4.3 Aviation Secuity

 Federal Flight Deck Officer FFDO Program 



After the most tragic event that took place on 9/11. The Congress have established the Transportation Security Administration in order to control and supervise all airport operations safety and security. The TSA had introduced several forms and layers for all the United States Security. One of these layers are the Federal Flight Deck Officer program also known as the "FFDO". 

The inception of the Federal Flight Deck Officer (FFDO) Program after 9/11, as envisioned by the members of Congress, has been described as (and still remains) the “First line of deterrence and the last line of Defense” against 9/11-style terrorist attacks; for the benefit of the American people. The Federal Flight Deck Officer Program authorizes flight crew members to use firearms to defend against an act of criminal violence and air piracy while attempting to gain control of an aircraft. The Federal Flight Deck Officer program is run generally ran under the the Federal Air Marshal Service, and an officer's jurisdiction is the flight deck or cabin of a commercial airliner or a cargo aircraft while on duty. FFDOs are federal law enforcement officers sworn and deputized by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. All applicants must be an airline pilot or flight engineer for a U.S. based airline and hold an appropriate FAA medical certificate. At the time of application for the FFDO position the pilots must be in an active, non-furloughed airline employment, operating under FAR part 121 "Domestic and Flag Air Carrier Operation". Charter pilots, business aviation pilots, flight instructors, etc. those who are not operating under FAR part 121 are not eligible to participate. Applicants must be U.S. citizens and have the ability to pass extensive background checks. Initially, candidate selection preference was given to airline pilots who underwent prior government weapons training including former military and law enforcement experience.




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