"Weaknesses in Aviation Security Tempt Terrorists"

Thursday, July 31, 2003

Weaknesses in Aviation Security Tempt Terrorists
By Jeff Johnson
Cybercast News Service


Capitol Hill (CNSNews.com) - Despite billions of dollars being spent to
create and implement the new Transportation Security Administration (TSA),
aviation security experts said Wednesday that weaknesses in U.S. airport and
in-flight security continue to tempt terrorists.

Both the State Department and the TSA's parent, the Department of Homeland
Security (DHS), issued new warnings Tuesday indicating that terrorists may
be planning to target U.S. commercial aviation, despite government security
measures implemented since 9/11.

"Tensions remaining from the recent events in Iraq may increase the
potential threat to U.S. citizens and interests abroad by terrorist and
other groups," a State Department "Worldwide Caution" warned. "Terrorist
actions may include, but are not limited to, suicide operations, hijackings,
bombings or kidnappings. These may also involve commercial aircraft."

The home page of the DHS website greeted visitors Tuesday with a similar but
more specific caution.

"The U.S. intelligence community has received intelligence information that
al Qaeda continues to be interested in using the commercial aviation system,
both here in the United States and abroad, against us," the statement said. 

The DHS explained that the advisory was issued "so that security personnel
can be informed, review their procedures and take any additional steps that
may be necessary."

The message also sought to encourage airline passengers.

"Aviation security has been greatly improved since September 11, with the
introduction of reinforced cockpit doors, federal air marshals and federal
passenger and baggage screeners," the statement concluded.

DHS omits key security element from statement

Paul Onorato, a commercial pilot and member of the Coalition of Airline
Pilots Associations (CAPA), noticed that the DHS omitted what he believes is
the most critical element of airline security.

"Yes, there have been a few things done, but there's a lot left to be done,"
he said. "There are certainly not enough Federal Flight Deck Officers out
there right now."

"Federal Flight Deck Officer" (FFDO) is the official name for armed pilots.
Although neither the TSA nor the DHS will release any current information
about the number of armed pilots, CNSNews.com has confirmed only that one
class of 44 pilots has completed the training and been issued credentials,
while a second class began training sometime in July.

"There's a backlog, from what I understand, of more than 4,000 pilots who
have signed up and are ready to go," Onorato added.

Although TSA officials did not return calls seeking comment for this report,
the agency has been recruiting pilots for the program through its website.

"Beginning July 20, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) will
launch full-scale training of commercial airline pilots who volunteer to
serve as federal law enforcement officers responsible for defending the
cockpit against terrorist attacks," the website states, providing a link for
commercial passenger airline pilots with a currently valid flight
certificate to apply for the program.

As CNSNews.com previously reported, the House Aviation Subcommittee has been
closely watching the program for any sign of "foot-dragging" or other
attempts by the TSA to interfere with the stated congressional intent that
as many pilots as possible be armed.

"The pilots want to be able to defend that cockpit," Onorato said. "We are
the in-flight security coordinators who are ultimately responsible, just
like the captain of a ship at sea."

Pilot encourages TSA to expand training opportunities

Onorato said the TSA should use civilian instructors, many of whom have more
experience and education than their government counterparts, to train
pilots. Several firearms and defensive tactics schools that currently
provide training for both federal law enforcement agencies and the U.S.
Armed Forces offered their services to train armed pilots, but the TSA has
not publicly accepted any of the offers, and pilots report that training is
still being done at federal facilities.

Brian Darling, a spokesman for both the CAPA and the Airline Pilots Security
Alliance (APSA), believes the White House should intervene to get the armed
pilots program moving more quickly "to provide a deterrent to terrorism.

"It is my hope that the administration would take the Federal Flight Deck
Officer program seriously," he said. "The statements...from the Department
of Homeland Security show the urgent need to accelerate the program, to get
more pilots in the air armed."

The Federal Aviation Administration reauthorization bill, which has been
passed by both the House and the Senate, contains language readmitting
commercial cargo pilots to the FFDO program. If both bodies pass a
conference report on the bill and the president signs it into law, thousands
more pilots - many with military and law enforcement experience - are
expected to apply to participate in the FFDO program.

Expert says TSA may lack needed 'sense of urgency'

Charles Slepian, CEO of the Foreseeable Risk Analysis Center (FRAC),
believes a cumbersome federal agency like the TSA may simply be unable to
provide the kind of static, proactive security needed to prevent aviation
terrorism.

"Either because they lack a sense of urgency over the prospect of future
aviation terrorism or due to a lack of leadership, the TSA still remains
unable to catch up to the daily events that threaten our aviation industry's
security," Slepian alleged in a prepared statement. "It is time for the TSA
and the airports to begin working together in putting in place the
world-class security promised the traveling public after 9/11."

Slepian believes that, besides the FFDO program, the TSA has completed few
of the steps necessary to secure commercial aviation. He charged that:

   Insufficient personnel have been hired, background checked, trained and
assigned to meet the goals established by the TSA for its programs;

   Explosives Detection Systems equipment sufficient to adequately screen
all checked baggage for bombs remains unrealized;

   Aircraft have not been fully retrofitted to withstand an attack on the
cockpit bulkheads by terrorists;

   Flight attendants have not all undergone training in interdicting
terrorists on board aircraft; and

   The number and preparation of air marshals remains an open question.

"Most serious of all is the fact that the airside of airports still remains
unsecured from penetration by compromised workers," he added, "who [have]
airport identification which enables them to secure access to the most
sensitive areas of airport."

As CNSNews.com previously reported, as recently as May 9, the TSA was not be
screening airport employees who were not assigned to come into contact with
aircraft but who had physical access to the secure areas of airports.

"Perhaps it is time to make the plans necessary to return our screening
programs to private sector work forces as provided under the Aviation
Security Act," Slepian concluded.


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