Getting back to the original post by Aurel:
Anyone, I mean ANYONE can dress up like a pilot when going on an airplane.
No one should be beyond being checked. IMHO, the USA airport security was years behind the majority of European airports back in September, 2001. Now, we are trying to catch up.
I doubt the idiot french pilot would have been treated any other way at Zurich Airport, Budapest Airport, Telaviv Airport...etc. He was really stupid for doing that, and trying to intimidate a security worker.
I have a suggestion for you: once aboard an airplane, before take off, pretend you're saying hi to an old friend, and yell this across the isle: "Hi, Jack!" I'm sure everyone will be rolling on the floor with laughter.
-Z-man.