Training Program for Airline Personnel

Authorizing Firearms Aboard Commercial

Aircraft

Presented by the Department of Aviation, Public Safety

Sergeant Simone Graboskie

Identify What Is Happening?

• Unauthorized passengers and LEO’s are gaining access to the sterile area or Commercial Aircraft.

• Authorized LEO’s are detained at the checkpoint for not properly meeting requirements or incomplete documentation.

Identify What Is Happening?

Areas of Interest:

• All ticket agents can authorize/verify armed LEO’s.

• Ticket agents are not able to tell the difference between LEO’s and personal protection officers.

Identify What Is Happening?

Areas of Interest:

• Credential verification process not set-up or not being used.

• Failure to check documentation for local/state LEO’s.

Identify What Is Happening?

Areas of Interest:

• Documentation not retained/copied for local/state LEO’s.

• Requirements not verified, known or posted.

AnalyzeWhat is Happening?

Does this situation contain any WPLP theories that I know?

EXPECTANCY THEORY

MOTIVATION THROUGH CONSEQUENCES THEORY

AnalyzeWhat is Happening?

Which component of the expectancy theory (expectancy, instrumentality or valence) is low?

Expectancy!(If I try, can I perform well?

Respondto what is happening

• Strategies to increase expectancy:

• Clarify the path– break the task into

smaller parts, or show the employee the specific behavior(s) that will lead to the desired goal.

• Conduct training

Respondto what is happening

• Conduct Training– 2 hours– Austin Airport Police/TSA– Written Test– Practical Test

• Target– Airline Manager– Airline GSC’s– Supervisors– Employees– Security

Respondto what is happening

• M.T.C. Strategies– Positive Reinforcement

•“ATA boys”– Officers– Monthly management meetings– AAPD/Aviation Web site– Aviation newsletter

•Points toward “buddy tickets”•Public Safety!

Respondto what is happening

– Negative Reinforcement & Punishment

• Warning• Citation• Fines• Remedial

Training• Termination• Failure List• Publicity

Respondwhat is happening

– Observational learning•Negative/Positive reinforcement

– Self-Regulation•Publicity•Public Safety•Pride

Respondto what is happening

• Action Plan

– Ticket counter personnel will obtain approval from a trained supervisor who will initial the authorization form.

– State/local LEO paperwork will be copied and attached to the original airline authorization form.

Respondto what is happening

• Action Plan

– Supervisor will attend training put on by Austin Airport Police annually.

– Credible verification process should be established and used.

Respondto what is happening

• Action Plan

– Checklist outlining procedures and steps will be completed and attached to authorization form.

•This form should include verification technique used

Assesswhat is happening

• LEO’s assigned to checkpoints will document number of authorized LEO’s turned away because of incorrect documentation

• LEO’s assigned to checkpoints will document number of unauthorized LEO’s or passengers turned away with “flying armed” authorization paperwork

Assesswhat is happening

• Check airline documentation daily

– Completeness– Approval

Supervisors initials– Local/state LEO’s

copy of letter– Checklist completed

Assesswhat is happening

• TSA/Austin Airport Police Weekly Testing

Assesswhat is happening

• What will happen if the airlines or employees fail the test?

Assesswhat is happening

• Ticket agents will receive a citation if they fail to obtain a supervisors approval.

• Ticket agents will receive a written warning if they obtain a supervisor approval.

• Supervisors will be written up, receive a citation, and attend re-training.

Assesswhat is happening

• Failures will be recorded on the Austin Airport Police Web site of FAA violations

• Airline Failures will be distributed and posted in the monthly Airport Security Meeting

Bases of Power

• Legitimate Power– TSA\AAPD

• Reward Power– ATA Boys– AAPD website/newsletter

Bases of Power

• Coercive Power• Arrest• Fine• Test• Dismiss citations

• Expert Power– TSA/AAPD