TSA Security Directive SD-1544–09-06

At the bottom of this post is the partial text of what has already appeared on many sites in the last few days - TSA Security Directive SD-1544–09-06, the Security Directive for airport and in-flight procedures in the aftermath of the December 25 failed bomb attempt on NW flight 253. This is a copy of the text that has been circulating; it didn't come from the TSA site. TSA's search page doesn't yield any results for a search on that directive number.

The authenticity of the directive would seem to be ensured by the fact that Chris Elliott, apparently the first to publish it, was served a subpoena by a special agent demanding to know who sent it to him. Note that our government apparently still remembers the part about "of the people, by the people" and a bunch of famous cases resulting in the conclusion that a guy who publishes leaked material is not criminal because he published it (it is the government's responsibility to keep its secrets secret; once leaked, they belong to the people). Nevertheless they obviously can subpoena him because of his knowledge of the criminal who leaked it. Fair enough, I guess.

Regardless of whether the document is real, fake, or a dead-end draft, many of the most offensive provisions of it have already been put in place in the last few days. Let's assume for discussion purposes that this is legitimate. If this text is the real thing, it shows what a giant disgrace the TSA is. Even without this alleged security directive, thinking folk have probably known that the TSA management is a bunch of boobs for quite some time. Richard Reid had a bomb in his shoe, so we all remove our shoes and run them through an xray machine that would not have detected Reid's bomb. It's hard to reach any conclusion other than that the TSA is in reactive mode and that shoe removal serves mainly to create the illusion of being in control.

It now appears that the TSA has identified certain arbitrary attributes of the last bombing attempt and has reacted to them by adding new, essentially arbitrary regulations, like the 60 minute-before-touchdown restriction on overhead luggage and the bathroom. Incompetent boobs.

Having spent a long time in the aerospace industry (and being old enough to remember when flying was fun) it causes me great pain to see this. The Federal Aviation Administration is certainly one of the best things the US government ever invented. Its regulations reflect solid principles of engineering, psychology, human anthropometry, probability and statistics.

It wasn't always that way. In the early days, the FAA existed mainly to convince the public that it was safe to fly. Fortunately, it realized that an effective way to do this was to ensure that it was safe to fly. And it is. This no doubt has a lot to do with the fact that the FAA remained fairly humble, realizing that it was a regulatory body that needed to rely on external expertise. The FAA uses a large number of industry Designated Engineering Representatives (DERs) who are working engineers in aerospace firms but also participate in the FAA. This helps eliminate the contentious relationship that emerges when experts are governed by well-intentioned but less-knowledgeable bodies. It also reminds engineers that they really do have the same goal as the FAA - safe flight. Since DERs are engineer-level employees as opposed to top management, the arrangement avoids the potential for corners to be cut for profitability reasons that might endanger lives.

I hear from engineers that the FAA has backslidden somewhat in the years since its been headed by attorneys with little technical background. But the TSA still appears to pale in comparison on the humility and pragmatic fronts. And the cronyism commonly reported there isn't going to help matters.

OK, that's my opinion. Here are some facts. On December 25th, the TSA let a homicidal fanatic (who happened to be Muslim), who paid for his one-way ticket in cash, checked no bags, and who was on the Terrorist Identities Datamart list onto an airplane with an explosive. Now, off with your shoes, grandma, and remember to pee about 75 minutes before arrival time.

On the light side, search #tsaslogans on twitter to see America at its best regarding the TSA (Thousands Standing Around). My favorite so far, from @petrillic: "TSA - Protecting you from yesterday, tomorrow."

Subject: Security DirectiveNumber: SD 1544-09-06
Date: December 25, 2009
EXPIRATION: 0200Z on December 30, 2009

[...]

2. IN FLIGHT
1. During flight, the aircraft operator must ensure that the following procedures are followed:

1. Passengers must remain in seats beginning 1 hour prior to arrival at destination.

2. Passenger access to carry-on baggage is prohibited beginning 1 hour prior to arrival at destination.

3. Disable aircraft-integrated passenger communications systems and services (phone, internet access services, live television programming, global positioning systems) prior to boarding and during all phases of flight.

4. While over U.S. airspace, flight crew may not make any announcement to passengers concerning flight path or position over cities or landmarks.

5. Passengers may not have any blankets, pillows, or personal belongings on the lap beginning 1 hour prior to arrival at destination.

AIRCRAFT OPERATOR ACKNOWLEDGMENT: The aircraft operator must immediately provide written confirmation to its assigned PSI indicating receipt of this SD.

AIRCRAFT OPERATOR dissemination required: The aircraft operator must immediately pass the information and directives set forth in this SD to all stations affected, and provide written confirmation to its PSI, indicating that all stations affected have acknowledged receipt of the information and directives set forth in this SD. The aircraft operator must disseminate this information to its senior management personnel, ground security coordinators, and supervisory security personnel at all affected locations. All aircraft operator personnel implementing this SD must be briefed by the aircraft operator on its content and the restrictions governing dissemination. No other dissemination may be made without prior approval of the Assistant Secretary for the Transportation Security Administration. Unauthorized dissemination of this document or information contained herein is prohibited by 49 CFR Part 1520 (see 69 Fed. Reg. 28066 (May 18, 2004).

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