The Deadline For FSAA Is Fast Approaching

By ANN Correspondent John Ballantyne

As of next Tuesday, all US flight instructors must complete Transportation Security Administration Security Awareness training (FSAA). There are three options: individual flight schools may develop an in-house training program (per 49 CFR 1552), CFIs can take a course offered by AOPA or take the (free) on-line program produced by TSA. [Guess which choice most will take?]

The purpose of FSAA training, which applies to Sport Pilot instructors as well as general aviation instructors, is to raise general security awareness levels of employees who are working in the flight training industry. TSA wants employees in this industry to be able to question and respond appropriately to any behavior or activities that may present a threat to aviation security.

What's in the Course?

After a few introductory screens, your first step is to decide which of two tracks most apply to you: a Flight School with Aircraft or Flight Training Center with Simulators. I took the Flight School with Aircraft track on which the rest of this report is based.

The 36 screen program raises obvious, but important, security awareness issues such as knowing your customers, being aware of surroundings, and not being afraid to ask questions when suspicious actions are going on. It then offers four primary actions to take: Question the individual, Report to a supervisor of the facility, Contact law enforcement, and finally Contact the General Aviation Hotline or Transportation Security Operations Center (703 563-3240).

All students applying for flight training must show to their CFI a US Passport, US Birth certificate or US Naturalization document. The program makes clear that a driver's license is not qualifying. CFIs are also required to keep copies of all documents for at least 5 years. Students must also complete a "company-approved application" containing personal financial and work information.

Then the program presents a 22 question quiz involving various scenarios for which you decide the appropriate action. Choices are to take no action, ask questions, report to a facility supervisor, or call law enforcement.

When the test is completed, TSA provides a review and list of security actions including locking airport gates, use of propeller and throttle locks, keeping aircraft keys secure and so on. TSA concludes that "You are now able to: Identify potential indicator behavior that should raise suspicion, Decide what response or action, if any, is necessary to take for activities or behavior that may be considered suspicious, Identify 'Best Practices and Recommendations' to aid in increased security by reducing threats and illicit behavior and/or activities."

Comments

I share with many other CFIs an objection to becoming boarder patroller. It is not clear to me how we are supposed to tell if documents are forged nor is it clear if I will be held responsible for a seemingly sincere student who later conducts terrorist activities in an airplane. What of free-lance CFI with no school on which to lean? For example, where are they supposed to get the "company-approved application?"

On the other hand, like many Americans, I do not object to somewhat increased security at commercial airports and am willing to increase my awareness of the surroundings. Having mean people blow up our buildings and murdering people is not acceptable. Perhaps just promoting such awareness will make potential terrorists avoid flight training. Also, however, the additional hassle surely will discourage some legitimate folks from seeking instruction. Just who is being terrorized?

In favor of the TSA program it is easy and quick, perhaps only one-half hour. It brings focus to many obvious and common situations to which instructors are exposed. On the down side, I took the course a second time and deliberately turned the sound off, quickly clicked through each screen without reading or hearing it, then deliberately failed every test question (why is that so much easier than providing correct answers?) and still was allowed to print the completion certificate-multiple times with multiple names. Odd that a security program would allow such an easy security breech.

FMI http://download.tsa.dhs.gov/fssa/training