GROOMING STANDARDS INC

3/8/2002 To: Info: FOR YOUR INFORMATION 2002-15/11-1 529729 FAA (AFS-200) FAA (ASY-300, AFS-220, ACO-300, ACO-200, AFS-900), ALPA, APA, ATA, FPA, SWAPA, ASRS Advisory Subcommittee Linda J. Connell, Director NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System GROOMING STANDARDS INCIDENT From: Re: We recently received an ASRS report describing a safety concern which may involve your area of operational responsibility. We do not have sufficient details to assess either the factual accuracy or possible gravity of the report. It is our policy to relay the reported information to the appropriate authority for evaluation and any necessary follow-up. We feel you should be aware of the enclosed deidentified report. To properly assess the usefulness of our FYI service, we would appreciate it if you would take the time to give us your feedback on the value of the information that we have provided. Please contact Michael Jengo at (650) 969-3969. Aviation Safety Reporting System 625 Ellis Street * Suite 305 * Mountain View * CA * 94043 ACN: 529729 Time Date : 200111 Day : Thu Local Time Of Day : 1801 To 2400 Place Locale Reference.Airport : ZZZ.Airport State Reference : US Altitude.AGL.Single Value : 0 Aircraft / 1 Make Model : B737-300 Person / 1 Function.Oversight : PIC Function.Flight Crew : Captain ASRS Report : 529729 Person / 2 Function.Flight Crew : First Officer Person / 3 Function.Other Personnel.Other : Customer Svc Rep Person / 4 Function.Observation : Air Carrier Inspector Person / 5 Function.Oversight : Supervisor Events Anomaly.Non Adherence : Company Policies Anomaly.Non Adherence : FAR Anomaly.Non Adherence.Other : FAA Inspector Conduct. Independent Detector.Other.Flight CrewA : 1 Resolutory Action.Other : FAA Inspector Refused Boarding Consequence.Other : Company Review Narrative AFTER I CONDUCTED MY PREFLT AT THE GATE, I WAS TOLD BY ONE OF THE CUSTOMER SVC REPS THERE WAS AN FAA INSPECTOR THAT WILL RIDE MY JUMPSEAT. THEY POINTED HIM OUT AND I NOTICED HE HAD LONG HAIR IN THE BACK BELOW HIS COLLAR. HIS MUSTACHE HAD HAIR HANGING OVER HIS UPPER LIP. OUR FOM STATES GROOMING STANDARDS FOR TRAVEL IN THE COCKPIT. I CALLED THE FLT AGENT TO EXPLAIN TO HIM THE SIT AND ASKED IF THERE WAS A RULE THAT THEY MUST RIDE NO MATTER WHAT. HE SAID I AM THE CAPT AND TO MAKE THE DECISION. THE FOM STATES: ALL PERSONS TRAVELING IN THE COCKPIT ARE EXPECTED TO ADHERE TO THE GROOMING STANDARDS OF OUR ACR FLT OFFICERS AND TO THE COMPANY DRESS POLICY FOR FIRST CLASS TRAVEL. I EXPLAINED THIS TO THE FAA INSPECTOR PRIVATELY AND THAT I MUST BASE MY DECISION ON WHAT OUR FOM STATES. HE RESPONDED THAT IT DID NOT APPLY TO HIM. I BROUGHT UP AGAIN THAT OUR FOM STATES ALL. I CALLED THE FLT DUTY MANAGER. AND HE SAID THAT HE BACKED MY DECISION TO DENY THE INSPECTOR. FYI THE CUSTOMER SVC REP DID SAY THAT THIS INSPECTORS NAME CAME UP AS SOMEONE THAT NEEDED SECURITY WANDING AT THE GATE PER THE NEW SECURITY PROCS. THE INSPECTOR SAID IT DID NOT APPLY TO HIM AS HE IS FAA. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: RPTR STATED THAT HE DID CHECK BOTH IDENTIFICATION BADGES OF THE FAA INSPECTOR AND AFTER ADVISING HIM THAT HIS GROOMING DID NOT MEET THE STANDARDS SET FORTH BY THE COMPANY FOR RIDING IN THE COCKPIT. THE INSPECTOR STATED TO HIM 'THAT HE GUESSED THAT THE INSPECTION WAS OFF.' WHEN HE LEARNED THAT THE INSPECTOR HAD REFUSED TO HAVE A WAND SECURITY SCREENING, IT WAS THEN THAT THE INSPECTOR STATED THAT HE DID NOT HAVE TOO SINCE HE WAS THE FAA. THE RPTR STATED THAT HE ALSO FOUND AFTER THE INSPECTOR LEFT, THAT HE WAS ALSO REFUSED BOARDING BY ANOTHER CAPT FOR THE SAME REASONS 10 DAYS EARLIER. Synopsis B737-300 CAPT REFUSED FAA INSPECTOR IN BOARDING FOR COCKPIT RIDING PRIVILEGES DUE TO COMPANY GROOMING STANDARDS FOR THE COCKPIT AND THE LACK OF COMPLETING SECURITY SCREENING.