Last time it happened to me was when I had to go into the Probate Registry in London to deliver a document. It shares premises with a Family Court and the security guard explained that it could get quite hairy at times, especially where child custody cases were involved. He had a cupboard full of various items confiscated - knives, hammers...

As mauvepink says, there are times and places where security checks are justified, and just because you think you look like a respectable citizen doesn't mean too much. It's how it's done that matters.

I can't see much point of a body search of a pilot though - true enough there, have been very rare cases where pilots have deliberately crashed their planes - but a body search isn't going to do much about those cases. You don't need a weapon if you are flying a plane - the plane is the weapon.