49 U.S.C. § 44918 : US Code - Section 44918: Crew training

Search 49 U.S.C. § 44918 : US Code - Section 44918: Crew training

(a) Basic Security Training. -
(1) In general. - Each air carrier providing scheduled
passenger air transportation shall carry out a training program
for flight and cabin crew members to prepare the crew members for
potential threat conditions.
(2) Program elements. - An air carrier training program under
this subsection shall include, at a minimum, elements that
address each of the following:
(A) Recognizing suspicious activities and determining the
seriousness of any occurrence.
(B) Crew communication and coordination.
(C) The proper commands to give passengers and attackers.
(D) Appropriate responses to defend oneself.
(E) Use of protective devices assigned to crew members (to
the extent such devices are required by the Administrator of
the Federal Aviation Administration or the Under Secretary for
Border and Transportation Security of the Department of
Homeland Security).
(F) Psychology of terrorists to cope with hijacker behavior
and passenger responses.
(G) Situational training exercises regarding various threat
conditions.
(H) Flight deck procedures or aircraft maneuvers to defend
the aircraft and cabin crew responses to such procedures and
maneuvers.
(I) The proper conduct of a cabin search, including explosive
device recognition.
(J) Any other subject matter considered appropriate by the
Under Secretary.
(3) Approval. - An air carrier training program under this
subsection shall be subject to approval by the Under Secretary.
(4) Minimum standards. - Not later than one year after the date
of enactment of the Vision 100 - Century of Aviation
Reauthorization Act, the Under Secretary may establish minimum
standards for the training provided under this subsection and for
recurrent training.
(5) Existing programs. - Notwithstanding paragraphs (3) and
(4), any training program of an air carrier to prepare flight and
cabin crew members for potential threat conditions that was
approved by the Administrator or the Under Secretary before the
date of enactment of the Vision 100 - Century of Aviation
Reauthorization Act may continue in effect until disapproved or
ordered modified by the Under Secretary.
(6) Monitoring. - The Under Secretary, in consultation with the
Administrator, shall monitor air carrier training programs under
this subsection and periodically shall review an air carrier's
training program to ensure that the program is adequately
preparing crew members for potential threat conditions. In
determining when an air carrier's training program should be
reviewed under this paragraph, the Under Secretary shall consider
complaints from crew members. The Under Secretary shall ensure
that employees responsible for monitoring the training programs
have the necessary resources and knowledge.
(7) Updates. - The Under Secretary, in consultation with the
Administrator, shall order air carriers to modify training
programs under this subsection to reflect new or different
security threats.
(b) Advanced Self-Defense Training. -
(1) In general. - Not later than one year after the date of
enactment of the Vision 100 - Century of Aviation Reauthorization
Act, the Under Secretary shall develop and provide a voluntary
training program for flight and cabin crew members of air
carriers providing scheduled passenger air transportation.
(2) Program elements. - The training program under this
subsection shall include both classroom and effective hands-on
training in the following elements of self-defense:
(A) Deterring a passenger who might present a threat.
(B) Advanced control, striking, and restraint techniques.
(C) Training to defend oneself against edged or contact
weapons.
(D) Methods to subdue and restrain an attacker.
(E) Use of available items aboard the aircraft for self-
defense.
(F) Appropriate and effective responses to defend oneself,
including the use of force against an attacker.
(G) Any other element of training that the Under Secretary
considers appropriate.
(3) Participation not required. - A crew member shall not be
required to participate in the training program under this
subsection.
(4) Compensation. - Neither the Federal Government nor an air
carrier shall be required to compensate a crew member for
participating in the training program under this subsection.
(5) Fees. - A crew member shall not be required to pay a fee
for the training program under this subsection.
(6) Consultation. - In developing the training program under
this subsection, the Under Secretary shall consult with law
enforcement personnel and security experts who have expertise in
self-defense training, terrorism experts, representatives of air
carriers, the director of self-defense training in the Federal
Air Marshals Service, flight attendants, labor organizations
representing flight attendants, and educational institutions
offering law enforcement training programs.
(7) Designation of tsa official. - The Under Secretary shall
designate an official in the Transportation Security
Administration to be responsible for implementing the training
program under this subsection. The official shall consult with
air carriers and labor organizations representing crew members
before implementing the program to ensure that it is appropriate
for situations that may arise on board an aircraft during a
flight.
(c) Limitation. - Actions by crew members under this section
shall be subject to the provisions of section 44903(k).