Oppose Cuts to FFDO Program! President Obama’s 2013 budget blueprint
cut the funding for the FFDO program by more than half and also cut $36 million
from the FAMS program. This is unsatisfactory and needs to be remedied. While
the House of Representatives unanimously rejected the president’s budget
proposal yesterday, it is still critical that pilots communicate the importance of
the FFDO program to their legislators. Members of Congress must now proceed with
the drafting of the FY13 spending bills, and need to hear directly from pilots
that the FFDO program needs to be fully funded. Please take a moment to
participate in this Call to Action today.
The FFDO program is a critical and cost-efficient airline security program
staffed by thousands of fully trained and deputized ALPA pilots who volunteer
their time to become qualified FFDOs, contributing personal and professional
sacrifices to secure our flight decks. In light of its already barely adequate
funding levels, any budget reduction to the FFDO program could very well lead to
its ultimate demise.
Tell your representative today to oppose cuts to the FFDO and FAMS in the FY2013
budget.
When dealing with terrorism, the deterrent value of an
armed presence within the cockpit cannot be overstated. Today, thousands of
fully trained and deputized ALPA pilots defend more than 100,000 flight segments
per month.
ALPA appreciates the inherent difficulties of reducing our federal budget
deficit. However, the result of this proposed budget cut would be a reduction in
the number of federal air marshals currently assigned to front-line duties
protecting airline flights, and the possible demise of the FFDO program. Nearly
a decade ago, the FFDO program was invented by ALPA and instituted by Congress
through the Arming Pilots against Terrorism Act (PL 107-296).
We remain committed to the success of the program and will fight to ensure
that the program not only survives, but that it is funded sufficiently so that
it thrives. |