The British Airline Pilots’ Association (BALPA) has “vowed to step up its opposition” to the government’s plans for compulsory national Identity Cards and a huge, intrusive National Identity Register (NIR).

First They Came For The Pilots…

Following massive public opposition to the scheme the Home Office decided to try imposing ID Cards step by step, starting with target groups such as students and pilots. As part of this back-door rollout the government had hoped to force the cards and NIR registration on airside workers at Manchester and London City airports (’Wave One’). That plan now looks in doubt following the uncompromising statement from BALPA.

Pilots are clearly very angry. The letter to the Home Office from Jim McAuslan, BALPA General Secretary, begins:

I am writing in response to the Consultation to place on record our continuing opposition to the introduction of ID cards which will have absolutely no value as far as security is concerned. It is now clear to BALPA following publication of draft regulations that the Governments’ intention is to make the Critical Workers Identity Card mandatory for airside workers; this is nothing other than coercion. Promises that ID Cards would be voluntary have been broken.

Furthermore, we are angered by the use of pilots and workers within the aviation industry as ‘guinea pigs’. It is clear that the Government’s staged introduction of biometric Identity Cards first to overseas students, then to migrant workers and then for aviation workers represents a way of picking off what is seen as ‘easy / compliant targets’

Without being pompous about this, it is an affront to the people who for years have been and continue to be at the forefront in a battle against terrorist outrage that we are subject to the inuendo that we are especially dangerous and in need of further surveillance

BALPA have warned that pilots will not cooperate with the scheme and underlined this by asking:

what happens when the first airport worker refuses to register for an ID card?

The letter ends by stating:

…you should be aware that we will be campaigning against ID cards and the regulations with all means possible and will be letting the Wave One airports know this.

It sounds like the government might be forced to back down or risk the entire UK air transport system grinding to a halt.

Related posts:
•Young People Slam ID Card Scheme
•First ID Card Guinea Pigs Named
•Scotland Restates ID Card Opposition