Have You Ever Heard of KCM?

Have you ever heard of KCM?

If you’re not a Part 121 pilot you probably haven’t.

Known Crewmember (KCM) is a risk-based initiative used by Part 121 airlines and the TSA that allows vetted crewmembers to bypass security screening at certain airports. If your company frequently moves you around on the airlines back and forth from your airplane, you’re going to like this program.

There are still rules to follow (which I won’t get into here for security reasons), but there is virtually no wait time to clear security. Imagine actually being treated again like a valued member of the aviation community instead of a potential threat just because you have a last-minute one-way ticket to your airplane! The value to the TSA is that it increases efficiency at the checkpoints and uses TSA resources more effectively.

KCM was originally started for certain Part 121 airlines, but now it’s available to 135 and 125 operators as well. Here’s a word of caution however, your employer has to be in the program. It’s not an individual pilot program, each carrier has to be in the system, and you may happen to work for an approved operator.

I’ve been using the KCM checkpoints for approximately 2 years and can’t begin to tell you how much my stress level goes down when I know there’s an operating KCM checkpoint. I actually feel like a pilot trusted with millions of dollars worth of equipment, instead of a threat.

For more information go to www.knowncrewmember.org and http://info.natacs.aero/known-crewmember/