Release Date: December 31, 2009
For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
Contact: 202-282-8010
Secretary Napolitano to travel in the coming weeks to build on these efforts

Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano today announced that she is dispatching Deputy Secretary Jane Holl Lute, Assistant Secretary for Policy David Heyman and other senior Department officials on a broad international outreach effort to meet with leaders from major international airports in Africa, Asia, Europe, the Middle East and South America to review security procedures and technology being used to screen passengers on flights bound for the United States.

“As part of the ongoing review to determine exactly what went wrong leading up to Friday’s attempted terrorist attack, we are looking not only at our own processes, but also beyond our borders to ensure effective aviation security measures are in place for U.S-bound flights that originate at international airports,” said Secretary Napolitano. “Because I am fully committed to making whatever changes are necessary to protect the safety of the traveling public, I am sending Deputy Secretary Lute and Assistant Secretary Heyman to work with our international partners on ways to collectively bolster our tactics for defeating terrorists wherever they may seek to launch an attack, and I will follow up on these efforts with ministerial-level meetings within the next few weeks.”

Deputy Secretary Lute and Assistant Secretary Heyman will first travel to Europe , departing on Monday. While there, they will brief European authorities on the findings of President Obama’s aviation security review and then report back to Secretary Napolitano on their discussions on enhancing international security measures.

Following the attempted attack on Christmas Day, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) issued a directive for additional security measures to be implemented for last point of departure international flights to the United States , such as increased gate pat-downs and bag searches. At the direction of the flight crew, passengers may also be asked to follow additional instructions, such as stowing personal items, turning off electronic equipment and remaining seated during certain portions of the flight.

Other security measures implemented have included the deployment of additional law enforcement at airports, air marshals, and explosives detection canine teams. TSA will continue to work with airline and law enforcement authorities, as well as federal, state, local and international partners to put additional security measures in place to ensure that aviation security remains strong. For more information on current security measures, visit www.tsa.gov.

Release #09.CAL3
December 28, 2009

HOUSTON, TEXAS—On Dec. 31, 2009, Continental pilots will see another year pass without a new contract in place. The current concessionary agreement that helped keep Continental out of bankruptcy was signed in April 2005 and became amendable on Dec. 31, 2008. However, the Continental pilots, represented by the Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l (ALPA), have been negotiating a successor agreement since July 2007, when the union and Continental management agreed to open discussions early. Since that time, the parties have reached tentative agreements on only nine of 32 sections of the contract. Most recently, the union presented a comprehensive proposal to management on Dec. 9, 2009, bringing all remaining sections of the contract to the table, most notably those dealing with economic issues such as pay, work rules and benefits.

Says Captain Jay Pierce, union leader of the Continental pilots, “When we gave our proposal to management on Dec. 9, it was an important step forward. Everything is now on the table. We are looking forward to seeing how our new CEO, Mr. Jeff Smisek, will assess the value of Continental pilots and the significant contributions we’ve made to help our airline.

“Our pilots have given over $200M to Continental each year through cuts in pay, benefits and work rules under our current agreement. Our proposal reflects the significant level of sacrifice made by our pilots and their families and the need to rebalance the equation. As we renew our negotiating efforts in 2010, we expect management to recognize the fact that improvements in our contract are long overdue.”

December 30, 2009

Geneva – The International Air Transport Association (IATA) reiterated that the security of passengers and employees is a top priority for the aviation industry. IATA urged the United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and its Transportation Security Administration (TSA) to partner with industry to identify the most effective and efficient ways to address the evolving security challenge in light of the foiled terrorist plot to down a Detroit-bound aircraft.

In a letter to Homeland Security Secretary Napolitano, IATA’s Director General and CEO Giovanni Bisignani appreciated the swift reaction of DHS to maintain the confidence of the flying public and airline employees.

Bisignani noted the need for short-term temporary and extra-ordinary security measures until the immediate threat has abated. But he cautioned Secretary Napolitano that long-term solutions must include improved technology and effective risk assessment techniques. “The air transport system cannot support 100% pat-down searches over the long term.” IATA is recommending a smaller percentage of intensive pat downs accompanied by technologies or proportionate screening procedures as a means to achieve near-term security requirements with reduced delays.

While security is a government responsibility, it is a shared priority with industry. Bisignani urged DHS to allow the current short-term measures to be urgently followed-up by a comprehensive DHS/industry review of security systems to address existing and evolving security threats.

The failed Detroit terror plot emphasized two key realities: the global nature of the threat and the need for effective cooperation and information sharing among and within intelligence organizations. “Effective security needs a system that is built on global harmonization, effective information exchange, industry/government cooperation, risk assessment and efficient technology. This is how we made flying the safest way to travel. We must take the same approach with security,” said Bisignani.

Numbers illustrate the scale of the challenge. In the 12 months to September 2009, air transport connected 2.2 billion passengers safely and securely. This includes 820 million international travelers of which 140 million were international travelers on US routes. Another component is the US domestic market which accounts for 620 million travelers. “We live on an interconnected planet. Effective security cannot be achieved with a silo-approach,” said Bisignani.

As governments, with industry, review security in the days and weeks ahead, Bisignani urged a long-term re-think of the security model. “Instead of looking for bad things—nail clippers and rogue bottles of shampoo—security systems need to focus on finding bad people. Adding new hardware to an old system will not deliver the results we need. It is time for governments to invest in a process built around a check point of the future that combines the best of screening technology with the best of intelligence gathering. Such a system would give screeners access to important passenger data to make effective risk assessments. The data is being collected. The technology exists. Industry is supportive. Now ICAO and governments must work together to make such a process a reality with global harmonization and data-sharing,” said Bisignani.

Each year airlines and their passengers invest US$5.9 billion in security measures.

IATA (International Air Transport Association) represents some 230 airlines comprising 93% of scheduled international air traffic.

NTSB Advisory
National Transportation Safety Board
Washington, DC 20594
December 23, 2009

The National Transportation Safety Board dispatched a team of investigators to assist the government of Jamaica in its investigation of an accident involving an American Airlines B737-800 (N977AN) yesterday evening. At approximately 10:00 pm local time, the aircraft, operating as flight 331 from Miami, Florida, overshot the end of the runway while landing at Kingston, Jamaica in heavy rain, crossed a road and stopped on a beach. There were 148 passengers on board, and 6 crew. Multiple injuries have been reported.

NTSB Chairman Deborah A.P. Hersman has designated senior air safety investigator John Lovell as the U.S. Accredited Representative. The U.S. team will also include five NTSB aviation specialists as well as technical advisors from the Federal Aviation Administration, American Airlines, Boeing Aircraft Company, and GE Aircraft Engines.

The investigation is being conducted by the government of Jamaica Civil Aviation Authority, which will release all information on the progress of the investigation. The agency’s phone number is (876) 960-3965; the agency’s email address is jcivav@toj.com.

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NTSB Media Contact: Keith Holloway
(202) 314-6100
hollowk@ntsb.gov