Progress Needed to Realize Risk-Based Air Transportation Security
Proven Federal Flight Deck Officer Program Must Be Fully Funded
Capt. Lee Moak, president of the Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l,
applauded the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee’s Subcommittee on Homeland
Security for holding a hearing titled “Balancing Prosperity and Security:
Challenges for U.S. Air Travel in a 21st Century Global Economy,” and issued the
following statement highlighting the Association’s
written statement submitted to the subcommittee.
“(ALPA) recognizes the Transportation Security Administration’s commitment to
shift away from a one-size-fits-all approach to air transportation security and
embrace a more intelligence-driven, risk-based philosophy. The TSA has taken
important action toward instituting risk-based security by advancing many
initiatives that ALPA has advocated, including launching the Known Crewmember
program, which provides enhanced security screening for professional flight
crews.
“While important progress, these efforts must mark
the first actions in a determined drive toward a completely risk-based approach
that will help enhance aviation security, make air transportation more
customer-friendly for airline passengers and air cargo shippers, and ensure the
U.S. airline industry continues to fuel the nation’s economy and provide jobs.”
“The Federal Flight Deck Officer
(FFDO) program is a critically needed and highly cost-efficient airline security
program in which airline pilots are fully trained to protect their flight deck
as federal law enforcement officers and serve as an integral part of a
multilayered approach to aircraft security. The presence of FFDOs onboard
flights serves as one of the most effective deterrents to criminal and terrorist
activity. The FFDO program’s proven success makes clear that its funding should
be increased from $25 million to $50 million, so that the already successful
program can be expanded and more flights can be protected.
“In addition to funding and fostering the Federal
Flight Deck Officer program, other critical risk-based security action must
include expanding the Known Crewmember program, improving cargo security, doing
more to secure the flight deck by installing secondary barriers on aircraft and
particularly on cargo aircraft that do not have fortified flight deck doors,
advancing threatened airspace management so that the air transportation system
is positioned to swiftly and effectively respond to potential security threats,
and ending laser attacks on aircraft.
“Thanks to the TSA’s leadership and to committed
collaboration among all those invested in achieving the highest possible
security standards for air transportation, remarkable progress has been made,
but much more must be done to fully realize a risk-based approach that will
effectively secure our skies while enhancing the air transportation experience
for passengers, shippers, and airline employees.” |