aviation security aboard commercial aircraft becky neal beth schuetz brad steinfeldt andrzej stewart
TRANSCRIPT
Aviation Security Aboard Commercial Aircraft
Becky Neal
Beth Schuetz
Brad Steinfeldt
Andrzej Stewart
Agenda
• Introduction
• Background Legislation
• Disadvantages
• Alternatives
• Recommendations
Introduction
• Federal Aviation Act of 1958 proved inadequate to growing security threats.
• Antihijacking Act and Air Transportation Act of 1974.
• No U.S. based airlines suffered hijackings from 1991 through 2000
Bureau of Transportation Statistics
Consequences of Sept. 11
• September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks bring down four commercial airliners into selected target buildings.
• Homeland Security Act of 2002
• Arming Pilots Against Terrorism Act of 2002
Goals
• Investigate the Federal Flight Deck Officer Program
• Provide evidence of problems with the program
• Propose alternative security solutions
Background Legislation
Disclaimer
Sources
• Code of Federal Regulations
• United States Code
• House Resolutions
• Senate Bills
Legal Basis for Arming Pilots
• 14 CFR 121.538
• 49 CFR 1544.201
• 49 CFR 1544.219
• 49 USC 44921
14 CFR 121.538
• Title 14 – Federal Aviation Regulations
• Part 121 – Operating Requirements: Domestic, Flag, and Supplemental Operations
• Rules dictated by 49 CFR Chapter XII
49 CFR 1544.201d
• Prohibitions on Carrying a Weapon, Explosive, or Incendiary
• Lists exceptions
49 CFR 1544.219
• Carriage of Accessible Weapons
• Federal law enforcement officers
49 USC 44921
• Federal Flight Deck Officer Program
• 107th Cong. HR 5005, Title XIV
Modification of Regulations
• 49 USC 44921
• 49 CFR 1544– 49 CFR 1544.201– 49 CFR 1544.219
Alternatives
• 28 USC 570
• 49 USC 44912
• 49 USC 44918
28 USC 570
• Federal Air Marshals Program
• 107th Cong. S.1444
• 49 CFR 1544.223
49 USC 44912
• Research and Development
• Scientific Advisory Panel
49 USC 44918
• Crew Training
Disadvantages
Overview of Problems
• Effectiveness
• Harm to aircraft
• Pilot Distraction
• Removed from Pilot’s Possession
Effectiveness
• Knowledge that pilot is armed– No element of surprise by the pilot – Plan for guns in the cockpit– Attack differently
• Guns are not always the best method of eliminating danger
– Not user specific
Harm to Aircraft
• Bullets depressurize the cabin– Two outflow valves that control the pressure– Bullets alter the amount of pressure the
valves can handle
• Harm to passengers if the cabin is depressurized– Or if the attackers or pilots miss
Pilot Distraction
• Focus on flying the aircraft
• Other people should be responsible for security
• Back up plan– Be prepared for the worst – Not be the single protector
Removed from Pilot’s Possession
• Evaluate the Flight Deck Officer Program for proper training
• Israel’s El Al has the tightest security– Removed guns from the cockpit– Reasons: can be taken away from pilot, not
user specific
Alternatives
Overview of Available Alternatives• Firearms
– Different bullet types– Locking devices
• Other Weapons– Electrical defenses– Knives– Clubs
• No Weapons– Martial arts– Cockpit separation
The Traditional Bullet
• The Traditional Bullet– Metal jacket with solid metal core– High energy impact
HowStuffWorks
Rubber Bullets
• Developed by Israel and Northern Ireland for crowd control in the 1960s
• Plastic or rubber casing
• Increase impact time– Reduces impulsive force
• Less transmitted energy
• Requires a special gun
Fox Labs
Frangible Bullets
• Core composed of small spheres– Disperses energy on impact to a larger area– Bullets remain lodged in target
• Originally used by Air Marshals
Glaser Safety
Locking Guns
• Magnetic Rings– Ring worn on pilot’s finger emit a magnetic
field– Only when the ring is in contact with gun will
weapon fire
• Biometric Technology– Biometrics: Use of specific human
characteristic– Use fingerprint to “lock” gun to the pilot
Electrical Defense
• Stun Guns– Create a potential difference between two electrodes– Provide a low current, high voltage shock to attacker– Temporarily incapacitate the intruder
• Tasers– Similar to stun guns, except the electrodes detach
and fly about 15 feet
• Liquid Stun Guns– Use current carrying fluid to transmit potential
difference
Hand Weapons
• Clubs– Use a brute force method of incapacitating
attacker
• Knives
• Effective during close combat
Cockpit Isolation
• Weapons should be totally removed from the cockpit
• Bulkhead between cabin and cockpit
• Implementation problems– Modification of structure
• Door for the cockpit• Rest facilities• Barrier
Recommendations
Proposed Actions
• Create new legislation– Phase out firearms in pilot’s control over time
• Research new means of aircraft security
• In interim, implement currently existing alternatives – Acknowledge existing legal foundation for
changes