Online Course Rolls Out This Fall

by ANN Correspondent Maxine Scheer

While there are varying opinions about the threat of terrorism at General Aviation (GA) Airports, it should be worth the time of most aircraft owners, pilots, airports, and first responders to at least consider ways in which we can expand our knowledge of how to improve the security of people and aviation property.

Last year, at AirVenture 2007, ANN was impressed with the passion, quality and thoroughness of a training program being developed by a team of law enforcement experts at Waukesha County Technical College (WCTC) in Pewaukee, WI with input from aviation industry groups that included Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) and Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA.) The initiative was awaiting Department of Homeland Security (DHS) approval at last year's AirVenture, so it seemed appropriate to follow up at AirVenture 2008 and hear how the initiative has progressed.

Earlier today, Brian Dorow, Associate Dean, Department of Criminal Justice Center for Law Enforcement Homeland Security and Counter-Terrorism Initiatives at WCTC demonstrated the system to ANN.

The first three modules, which are referred to as Levels, are focused on "Security Training for General Aviation Stakeholders". Level 1 Training is geared towards small airstrips which could be as small as a grass strip on a farm. Level 2 Training is focused on airports with paved runways, but no control towers and Level 3 Training is focused on airports with active air traffic control towers. Level 4 Training is focused specifically on a community's local first responder personnel.

Each level is estimated to take between six and eight hours. The training is structured to be progressive, so pilots who operate aircraft at towered airports would ideally take each of Levels 1 through 3.

In developing the system, WCTC anticipated that there might be some confusion on which course to take, so they populated the software with GPS data on nearly 19,000 airports throughout the US. Once identifying an airport of your choice, the course takes you through a series of questions about operations at the airport which help determine which of the three courses is appropriate for you to take.

Aside from the training, the student gets a summary of issues and potential actions that could be taken to improve security. It is intended to be an outline for a plan of action that would ideally be discussed amongst multiple stakeholders. It would not be a mandate from DHS, for example, but a set of options that airport stakeholders could consider and ideally discuss. "The real focus of the coursework is personal knowledge," said Dorow, "and to provide ideas for actions that could be taken with existing resources."

WCTC was approved earlier this year for the classroom training modules and the first customer was the Aviation Division of the Kansas Department of Transportation. Dorow described how KDOT invited representatives from airports, Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and Transportation Security Administration (TSA) to participate in the Level 2 train-the-trainer course. He described the feedback as very positive. "The next customer will be in Ohio for the first responder course." We've presented the program in May to National Association of State Aviation Organizations (NASAO) and American Association of Airport Executives (AAAE). Both have expressed considerable interest.

"We want some serious results in reaching out to GA stakeholders," says Dorow. WCTC has funding left on the initial DHS grant, so for the time being, the GA security training, both classroom and online, will be available at no cost. The online coursework is expected to roll out for public consumption in Fall 2008. Brian estimates there is sufficient funding to cover training for somewhere around 25,000 people. The online coursework will also be free. The classroom training is available upon request to groups of 24 or more. "For example, if any EAA chapters, pilot organizations, airport groups, or first responder organizations, etc. are interested in classroom training, please let us know," said Dorow.

This program is a first of its kind in the US and while the development was funded by DHS, it remains a voluntary program.

FMI: www.wctc.edu/aviation