Background
The Known Crewmember® (KCM) program is a joint initiative between Airlines for America (A4A) and the Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l (ALPA). KCM ties airline employee databases together in a seamless way and enables Transportation Security Administration (TSA) security officers to positively verify the identity and employment status of crewmembers.
Link to Airlines for America’s (A4A) KCM map providing details of KCM locations and hours of operation:
Known Crewmember locations and hours of operation
Known Crewmember Requirements
The KCM program is a privilege and not a right. KCM eligible crewmembers are required to comply with the participant requirements mentioned below. Airlines must be KCM program participants for their crewmembers to gain entry through designated access points. All KCM participants must be employed by an aircraft operator participating in a TSA-approved security program; authorized to perform crewmember duties on full all-cargo flights, scheduled passenger or public/private charter passenger flights operated under a TSA-approved security program; and have completed the aircraft operator’s crewmember security training, as applicable. Additionally, to enter KCM access points, crewmembers must not be on a leave of absence greater than 30 days, including furloughs and military duty.
Participant Requirements
- Only KCM participants may enter the airport sterile area through a KCM access point.
- KCM access points may be used for business and personal use except when on personal international travel.
- KCM participants must present and scan their KCM barcode card to enter access points.
- KCM participants with a boarding pass showing SSSS are not permitted to use KCM access points. If a KCM participant has a boarding pass with SSSS printed on it, the crewmember must proceed to a standard passenger screening checkpoint and undergo screening, as directed.
- KCM participants cannot bring other individuals (such as spouses, dependents, minor children) through KCM access points.
If TSA cannot confirm a KCM participant’s identity or current status in the KCM program at the KCM access point, the individual will be directed to the appropriate screening checkpoint.
- KCM participants may request a new or replacement KCM barcode card from their airline management.
- KCM Identification (ID) Requirements:
- Uniformed Crewmembers
- Valid Non-expired government issued photo ID and
- Valid Non-expired aircraft operator photo ID or National Air Transport Association ID
- Non-Uniformed Crewmembers
- Valid Non-expired government issued photo ID and
- Valid Non-expired aircraft operator photo ID or National Air Transport Association ID AND EITHER
- An additional Valid Non-expired government issued photo ID OR
- Valid Federal Aviation Administration Airman’s Certificate or a Certificate of Demonstrated Proficiency. (A third form of ID is required).
- Uniformed Crewmembers
- List of acceptable forms of IDs
- Crewmembers cannot bring personal property belonging to others (including family members).
- KCM participants are permitted to bring personal property through KCM access points as long as that property does not contain any item listed on the TSA’s prohibited items list.
- KCM participants cannot bring pets or pet carriers through KCM access points.
- Crewmembers Selected for Random Screening
- Uniformed - Have access to TSA PreCheck lanes, granted front of line privileges, and eligible for LGA exemptions.
- Non-Uniformed – Have access to TSA PreCheck lanes, not eligible for front of line privileges, not eligible for LGA exemptions, and not exempt from colorimetric testing.
- The KCM program does not exempt a KCM participant from complying with any additional screening conducted at or beyond KCM access points.
- KCM participants selected for random screening must proceed directly to the appropriate screening lane, as directed.
- If a KCM participant is referred to an alternate screening checkpoint, failure to directly proceed and submit to screening at the passenger identified screening checkpoint (e.g., using a Secure Identification Display Area badge to avoid screening or proceeding to another location before the screening checkpoint) is considered circumventing screening. TSA may take enforcement action, including potential civil penalties as well as disqualification from the KCM program in accordance with the KCM Disqualification Protocols.
- Violations of TSA security requirements may result in civil penalties and temporary or permanent disqualification from KCM program eligibility through the Known Crewmember Disqualification Protocol.
- Inclusion on the Known Crewmember Disqualification Protocol may result from violations including (but not limited to):
- interfering with screening;
- access control violations;
- providing false or fraudulent documents;
- making a bomb threat;
- bringing a firearm, explosive, or other prohibited items into a sterile area or on board an aircraft, or
- other egregious or criminal conduct.
- KCM disqualifications are handled separately from any civil or criminal enforcement relating to such violations.
Dos and Don’ts
What should a Known Crewmember participant do to gain access?
- Do show respect and courtesy during the KCM screening process.
- Do proceed directly to the appropriate screening checkpoint location if randomly selected for screening or if you cannot be verified by the KCM system.
- Do anticipate a delay in passing through the checkpoint if selected for random screening.
What should a Known Crewmember participant do to avoid delays at a KCM access point?
- Do not use KCM for personal international travel.
- Do not bring prohibited items.
- Do not bring another person’s property through a KCM access point.
Frequently Asked Questions
Am I allowed to use the KCM access portal if any part of my trip includes personal international travel?
No. Crewmembers cannot use a KCM access point when any portion of their itinerary includes personal international travel.
Are crewmembers using KCM required to have a REAL ID compliant ID starting May 7, 2025?
Since KCM access points are considered locations where TSA would accept state-issued IDs for identity verification purposes, REAL ID requirements will apply beginning on May 7, 2025.
If I am out of uniform and have chosen not to use KCM, am I allowed to use a TSA PreCheck® lane?
Crewmembers not in uniform who chose not to use KCM are not eligible to use Precheck unless they are in possession of a boarding pass with the TSA Precheck marking on it.
If I am out of uniform and selected for additional screening at a KCM access point, may I keep my oversized liquids, gels and aerosols?
No. Crewmembers are not exempt from the 3-1-1 liquids, gels and aerosols (LGA) rule when out of uniform.
If I am selected for random screening at a KCM access point, do I have to immediately proceed to the screening checkpoint?
Yes. Failure to proceed directly to the screening checkpoint may be considered circumventing security. This could result in disqualification from the KCM program, and TSA may take enforcement actions against you.
Is a temporary driver’s license sufficient for entry through a KCM portal?
No. A temporary driver’s license is not an acceptable form of identification. Here is a list of all acceptable IDs: https://www.tsa.gov/travel/security-screening/identification.
Is it possible to be selected for random screening every time I attempt to access a KCM access point?
Yes. Because of the way the system is designed, it is possible to be selected for random screening every time you go through. We do not use names, race, sex, role/job, history or frequency of use to determine whether a crewmember has been selected for screening. The process is entirely random. If you believe there is an issue with your account, please reach out to your airline or union representative.
May a crewmember use a temporary (electronic or paper) aircraft operator photo ID at a KCM access point?
No. Photocopies, including copies on mobile devices, are not acceptable forms of identification.
May I provide my KCM identification number instead of scanning my KCM barcode at KCM access points?
No. If an airline employee cannot provide the KCM barcode tag, or if the tag cannot be read, the airline employee will be directed to the closest security checkpoint to be screened.
Who do I contact when my KCM barcode tag will not scan?
Contact your aircraft operator or KCMSupport@arinc.com.