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Air Travel Still Risky, Pilots Warn

March 14, 2004
Airline pilots are warning consumers that complacency about airborne terrorism is misplaced. In its Aviation Security Report Card, the Coalition of Airline Pilots Association maintains that airline travel remains vulnerable to terrorist attack nearly four years after 9/11.

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The report card, a broad look at the nation's aviation security from airport perimeters to aircraft cockpits to screening passengers and bags, coincides with a joint report by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the FBI that warns Al Qaeda still poses a terror threat to both commercial and general aviation.

Filling some of the "gaping holes" in aviation security "will require major changes in the way the airlines and airports do business and in the way the government manages airline security," said Capt. Jon Safley, president of CAPA.

On the pilots' report card, airline security still gets average to failing grades in over a dozen subject areas with an GPA a little over 1.1, or letter grade D. Rating "F" grades from CAPA were such critical security measures as screening airline employees, screening cargo, biometric credentialing for crewmembers, self-defense training, and countering shoulder-mounted missiles (MANPADS).

"The technology exists, or could be updated, to address many of these security problems," Safley said. "But neither the airlines, the airports nor government officials have given these issues the priority they deserve." Safley pointed out that the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act passed by Congress and signed into law by President Bush late last year addresses biometric credentials, but until Congress actually appropriates funds, it remains an unfunded mandate.

"Likewise, with the MANPADS threat," Safley said, "we had support last year from both sides of the aisle in the House - from Rep. John Mica (R-Fla.), chairman of the House aviation subcommittee, as well as from Rep. Peter DeFazio (D-Ore.), the ranking Democrat, and from Rep. Steve Israel (D-N.Y.). But the bill to fund countermeasures was watered down, even though Congressman Mica called these shoulder-fired missiles and on-board explosives 'two of the greatest threats to commercial aviation.'"

CAPA noted that, while screening passengers and their bags has improved over the past few years, screening ramp employees and cargo has not. "We should have one level of security to protect the American people," Safley said. "If we're screening passengers, we certainly need to screen employees who have access to aircraft and baggage. And not screening cargo on all-cargo carriers invites disaster."

Cargo on passenger airlines gets very little attention because airlines don't question "known shippers." That program didn't prevent a man from shipping himself from New York to Dallas in 2003. "Chuck-in-the-Box came through a 'known shipper' program," Safley said. "We don't care who the shipper is, we want to know what's in the box."

CAPA said it is working with members of Congress - as well as the Transportation Security Agency and the Department of Homeland Security - to ensure that these security deficiencies are addressed.

"We expect a general aviation security bill will be introduced soon by Rep. Edward Markey (D-Mass.)," Safley said.

"And we're working with other members of Congress to strengthen the Federal Flight Deck Officers program. "This report card points to opportunities for improvement," he said. "We're recommending that air passengers contact their members of Congress and urge them to upgrade our aviation security systems."

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