Moak: Proposal Cuts Federal Flight Deck Officer Funding, Threatening Security

The  president of the Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l (ALPA) says that the cuts to the Federal Flight Deck Officer Program contained in the Administration’s proposed FY14 federal budget pose a real threat to airline security for both passengers and cargo.

“It is beyond belief that, at the same time the Administration’s budget proposal recognizes the value of risk-based aviation security, it proposes to eliminate funding for the Federal Flight Deck Officer (FFDO) program, a proven and cost-effective tool to enhance risk-based security across the air transportation system. ALPA president Capt Lee Moak (pictured) said in a prepared statement. “The FFDO program is staffed by thousands of fully trained and deputized ALPA pilot volunteers who already make great personal and professional sacrifices to secure the nation’s flight decks.

“Eliminating funding support for this well established and extremely effective program flies in the face of the FFDO program’s overwhelming success and the Administration’s own recognition in its budget proposal of the value of a risk-based approach to aviation security. ALPA has activated its more than 47,000 U.S. airline pilot members to voice stalwart support for the contribution that FFDO program makes to achieving risk-based aviation security.

“When the President proposed to cut FFDO funding in half for FY2013, Congress rightly rejected the misguided idea. ALPA urges in the strongest possible terms that Congress reject this budget proposal, and fully and appropriately fund the FFDO program so that passengers, crews, and cargo shippers can benefit from its proven and clear contribution to securing air transportation.”

FMI: www.alpa.org