get here".
At the end of the day, every single person in the equation wants the aircraft to depart on time. If the passenger thinks they know better then they can ignore the information screens at their peril, but my advice and my request, would be to get to the gate in plenty of time and relax...
From the gate agents perspective I can understand, however, that they have little information regarding when the gate WILL actually shut, therefore making a "final call" nearly impossible to time. Each dispatcher will vary the point in time when they decide to off load the passengers in question - depending on circumstances.
However, as Departures Beckham correctly states, "Further" boarding calls are far more professional.
As a dispatcher at STN, I am sometimes guilty myself of over riding the automatic timing system regarding the flight status. However, final call at -52 is ridiculous.
Please remember that we know (or at least we like to think we know!) the whole picture regarding the turnaround, and there may be a good reason to put the flight on final call at -10 to our planned commencement of boarding, if for one example, the flight has been allocated a slot BEFORE it's STD.
It's all well worth taking into consideration the fact that at STN it takes a good 10-15 minutes to get from the nice shops and restaurants onto the TTS (transit), and to the gate (Sat 1). I have been at the gate countless times when Mr and Mrs Late come running down to the gate with shops worth of hand luggage and countless kids only to tell the gate staff in no uncertain terms that "it took us ages to get here".
At the end of the day, every single person in the equation wants the aircraft to depart on time. If the passenger thinks they know better then they can ignore the information screens at their peril, but my advice and my request, would be to get to the gate in plenty of time and relax...
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Ivan Taclue I fear writing to John Prescott or Alistair Darling will not get you anywhere. They will be far too busy to reply to your letter as they will be chartering another 142 seater to evict 5 non UK resident bods at a meesly cost of Ł500k: Yes, some of which was earned whilst attempting to fathom out the logic behind the BAA 
I bet the 5 in question had a far easier time getting past the jobsworths called security
I bet the 5 in question had a far easier time getting past the jobsworths called security
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Mike Jenvey,
In answer to your question, yes there are signs in the departure lounge informing passengers how long it will take them to get to the various gates. However, these signs are small and easy to miss, and ironically in English only.
Regarding PA's, when my flight has a CTOT before its STD, I will ask the gate agents to make a suitable PA, or do it myself wherever possible.
The big 'BUT' however, is that the PA system that we use at the gates only broadcasts to the entirety of the satellite we are in. We have no access to a PA in the departure lounge or the terminal. These calls have to go through our controllers who request the PA's to be made by Airport Information. Such calls regularly take 5-10 minutes to actually be broadcast.
Another thing that amazes me at 'the millennium gateway' is the sheer number of passengers who go to the wrong satellite! Any passenger agent will tell you how many passengers loose the ability to read information signs at an airport, but the situation is getting ridiculous at STN.
I am not at the gates for very long at any one time, but on an almost daily occurrence I witness passengers who have been allowed by BAA to travel on the TTS to our satellite.
The problem they then have is that they CANNOT get back. It is impossible for a passenger in satellite 1 (and maybe 2 - I don't know) to get back on the TTS and travel to another satellite or back to the lounge. 9 times out of 10 they are FR passengers. FR do not even use the TTS (it's too expensive - their passengers are supposed to walk) and the only option we have is to call security control who will then take up to 20 minutes to send someone over to DRIVE the passengers to their correct gate.
The situation is crazy! If the BAA security guards spent less time confiscating staff's tweezers and nail clippers, and more time directing passengers at the point where you need to decide whether to get onto the TTS, turn left to get to domestic departures or turn right for the Ryanair marathon hike to their gates, passengers wouldn't get lost, offloaded, and extremely annoyed.
I'd be interested to hear any comments?
In answer to your question, yes there are signs in the departure lounge informing passengers how long it will take them to get to the various gates. However, these signs are small and easy to miss, and ironically in English only.
Regarding PA's, when my flight has a CTOT before its STD, I will ask the gate agents to make a suitable PA, or do it myself wherever possible.
The big 'BUT' however, is that the PA system that we use at the gates only broadcasts to the entirety of the satellite we are in. We have no access to a PA in the departure lounge or the terminal. These calls have to go through our controllers who request the PA's to be made by Airport Information. Such calls regularly take 5-10 minutes to actually be broadcast.
Another thing that amazes me at 'the millennium gateway' is the sheer number of passengers who go to the wrong satellite! Any passenger agent will tell you how many passengers loose the ability to read information signs at an airport, but the situation is getting ridiculous at STN.
I am not at the gates for very long at any one time, but on an almost daily occurrence I witness passengers who have been allowed by BAA to travel on the TTS to our satellite.
The problem they then have is that they CANNOT get back. It is impossible for a passenger in satellite 1 (and maybe 2 - I don't know) to get back on the TTS and travel to another satellite or back to the lounge. 9 times out of 10 they are FR passengers. FR do not even use the TTS (it's too expensive - their passengers are supposed to walk) and the only option we have is to call security control who will then take up to 20 minutes to send someone over to DRIVE the passengers to their correct gate.
The situation is crazy! If the BAA security guards spent less time confiscating staff's tweezers and nail clippers, and more time directing passengers at the point where you need to decide whether to get onto the TTS, turn left to get to domestic departures or turn right for the Ryanair marathon hike to their gates, passengers wouldn't get lost, offloaded, and extremely annoyed.
I'd be interested to hear any comments?
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Fast Jet Wannabe and all-round despatcher
Your input here greatly appreciated. I think the whole process at
STN stinks, starting at the "maze" pax (and S.L. Crew) have to go thru to get to security. Invariably I take sthe slower one!
Then there are the annoying "rules" away from the real security issues. By now pax are frustrated and vent their anger by going to all the shopsshops and have the ubiquitous Frappacino at Starbucks. The location of the TTS is not imediately clear to everyone and I do not believe pax are actually told what the form is. The more experienced pax see the GO TO GATE on screen and think: yeah yeah
FR pax particularly thick........... When going thru the terminal an Irish bloke asked where the bar was. We were 5 mtrs away from it....
Despite announcements in various languages on the TTS people are still confused at the Satelite config. Being aware of all this I always ask fro my pax about 30 mins before STD. Most of the time we wait for 2 pax missing, but as you know, sometimes we surprise ourselves. Keep it up
Your input here greatly appreciated. I think the whole process at
STN stinks, starting at the "maze" pax (and S.L. Crew) have to go thru to get to security. Invariably I take sthe slower one!
Then there are the annoying "rules" away from the real security issues. By now pax are frustrated and vent their anger by going to all the shopsshops and have the ubiquitous Frappacino at Starbucks. The location of the TTS is not imediately clear to everyone and I do not believe pax are actually told what the form is. The more experienced pax see the GO TO GATE on screen and think: yeah yeah
FR pax particularly thick........... When going thru the terminal an Irish bloke asked where the bar was. We were 5 mtrs away from it....
Despite announcements in various languages on the TTS people are still confused at the Satelite config. Being aware of all this I always ask fro my pax about 30 mins before STD. Most of the time we wait for 2 pax missing, but as you know, sometimes we surprise ourselves. Keep it up
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Another example of the ever helpful BAA the other nite.
I was tasked with dispatching the AB8595 to NUE, a 737-800. Got to my stand, checked jetway was serviceable. Aircraft taxies on A12 centre and stops. Unable to dock jetway on to aircraft. Jetway then begins playing up with wheels rotating when they shouldn't be and violent lurching all the way back to parking box. I was lucky not to hit the aircraft. Finally 10 mins after coming on stand we are able to open the doors when the jetway is out of the way and steps applied (thats 10 of my 30 mins for turnaround used up).
Go onto flight deck and apologise to Captain and he is most understanding and he lets me sit in his seat so I can see that he has stopped in correct position as per the PAPA board. Then go to ramp and the ramp team leader shows me a "737-800" stop mark that he has noticed has been "spray painted" onto the centre line and we note that aircraft is about 6ft beyond it.
So I explain all this to BAA engineering and the girl on the phone says "all 737's are supposed to be marshalled on stand A12". "Where was the marshaller then?" I ask. I hear her turn to someone in her office "where was the marshaller for the Air Berlin 738 on A12?", I hear reply "didnt know we were supposed to marshall them on A12". "Yeah as of last week due to the problems with the jetway". Get the picture - nobody knows whats going on.
Anyway 28 mins after the first pax gets of the aircraft the last outbound pax is on the doors shut. But low and behold no flight plan has been filed so the delay has to go down to that and not "BAA and airport facilities".
For those that moan about "final calls" and the like when aircraft hasnt arrived yet I say one thing. It is better to be at the gate moaning about "it says final call & the aircraft isnt here" then to in a massive que at security with 10 minutes to go to departure time.
Departures Beckham - wrt your pass, it is complete horlicks isnt it. I left Buzz and started with my present employer the next day, it took 5 weeks to get a new pass, for which I was not paid and not allowed to claim the dole either.
I was tasked with dispatching the AB8595 to NUE, a 737-800. Got to my stand, checked jetway was serviceable. Aircraft taxies on A12 centre and stops. Unable to dock jetway on to aircraft. Jetway then begins playing up with wheels rotating when they shouldn't be and violent lurching all the way back to parking box. I was lucky not to hit the aircraft. Finally 10 mins after coming on stand we are able to open the doors when the jetway is out of the way and steps applied (thats 10 of my 30 mins for turnaround used up).
Go onto flight deck and apologise to Captain and he is most understanding and he lets me sit in his seat so I can see that he has stopped in correct position as per the PAPA board. Then go to ramp and the ramp team leader shows me a "737-800" stop mark that he has noticed has been "spray painted" onto the centre line and we note that aircraft is about 6ft beyond it.
So I explain all this to BAA engineering and the girl on the phone says "all 737's are supposed to be marshalled on stand A12". "Where was the marshaller then?" I ask. I hear her turn to someone in her office "where was the marshaller for the Air Berlin 738 on A12?", I hear reply "didnt know we were supposed to marshall them on A12". "Yeah as of last week due to the problems with the jetway". Get the picture - nobody knows whats going on.
Anyway 28 mins after the first pax gets of the aircraft the last outbound pax is on the doors shut. But low and behold no flight plan has been filed so the delay has to go down to that and not "BAA and airport facilities".
For those that moan about "final calls" and the like when aircraft hasnt arrived yet I say one thing. It is better to be at the gate moaning about "it says final call & the aircraft isnt here" then to in a massive que at security with 10 minutes to go to departure time.
Departures Beckham - wrt your pass, it is complete horlicks isnt it. I left Buzz and started with my present employer the next day, it took 5 weeks to get a new pass, for which I was not paid and not allowed to claim the dole either.
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I have just about had enough with STN. I've recently moved base from DUB to STN and applied for my STN ID as soon as I got over there, expecting about 1-2 weeks for it to be processed. (like in Dublin)
It's now 4 months later and still nothing has happened. On top of the 5 years reference checks, now a disclosure form is required.
So far, I can get through the VP's ok with my Dublin ID apart from the usual abuse from the security staff. However, I recently heard a rumour that apparently from September onwards only people with STN ID's would be admitted and no other ID's will be accepted.
Surely though, that can't be right. If you are in possession of a valid airside ID issued by the employer (in my case Ryanair / Dublin) they have no option but to let you through as far as I know.
Would anyone be able to shed any light on this?
It's now 4 months later and still nothing has happened. On top of the 5 years reference checks, now a disclosure form is required.
So far, I can get through the VP's ok with my Dublin ID apart from the usual abuse from the security staff. However, I recently heard a rumour that apparently from September onwards only people with STN ID's would be admitted and no other ID's will be accepted.
Surely though, that can't be right. If you are in possession of a valid airside ID issued by the employer (in my case Ryanair / Dublin) they have no option but to let you through as far as I know.
Would anyone be able to shed any light on this?
Having been the second poster on this thread, I have since been amazed at the number of people who report having their daily lives grossly inconvenienced by the management of Stansted, caused by them applying incompetent rules and procedures unknown elsewhere.
These comments above are made by knowledgeable aviation people who know full well what is achieved at other airports.
Is it time now to call for the resignation of the Stansted Airport Manager and Security Manager, to be replaced by people who know what they are doing and can deliver it without hacking off their customers continually.
These comments above are made by knowledgeable aviation people who know full well what is achieved at other airports.
Is it time now to call for the resignation of the Stansted Airport Manager and Security Manager, to be replaced by people who know what they are doing and can deliver it without hacking off their customers continually.
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Stansted's management were on the local radio station lunchtime news when I left EGSS this afternoon. "Stansted better equipped then ever to deal with terrorism threat" was the headline. Management said they have recruited an extra 230 security guards and the STN now has the largest security search area of any airport in the UK.
For a Saturday morning, it all went rather well for once all things considered.
For a Saturday morning, it all went rather well for once all things considered.
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Cabin Baggage
I happened to be walking through the terminal yesterday past the Easyjet check in desks. At the entrance to the queue was a large sign complete with pictures:
Cabin baggage allowance: 5KG bag + laptop.
Security Announcement: "Only one item of cabin baggage per person"
BTW read in the local press BAA Stansted managing director's name is Terry Morgan - why not drop him a line. I am sure he will be very helpful!
Cabin baggage allowance: 5KG bag + laptop.
Security Announcement: "Only one item of cabin baggage per person"
BTW read in the local press BAA Stansted managing director's name is Terry Morgan - why not drop him a line. I am sure he will be very helpful!
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I was told by one of Timzsta and FJW's duty-managers today that there is a new Directors Notice out regarding taking cans and bottles of drink airside. I haven't seen it yet so was hoping that either Timz or FJW could let us all know what the new restriction is.
Edited because I have the right to edit my messages (until that right is taken away for "Security Reasons").
Edited because I have the right to edit my messages (until that right is taken away for "Security Reasons").
Last edited by Departures Beckham; 19th Aug 2003 at 05:33.
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Departures Beckham,
I only glanced at the memo regarding drinks being taken airside, but basically it informs us that security guards are now banning opened drink containers being taken through central search and staff search checkpoints.
This, you will no doubt be glad to hear, excludes opened bottles of unmixed drinking water. Instead of being confiscated these will be thoroughly examined by a security guard to ensure you haven't hidden anything illegal in your bottle.
All other opened drinks containers without exception will be confiscated.
This apparently will ensure that nobody conceals weapons or some such other nasty inside their Ribena.
However, obviously feeling generous at the time of writing, the top security bod who wrote the memo has kindly decided that we are in fact still allowed to consume liquids airside (for the time being).
Therefore, happily, unopened drink containers of all descriptions are still allowed through security after being (and this is no lie) X-rayed and inspected by hand for signs of tampering. The inspection will of course being undertaken by a no doubt highly trained Security guard (or "Liquids inspection executive").
Believe it or not, the memo is 2 sides of A4 paper long.
Beckham, when I'm in tomorrow ill see if I can find someone else’s copy of the memo and ill put it in my pigeon hole, feel free to take it next time you're in.
I would give you my copy but I've already filed it... in the bin.
I only glanced at the memo regarding drinks being taken airside, but basically it informs us that security guards are now banning opened drink containers being taken through central search and staff search checkpoints.
This, you will no doubt be glad to hear, excludes opened bottles of unmixed drinking water. Instead of being confiscated these will be thoroughly examined by a security guard to ensure you haven't hidden anything illegal in your bottle.
All other opened drinks containers without exception will be confiscated.
This apparently will ensure that nobody conceals weapons or some such other nasty inside their Ribena.
However, obviously feeling generous at the time of writing, the top security bod who wrote the memo has kindly decided that we are in fact still allowed to consume liquids airside (for the time being).
Therefore, happily, unopened drink containers of all descriptions are still allowed through security after being (and this is no lie) X-rayed and inspected by hand for signs of tampering. The inspection will of course being undertaken by a no doubt highly trained Security guard (or "Liquids inspection executive").
Believe it or not, the memo is 2 sides of A4 paper long.
Beckham, when I'm in tomorrow ill see if I can find someone else’s copy of the memo and ill put it in my pigeon hole, feel free to take it next time you're in.
I would give you my copy but I've already filed it... in the bin.
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Airport security
All these jibes towards Stansted management are a bit one sided, the rules regarding searching of PAX are not dictated by airport management but by the Department of Transport and have been tightened recently, so much so even the Police and customs who were previously exempt have to be screened and searched unless they are carrying weapons.
Heres a good one
Theres a story going around that a firearms police officer at a southwest UK airport was asked to place his firearm and gadget belt through the x ray machine and to step through the metal detector. when asked why, the security person said "to see if you are concealing any weapons" the officer then said "if you did what would you do" the security replied "call for the police" !!!!!!
Heres a good one
Theres a story going around that a firearms police officer at a southwest UK airport was asked to place his firearm and gadget belt through the x ray machine and to step through the metal detector. when asked why, the security person said "to see if you are concealing any weapons" the officer then said "if you did what would you do" the security replied "call for the police" !!!!!!
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".....................the rules regarding searching of PAX are not dictated by airport management but by the Department of Transport and have been tightened recently, so much so even the Police and customs who were previously exempt have to be screened and searched unless they are carrying weapons."
Who searches the searchers?
I bet the security people love searching the police - a bit like some Home Guard units in WW II who used to insist on the local policeman, whom they knew full well, prove his identity and submit to a search when he passed by their checkpoints.
UK Customs carrying weapons? Only those they have confiscated surely.
Who searches the searchers?
I bet the security people love searching the police - a bit like some Home Guard units in WW II who used to insist on the local policeman, whom they knew full well, prove his identity and submit to a search when he passed by their checkpoints.
UK Customs carrying weapons? Only those they have confiscated surely.
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: STN and HPN
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FJW: Thanks for that, I'll have to make sure I perform all of my diluting airside. I can understand why they are doing this, obviously there is the risk of someone hiding something in the container or of course carrying a dangerous liquid. Just as soon as they decide to give me my pass back, i'll head over to the office for that memo (send my love to Whippy!!).
It's probably worth pointing out that the guys and girls at Central Search do, in my opinion, a very good job. I've heard numerous reports of them sending pax back to check-in as there hand-baggage was to big, they were carrying tools or blades, and refusing to allow drunk passengers through ... and all of our aircraft get to their destinations.
It's probably worth pointing out that the guys and girls at Central Search do, in my opinion, a very good job. I've heard numerous reports of them sending pax back to check-in as there hand-baggage was to big, they were carrying tools or blades, and refusing to allow drunk passengers through ... and all of our aircraft get to their destinations.