Pilot Commentary: Never Forget—Our Flight Path Since 9/11

By Capt. Wolfgang Koch (Delta), ALPA Aviation Security Chairman

As airline pilots, we live with our own daily reminders of the turbulent history of our chosen profession. And if you’ve ever been to ALPA’s Herndon, Va., offices, you’ve likely seen the Association’s Remembrance Garden—a physical reminder of the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, built from stones found in Pennsylvania’s Somerset countryside, marble from the Pentagon, and steel beams from the World Trade Center. They tell a story and prompt anyone who sees them to remember the horrific events that occurred on that fateful day.

And as airline pilots, every time we fly we’re reminded of the consequences of those attacks—tighter airport and airline security, increased governmental scrutiny, and a heightened sense of awareness anytime we don our uniform.

In the wake of the 9/11 attacks, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) was created in November 2001 to protect the nation’s transportation infrastructure. Since then, ALPA has worked with the agency and shared our unique pilot perspective to help safeguard the air transport of passengers and cargo. Through our mutual efforts, practical changes to security have produced measurable and beneficial results.

We’ve also engaged with those in the halls of power in Washington, D.C., to help bring about security enhancements. We asked Congress for the ability to act as the final line of defense in the cockpit. As a result, in 2003 the Federal Flight Deck Officer (FFDO) program was created to train and arm selected airline pilots. These pilots volunteer their time to train and serve and have quietly protected millions of flights. And the knowledge that flightcrew members are able and ready to defend the control of their aircraft has served as an effective deterrent.

The mandatory installation of hardened cockpit doors in passenger airliners that defend against unwelcome intrusion also became a reality. These reinforced barricades play an important role in protecting the cockpit; but unfortunately, pilots flying all-cargo operations still do not benefit from this—something ALPA is working to remedy.

We’ll also continue to advocate for secondary cockpit barriers, which block access to the flight deck whenever the reinforced door is opened in flight. These lightweight and inexpensive devices, installed between the passenger cabin and the cockpit door, are easy to deploy and stow and should be mandatory in all airliners flying today. The current FAA reauthorization bill includes a requirement for these, and I encourage all pilots to participate in ALPA’s Call to Action

We’ve addressed other concerns as well. When long security screening lines plagued the nation’s airports, your Association worked with the TSA, Airlines for America, the FAA, and other governmental agencies to provide an alternative risk-based screening system for crewmembers. ALPA advocated that because flight crews are subjected to rigorous background screening and monitoring and their identities and employment status can be readily verified, the TSA should focus its limited resources on higher-risk individuals.

The resulting Known Crewmember® program (KCM) was implemented in 2011. Its risk-based approach to security has saved flightcrew members countless hours of waiting and frustration as they get to their jobs. Today, 74 airports participate in the program. Recently the TSA granted FFDOs use of KCM access points, which not only validates that program’s importance to the nation’s security infrastructure, but also further recognizes the value of their volunteer service, making it as convenient as possible.

And at ALPA’s recent Air Safety Forum, Roderick Allison, acting administrator of the TSA, made a groundbreaking announcement that the agency was backing an ALPA proposal to create a security incident reporting program for its employees that borrows concepts and practices from current SMS programs. Promoting a just culture philosophy in a risk-based security environment, the program validates our previous work on building predictive analysis. And now that David Pekoske has been officially sworn in as the TSA administrator, we’ll continue to collaborate on this and other enhancements.

As we approach the 16th anniversary of the horrific attacks on 9/11, your Association remains ever vigilant to further secure our national airspace system. Together with government and industry stakeholders, we’ll continue our work to enhance the security of our skies in order to protect our passengers, our cargo, and our way of life from those who would seek to do us harm. 


ALPA to Host 9/11 Remembrance Ceremony

On September 11, ALPA will hold a remembrance ceremony at its Herndon, Va., offices to pay tribute to the crewmembers of American Flight 11, American Flight 77, United Flight 93, and United Flight 175. All are welcome and encouraged to attend. Please wear your uniform and join ALPA’s national officers, Executive Council, pilot volunteers, and staff for the ceremony beginning at 8:30 a.m.

If you’re unable to attend the ceremony in Herndon, please take time to remember the crewmembers and passengers aboard those aircraft, as well as all those who lost their lives or were otherwise affected by the tragedy.

This article was originally published in the September 2017 issue of Air Line Pilot.

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