Insider Threats to Aviation Security: Airline and Airport Perspectives

Floor Speech

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Mr. LARSEN of Washington. Mr. Speaker, thank you, Chairman Katko and Ranking Member Watson Coleman, for calling this important hearing to take a closer look at the new challenges that pose security threats to airports and carriers nationwide.

As Ranking Member of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure's Aviation Subcommittee, I am committed to ensuring the United States continues to have the safest airspace system in the history of flight. In light of recent events, it is clear there is more Congress can do to make the system safer.

Less than two months ago, on August 10, 2018, an airline employee stole an aircraft at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (Sea-Tac) in my home state of Washington and engaged in unauthorized flight.

If not for the rapid response teams, particularly Sea-Tac air traffic controllers and the Air National Guard, who remained calm throughout a very intense situation and worked diligently to contain the incident, this tragedy could have devastated communities in Northwest Washington.

Sea-Tac is a major hub in the national airport network and has long been a leader in airport security. The airport conducts extensive security clearance measures and thorough employee background checks, and uses advanced technologies to ensure the safety of its passengers and employees.

However, this incident demonstrates the need for the federal government and industry alike to consider new ways to ensure the safety and security of passengers and employees.

For years, I worked with my colleagues on the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee to develop a long-term Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reauthorization bill to address, among other things, safety issues present in our airspace system, and I am pleased Congress has recently enacted a comprehensive measure that will raise the bar on aviation safety for years to come.

This legislation will help lessen the likelihood of incidents similar to the August 10 event at Sea-Tac in the future by requiring the FAA and the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) to work with industry to evaluate security gaps in our aviation system and provide recommendations on industry improvements.

Among its provisions, the legislation authorizes the FAA to carry out a pilot program to support non-federal acquisition and installation of surveillance systems for the non-movement areas of airports, such as airport cargo and maintenance areas.

It also calls on the FAA to collaborate with stakeholders to advance a global standard for access to air carrier flight decks, and it directs the TSA to consult with the FAA to complete a detailed threat assessment to identify any safety or security risks associated with unauthorized access to flight decks on commercial aircraft.

While this long-term reauthorization makes considerable progress in aviation safety and security, our work is not done. In addition, industry must work proactively to address these pressing issues. I commend Sea-Tac and aviation stakeholders for their collaboration following the August 10 incident on a new series of industry best practices to advance airport security.

I look forward to working with this Subcommittee, industry, and other stakeholders to address these new threats and to ensure the United States continues to maintain the safest aviation system in the world.

With that, I thank the Chairman and Ranking Member for their bipartisan leadership on this important issue.

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