Aviation Security: Flight and Cabin Crew Member Security Training Strengthened, but Better Planning and Internal Controls Needed

In response to our recommendation, TSA developed six broad goals for flight and cabin crew member security training and, in July 2008, communicated these goals to air carriers. For example, one of the goals of the training is for participants to be able to recognize suspicious or threatening activity, corresponding threat levels, and appropriate actions to take. Another goal is for participants to have knowledge of the basic actions to take to defend themselves if physically attacked. Consistent with the intent of our recommendation, TSA stated that the goals can be used by air carriers to help gauge the knowledge that crew members have gained at the completion of training, and whether the air carrier is delivering an effective training course.

In July 2008, in response to GAO's recommendation, TSA sent air carriers written guidance to use in developing goals and measures for crew member security training. TSA stated that the goals along with guidance for air carriers to use in developing their individual performance goals and measures will assist air carriers in increasing the effectiveness of their basic crew member security training. The guidance and standards identify, among other things, that the provider of the training must establish performance goals and measures to ensure that students effectively receive the presented material, and retain it as permanent knowledge.

In September 2005, we reported that TSA lacked adequate controls for monitoring and reviewing air carriers' crew member security training, including written procedures for conducting and documenting reviews of air carriers' flight and cabin crew security training curricula. We identified that the lack of written procedures may result in inconsistent assessments of the air carriers' security training curricula and inconsistent application of the standards for flight and cabin crew security training. Additionally, we reported that TSA did not have documented procedures for conducting and documenting observations of air carriers' classroom delivery of flight and cabin crew member security training. At the time of our review, TSA planned to develop a handbook for its inspectors and guidance for its training staff to use in monitoring and reviewing air carriers' flight and cabin crew member security training to help provide assurance that standardized monitoring occurs. However, TSA had not established a time frame for completing these efforts. To strengthen TSA's internal controls and help ensure that air carriers are complying with TSA's guidance and standards, we recommended that TSA establish a time frame for finalizing written procedures for monitoring and reviewing air carriers' flight and cabin crew security training. Consistent with the intent of our recommendation, in April 2006, TSA established written procedures for monitoring and reviewing air carriers' flight and cabin crew security training. These procedures are intended to address, among other things, reviewing air carriers' crew member security training curricula, monitoring crew member security training to ensure the curriculum is being followed, and evaluating crew member complaints.

In May 2006, TSA officials reported that acting on GAO's recommendation, the crew member self-defense training program has established performance measures for use in the Office of Management and Budget's (OMB) Performance Analysis Rating Tool (PART). TSA officials reported that these measures will provide the crew member self-defense training program with valuable information that can be used in evaluating the effectiveness of the crew member self-defense training, including the design and delivery of the training. Additionally, according to OMB's PART assessment for the crew member security training program, TSA performed a comprehensive assessment of this program and implemented changes that will make the training more accessible to crew members.