Memorandum
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To:
From:
Date:
Re:
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AMFA Membership
National Executive Council
August 29, 2024
Federal Court Rejects Oversight of SIDA Badge Revocation Process
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On August 5, 2024, Judge Araceli Martinez-Olguin of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California dismissed claims brought by two former Alaska Airlines Aircraft Maintenance Technicians (AMTs) against the San Francisco Airport Commission and various airport administrators. The claims involved the unjust revocation of the AMTs’ Security Identification Display Area (SIDA) badges. Maintaining a SIDA badge is a job requirement for nearly all AMTs. Badge revocation and resulting placement on the Centralized Revocation Database (CRD) continue to end AMT careers throughout the industry.
Judge Martinez-Olguin found that the airport operator possessed unfettered discretion over its SIDA badge program. Even where SIDA badge revocation is the result of manifestly corrupt or inadequate proceedings, badge holders cannot rely on constitutional due process rights for protection. Because CRD placement is a direct result of SIDA badge revocation, due process rights also do not apply to CRD placement.
Airport operators are additionally subject to Transportation Security Administration (TSA) regulations that require a fair hearing before SIDA badge revocation.[1] Judge Martinez-Olguin refused to examine whether the operator here had complied with the regulations, finding that enforcement was left exclusively to the TSA.
AMFA has been involved in this case from the outset. It sought assistance from airline employers and intervention by the TSA to help save these AMTs’ badges. When asked to protect their employees against perceived abuses by airport operators, employers have demurred. The TSA is also responsible for ensuring airport operations follow equitable badging practices, as set forth in their own guidelines. AMFA advises its members that their badges and their careers are in jeopardy every minute of every day.
The United States is facing an increasing shortage of qualified AMTs. These are the people responsible for the safety of the nation’s air travel. The possibility that a career could be ended without reason or recourse will further dissuade the next generation from pursuing the training and education required for this skilled craft. AMFA will continue to advocate for oversight of airport badging practices through its political action
[1] Sean Cusson, et Al., Practices and Considerations for Centralized Revocation Database Use, Program for Applied Research in Airport Security (Aug. 2023).
