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• Security of Air Cargo Shipments, Operations, and Facilities [Updated January 24, 2018]

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  From the Document: "U.S. policies and strategies for protecting air cargo have focused on two main perceived threats: the in-flight detonation of explosives concealed in an air cargo shipment and the hijacking of a large all-cargo aircraft for use as a weapon to attack a ground target such as a major population center, critical infrastructure, or a critical national security asset. Additionally, there is concern that chemical, biological, or radiological agents or devices that could be used in a mass-casualty attack in the United States might be smuggled as international air cargo."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Elias, Bartholomew

  2019-01-24
• Boeing 737 Max Crashes Shake Confidence in International Air Safety [March 14, 2019]

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  From the Document: "Recent foreign air disasters involving Boeing 737 MAX 8 airplanes have raised international concern about the safety of that aircraft and passenger airline safety in general. On October 29, 2018, Lion Air flight 610 crashed shortly after departure from Jakarta, Indonesia, killing all 189 on board. While the investigation of the crash is still ongoing, it has been disclosed that pilots flying the same aircraft the previous day experienced some sort of navigation system failure and that maintenance records revealed ongoing problems with the aircraft's airspeed and angle-of-attack (AOA) sensors that monitor relative aircraft pitch. Aviation experts expressed concerns that faulty indications from these sensors could cause the aircraft's flight automation to command a pitch-down response. The investigation also revealed that aircraft documentation and pilot training may not have fully explained how the automation would respond under these circumstances. On March 10, 2019, Ethiopian Airlines flight 302 crashed shortly after departure from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, reportedly resulting in 157 fatalities."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Elias, Bartholomew

  2019-03-14
• Aircraft Noise and Air Traffic Control Modernization [January 27, 2020]

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  From the Document: "The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is replacing its radar-based air traffic control system with a satellite-based navigation and tracking system called NextGen. The stated purpose of NextGen is to increase airspace utilization and improve air traffic flows, allowing airliners to fly more efficiently, thereby cutting fuel consumption and reducing emissions. In order to achieve these objectives, FAA is reconfiguring airspace by modifying flight routes, and by creating new approach and departure procedures at airports. Planning and implementing these changes has met with backlash from some communities where overflights have become more frequent, prompting legislative action regarding FAA's approaches to measuring aircraft noise, assessing impacts, and conducting community outreach."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Elias, Bartholomew

  2020-01-27
• Transportation Security: Issues for the 115th Congress [Updated January 5, 2017]

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  From the Introduction: "The nation's air, land, and marine transportation systems are designed for accessibility and efficiency, two characteristics that make them vulnerable to attack. The difficulty and cost of protecting the transportation sector from attack raises a core question for policymakers: how much effort and resources to put toward protecting potential targets versus pursuing and fighting terrorists. While hardening the transportation sector against terrorist attack is difficult, measures can be taken to deter terrorists. The focus of debate is how best to construct and finance a system of deterrence, protection, and response that effectively reduces the possibility and consequences of terrorist attacks without unduly interfering with travel, commerce, and civil liberties. [...] Where limited options exist for preventing an attack, policymakers are left with evaluating options for minimizing the consequences from an attack, without imposing unduly burdensome requirements"

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Elias, Bartholomew; Frittelli, John; Peterman, David Randall

  2017-01-05
• Transportation Security: Issues for the 114th Congress [May 9, 2016]

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  This report discusses aviation, transit and rail, and port and maritime security issues before the 114th Congress. It states that "The nation's air, land, and marine transportation systems are designed for accessibility and efficiency, two characteristics that make them highly vulnerable to terrorist attack. While hardening the transportation sector from terrorist attack is difficult, measures can be taken to deter terrorists. The dilemma facing Congress is how best to construct and finance a system of deterrence, protection, and response that effectively reduces the possibility and consequences of another terrorist attack without unduly interfering with travel, commerce, and civil liberties. Aviation security has been a major focus of transportation security policy since the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. In the aftermath of these attacks, the 107th Congress moved quickly to pass the Aviation and Transportation Security Act (ATSA; P.L. 107-71) creating the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and mandating a federalized workforce of security screeners to inspect airline passengers and their baggage. Recent events, such as the destruction of a Russian passenger jet above the Sinai Peninsula on October 31, 2015, apparently by a bomb aboard the aircraft, have renewed concerns about the adequacy of passenger and cargo screening. Similarly, bombings in Brussels, Belgium, on March 22, 2016, renewed concerns over the security vulnerabilities of airport terminals and mass transit stations."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Elias, Bartholomew; Peterman, David Randall; Frittelli, John

  2016-05-09
• Transportation Security: Issues for the 116th Congress [Updated February 11, 2019]

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  "The nation's air, land, and marine transportation systems are designed for accessibility and efficiency, two characteristics that make them vulnerable to terrorist attack. While hardening the transportation sector is difficult, measures can be taken to deter terrorists. The enduring challenge facing Congress is how best to implement and finance a system of deterrence, protection, and response that effectively reduces the possibility and consequences of terrorist attacks without unduly interfering with travel, commerce, and civil liberties."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Elias, Bartholomew; Frittelli, John; Peterman, David Randall

  2019-02-11
• Transportation Security: Issues for the 109th Congress [Updated December 21, 2004]

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  "The nation's air, land, and marine transportation systems are designed for accessibility and efficiency, two characteristics that make them highly vulnerable to terrorist attack. While hardening the transportation sector from terrorist attack is difficult, reasonable measures can be taken to deter terrorists. The focus of this issue brief is how best to construct and finance a system of deterrence, protection, and response that effectively reduces the possibility and consequences of another terrorist attack without unduly interfering with travel, commerce, and civil liberties. Aviation security has been a major focus of transportation security policy following the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. In the aftermath of these attacks, the 107th Congress moved quickly to pass the Aviation and Transportation Security Act (ATSA; P.L. 107-71) creating the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and mandating a federalized workforce of security screeners to inspect airline passengers and their baggage. The Act gave the TSA broad authority to assess vulnerabilities in aviation security and take steps to mitigate these risks. The TSA's progress on aviation security has been the subject of considerable congressional oversight over the past three years. It is expected that aviation security policy and programs will continue to be of considerable interest in the 109th Congress. The volume of ridership and number of access points make it impractical to subject all rail passengers to the type of screening airline passengers undergo. Nevertheless, there are prudent steps that can be taken to reduce the risks, and consequences, of an attack. These include vulnerability assessments; emergency planning; and emergency response training and drilling of transit personnel, ideally in coordination with police, fire, and emergency medical personnel, as well as purchase of communication and safety equipment. Additional options include increasing the number of transit security personnel, installing video surveillance equipment in vehicles and stations, and conducting random inspections of platforms and trains using bomb-sniffing dogs."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Elias, Bartholomew; Frittelli, John; Peterman, David Randall

  2004-12-21
• Transportation Security: Issues for the 113th Congress [January 11, 2013]

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  "The nation's air, land, and marine transportation systems are designed for accessibility and efficiency, two characteristics that make them highly vulnerable to terrorist attack. While hardening the transportation sector from terrorist attack is difficult, measures can be taken to deter terrorists. The dilemma facing Congress is how best to construct and finance a system of deterrence, protection, and response that effectively reduces the possibility and consequences of another terrorist attack without unduly interfering with travel, commerce, and civil liberties. Aviation security has been a major focus of transportation security policy following the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. In the aftermath of these attacks, the 107th Congress moved quickly to pass the Aviation and Transportation Security Act (ATSA; P.L. [Public Law] 107-71) creating the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and mandating a federalized workforce of security screeners to inspect airline passengers and their baggage."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Peterman, David Randall; Elias, Bartholomew; Frittelli, John

  2013-01-11
• Transportation Security: Issues for the 110th Congress [Updated August 3, 2007]

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  "The nation's air, land, and marine transportation systems are designed for accessibility and efficiency, two characteristics that make them highly vulnerable to terrorist attack. While hardening the transportation sector from terrorist attack is difficult, measures can be taken to deter terrorists. The dilemma facing Congress is how best to construct and finance a system of deterrence, protection, and response that effectively reduces the possibility and consequences of another terrorist attack without unduly interfering with travel, commerce, and civil liberties. In the 110th Congress, aviation, rail, and transit security have been a major focus of congressional activity. On January 9, 2007, the House passed the Implementing the 9/11 Commission Recommendations Act of 2007 (H.R. 1), which contains provisions, among others, on aviation and cargo security. On March 13, 2007, the Senate passed the Improving America's Security Act of 2007 (S. 4), which is similar but not identical to H.R. 1. At the end of July 2007, the House and Senate passed a conference agreement on H.R. 1 (H.Rept. 110-259) that was signed into law on August 3, 2007 (P.L. 110-53). Aviation security has been a major focus of transportation security policy following the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. In the aftermath of these attacks, the 107th Congress moved quickly to pass the Aviation and Transportation Security Act (ATSA; P.L. 107-71) creating the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and mandating a federalized workforce of security screeners to inspect airline passengers and their baggage."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Elias, Bartholomew; Peterman, David Randall; Frittelli, John

  2007-08-03
• Transportation Security: Issues for the 110th Congress [Updated March 9, 2007]

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  "The nation's air, land, and marine transportation systems are designed for accessibility and efficiency, two characteristics that make them highly vulnerable to terrorist attack. While hardening the transportation sector from terrorist attack is difficult, measures can be taken to deter terrorists. The dilemma facing Congress is how best to construct and finance a system of deterrence, protection, and response that effectively reduces the possibility and consequences of another terrorist attack without unduly interfering with travel, commerce, and civil liberties. Aviation security has been a major focus of transportation security policy following the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. In the aftermath of these attacks, the 107th Congress moved quickly to pass the Aviation and Transportation Security Act (ATSA; P.L. 107-71) creating the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and mandating a federalized workforce of security screeners to inspect airline passengers and their baggage. […] A leading issue with regard to securing truck, rail, and waterborne cargo is the desire of government authorities to track a given freight shipment at a particular time […]. Debate over who should pay for cargo security, government or industry, and whether mandates or guidelines are the best approach to ensure industry's due diligence in protecting their supply chains are other leading issues. The Port Security Improvement Act of 2006 (P.L. 109-347) will provide grant funds for security improvements to seaports. […] Members of Congress want to know whether current federal policies, regulations, and grants could more effectively promote hazmat transportation security at reasonable costs. […]"

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Elias, Bartholomew; Peterman, David Randall; Frittelli, John

  2007-03-09
• Transportation Security: Issues for the 110th Congress [Updated January 3, 2007]

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  "The nation's air, land, and marine transportation systems are designed for accessibility and efficiency, two characteristics that make them highly vulnerable to terrorist attack. While hardening the transportation sector from terrorist attack is difficult, measures can be taken to deter terrorists. The dilemma facing Congress is how best to construct and finance a system of deterrence, protection, and response that effectively reduces the possibility and consequences of another terrorist attack without unduly interfering with travel, commerce, and civil liberties. Aviation security has been a major focus of transportation security policy following the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. In the aftermath of these attacks, the 107th Congress moved quickly to pass the Aviation and Transportation Security Act (ATSA; P.L. 107-71) creating the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and mandating a federalized workforce of security screeners to inspect airline passengers and their baggage. […] A leading issue with regard to securing truck, rail, and waterborne cargo is the desire of government authorities to track a given freight shipment at a particular time […]. Debate over who should pay for cargo security, government or industry, and whether mandates or guidelines are the best approach to ensure industry's due diligence in protecting their supply chains are other leading issues. The Port Security Improvement Act of 2006 (P.L. 109-347) will provide grant funds for security improvements to seaports. […] Members of Congress want to know whether current federal policies, regulations, and grants could more effectively promote hazmat transportation security at reasonable costs. […]"

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Elias, Bartholomew; Peterman, David Randall; Frittelli, John

  2007-01-03
• Transportation Security: Issues for the 114th Congress [March 20, 2015]

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  "The nation's air, land, and marine transportation systems are designed for accessibility and efficiency, two characteristics that make them highly vulnerable to terrorist attack. While hardening the transportation sector from terrorist attack is difficult, measures can be taken to deter terrorists. The dilemma facing Congress is how best to construct and finance a system of deterrence, protection, and response that effectively reduces the possibility and consequences of another terrorist attack without unduly interfering with travel, commerce, and civil liberties. […] Bombings of passenger trains in Europe and Asia in the past few years illustrate the vulnerability of passenger rail systems to terrorist attacks. Passenger rail systems--primarily subway systems--in the United States carry about five times as many passengers each day as do airlines, over many thousands of miles of track, serving stations that are designed primarily for easy access. Transit security issues of recent interest to Congress include the quality of TSA's surface transportation inspector program and the slow rate at which transit and rail security grants have been expended. Existing law mandates the scanning of all U.S.-bound maritime containers with non-intrusive inspection equipment at overseas ports of loading by July 2012. This deadline was not met, in part because foreign countries object to the costs of this screening and are dubious of the benefits. Implementation of the Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) for port and maritime workers also appears to be experiencing continuing difficulties."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Elias, Bartholomew; Peterman, David Randall; Frittelli, John

  2015-03-20
• Transportation Security: Issues for the 114th Congress [November 25, 2015]

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  "The nation's air, land, and marine transportation systems are designed for accessibility and efficiency, two characteristics that make them highly vulnerable to terrorist attack. While hardening the transportation sector from terrorist attack is difficult, measures can be taken to deter terrorists. The dilemma facing Congress is how best to construct and finance a system of deterrence, protection, and response that effectively reduces the possibility and consequences of another terrorist attack without unduly interfering with travel, commerce, and civil liberties. Aviation security has been a major focus of transportation security policy since the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. In the aftermath of these attacks, the 107th Congress moved quickly to pass the Aviation and Transportation Security Act (ATSA; P.L. 107-71) creating the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and mandating a federalized workforce of security screeners to inspect airline passengers and their baggage. Recent events, such as the destruction of a Russian passenger jet above the Sinai Peninsula on October 31, 2015, apparently by a bomb aboard the aircraft, have renewed concerns about the adequacy of passenger and cargo screening. Until recently, TSA applied relatively uniform methods to screen airline passengers, focusing primarily on advances in screening technology to improve security and efficiency. TSA has recently shifted away from this approach, which assumes a uniform level of risk among all airline travelers, to risk-based screening approaches that focus more intensely on passengers thought to pose elevated security risks."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Elias, Bartholomew; Peterman, David Randall; Frittelli, John

  2015-11-25
• Cockpit Automation, Flight Systems Complexity, and Aircraft Certification: Background and Issues for Congress [October 3, 2019]

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  From the Document: "The increasing complexity and automation of flight control systems pose a challenge to federal policy regarding aircraft certification and pilot training. Despite significant commercial aviation safety improvements over the past two decades, flight control automation and aircraft complexity have been cited as contributing factors in a number of major airline accidents, including two high-profile crashes overseas involving the recently introduced Boeing 737 Max variant in 2018 and 2019. These crashes have directed attention to Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) oversight of aircraft type certification and pilot training practices for transport category aircraft, particularly as they pertain to complex automated flight control systems. As aircraft systems have evolved over the past three decades to incorporate new technologies, Congress has mandated FAA to streamline certification processes, with the primary motivation being to facilitate the development of new safety-enhancing technologies."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Elias, Bartholomew

  2019-10-03
• Flying Cars and Drones Pose Policy Challenges for Managing and Regulating Low-Altitude Airspace [July 23, 2018]

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  "For more than half a century, 'flying car' concepts have graced the covers of Popular Science magazine, have been featured in futuristic Hollywood sci-fi movies, and, of course, have hauled that famous space-age cartoon family, the Jetsons. Until recently, though, small hovercraft and drone-like air taxis existed only as prototype concepts and amateur built curios. Recent advances in aerospace design and propulsion, as well as in computer control and autonomous systems, are raising the prospect that flying cars may soon become a reality. Development and marketing efforts are bringing to the fore new policy and regulatory challenges regarding the control of low-altitude airspace, safety, noise, privacy, and landowner rights. They also are raising new questions about the appropriate roles of federal, state, and local authorities in regulating and managing these operations."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Elias, Bartholomew

  2018-07-23
• Transportation Security: Issues for the 111th Congress [January 28, 2009]

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  The nation's air, land, and marine transportation systems are designed for accessibility and efficiency, two characteristics that make them highly vulnerable to terrorist attack. While hardening the transportation sector from terrorist attack is difficult, measures can be taken to deter terrorists. The dilemma facing Congress is how best to construct and finance a system of deterrence, protection, and response that effectively reduces the possibility and consequences of another terrorist attack without unduly interfering with travel, commerce, and civil liberties. In the 110th Congress, aviation, rail, and transit security were a major focus of congressional activity. At the end of July 2007, the House and Senate passed a conference agreement on H.R. 1 (H.Rept. 110-259) that was signed into law on August 3, 2007 as the Implementing Recommendations of the 9/11 Commission Act of 2007 (P.L. 110-53). The act contains numerous provisions related to air, rail, and cargo security.

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Elias, Bartholomew; Peterman, David Randall; Frittelli, John

  2009-01-28
• Transportation Security: Issues for the 112th Congress [February 1, 2011]

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  "The nation's air, land, and marine transportation systems are designed for accessibility and efficiency, two characteristics that make them highly vulnerable to terrorist attack. While hardening the transportation sector from terrorist attack is difficult, measures can be taken to deter terrorists. The dilemma facing Congress is how best to construct and finance a system of deterrence, protection, and response that effectively reduces the possibility and consequences of another terrorist attack without unduly interfering with travel, commerce, and civil liberties. Aviation security has been a major focus of transportation security policy following the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. […] Reauthorization of TSA [Transportation Security Administration] functions may be considered in the broader context of a Department of Homeland Security reauthorization bill during the 112th Congress. Issues likely to arise include deployment of new checkpoint screening technologies; passenger screening procedures; implementation of the Secure Flight system to check passenger data against the consolidated terrorist database; air cargo security measures; and strengthening security of general aviation aircraft and airports. [...] If the 112th Congress revisits the issue, it may consider the effectiveness of rail and transit security efforts to date, the potential for meaningful security improvement in this area, and its importance relative to other federal priorities. Existing law mandates the scanning of all U.S.-bound maritime containers with non-intrusive inspection equipment at overseas ports of loading by July 2012. This deadline is unlikely to be met, as foreign countries object to the costs of this screening and are dubious of the benefits. If Congress considers maritime security, it may examine the usefulness of this mandate, as well as the threat posed by the many small craft that populate commercial port areas and progress toward establishing harbor interagency operational centers."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Elias, Bartholomew; Peterman, David Randall; Frittelli, John

  2011-02-01
• Transportation Security: Issues for the 111th Congress [May 15, 2009]

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  "The nation's air, land, and marine transportation systems are designed for accessibility and efficiency, two characteristics that make them highly vulnerable to terrorist attack. While hardening the transportation sector from terrorist attack is difficult, measures can be taken to deter terrorists. The dilemma facing Congress is how best to construct and finance a system of deterrence, protection, and response that effectively reduces the possibility and consequences of another terrorist attack without unduly interfering with travel, commerce, and civil liberties. In the 110th Congress, aviation, rail, and transit security were a major focus of congressional activity. At the end of July 2007, the House and Senate passed a conference agreement on H.R. 1 (H.Rept. 110-259) that was signed into law on August 3, 2007 as the Implementing Recommendations of the 9/11 Commission Act of 2007 (P.L. 110-53). The act contains numerous provisions related to air, rail, and cargo security."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Elias, Bartholomew; Peterman, David Randall; Frittelli, John

  2009-05-15
• Strange Occurrences Highlight Insider Threat to Aviation Security [August 14, 2018]

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  "On the evening of August 10, 2018, an airline ramp worker stole a 76-seat turboprop from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, crashing it on a remote wooded island in an apparent suicide. Days later, on August 13, 2018, a corporate pilot released on bail following a domestic violence arrest hours earlier stole a business jet and crashed it into his Utah home. In another incident in Utah in July 2012, a SkyWest Airlines pilot sought by authorities regarding the stabbing death of his girlfriend stole a regional jet from the St. George Municipal Airport and crashed it through an airport fence before fatally shooting himself inside the cockpit."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Elias, Bartholomew

  2018-08-14
• Categorical Exclusions, Metroplexes, and Aircraft Noise Complaints [August 6, 2018]

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  "The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has initiated changes to airspace and flight procedures to take advantage of new technologies deployed under NextGen, a comprehensive air traffic modernization initiative that relies on satellitebased navigation and tracking to improve efficiency and airspace capacity. In some neighborhoods, however, FAA's changes have increased overflights triggering complaints about aircraft noise. Some affected residents are seeking remedies from the agency, the courts, and Congress."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Elias, Bartholomew

  2018-08-06
• Delegation of Federal Aviation Administration Certification Authorities to Aviation Manufacturers [March 25, 2019]

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  From the Document: "The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) certifies pilots, aircraft, and aircraft components, as well as airlines and charter flight operators. It requires that aircraft and component design specifications meet safety standards and comply with regulatory requirements. Once an aircraft design is type certified, a manufacturer must demonstrate that it can reliably reproduce that aircraft type to receive production certification to build deliverable aircraft. Every aircraft manufactured must undergo examinations, inspections, and tests to determine that it conforms to the certified type design and meets airworthiness standards before it receives airworthiness certification and can begin routine operations for an airline or other operator (see Figure 1)."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Elias, Bartholomew

  2019-03-25
• DHS Appropriations FY2016: Security, Enforcement and Investigations [Updated May 2, 2016]

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  From the Document: "This report is part of a suite of reports that discuss appropriations for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for FY2016. It specifically discusses appropriations for the components of DHS included in the second title of the homeland security appropriations bill--Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), U.S. Coast Guard (USCG), and the U.S. Secret Service (USSS). Collectively, Congress has labeled these components in recent years as 'Security, Enforcement, and Investigations.' The report provides an overview of the Administration's FY2016 request for Security, Enforcement, and Investigations, the appropriations proposed by Congress in response, and those enacted thus far. Rather than limiting the scope of its review to the second title, the report includes information on provisions throughout the proposed bill and report that directly affect these functions."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Painter, William L.; Elias, Bartholomew; Seghetti, Lisa M. . . .

  2016-05-02
• National Aviation Security Policy, Strategy, and Mode-Specific Plans: Background and Considerations for Congress [February 2, 2009]

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  "In the years leading up to the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, the United States lacked a comprehensive national policy and strategy for aviation security. The approach to aviation security was largely shaped by past events, such as the bombing of Pan Am flight 103 in December 1988, rather than a comprehensive evaluation of the full range of security risks. The 9/11 Commission concluded that the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, revealed failures of imagination, policy, capabilities, and management by both the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the U.S. intelligence community. [...]. Congress may have a specific interest in assessing whether these plans are comprehensive, adaptable, sustainable, and adequately coordinated with budgetary decisions and resource allocation. Specific issues for Congress may include the validity of the strategy's underlying risk assumptions; the extent to which 9/11 Commission recommendations and statutory requirements are reflected in the strategy; consideration of sustainability of and advancement of security technologies to meet future needs and system demands; whether the strategy is sufficiently forward-looking and not reactive in its approach; the extent to which the strategy provides a comprehensive framework for a robust aviation security system; and the degree to which strategic objectives and approaches align with budget priorities and resource availability. This report will not be updated."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Elias, Bartholomew

  2009-02-02
• National Aviation Security Policy, Strategy, and Mode-Specific Plans: Background and Considerations for Congress [January 2, 2008]

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  "In the years leading up to the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, the United States lacked a comprehensive national policy and strategy for aviation security. The approach to aviation security was largely shaped by past events, such as the bombing of Pan Am flight 103 in December 1988, rather than a comprehensive evaluation of the full range of security risks. The 9/11 Commission concluded that the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 revealed failures of imagination, policy, capabilities, and management by both the FAA and the U.S. intelligence community. Under the framework for national aviation security policy established by the President, the DHS has developed a publicly-available national strategy for aviation security that addresses threats to aviation using a risk-based methodology to complement the overarching National Infrastructure Protection Plan (NIPP) and seeks to deter and prevent terrorist attacks against aviation, mitigate damage and expedite recovery and minimize the impact of an attack to the aviation system. The strategy seeks to achieve these objectives by engaging domestic and international partners and carrying out specific actions set forth in a series of supporting plans for operational security, surveillance and intelligence, threat response, system recovery, and coordination."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Elias, Bartholomew

  2008-01-02
• Protecting Against Rogue Drones [May 14, 2020]

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  From the Document: "As of March 2020, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) had registered more than 1.5 million unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), often referred to as drones. More than 70% are operated by recreational users. FAA estimates that by 2024, about 2.3 million UAS, including 1.5 million recreational drones and model aircraft and about 800,000 commercial UAS, will be registered to fly in U.S. airspace. As the UAS market expands, there may be an increasing risk that rogue drones that either fail to obey safety rules or are operated for nefarious purposes could threaten manned aircraft operations, airports, critical infrastructure facilities, and high-profile events. These concerns have prompted Congress to examine options for detecting and interdicting drones."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Elias, Bartholomew

  2020-05-14
• Boeing 737 Max to Fly Again, Clouded by Certification Concerns [December 7, 2020]

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  From the Document: "On November 18, 2020, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued an order rescinding its March 2019 order that had grounded the Boeing 737 Max passenger jet for nearly 20 months. Congress continues to debate legislation (H.R. 8408, S. 3969, and S. 3866) seeking to reform aircraft certification in an effort to avoid future safety stand-downs of this magnitude involving the design of highly complex transport aircraft. Two high-profile fatal accidents, the crash of Lion Air flight 610 in October 2018 and the crash of Ethiopian Airlines flight 302 in March 2019, prompted the unprecedented worldwide grounding of the 737 Max as investigators and engineers sought to identify and remedy a common set of causes. Both accidents were linked to an automated flight control system feature called the Maneuvering Characteristics Augmentation System (MCAS). The design of the 737 Max included larger engines than earlier versions of the 737. Under certain circumstances, these engines could cause an unintended pitch up of the airplane's nose. MCAS was installed to automatically compensate for this undesirable tendency. In both accidents, MCAS activated repeatedly, resulting in extreme nose-down pitching. Analysis after the accidents revealed that MCAS relied on a single sensor that was reportedly prone to damage, and that the aircraft lacked safeguards to prevent its activation if that single sensor failed."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Elias, Bartholomew

  2020-12-07
• Sequestration at the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA): Air Traffic Controller Furloughs and Congressional Response [May 7, 2013]

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  "The Budget Control Act of 2011 (BCA; P.L. [Public Law] 112-25) provided for automatic reductions to most federal discretionary spending if no agreement on deficit reduction was reached by the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction. Such reductions, referred to as sequestration, went into effect on March 1, 2013, which was the extended deadline for a deficit reduction agreement established under the American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012 (ATRA; P.L. 112-240). In general, sequestration requires agencies to reduce spending for certain suballocations of funds--programs, projects, and activities--within nondefense discretionary accounts by 5.3% in FY2013. To implement the sequester-related reductions, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) began to furlough personnel, including air traffic controllers, on April 21, 2013. In the wake of concerns about the adverse effects of furloughs on air travel, the Senate passed S. 853, the Reducing Flight Delays Act of 2013 (RFDA), on April 25, 2013, by unanimous consent. The bill provided new authority to the Secretary of Transportation to transfer up to $253 million to FAA's 'operations' account from other FAA accounts, including discretionary grants-in-aid for airports. The next day, the House agreed to H.R. [House Resolution] 1765 under suspension of the rules. Under agreement, H.R. 1765, being identical in content to S. 853, was presented to the President on April 30, 2013, and was enacted on May 1, 2013, becoming P.L. 113-9. FAA halted furlough actions even before the bill was signed by President Obama. This report provides a brief overview of FAA's implementation of the sequester in April 2013, as it relates to air traffic control operations and staff furloughs. It then considers the congressional response, including the potential impact of the funds transfers authorized under P.L. 113-9 on FAA's Airport Improvement Program (AIP)."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Elias, Bartholomew; Brass, Clinton T.; Kirk, Robert S.

  2013-05-07
• Protecting Civilian Flights from Missiles [July 28, 2014]

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  "On July 17, 2014, Malaysia Airlines Flight 17, a Boeing 777 en route from Amsterdam, the Netherlands, to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, crashed over eastern Ukraine after apparently being struck by a surface-to-air missile. The event has renewed congressional interest in protecting civilian aircraft from missiles, a topic of considerable interest in the context of protection against terrorist threats and risks to aircraft operated in conflict zones."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Elias, Bartholomew

  2014-07-28
• Risk-Based Approaches to Airline Passenger Screening [March 31, 2014]

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  "Until recently, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) had applied relatively uniform methods to screen airline passengers, focusing primarily on advances in screening technology to improve security and efficiency. TSA has recently shifted away from this approach, which assumes a uniform level of risk among all airline travelers, to one that focuses more intently on passengers thought to pose elevated security risks. Risk-based passenger screening includes a number of initiatives that fit within a broader framework addressing security risks, but specifically emphasizes the detection and management of potential threats posed by passengers. […] Implementation of risk-based passenger screening raises numerous issues of congressional interest. These include the efficacy of the SPOT [Screening Passengers by Observational Techniques] program; how the various elements and programs complement each other and integrate with TSA's other layers of security; the risk-based approach's ability to adapt and evolve over time; the ability to measure its effectiveness; the potential impacts of false positives on the traveling public; and implications for safeguarding data and maintaining privacy."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Elias, Bartholomew

  2014-03-31
• Protecting Civil Aviation from Cyberattacks [June 18, 2015]

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  "Cybersecurity is a growing concern for civil aviation, although the significance of reports in May that a computer security researcher hacked into aircraft control systems while flying as a passenger aboard commercial jets is still unclear. The probe into the alleged hacking incidents unfolded just weeks after the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) alerted airlines to be on the lookout for passengers trying to tap into aircraft electronics and for evidence of tampering or network intrusions. It is not just systems aboard aircraft that are potentially vulnerable. The ongoing transformation from stand-alone navigation equipment, radar tracking, and analog two-way radios to highly integrated and interdependent computers and digital networks, both onboard aircraft and in air traffic control facilities, creates inherent security vulnerabilities. In April 2015, a Government Accountability Office (GAO) study found that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) faces ongoing challenges to protect air traffic systems from cyberattacks, and warned that the increasing interconnectedness of aircraft systems makes them vulnerable to unauthorized remote access. Air traffic control systems and airport and airline information technology systems have been identified as critical transportation infrastructure covered under national policy to strengthen security and resilience to cyberthreats. Although federal laws, criminal statutes, regulations, and oversight all play roles in cybersecurity, much of the responsibility rests with industry working groups that develop standards and guidelines for air carriers and equipment manufacturers to follow."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Elias, Bartholomew

  2015-06-18