APFAs Letter to Senator Ted Stevens

Association of Professional Flight Attendants

 

December 9, 2005

The Honorable Ted Stevens
Chairman
Commerce, Science and Transportation
United States Senate

RE: Comments – December 12, 2005 Hearing:
The Transportation Security Administration’s New Commercial Aviation Passenger Screening Procedures

Dear Chairman Stevens,

On behalf of the Association of Professional Flight Attendants (APFA) I am writing to express the concerns of the 22,600 Flight Attendants of American Airlines. We recently expressed our concerns and opinions to Kip Hawley and Transportation Security Administration (TSA) regarding lifting the current ban on restricted items allowed to be carried in the aircraft cabin (via letter dated August 18, 2005). Many of our Flight Attendants’ contacted his office personally to voice their opinion on this matter, as did many others in the aviation community and Congressional members. It would now appear our security concerns and fear s have fallen on deaf ears within the TSA.

With the announcement issued December 2, 2005 the TSA would allow sharp metal scissors (blades 4" or less) and a variety of tools such as pointed screwdrivers, wrenches and pliers (less than 7") to by-pass security screeners and be allowed in the cabin of the aircraft. We find ourselves in the position to write to you and ask that you support our position that the ban not be loosened on any previously restricted item that could be used as a weapon on board a commercial aircraft. We strongly urge you not to allow passengers the ability to bring those items back on board the aircraft.

Any of the items currently on the TSA Prohibited Item list could be used as a potential weapon and that includes scissors and screwdrivers. Prior to 9/11 no one would have ever suspected that a small item such as a box cutter containing a 1" blade (or less) would be used as a weapon to brutally murder airline crewmembers and innocent passengers to gain control of an aircraft. September 11th proved that a terrorist would use any means available. We again stress the a pair of 4" metal scissors can easily be taken apart and turned into two separate 4" daggers (with a handle). A screwdriver or a pair of knitting needles can be used to deeply penetrate the body. These have the potential of being lethal weapons just like the ones the terrorist hijackers used on 9/11.

There have been comments from the TSA to the press stating, "Aircraft cockpit doors are reinforced, more pilots are armed in the cockpit, there are more Federal Air Marshals (FAMs) and the attention of airport TSA Transportation Security Officers/screeners needs to be focused more on other terrorist tactics such as explosive devices, not on knives, scissors, knitting needles or items that no longer pose a security threat." Comments like these are a slap in the face to the men and women who work in commercial aircraft, the flying public and even those individuals that lost there lives due to the horrific events of 9/11.

A false sense of security is being instilled that the aircraft cabin is safe and secure and that simply is not true. The cockpit may be safer with its reinforced door and armed pilots (FFDO) but the cabin is not! Those involved in the aviation profession know exactly how few FAMs and armed pilots there are actually on board. The flying public is unaware of the low percentage. We can only pray the terrorist are unaware as well.

A much more realistic security threat that Flight Attendants and passengers face daily is from a deranged/mentally disturbed passenger. An event of this nature occurred December 7 2005 on American Airlines flight #924 Miami (MIA) to Orlando (MCO). Passenger Rigoberto Alpizar was fatally shot by FAMs in the jetbridge after claiming he had a bomb and refused to comply with the FAM instructions. It has been determined that Alpizar was not a terrorist but an individual who suffered from mental health issues. While this situation was handled by FAMs on the ground, Flight Attendants are now more fearful for their own and passenger’s safety. This reminds them that a similar incident could occur when FAMs are not onboard and a mentally unstable passenger is wielding a pair of scissors.

Flight Attendants fully comprehend that each of the banned items could be used to cause injury or death to them or passengers while in-flight. There is absolutely NO purpose or reason that a passenger should be allowed to carry any of these items in the cabin of a commercial aircraft. These are not items that a passenger would need to utilize during a flight. The appropriate place for these items is in ones checked luggage. Lifting this ban would do nothing more than place potential weapons in the hands of a terrorist or deranged passenger, giving the individual the upper hand in trying to gain control or causing havoc in the aircraft cabin while the flight crew is secure behind a reinforced cockpit door.

The focus of the TSA needs to be expanded to cover all types of security threats rather than narrowing that vision. Steps have been taken to make sure that a commercial aircraft is never again commandeered and used as a weapon of mass destruction. Those in the aviation industry agree that the TSA needs to place more focus on detecting explosives. The possibility of a suicide bomber or explosives being carried in checked luggage or cargo on an aircraft is real. Everything must be done to prevent this from happening. That would be in addition to the other safe guards that are currently in place. APFA members agree that we cannot take steps backwards regarding airline security and screening measures. Passengers have told us that they would much rather have a safe and secure flight rather than a quick, friendly security checkpoint.

Crewmembers, both cabin and flight deck, climbed back on board the aircraft only days following the horrific attacks of 9/11. Their intent was to rebuild the airline industry and show the public that they had confidence in the new aviation security system. They did so with the faith that the U.S. Government would do everything in their power to protect them. Please do not let them down. Lifting the ban on any prohibited items is an unnecessary and tragic step.

We thank the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation for holding a full committee hearing (December 12, 2005) regarding, The Transportation Security Administration’s New Commercial Aviation Passenger Screening Procedures.

Again, APFA urges your support in helping keep the current ban in place. If you need assistance in addressing this matter or have questions please feel free to contact my office at 800-395-2732 ext 8302.

Sincerely,

Lonny Glover
APFA National Safety Coordinator