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November 1, 2001
International Aviation Security Academy Report by – Frank Boksanske, AMFA National Safety and Standards Director
The conference, sponsored by the Airline Pilots Association, began with a brief introduction of the guest speakers and of the attendees. ALPA Safety Coordinators from many US air carriers, FBI, State Police, Dispatchers, foreign carriers, flight attendant groups, a survival training group, and AMFA National Safety and Standards were in attendance. The following will serve as a brief introduction chronologically to each lecture: 1. William Lenz, retired from the Secret Service and currently employed by Northwest Airlines as head of security, presented a historical perspective of the Middle East crisis concentrating on issues leading to the current crisis between Israel and Palestine. 2. Reynold Hoover, an internationally recognized expert on terrorism and explosives and a commercial litigation attorney spoke next. Mr. Hoover has graduated from the US Military Academy, US Naval School of Explosive Ordnance Disposal and was a Special Agent with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF). Weapons of mass destruction was discussed, including response to WMD with an overview of types of weapons, applicable Federal statutes, identified the signs and symptoms of WMD, and familiarization with WMD employment methods. Types of weapons of mass destruction include nuclear, chemical, biological, explosive and improvised such as the events of 9/11. Probability of use:
Acquisition of weapons of mass destruction can progress and emerge quickly and once capability is acquired, attack may be imminent. Usama Bin Laden has acquired nuclear weapons through 1998 attempts to acquire nuclear material utilizing scientific support from Turkmenistan (5 nuclear scientists). Weapons of mass destruction essential response considerations are: recognize, avoid, isolate, notify and don't rush in and become a victim. 3. Captain Robert Cox, Special Projects Officer for ALPA's National Security Committee served as a member of Special Forces, graduated from Northern Warfare Training Center, has made several parachute jumps over the North Pole. Specialties as a Green beret included weapons, martial skills, Middle East Studies and Japanese language and history. Mr. Cox discussed the potential of an electronic Pearl Harbor with the introduction of threats from Transient Electro-Magnetic Devices – radio frequency interference (RF), electro-magnetic pulse weapons (EMF) and Laser powered devices (weapons) Laser weapons, Soviet designed and used in Gulf war, Man pads (manned portable air defense system an extreme concern) are currently in the hands of 27 guerrilla and terrorist groups in the world today. 4. Reynold Hoover discussed the basic nature of explosives and identified basic improvised Explosive device (IED) components. General classification of chemical explosives were discussed. 5. Captain Stephen Luckey is Chairman of ALPA's National Security Committee having served in the US Marine Corps in extensive special operations, psychological warfare and counter-insurgency operations. He has trained at numerous anti-terrorist training schools and with the FBI in aircraft-related SWAT procedures and is an internationally recognized expert in aviation security. Captain Luckey discussed deportees/prisoner transport and weapon carriage. Deportation falls in the category of administration removals. 52,000 individuals deported on regular commercial flights last year. Determination by an INS officer to be non-violent requires NO ESCORT if less than 10 deportees. Categories of deportees as administrative removals of individuals convicted of aggravated felony - rape/sexual assault, murder, terrorism, and organized crime. The proposal to allow pilots to carry firearms was addressed: requirements would provide psychological testing, issue a standard weapon, no hesitation to imply lethal force, responsibility as a federally sworn officer. 6. Patrick Shea, an attorney, has extensive experience in government, serving as Assistant to the Staff Director of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence Operations, Counsel to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and Commissioner on the President's Commission on Aviation Safety. Mr. Shea discussed the history of aviation security mitigated by new procedures and technology. Reaction to the events of 9/11 should result in an effort to protect society in general – not just address aviation security in specific. Divide all individuals working at airport and develop a training program – increase the number of informants. Need to know whom the people are working at the airline counters – national awareness campaign. Security Directives (SD) have exclusions that are carrier specific worked out between carrier and FAA CMO. - we need standardization. 7. John Otto, retired form the FBI having served as interim Director of FBI in 1987 and retired from Delta Airlines as its Senior Security Director, discussed security within the airline environment. Recommending placing moles in our system to discover weakness. Whole new generation of thinking on what the enemy is today. EVERYONE must be considered as a security officer currently with the heightened level of security. Recommend Federalizing-screening positions. (airlines will object as it is taking control away from them) Security inspection - audit by the carrier (all employees poly-graphed?) 8. A Federal Air Marshall discussed the "watch list" which began 9/11. Qualifications for Federal Sky Marshall: A. Air crew medical exam Training for Federal Air Marshals – A. Federal Law Enforcement training course (5 weeks) 9. Philip King, basic underwater demolition SEAL officer, joined FBI as a Special Agent and became a member of the agency's first Hostage Rescue Team (HRT). Mr. King discussed crisis intervention for the airport tactical team which included methods of rapid deployment, establishing a containment, first responder negotiations, establishing a command post, intelligence gathering, operational planning, methods of clearing, building search and room entry, aircraft intervention, post assault procedures, Firearms handling and deployment, aircraft window shooting and active countermeasures and control techniques. 10. Captain Cox discussed passenger and carry-on baggage screening which included current hiring procedures, classroom education, requirements to become qualified, on the job training and equipment. Required employees on screening site: A. x-ray screener Screeners usually change positions every 20 minutes as a result of reduction in peak Performance. From 1973-1998 over 21 billion persons were screened, 64,000 firearms detected with 28,000 firearms and explosive related arrests. Turn-over rate for screeners is 400%. Captain Cox also discussed the infrastructure assault on aviation which addressed the world of the Internet and electronic assault on aviation – hacker attack on transportation facility (ATC tower or center facility), attack on national power grid, focused terrorist assault on transportation infrastructure via "hacking", any portion of infrastructure goes down, affects all others. In summary, the conference provided exposure to an array of experts in aviation security, allowed one to establish positive relationships and contacts critical to aviation security, and provided a sense of urgency that we must all work together to provide a safe and secure environment for all. Each one of us has the responsibility to become educated and gain an awareness to address the terrorist threat that will linger on in our lives for a very long time. |