AVIATION SECURITY: TRAINING STANDARDS NEEDED FOR EXTRA SECURITY MEASURES AT FOREIGN AIRPORTS
This report provides information from a General Accounting Office (GAO) analysis of changes the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) made to the Air Carrier Standard Security Program following the loss of Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland, on December 21, 1988. Results of the analysis in brief are as follows: Despite additional security measures imposed following the loss of Pan Am Flight 103, FAA cannot be assured that currently required procedures are being properly carried out by airlines at designated high-risk foreign airports. FAA's investigation of Pan Am Flight 103 and subsequent FAA airline security inspections found deficiencies in the way airline security personnel were carrying out extra security measures. GAO believes these deficiencies occurred largely because FAA has not established in its security program minimum training requirements and standards for extra security measures required at high-risk overseas airports. These standards are necessary to ensure that airline personnel at these airports are sufficiently trained to carry out required security measures. Training standards need to include minimum instruction times and cover topics such as profile application and questioning techniques, and detection of plastic explosives and other sophisticated bombs. Moreover, FAA did not routinely evaluate formal airline security training at these airports. However, in concurrence with recommendations GAO made in an earlier report, FAA has begun examining the training and testing of host government security personnel who screen passengers and baggage at high-risk airports. GAO believes FAA needs to do the same for U.S. airline security personnel charged with carrying out extra security procedures at these airports. Greater FAA scrutiny of training can help ensure that airline security personnel at high-risk overseas airports are adequately trained to carry out the required procedures.
- Record URL:
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Supplemental Notes:
- Report to the Secretary of Transportation.
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Corporate Authors:
U.S. General Accounting Office
441 G Street, NW
Washington, DC United States 20548 - Publication Date: 1989-12
Media Info
- Features: Appendices;
- Pagination: 11 p.
Subject/Index Terms
- TRT Terms: Air transportation; Airports; Deficiencies; Foreign; Safety and security; Specifications; Standards; Training; Transportation safety
- Identifier Terms: U.S. Federal Aviation Administration
- Uncontrolled Terms: Requirement
- Subject Areas: Administration and Management; Aviation; Education and Training; Highways; Safety and Human Factors; Terminals and Facilities;
Filing Info
- Accession Number: 00491946
- Record Type: Publication
- Report/Paper Numbers: GAO/RCED-90-66
- Files: TRIS
- Created Date: Mar 31 1990 12:00AM