AN ACR CAPT COMPLAINS ABOUT THE STATE OF THE SAFETY PROB AT THE SAN TERMINAL.

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SAN DIEGO; ACR GATES RESTR BY A KEYPAD LOCK RELEASE. THERE ARE NO CRASH BARS ON THE DOORS. IN THE EVENT OF EMER EVAC FROM AN ACFT ON THE GATE (FIRE; ETC) THE ONLY WAY OFF THE AIRPLANE WOULD BE THE ACFT'S ALTERNATE ESCAPE SYS. THE JETWAY COULD BECOME A CROWDED FUNERAL PYRE. THERE ARE LOCKS AT THE GATE LOUNGE ENTRANCE ALSO. SEEMS LIKE LCL ARPT SECURITY CONCERNS OVERRIDE FAA GUIDELINES AND LCL FIRE MARSHALL REQUIREMENTS. HAZARD IS ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN. IN ADDITION; MAKES PREFLT INSPECTIONS OF ACFT IMPOSSIBLE UNLESS CODE IS KNOWN. WE GO INTO OVER 130 ARPTS NATIONWIDE; SO IT WOULD BE IMPOSSIBLE TO KNOW ALL CODES AND COMBINATIONS. THIS NEEDS TO BE RECTIFIED. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: THE RPTING PLT STATES THAT HE IS CONCERNED WITH THE SAFETY PROB NOT ONLY AT SAN BUT ALSO AT OTHER ARPTS. THERE IS NO READY ACCESS TO THE TERMINAL FROM THE ACFT IN CASE OF AN EMER ON THE ACFT. PREFLT INSPECTIONS ARE IMPEDED BY HAVING TO HAVE SPECIAL KEYS OR CODES TO OPEN DOORWAYS TO THE RAMP. HE BELIEVES THAT THERE SHOULD BE A CONFRONTATION BTWN THE FIRE MARSHALL AND FAA SECURITY TO SETTLE THE MATTER. HE BELIEVES THAT THIS IS A 'KNEE JERK' REACTION TO SECURITY PROBS AT THE RAMP END OF THE TERMINAL.