ALPA
SECURITY Alert Bulletin 2001-2
ALPA has reviewed the new security measures
promulgated yesterday by FAA and Transport
that are aimed at addressing the events of September 11th.� There are numerous good procedures included
therein, which we believe will help assure our members and the traveling public
that the most stringent actions possible are being taken at this time, in
advance of commencing air travel in the
and
amended and improved as further information becomes available about the hijackings
and/or the threat to aviation changes.
These security measures include a prohibition
on the transport of knives of any sort, continuous inspection of passengers
and their carry-on bags, aircraft searches, and a prohibition on acceptance
of cargo and mail by passenger aircraft.� These
actions should help address not only the new threat identified yesterday,
but also the ongoing explosive device threat.
In addition to these new security initiatives,
which the airlines and airports will implement, ALPA recommends that its members
adopt the following guidance as they return to the cockpit:
ALPA is strongly urging further enhancements
to security by adoption of the following measures in the near term:
Additionally, ALPA will urge the national
aviation authorities to expeditiously accomplish the following:
Two previous Security Alert Bulletins
are available on ALPA�s website that should be referenced for further guidance:�
2000-1, Inflight Attacks on Flight Crews;
and, 2001-1, Theft of Pilot Uniforms and Credentials.
If you have any questions about security
procedures for your flights, please contact your MEC�s
Security Coordinator, or alternatively, the Engineering & Air Safety Department
at 800-424-2470.
�����������������������������������������������������������������������
Captain Stephen Luckey
�����������������������������������������������������������������������
Chairman, Security Committee
13, 2001
- Captains
should not hesitate to exercise their fullest authority as the commander
of the aircraft.� If there is any
doubt or suspicion about the security of a particular flight, do not close
the door for takeoff until it is resolved.�
The captain should feel confident to enact reasonable security measures
that exceed those mandated by the FAA and company.�
ALPA will give 100% support to any member who determines that it
is unwise to accept a flight, due to security considerations.
- Captains
should review emergency procedures with the flight and cabin crew in the
event of a hijacking or bomb threat.� The
extortion-type of hijacking requires restraint on the part of the crew and
a negotiated response by law enforcement professionals.� Suicidal hijackers, however, should be
dealt with in an aggressive fashion in which the cabin and cockpit crew
work together to eliminate the threat as soon as possible using all available
means.� This may include, as examples,
depressurizing the aircraft or drastic aircraft maneuvering designed to
keep hijackers off-balance and away from the cockpit.
- If
your aircraft has a cockpit door, close and lock it and do not allow anyone
to enter without your knowledge and consent.� In some aircraft, it is possible to lower
the jumpseat to block the cockpit door or serve
as an impediment to cockpit entry.� The
cockpit must be protected at all costs, regardless of what kinds of security
breaches have occurred, or are occurring, in the back of the aircraft.�
You may wish to call upon passengers to assist in the event of an
emergency.� Canadian pilots should limit jumpseat access to only airline employees whose identity
can be verified.�
- If
any type of security event begins in the cabin, do not hesitate to declare
an emergency and put the aircraft down as quickly as practical.
- Aircraft
cockpits are equipped with a crash ax, which should be considered a potential
defensive weapon in the event of a suicidal hijacking.� The ax should only be wielded if the crewmember
is convinced that using it is necessary to save lives � the pilot must be
both mentally and physically prepared to take the life of a cockpit intruder,
or the ax could be used against the pilot.
- Lastly,
captains should re-emphasize to their crews existing government and company
security procedures and urge them to strictly comply with those measures.�
- Provide
armed law enforcement escorts on air carrier flights for an undetermined
period � which FAA and Transport
have already committed to doing on a limited basis.
- Put
a dead bolt lock on cockpit doors that cannot be overridden with a key from
outside.
- Provide
enhanced security briefings for all flight crewmembers.
- Apply
the Computer-Assisted Passenger Prescreening (CAPPS) system to both domestic
and international arrivals and departures in the
and
identify suicidal passengers prior to boarding.
- Require
that airlines implement a methodology for positively identifying each passenger
and bag on the aircraft using currently available, computerized technology.�
Doing so will (1) create a deterrence effect and (2) help ensure
that nothing comes aboard the aircraft that is not capable of being identified
later.�
- Perform
an overhaul of the
and Canadian security screening checkpoint systems.� The screening function should be performed
by a single entity under the oversight of the national authorities using
highly qualified, well-paid screening professionals and the best possible
equipment.
- Require that all personnel working at an
airport be positively identified using electronic media.� Improper controls on airline employee identification
media contributed to a suicidal former employee bringing down PSA flight
1771 in 1987; better controls on ID have yet to be implemented in spite
of this event.
- As part of number three (3) above, expedite
the research, development, and deployment of the Memory Chip Card system
in the
in
law enforcement officers at the security checkpoint.� This system should also be used to electronically
screen airline employees.
- Complete research and development of an
advanced cockpit door technology capable of securing the flight crew against
attacks by would-be cockpit intruders, armed or otherwise.� The door system, which must be fail-safe
in the event of an accident requiring rapid egress, should be retro-fitted
on current aircraft and installed by the manufacturer on new airplanes.
- Install non-lethal, personal-defense devices
as standard equipment in the cockpits of airline aircraft, subsequent to
installation of the advanced cockpit doors described in number five (5)
above.