Century of Aviation Reauthorization Act

H.R. 2115 [108th]: Vision 100--Century of Aviation Reauthorization Act

SEC. 603. CREW TRAINING.

Section 44918 is amended to read as follows:

``§ 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.

H. R. 2115--75

``(E) Use of protective devices assigned to crew mem-

bers (to the extent such devices are required by the

Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration or

the Under Secretary for Border and Transportation Secu-

rity 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 proce-

dures 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 Sec-

retary.

``(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 min-

imum 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 dis-

approved or ordered modified by the Under Secretary.

``(6) MONITORING.--The Under Secretary, in consultation

with the Administrator, shall monitor air carrier training pro-

grams 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 condi-

tions. 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 Sec-

retary shall ensure that employees responsible for monitoring

the training programs have the necessary resources and knowl-

edge.

``(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 secu-

rity 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 Reauthor-

ization 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.

H. R. 2115--76

``(B) Advanced control, striking, and restraint tech-

niques.

``(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 one-

self, 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, representa-

tives 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 appro-

priate 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).