ARMED PILOT PROGRESS ALERT
From our fiends at Airline Pilots’ Security Alliance:
January 20, 2003
APSA has been credited with successfully ushering armed pilot
legislation through Congress. However, as has been said, “The
devil is in the details.” APSA is now working with the
Transportation Security Administration (TSA) to implement a solid
armed pilot program.
The TSA is charged with implementing the law - as passed by
Congress - that mandates arming volunteer airline pilots.
Decision makers on the details of the armed pilot program have
been selected by the TSA.
APSA, APA and CAPA officials met with these key TSA people on
Wednesday January 15th. The TSA presented their interim
conclusions on how the Federal Flight Deck Officer (FFDO) program
should be structured.
· The TSA emphasized that their interim report does NOT
represent their final conclusions on the structure of the FFDO
program.
· The TSA underscored the INTERIM nature of their
conclusions to-date and the “good faith” nature of our
discussions. They promised to seriously consider our input and
change their interim conclusions in the FINAL implementation plan
if our arguments prove persuasive.
· High-ranking TSA officials assured us that they WILL NOT
obstruct
the FFDO program with onerous implementation requirements that
subvert the will of Congress. One HIGH-RANKING TSA official
said, “Congress has spoken and we’re going to do this and we’re
going to make it work.”
APSA, APA, CAPA and other pilot groups will be part of “working
group” meetings with the TSA to provide our input on the final
implementation plan. We are satisfied with some aspects of the
TSA interim report and we have serious concerns about other
aspects. We are pleased thus far with TSA’s attitude regarding
these discussions and we look forward to working
with them to produce a strong FFDO program.
Keep a close eye out for emails from APSA and on the APSA web
site for information on how you might help us in our efforts to
ensure a strong and viable FFDO program.
To make a contribution to APSA, click here:
http://www.secure-skies.org/APSA%20Membership.asp
To join APSA (FREE!), click here:
https://secure-skies.org/APSAMembershipForm.asp